Parliamentary questions
Claudia Beamish
624 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is given to harbour porpoises in its special area of conservation network.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: At present, no suitable locations in Scottish waters have been identified, in accordance with Article 4.1 of the EU Habitats Directive, for harbour porpoise to be considered a qualifying feature of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). However, there are 15 …
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department of Energy and Climate Change to ensure that identification of the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters as a marine energy park includes provision for protection of the natural heritage of the area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The designation of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters as a marine energy park is a matter for the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change. However, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of our c…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what influence the scoping study for (a) offshore wave energy development and (b) tidal stream energy development will have in (i) marine (A) planning and (B) licensing decisions and (ii) the selection of sites as marine protected areas.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scoping Reports for Offshore Wind Farm Developments and Wave and Tidal Energy Developments in Scottish Waters identify broad areas which may be suitable for further developments from the point of view of best resource but also with fewest potential hazard…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what influence it considers the presence of a Crown Estate lease site for development has in (a) marine (i) planning and (ii) licensing decisions and (b) the selection of sites as marine protected areas.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The presence of a Crown Estate lease site for development has no formal status as a consideration in determining marine licensing applications. The existence of a lease maybe a factor that is taken into consideration in the development of a marine plan, thoug…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has with (a) the Crown Estate, (b) the renewables industry and (c) marine stakeholders regarding the potential for new wave and tidal lease sites.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has had a range of discussions with The Crown Estate, the Renewables Industry and marine stakeholders regarding the potential for new wave and tidal lease sites during the ongoing development of Sectoral Marine Plans for Wave and Tidal…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how environmental data sets will be considered in future tidal and wave energy constraints mapping.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government considers a range of data sets during tidal and wave energy constraints mapping. Data sets representing relevant constraints are obtained from a range of sources. The constraint sets are allocated to one of three thematic restriction m…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how priority marine features distribution data has been incorporated in the scoping study for (a) offshore wave energy development and (b) tidal stream energy development.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scoping Studies included data layers describing the distributions of several categories of protected areas. These include established SACs and SPAs, areas under consideration for future designation, and areas of search for potential new protected areas, i…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the sectorial marine plans for tidal and wave energy will complement the development of (a) marine protected areas and (b) the National Marine Plan under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The scoping exercises for offshore wind and wave and tidal energy in Scottish waters are a tool for developers at an early stage in searching for potential areas. The scoping exercises identify broad areas which may be suitable for further developments from t…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will assess equivalent ecological value when two potential marine protected areas are being compared.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The overall aim is to develop a Marine Protected Area network. All locations are assessed against the MPA selection guidelines and must also satisfy the OSPAR requirements for an ecologically coherent network. Where options to represent features offer the sam…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08165 by Richard Lochhead on 9 July 2012, what elements of (a) common fisheries policy reform and (b) the implementation of inshore fisheries group management plans it considers will help marine species and habitats achieve favourable conservation s…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: One of the Scottish Government's key aims in reforming the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to deliver better and mutually supportive integration between the CFP and the marine environment legislation which will help Scotland to achieve favourable conservatio…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a framework has been established for monitoring the outcomes of marine protected area designations and, if so, what budget has been agreed for implementing this monitoring programme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Progress on the designation and status of MPAs and progress towards achieving their conservation objectives will be subject to a six-yearly reporting cycle to the Scottish Parliament. Monitoring of Nature Conservation MPA protected features will be undertaken…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how marine protected areas designated under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 are monitored.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The government will make a report to Parliament on MPAs in December 2012. Following this we will consult and designate MPAs in 2013. Once designated MPAs will be reviewed periodically to ensure that they are meeting, or are capable of meeting, the agreed cons…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Natural Heritage plans to reduce the frequency of site-condition monitoring of seabird special protection areas.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Due to resource constraints it is not possible to monitor all SPA features every six year reporting cycle. Where routine seabird monitoring is carried out by SNH on National Nature Reserves, or by partner bodies such as RSPB or NTS, SNH will continue to use t…
16 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the conservation status of marine features that are protected in existing marine special areas of conservation and when this status was last assessed through site-condition monitoring.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Monitoring of marine features has been part of the SNH’s Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) programme since its inception in 1999. Due to the resource requirements for marine monitoring, it has not been possible to monitor all marine features within the six year…
31 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its common strategic framework and associated partnership agreement for the co-ordination of expenditure of EU funds will take account of its prioritised action framework for the funding of the management of natura sites, and whether it will consult on the matter.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Prioritised Action Frameworks are intended as planning tools whose purpose is to identify key priorities and provide an integrated overview of how to achieve them with regard to different financing instruments. It is too early to predict how this might be acc…
31 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a submission to the European Commission regarding a prioritised action framework for the funding of the management of natura sites and, if so, what steps it has taken regarding this, and whether it will consult on the matter.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Work to prepare the Scotland component of a UK Prioritised Action Framework is under way. Consultation with relevant parties is accounted for in the provisional timetable.
