Parliamentary questions
Claudia Beamish
624 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many proposals for land management orders Scottish Natural Heritage has made since 2004; on what sites, and for what features.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage has made no requests for land management orders since 2004.
2 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many and which sites of special scientific interest burning is listed as an operation requiring consent; on how many and which sites consent has been granted and on how many occasions, and on how many consent has been refused.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). SNH have advised that there are 883 sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) listed as requiring consent for burning and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the member to provid…
2 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions landowners have (a) turned down and (b) failed to comply with management agreements offered since 2004; on what sites, and for what features.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Operational responsibility for land management agreements lies with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). In relation to instances where landowners have turned down management agreements, SNH have advised that instances would be small as early discussion would …
8 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the national pay negotiations in the college sector.
4 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many return journeys have been made (a) to and (b) from each of the new stations on the Borders Railway.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland does not currently hold this information. However, ScotRail will report information of return journeys by station on the Borders Railway six months after the commencement of services. This is expected to be available to Transport Scotland i…
15 Feb 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing from its International Development Fund to assist with medical and humanitarian aid in Syria.
2 Feb 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reduced the climate change budget.
25 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on women employed in part-time and temporary work.
20 Jan 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Scotland's progress as a fair trade nation.
18 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government's position that the EU birds and habitats directives should be implemented better and not reopened for review; what input it had into the decision and, if so, what, and what it considers the implications would be for Scotland.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government continues to engage with the UK Government (plus the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly) on the European Commission's ‘Fitness Check’ of the birds and habitats directives. This includes contact in advance of the Council…
12 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to recognise the contribution that David Bowie made to the cultural life of Scotland and beyond.
15 Dec 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will carry out the review of gamebird licensing and legislation agreed by Paul Wheelhouse in May 2014; who has been appointed to conduct the review, and when it expects the report to be published.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Tender documents were issued by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on 11 December 2015, inviting bids from contractors to carry out the review of gamebird licensing and legislation in other European countries. The deadline for quotes to be submitted to SNH is 20…
14 Dec 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions there have been each year under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002; how many subsequent convictions there were, and what information it has regarding the reasons for failures to convict.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Details of proceedings for offences against under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 (where that was the main charge) are as follows: Financial year 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 20…
2 Dec 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to adjust the common agricultural policy greening measures so that they can be implemented in the clearest way for farmers without jeopardising the environmental benefits.
25 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions there have been in relation to illegal fox hunting and what resources are available to Police Scotland to ensure that the law against hunting with hounds is upheld.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: There have been three convictions in relation to fox hunting in the period since the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force. Further information relating to prosecutions for fox hunting offences is contained in section 4.7 of the Wild…
25 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support and develop the Energy Skills Partnership and a shift to a low-carbon economy.
25 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation proposals of 29 September 2015, Conservation Limits, when determining whether to introduce a catch and release policy in an area, which rivers were (a) assessed and (b) not assessed by fish counters to estimate stocks.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Counter data was available from the North Esk, Beauly, Awe and Kirkcudbrightshire Dee. Where no counters are available estimates of the stock are made using reported rod catches and a more detailed explanation of the methodology deployed to determine conserva…
25 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation proposals of 29 September 2015, Conservation Limits, how it has ensured that, when determining whether to introduce a catch and release policy, an accurate estimate has been made of the levels of stock in the rivers where there are no fish counters.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: As I explained in my answer to S4W-28666 on 10 December 2015, a detailed explanation of the methodology deployed to determine conservation status and the application of conservation limits is available on the Scottish Government website http://www.gov.scot/Re…
25 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it (a) has carried out or (b) plans on the possible impact of the west coast aquaculture industry on the number of wild salmon in the Solway Estuary and associated rivers.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government is supporting a number of significant research projects on the impacts of aquaculture on wild salmon in Scotland. These include: Working with Scotland’s salmon farming industry and representatives of the wild salmon sector on a strate…
25 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation proposals of 29 September 2015, Conservation Limits, what assessment it made of the haaf-netting method in the Solway Estuary when determining whether to introduce a catch and release policy in that area.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Discussions have taken place with the Annan Royal Burgh Fishermen’s Association and other interested parties to explain that a consistent approach was taken to all capture methods, including haaf-netting. We have listened to all the concerns expressed and wil…
25 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation proposals of 29 September 2015, Conservation Limits , how it has (a) ensured that the assessment methods used when determining whether to introduce a catch and release policy takes account of the needs of each district and (b) assessed the catch and release c…
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The decision on whether to introduce mandatory catch and release was based on the conservation status of the salmon stocks in each district. The status of the district was applied to the rivers and defined estuarine limits within the district. A more detailed…
17 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Cleaner Air for Scotland, the Road to a Healthier Future, on what date (a) the low-emission zones will become operational and (b) it will achieve compliance with the Scottish regulatory standards on air quality.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Cleaner Air for Scotland sets out the Scottish Government's outline proposals for a National Low Emission Framework (NLEF). The NLEF includes an indicative timetable for potential introduction of low emission zones. The Scottish Government and Transport Scotl…
6 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) it has been notified of under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, also broken down by the number of natural features; how many of the (a) SSSIs and (b) natural features have unfavourable conditions due to (i) invasive non-nati…
Answer · Aileen McLeod: 1,423 sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), comprising 3,693 natural features, have been notified under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. 434 of the SSSIs and 663 of the natural features have been assessed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)…
6 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding publishing data that has been gathered for the purpose of (a) an environmental assessment and (b) meeting a requirement for planning or other consenting procedures, and whether biodiversity data must be entered in the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.
Answer · Alex Neil: Where information is submitted to a planning or other consenting authority a range of statutory procedures concerning the notification and publication of that information may apply, including The Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and, wher…
2 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will take in light of the postponement of designating a specific offence of domestic abuse.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is not correct to say that a specific offence of domestic abuse has been postponed. In our Programme for Government in November 2014 we committed to consult on the principle of creating a specific offence of domestic abuse. We consulted between March and J…
19 Oct 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its support for community transport initiatives in South Scotland.
8 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times Scottish Natural Heritage has been consulted under section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 in each of the last five years and by which public bodies.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The following table presents the requested information for each of the last five financial years: Public Body 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Total Aberdeenshire Council 1 4 1 6 Angus Council 2 2 Cairngorms National Park Au…
8 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it has consulted Scottish Natural Heritage under section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004; what action it has taken in response to any advice it received, and whether it will publish that advice.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The following table shows the number of times the Scottish Government has consulted Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) under section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 in each of the last five financial years: 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 …
8 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) there are in Scotland; how many natural features are notified for these SSSIs, and what percentage of those natural features has been considered to be in a favourable condition, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The following table presents the requested information, as at the end of each of the last five financial years: Date Number of SSSIs Number of SSSI Features Percentage of Favourable SSSI Features 31-03-2011 1,447 3,694 79.3% 31-03-2012 1,440 3,711 …
8 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what (i) nature conservation and (ii) land management orders have been made under chapters 2 and 3 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, broken down by (A) site and (B) date made.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: (i) No land management orders have been made under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. (ii) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) publishes details of nature conservation orders in force in its annual reports which are available online via the following w…