We are currently developing an online programme of Continuous Professional Learning that will be widely accessible and freely available to early learning and childcare practitioners across all sectors, including local authorities and private, voluntary, and independent settings?. One of the modules in this programme is designed to increase staff skills, knowledge and confidence in delivering age-appropriate learning in all STEM subjects. This module is due to be available to the sector in early 2020.

The module is expected to help staff develop an understanding of:

• How to use inspiring, child-led and play-based approaches to develop children’s early learning in STEM to encourage children’s scientific thinking and enquiry.
•  How to deliver learning in STEM in a range of environments (including indoors and outdoors);
• How to ensure that STEM learning is delivered in a way that challenges gender stereotypes and unconscious bias;
• Resources available to support STEM subjects in the early years including through relevant partners.

The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) guideline referred to in the previous answer states ‘avoid establishing new forests on soils with peat exceeding 50 cm in depth and on sites that would compromise the hydrology of adjacent bog or wetland habitats’.

There is another UKFS guideline that addresses replanting on peatland which states that before making the decision on whether to restock on soils with peat exceeding 50 cm in depth, consideration should be given to the balance of benefits for carbon and other ecosystem services.

The Scottish Forestry Practice Guide, Deciding Future Management Options for Afforested Deep Peatland , provides further guidance on this matter. It sets out the circumstances in which replanting is not appropriate and explains how to assess the site for future management options.

When assessing applications for felling and replanting, Scottish Forestry officials ensure that this guidance has been followed.

Tree planting applications made to Scottish Forestry must include an ‘issues log’ to explain how the planting design takes into account factors such as the impact on communities and agricultural land. All proposals are carefully assessed by Scottish Forestry staff and checked by a senior manager before approval. For significant projects this includes seeking advice from the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division to check that proposals comply with the Scottish Government guidance for planting woodland on agricultural land.

The Scottish Government understands that the Raydale Community Sports Hub have submitted an application to the sport scotland Sport Facilities Fund for the installation of a 3G Pitch at Raydale Stadium and that the application is due to be discussed by the adjudicating panel in the coming weeks.

While there are no current plans in place to review the noise assessment methodology for wind turbine developments, the Scottish Government will take time to consider the conditional recommendations set out in the World Health Organisation’s guidelines on the health impacts of exposure to noise caused by wind turbines before deciding whether any changes to current practice should be considered.

A very small number of NHS Dumfries and Galloway (NHS D&G) patients choose to access radiotherapy in Carlisle and while NHS D&G support patients in that choice. However, the range of treatments available is more limited that at one of the cancer centres and it is always advised that patients undertake treatment within one of their local cancer networks to allow best multi-disciplinary working and communication between teams throughout their cancer journey.

Improving access to technology, which includes connectivity, is a key objective in the national Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy. However, it is for local authorities themselves to decide on connectivity arrangements in their schools, whether that be wired or wireless. The Scottish Government supports local authorities by offering to fund a high-speed broadband connection to a central point in each local authority for use by education establishments.

All significant tree planting proposals must follow the Woodland Creation Application Guidance which requires applicants to engage with local communities and use the information gathered to inform the planting design.

Local communities are encouraged to discuss their concerns with landowners or their agents at an early stage when planting plans are being developed. Local communities should clearly set out and explain their concerns so that they can be taken into account by the applicant as they refine their proposals.

Communities are also encouraged to provide comments directly to Scottish Forestry when proposals are subject to 28 day public consultations. When determining applications Scottish Forestry will check that concerns raised have been adequately addressed.

Protection for peatlands is included under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) (Forestry) 2017 regulations, where peat soils over 50cm are classed as sensitive areas and all proposals for planting require assessment.

The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) provides guidance on tree planting on peatlands. Planting is not permitted on any peat over 50 cm in depth or where planting on peat soils would compromise adjacent habitats.

Further guidance is available at: https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/forests-and-the-environment/protecting-and-managing-soil-in-forests .

Landowners seeking permission for forestry planting must conduct surveys to identify any habitats or species that are present on site and take them into account as they design planting schemes. Projects must ensure that important habitats and species are protected and impacts are minimised.

Before granting permission Scottish Forestry carefully assesses all planting proposals to ensure they comply with environmental legislation and the UK Forestry Standard. Where schemes do not comply they must be modified or may be refused consent.