Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 07 June 2022
Absolutely—I will cover the timescale in the course of my speech. I will continue, so that I can get to the point at which I can answer the member’s question.
The process of creating at least one new national park gives us the opportunity to have a national discussion about not just where new parks should be, but what our national parks are for. Beyond the aims that are set out in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, no criteria have been set for what national parks should be delivering for Scotland, for their communities—as some members have pointed out—and for nature.
On 13 May, I launched a national discussion, which will carry on over the summer months, about what stakeholders and the public value most about national parks and how that should be delivered. That national discussion on the future of national parks will do two things. First, it will help the existing park authorities to evaluate and adapt what they are delivering across their remit through their partnership plans. Secondly, it will allow the development of an evaluation framework to identify the next areas of Scotland to take forward for designation.
That is essential, as it will allow for an open, fair and transparent process. It will include a consultation on the draft evaluation framework to ensure that it meets the aspirations of stakeholders for their new national parks and that there is no unintended bias that might lead to the favouring of one area over another. Officials are also working to put in place support for communities, local authorities or interest groups in putting together a nomination for national park status against the criteria established in the evaluation framework. Furthermore, although it will be my responsibility to approve the areas to be taken forward to the statutory process outlined in the 2000 act, the decision that I take will be guided by the advice that I will receive from an independent panel that will be established to consider all nominations and rank them against the criteria contained in the evaluation framework.
As members will appreciate, identifying the areas to be designated as national parks is only half the story, as the legal process that is laid out in the 2000 act to define the boundary of the new parks and establish new park authorities must then be followed. That process will follow a specific timeline.