24 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what form the review of the voluntary code of practice for the dairy industry will take after the 12-month trial period and who will lead the review.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Farmers unions and milk processors have agreed a Heads of Agreement on a voluntary code of practice. The final points will be negotiated this month. The code will be reviewed after the first year to assess its effectiveness and compliance. An independent chai…
24 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the introduction of pricing formulae for the sale of dairy products.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I met with Jim Paice, Defra Farming Minister and the other Devolved Administration Ministers, Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes, Welsh Government and Michelle O'Neill, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Devel…
24 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with organisations representing (a) farmers, (b) processors and (c) retailers in relation to the dairy farming sector.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the National Farmers Union of Scotland and Dairy UK on issues affecting the dairy sector. I have also had recent discussions with the retail sector regarding dairy and the need to ensure that producers rece…
24 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) ministers and (b) officials of the (i) UK and (ii) Welsh Assembly Government regarding the dairy farming industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I met with Jim Paice, Defra Farming Minister and the other Devolved Administration Ministers, Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes, Welsh Government and Michelle O'Neill, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Devel…
24 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the proposed voluntary code of practice for the dairy industry is implemented in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Farmers Unions and milk processors have agreed a Heads of Agreement on a voluntary code of practice. As the final points are negotiated through to the end of this month, my officials will be seeking regular updates on progress from both parties as they work t…
19 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-06938 by Keith Brown on 11 May 2012, other than discussion with stakeholders, what it is doing to disseminate information to the public to (a) help reduce concerns about the range and (b) promote the use of electric cars.
Answer · Keith Brown: The E-cosse partnership will seek to educate motorists on the many benefits of driving an electric vehicle, and also find ways of making them a more realistic and accessible option wherever possible. This will include consideration of suitable education and p…
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the conservation objectives of the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary harbour seal special area of conservation are met.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08686 on 9 August 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate any human-induced causes of the decline in harbour seal populations.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland has introduced Seal Conservation Areas in each of the regions which have recorded declines in common (or harbour) seal numbers. This includes strict limits on lethal seal management of common (or harbour) seals specifically to protect fisherie…
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its surveillance strategy is conducted at the appropriate resolution to detect all animals that strand as a result of sustaining characteristic spiral injuries.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland funds a specific extension to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme in Scotland to investigate seal deaths around Scotland, building on the existing strandings network around the coasts. We have also recently initiated a review of…
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to investigate the cause of the decline in harbour seal populations.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland is funding a major research programme, undertaken by the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrews University, to investigate the cause or causes of the decline in common (or harbour) seal populations since 2008. Further information on this resea…
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many marine mammals have been found along the coast with characteristic spiral injuries; in which seal management areas they were found; what species were involved, and in how many cases post mortems have been carried out since 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the period from 2007 to date a total of 33 grey seals, 28 common (or harbour) seals, and three harbour porpoise have been identified with characteristic spiral injuries. Eighteen of these were suitable for full post mortem and the majority of the others we…
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a new coal-fired power station consented before 2020 that becomes operational after 2020 will need to demonstrate full carbon capture and storage from day one.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As stated in the Scottish Government's draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement, any application for a new coal plant in Scotland from 9 November 2009 will need to demonstrate CCS on a minimum of 300MW (net) of capacity from their first day of their oper…
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the requirement for new coal-fired power stations to demonstrate full carbon capture and storage from day one from 2020 applies to plants (a) consented or (b) in operation from 2020.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As outlined in the Scottish Government's draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement, from 9 November 2009 any application for a new coal plant will need to demonstrate CCS on a minimum of 300MW (net) of capacity from the first day of operation. Further new…
27 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that young carers are identified by schools at an early stage so that they can be given appropriate support.