The past month has been a month of big changes at Parliament with the abrupt ending of the Bute House Agreement (aka cooperation agreement) with the Scottish Government. It’s a huge blow as we no longer have ministers in place to take forward a number of important work strands and see through some key legislation.  

I do however have good relations with the ministers I’ve been working with. Stage 2 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill saw the Scottish Government, under Mairi Gougeon’s leadership, accept a great number of amendments I proposed, many of which are designed to support small-scale producers – market gardeners – more on that below.  

Thank you to everyone who’s checked in to see how I’m doing. I’m well, it’s not such a massive adjustment for me. Although how we work in the Chamber is different – we have opening and closing speeches and I’m working much more with other opposition parties on amendments supporting or having mine supported. 

Delivered 

I won support for small-scale farmers, crofters and growers, and wider rural communities, through amendments to the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill, which is expected to pass into law later this year. Thanks to my amendments:  

• Providing clean air and water, improving access to nature, and starting a nature restoration business will all be eligible for financial support  

• Ministers will need to consider “the benefits of a diverse and resilient agricultural sector including small producers, tenant farmers, crofters and agricultural co-operative societies” when designing rural support schemes 

• Financial support can now be extended to growers of fruit, vegetables, potatoes, mushrooms, nuts, seeds and more.  

• And for those of you are keen to see wool valued – I got that on to the list of activities and products that can be financially supported.  

National Planning Framework 4 Annual Review 

• At the Local Government, Housing and Planning committee we’ve been reviewing the National Planning Framework 4. After only a year this huge change in approach still needs time to bed in, as well as more guidance from the Chief Planning Officer and her team. A big issue is lack of planners and ecologists – this should be a key job for people switched on to the climate and nature emergencies.  

Rural Housing 

• I convened a useful conversation at my committee on the rural housing crisis. While the issues are well known, holding an evidence session at a committee keeps the issue of rural housing front and centre for the Scottish Government.  

To Know 

• I lodged two objections to repeat planning applications for salmon farms off the Trotternish Peninsula on Skye (Flodigarry and Balmaqueen). The open cage fish farms would have a negative impact on the local environment and the stunning landscape that supports the local economy. The developer, Organic Sea Harvest, originally submitted very similar applications which were refused by Highland Council in 2020. The developer also lost an appeal in 2021. But they are now trying again. Constituents had written to me expressing strong concern that the environmental impacts will be ignored due to an increasingly unbalanced, blinkered focus on economic development, and the inappropriate level of influence enjoyed by the multinational salmon farming industry. I will continue to stand up for local communities and the environment by opposing unwanted salmon farms.  
   

• I spoke in support of a new law to promote dog welfare and prevent illegal puppy farming. The Welfare of Dogs Bill drafted by Christine Grahame MSP aims to create “a more responsible and informed approach to acquiring and owning a dog” and regulate “the selling and transferring of puppies from unlicensed litters”. This is timely because the demand for dogs has skyrocketed since the pandemic, but so too has low-welfare, illegal puppy breeding. The Bill passed Stage 1. The challenge will now be to design an effective way to improve traceability, so that buyers can easily find out where the puppy was bred and born, what condition the mother and puppy have been kept in, and whether it has been vaccinated.  

Get involved 

30 x 30 consultation: Achieving the Scottish Government commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (30 by 30 commitment) is essential for halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and substantially restoring nature by 2045. 18% of Scotland’s land is currently designated for protection – but many think that it is not protected enough. The Scottish Government is consulting on this now, and you can have your say here. (Closes 24th May. More background is here.) This is particularly important now that the future for the Natural Environment Bill is uncertain, after the SNP ended the Bute House Agreement.  

You have just a few days left to contribute to the call for views on the Housing Bill. Shaped by Patrick Harvie MSP when he was the Minister for tenants’ rights, we’re concerned that the commitment to introduce long-term rent controls – and other aspects of the Bill that will support renters such as restrictions on rent increases - could be watered down. This consultation has 15 questions but you don’t need to answer all of them to make your views known. 

Tackling the climate emergency will require effort from all sectors of society so, if you’re not already involved, why not get in touch with your local climate action network. There’s a great interactive map on the Scottish Communities Climate Action Network website. 

Tune in  

Not in my region but in my portfolio – the Rooted film is free to view online and illustrates the type of food producers (and local food economy) I am aiming to support through my amendments to the Agriculture Bill. It’s also a really inspiring project that you may have seen featured recently on the BBC’s Landward: Rooted: Growing a Local Food Ecosystem (youtube.com) 

In the Media 

Highland housing shortage discussed at Holyrood 

Overflowing Highland bottle banks due to collection vehicle issues ‘very concerning’, says MSP Ariane Burgess

ARIANE BURGESS: Green voice is essential despite Scottish Government setback on 2030 net zero targets 

Regenerative Scotland Podcast 

Find the most recent episodes of Regenerative Scotland on SoundCloud or Spotify. This month’s focus is two episodes on some solutions to our housing challenges.  

Thank you for all l you do for nature and people wherever you are in the Highlands and Islands. 

Yours aye,  

Ariane 

Scottish Greens spokesperson for Communities, Housing, Land Reform and Rural Affairs
Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Island Committee

You can watch Ariane and other Green MSPs' activities the parliament TV

Instagram: @arianeburgesshi | Facebook: @ArianeBurgessHI | X: @ArianeBurgessHI 

Regenerative Scotland Podcast on SoundCloud or Spotify

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