Quality

32. The statements made in "Rural Framework" about the intrinsically high quality of Scottish products and superb natural resources and scenery of Scotland are as true now as they were then. Quality is also still as important to rural Scotland's economic success and prosperity as three years ago. In reviewing this theme, we have looked for progress in sustaining and improving quality in these areas and also at some other aspects of quality - performance, training and standards.

33. The Farm Assured Scheme for Livestock was relaunched in 1995 with greater input from the industry in an attempt to increase involvement in this quality scheme. There have been important developments in quality food certification, for example the establishment of a new Scottish food quality certification company. This will provide a focus for the development of existing food quality schemes in Scotland and their extension to new sectors. For example, the Scottish Quality Cereals scheme offers a premium for grain which adheres to certain quality standards. The Scottish Pig Industry Initiative, Scottish Quality Farmed Trout and Scottish Venison Marketing Initiative all aim to increase exports of Scottish quality fish and meat. Other developments include the Cheese Company in Lockerbie which has developed a new premium-branded Churnton Cheese, Castle Maclellan Foods Ltd producing a range of speciality premium patŽs in Kirkcudbright, and Rannoch Smokery in Kinloch Rannoch producing smoked venison. Local quality competitions, such as the Talisker Quality Awards on Skye, are another way in which the high standard of rural produce and service can be highlighted. Scottish producers are increasingly having to compete to European standards and the establishment of the Quality Forum encourages Scottish producers to demonstrate quality in a wider international market. The Scottish Enterprise Network's "Meet the Buyer" programme, which won a Scottish Food Initiative of the Year Award, brought together food business with major purchasers, boosting sales. In addition the New Products Development Scheme has proved very successful, with 18 companies and 73 new products being developed. The Scottish Quality Farm Assurance Initiative, which was mentioned in "Rural Framework", continues and a code of good practice developed with the assistance of The Scottish Office and SAC, will be launched by the National Farmers' Union of Scotland in 1995.

34. The need to improve the quality of rural housing has been recognised in the Scottish Office Planning Advice Note on "Design of Housing in the Countryside" and Rural Forum workshops on the subject. The Scottish House Condition Survey, conducted by Scottish Homes, provided a picture of the quality of housing stock throughout Scotland for the first time. This revealed that the quality of parts of the housing stock in rural areas remains a matter of concern and to address this Scottish Homes is implementing a rural policy and supports a network of rurally based housing associations, other developers and individuals to produce an increased supply and improve quality of housing in rural areas. Innovative schemes specifically aimed at rural areas such as Rural Home Ownership Grants and the Rural Empty Housing Initiative have been introduced and, though small scale, have had significant local impact. Through this and other initiatives, Scottish Homes has supported the building or improvement of over 6,000 homes in the countryside since 1992. The Crofters Building Grants and Loans scheme operated by The Scottish Office has provided £14.4 million over the last three years in grants and loans which have improved the quality of crofter housing.

35. Scotland's landscapes and countryside are of outstanding quality and much has been done to ensure that this is conserved. Consideration of landscape issues in forestry development has been greatly strengthened by the Forestry Commission guidelines, mentioned in "Rural Framework", and the adoption of Indicative Forestry Strategies by planning authorities. SNH has also undertaken a major programme of landscape character assessment, under which it is planned to cover all of Scotland by 1997. These assessments, carried out in partnership with local authorities, will provide information on how landscape character would be affected by proposed developments and allow more sensitive planning and siting. "Rural Framework" also mentioned the need for integration between the historic and natural features of our countryside in order to make the best of the good quality that both have to offer. The publication in 1995 of the Concordat between SNH and Historic Scotland is important in this connection. The Central Scotland Forest Strategy, building on significant input from the local authorities, FC, Historic Scotland and SNH, contains a full assessment of landscape character for the area to enable consideration of the widest possible range of issues and attributes in assessing development which will enhance the overall quality of the area.

36. Quality of performance and service is another important area of achievement for rural Scotland. A major industry is tourism and the STB "Welcome Hosts" scheme helps to ensure that the highest standards apply. STB have also raised standards throughout the industry through its Grading and Classification programme for different types of accommodation, which is now being expanded into visitor attractions.

37. Training is also a vital issue, both to ensure that people living in rural areas are equipped to undertake skilled well-paid jobs, with the related benefit in terms of retaining young people in the local area, and to provide rural enterprise with a workforce that can achieve a high quality of performance. We welcome continuing programmes to provide training that will enable both these requirements to be met. The Tourism Training in Scotland initiative, jointly run by STB, Scottish Enterprise and HIE, has been set up to raise the quality of tourism training in Scotland. The substantial increase in enrolments in further and higher education in rural sector subjects, including new initiatives in countryside conservation, recreation management and rural tourism developed by SAC, suggests that larger numbers of young people in Scotland will be equipped to take on high quality rural employment in the future. There have also been specific retraining initiatives such as those for ranger training jointly promoted by SAC and SNH.

38. Co-ordination of quality standards is also important. As the numbers of different schemes in operation grow, there is a danger of confusing consumers if too many standards without clear relationships are in use. Clear standards can help the marketing of rural Scotland's goods and services, for example high environmental and animal welfare standards, are likely to be of increasing importance to consumers. All the evidence suggests that the high quality of Scotland's produce and resources noted in "Rural Framework" has been maintained. Standards are high and look set to become higher. While concern has sometimes been expressed that regulations can place onerous burdens on small rural businesses and need to be applied sensitively, it is equally important that consumers can rely on the produce or services they buy to meet certain basic standards.