Parliamentary questions

Elaine Murray

2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list who will be on the Marine Strategy Board.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Detailed arrangements for the Marine Strategy Forum, including its membership, remit, meeting and other arrangements, have not yet been decided. It is proposed that it will be established by July.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers its aim of reducing the number of public bodies to be more important than the establishment of clear lines of accountability and responsibility for the carrying out of marine science, planning, policy development, management and compliance monitoring measures.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No. There is no evident reason why both these aims cannot be achieved, to the benefit of Scotland.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be redundancies at existing bodies as a result of the establishment of Marine Scotland and, if so, how many.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There will be no compulsory redundancies. Some staff have elected to take advantage of early severance/retirement opportunities offered as part of a wider recent Scottish Government initiative to achieve efficiency savings. Although the final outcome of that …

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any cost savings projected in the budgets of existing bodies as a result of the establishment of Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Savings are, for a variety of reasons, difficult to estimate precisely at this stage. However, on the basis of analysis done to date on the Marine Bill and related delivery arrangements, we anticipate savings of around £1.5 million annually due to efficiency …

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where the headquarters of Marine Scotland will be.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland staff continue to occupy their existing premises, mostly in Edinburgh and Aberdeen but also at other locations throughout Scotland. The Director and most of the senior management team are located in Pentland House, Edinburgh although there are…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish coastal protection zones.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22587 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Marine Scotland will have a duty to ensure an integrated management approach in and between Scottish, Manx and UK waters, regional seas such as the Irish Sea and oceans such as the Atlantic.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21911 on 23 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Marine Scotland will ensure that the views of organisations with an interest in conservation and recreation are taken into account with regard to the management of inshore fisheries.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland has long established links with conservation and recreation groups on inshore fisheries matters. A number of these groups are members of SIFAG (Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group) which meets to provide advice and guidance on inshore fi…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that Marine Scotland has regard to the five guiding principles of sustainable development.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has as its overall purpose to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. This will deliver the princip…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure transparency in the operation of Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22582 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether advice from Marine Scotland to ministers will be published on an ongoing basis.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22581 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it will not retain the Fisheries Research Services as an independent advisory body.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22585 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it made its decision to absorb the research functions of the Fisheries Research Services into Marine Scotland.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that its marine research team will be able to preserve a reputation for independent scientific advice when it becomes part of the Scottish Government as part of Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Fisheries Research Services enjoyed an international reputation for its science which Marine Scotland intends to build upon. The establishment of a Science Advisory Board will safeguard independence and add to the quality of Marine Scotland Science.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it envisages on its marine research team’s ability to collect fisheries data as a result from combining research and enforcement functions in Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Access to high quality fisheries data is in the interests of both scientists and the fishing industry. Collaboration with scientists is supported by fishermen''s organisations providing a productive basis for continued data acquisition.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what drawbacks it envisages as a result of combining research and enforcement functions in Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We believe there are significant benefits overall in the creation of Marine Scotland. We recognise and have acknowledged, nonetheless, the need for reassurance about transparency and independence in relation to science and enforcement issues. As we h…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the setting up of Marine Scotland, what steps it is taking to ensure the continuation of close joint working between its marine research team and the fishing industry.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland Science has close working relationships with the fishing industry established under the former Scottish Government agency, Fisheries Research Services. Regular meetings are held with fishermen''s representative organisations including the Scot…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish marine regions will engage with communities.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22745 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish marine regions will engage with NGOs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22745 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish marine regions will engage with industry.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Bill includes proposed provisions for the delegation of regional marine planning to a lead authority, where appropriate, and a group of nominated stakeholders representing various marine interests of a Scottish Marine Region. The delegat…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish marine regions will be operational.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Bill includes proposals for powers for Scottish ministers to create Scottish Marine Regions. We will take steps to set up Scottish Marine regions after appropriate legislation is in place.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish marine regions will be set up.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22739 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish marine regions will be devised.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish marine regions will interact with coastal communities.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Bill includes proposed provisions for the delegation of regional marine planning to a lead authority or a group of nominated stakeholders. The delegates will be referred to as Marine Planning Partnerships. A Marine Planning Part…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether strategic marine planning will be carried out by the Scottish marine regions, local authorities or Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is proposed that Marine Scotland will be responsible for strategic marine planning which will be set out in the National Marine Plan. Legislative proposals are set out in the Marine (Scotland) Bill.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the Scottish marine regions to be set up.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is too early to draw up such a list. The Marine (Scotland) Bill proposes powers for Scottish ministers to create and identify the boundaries of Scottish Marine Regions. We wish to work carefully with key bodies and local stakeholders before bringing forwar…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship will be between Marine Scotland and the Scottish marine regions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish ministers intend that there should be a close and harmonious relationship between Marine Scotland and the proposed Scottish Marine Regions. The Marine (Scotland) Bill sets out proposals for the designation of Scottish Marine regions and the delegatio…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Marine Scotland will interact with the Scottish marine regions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22738 on 8 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what sort of appeals process it will develop for marine planning.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Bill proposes provisions for an independent investigation should there be controversy regarding a draft national marine plan or regional marine plan. It is also proposed that the validity of the national marine plan or a regiona…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the new marine licensing regime will work.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The marine licensing regime will be simplified where possible through provisions proposed within the Marine (Scotland) Bill.