Claudia Beamish

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reports of the illegal killing of seals were received by Marine Scotland in 2011.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No reports of the illegal killing of seals were received by Marine Scotland in 2011.

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what non-lethal methods have been reported to Marine Scotland as having been used by river fisheries and netting stations before applying for seal licences under section 110 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A wide variety of non-lethal options have been reported as having been attempted in river fisheries and netting stations but this has been accompanied by little or no scientific assessment of their effectiveness. The increasing use of practical and effective …

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration the National Marine Plan will give to the siting of new fish farms away from seal haul-out sites.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39492 on 4 March 2011. 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/parliamentarybu…

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seal licences were granted under section 110(1)(f) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 for new fish farms prior to the commencement of their operations in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In both 2011 and 2012 licence applications were only considered for fish farm which were already registered by Marine Scotland. If a new fish farm site is established during the year they must either apply for their own seal management licence or apply to be …

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a reduction in the number of potential biological removal of seals (PBR) used in 2012 when compared with the same period in 2011 and, if so, whether it considers that this is because of the further depletion of seal populations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The potential biological removal (PBR) figures for common seals in two seal management regions were marginally reduced. In one of these regions seal numbers had increased and in the other seal numbers had reduced.

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what data was used to establish the limits for the use of potential biological removals (PBR) of (a) grey and (b) common seals in 2012, broken down by seal management area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The basis for the potential biological removal (PBR) figures, which takes account of the latest population trends, can be found on the Marine Scotland web-site at: http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/SealLicensing/PBR.

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many site visits Marine Scotland has made to assess the use of non-lethal methods of deterring seals.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland has made no site visits specifically to assess the use of non-lethal methods of deterring seals. Instead Marine Scotland is currently supporting a number of scientific research studies on seal predation and the practicality and effectiveness o…

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what staff resources are available to (a) administer and (b) monitor the seal licensing scheme operated by Marine Scotland under section110 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Three staff posts are available, one each at B2, B1 and A4 grades respectively, to administer and monitor the seal licensing scheme. It should be noted, however, that seal licensing represents significantly less than 50% of each of their duties.

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of fish farms was on each licence issued under section 110 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012, and what the largest and smallest number of fish farms was per licence.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The average number of fish farms on each licence issued under section 110 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 in (a) 2011 is 6.6 and (b) 2012 is 7.4. The largest number of fish farms on any single licence is 32 and the smallest number 1.

23 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seal licences were issued during 2011 under section 110 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 to the nominated marksmen who (a) had undertaken and passed and (b) were still required to complete the relevant seal management course.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A Professional Development Award in Seal Management was developed and approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and local colleges commissioned to produce the necessary materials to deliver this course. Seal licences are issued to licensees and not in…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will lay before the Parliament a draft report on proposals and policies for meeting annual targets to cover the period 2023-2027 as stipulated by section 35 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We intend to lay a report on proposals and policies setting out how Scotland can meet annual targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for the period 2023-27 in the Scottish Parliament later this year.

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the strategic aims will be of its delegation attending the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Ministers strategic aim for Rio+20 is to share the evidence from Scotland on the growth potential of the green economy. Scotland has a very good story to tell on this key themes. We have put sustainable, low carbon growth at the centre of our economi…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been planned for its delegation that will attend the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and what will be discussed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05627 on 12 March 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/parliamentaryb…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will attend the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) on its behalf.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05627 on 12 March 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/parliamentaryb…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will send a delegation to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Ministers wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 February making the case for Scotland to have a place on the UK Delegation to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). The Secretary of State replied…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent the spread of the squirrel pox virus.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Red Squirrels in South of Scotland Project is carrying out grey squirrel control to isolate squirrelpox virus outbreak zones and establish pox containment around these areas in the south of Scotland. The Squirrelpox Surveillance Programme, which is made …

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to control numbers of grey squirrels.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Red squirrels are one of the species included in SNH’s Species Action Framework and are a focus for practical action. SNH prepared an interim Grey Squirrel Control Strategy following public consultation in April 2010. The Strategy sets out locations where gre…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what groups it provides with funding for work related to the conservation of the red squirrel.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government and its agencies provide funding to the following partnerships groups who carry out work in relation to the conservation of red squirrels in Scotland: Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels - Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritag…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is to be made available for the protection of the red squirrel until the end of the parliamentary session.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Natural Heritage is to provide funding of £350,000 for the Saving Red Squirrels Project between 2012-14. Additionally, the Scottish Government has committed funding of £2,733,930 between 2012 and 2016 to projects under the Rural Priorities element o…

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided for the protection of the red squirrel in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following funding has been provided for the protection of red squirrels in Scotland. 2007- 08 2008-09 2009-2010 2010-11 2011-12 Scottish Government SRDP 0 0 £148,740 £276,945 £413,845 Scottish Natural Heritage 0 £150,000 £175,000 £175,00…

10 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that the accidental bycatch of seabirds in fishing gear does not impact negatively on the favourable conservation status of special protection areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05609 on 9 March 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/parliamentarybu…

10 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established if the accidental bycatch of seabirds in fishing gear in the waters around Scotland out to 200 nautical miles has a negative impact on seabird populations.  

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05609 on 9 March 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/parliamentarybu…

10 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Marine Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage or any other public body records and monitors the accidental bycatch of seabirds in the fishing gear of vessels operating out to 200 nautical miles.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The UK by catch observer programme, between 1996 and 2010, has records for 1,552 observed trips on vessels using static net fishing gear in ICES Area IV and ICES area VII. These trips have resulted in 10,666 hauls being observed with only 74 hauls resulting i…

10 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-04383 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2011, whether it will identify (a) the 10 special protection areas with marine extensions that Marine Scotland has considered licence applications for, (b) the seven licence applicants, (c) the seven licence a…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The four marine licences that have received consent were granted to Shetland Islands Council, Aquamarine Power (2a), Wello Oy, and Shapensay Sound. The three applications which are still under consideration are Nova Innovation, Aquamarine Power (2b & c), and …

13 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review any guidance that it has made available to local authorities in relation to setting (a) kinship and (b) foster carer allowance.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: There are no current plans to review the guidance that is made available to local authorities in relation to setting a kinship and foster care allowance.

13 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has made available to local authorities in relation to setting (a) kinship and (b) foster carer allowance.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 provide the legislative framework for the planning and care of children who have been identified as needing to be looked after. Regulation 33 makes provision for the payment of allowances but does not dete…

13 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made toward meeting the commitment in its concordat with COSLA to ensure that kinship carers receive an allowance equivalent to that received by foster carers.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The level of kinship care payments are the responsibility of local authorities, who are best placed to determine local need. The Scottish Government recognises progress so far on delivering kinship care payments and we are committed to working with local auth…

13 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each local authority area are in receipt of kinship carer allowance.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Data on the number of kinship carers in receipt of kinship carer allowance is not held centrally.

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out on the appropriate balance between public and private sector finance to ensure delivery of the (a) £508 million and (b) £1,281 million required to reduce emissions from transport in 2012 and the period 2012-14 respectively, as set out in Low Carbon Scotlan…

Answer · Keith Brown: Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-22, the Scottish Government’s first climate change Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP) provides the current estimated costs for full delivery of the transport proposals contained within it. …

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates private sector investment in measures to promote walking and cycling will be for (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.

Answer · Keith Brown: Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-22, the Scottish Government’s first climate change report on proposals and policies (RPP) provides the current estimated costs for full delivery of the transport proposals contained within it. …