Parliamentary questions
Rhona Brankin
707 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11675 by Tavish Scott on 6 December 2004, when it expects the review of the Game Acts to be completed and when it will announce its proposals for reform.
Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish ministersare aware that the Game Acts would benefit from review. The timing of any suchreview is being considered alongside other priorities.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the number of alleged cases of wildlife crime is well recorded, including the number of incidents, the number investigated by the police, the number reported to procurators fiscal, the number prosecuted and the number securing a conviction.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Governmentwill address any recommendations on this matter raised by the reviews to be undertakenby HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and HM Chief Inspector of Prosecutions inScotland.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or representations it has received from (a) the public, (b) interested organisations, (c) the police and (d) the Crown Office regarding problems with the prosecution of wildlife crime.
Answer · Michael Russell: Their have been anumber of letters from the public expressing their dismay and outrage at therecent killing of a golden eagle in the Borders, and requesting firm action inpursuit of the perpetrator. There have been no representations from Police orthe Crown O…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all evidence available to the police is used as fully as possible in prosecuting alleged cases of wildlife crime.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: In considering anyallegation of criminal conduct reported by the police or other reporting agency,the Procurator Fiscal must first be satisfied that the circumstances disclose acrime known to the law of Scotland and that there is sufficient admissible, credib…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to enhance the (a) investigation and (b) prosecution of alleged wildlife crime.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: Procurators fiscalwork closely with investigating authorities to identify incriminating evidence ofalleged wildlife crime. In addition to the police and other reporting agencies,the National Wildlife Crime Unit, based in North Berwick, also provides analysts,…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many serving police officers act as (a) full-time and (b) part-time wildlife crime officers and whether it considers this number sufficient to address the extent of wildlife crime.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Across the ScottishPolice Forces, there are currently four full-time wildlife crime officers and approximately90 police officers who have received specialised training, in investigating wildlifecrime.</p><p>The deployment ofpersonnel to undertake wildlife cri…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases single farm payments, or any other subsidy have been withdrawn or reduced as a result of the occurrence of wildlife crime on the relevant land or the involvement in wildlife crime of the potential recipient and whether it will list the names of those so penalised.
Answer · Michael Russell: To date oneSingle Farm Payment recipient has had their payment reduced as a result ofwildlife crime. Three other cases are in the investigatory stage.</p><p>None of the recipient’sdetails can be released as this is personal information which is exempt frompub…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, for each chemical used in cases of actual or attempted illegal wildlife poisonings in the last 10 years, whether it will list the quantity recovered in the illegal bait and describe the impact on an average sized (a) pet dog, (b) human adult and (c) human child if one tenth of this quant…
Answer · Michael Russell: Records are notkept about the quantities recovered in illegal baits. Small samples are takenfor investigation, which then form the basis of the data held by the WildlifeIncident Investigation Scheme. The list of chemicals used in cases of illegalpoisoning ove…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the chemicals used in cases of actual or attempted illegal wildlife poisonings in each of the last 10 years, also indicating for each chemical whether it has a lawful use and what regulations are in place to limit use to such lawful uses.
Answer · Michael Russell: The use, supply,storage and advertisement of pesticides is regulated by a number of pieces oflegislation including the Control of Pesticides Regulations (<acronym>COPR</acronym>) and Plant Protection ProductsRegulations (<acronym>PPPR</acronym>).PPPR is the n…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what chemicals are listed in the Possession of Pesticides (Scotland) Order 2005; when it intends to review this list, and what steps it is taking to identify other chemicals that might be considered in future.
Answer · Michael Russell: The chemicalslisted on the Possession of Pesticides (Scotland) Order 2005 are Aldicarb, Alphachloralose, Aluminium phosphide,Bendiocard, Carbofuran, Mevinphos, Sodium cyanide and Strychnine. The list isdue for review in 2008. The Campaign Against Illegal Pois…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been provided to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to support the network of environmental specialists; whether these environmental fiscals routinely present the prosecution in cases of wildlife crime, and what the reasons are for the position o…
Answer · Frank Mulholland: All procuratorsfiscal are provided with the necessary training, development opportunities and guidancematerial to enable them to carry out their wide range of duties, including appropriateguidance on dealing with environmental and wildlife crime. In addition,…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of those convicted in the last 10 years of poisoning or possession offences involving the chemicals now listed in the Possession of Pesticides (Scotland) Order 2005 had their licences to use firearms or shotguns permanently revoked.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information at thelevel of detail requested is not available from the data held centrally.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list sentences passed on conviction for cases of (a) poisoning of wild birds, (b) illegal poisoning of wild or companion animals or placing of poisoned baits, (c) illegal possession of the commonly abused pesticides including those listed in the Possession of Pesticides (S…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The availablefigures are given in the following tables. Poisoning or trapping is notseparately identifiable in the data. The data held covers court proceedings inScottish courts, and so does not contain figures for England and Wales.</p><p>Persons with a Char…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many alleged cases of (a) poisoning of wild birds, (b) illegal poisoning of wild animals, (c) poisoning of dogs and cats, (d) poisoned baits where no victim was recovered, (e) trapping of wild birds, (f) trapping of protected animals, (g) illegal killing of wild birds other than by po…
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The information held centrally by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) does not distinguishwildlife crimes at the requested level of detail. Information is available to showthe number of charges reported to Procurators Fiscal in terms of the…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it makes to the budget of the UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit in North Berwick and whether it intends to maintain or increase this commitment.
Answer · Michael Russell: Lothian and BordersPolice currently provide support to the unit in the form of accommodation and othersupport services. We have undertaken to examine the case for additional financialsupport to the unit, which will include considering with the Association of …
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have (a) been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, (b) been prosecuted and (c) secured a conviction for offences under sections 5(1)(f), 11(1)(d) or 11(2)(f) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) relating to the causing or permitting of an offence in each of t…
Answer · Frank Mulholland: No such cases havebeen reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) forum on wildlife crime has met; what issues it has discussed, and what steps COPFS has taken to improve the prosecution of wildlife crime as a result of these discussions.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The Wildlife and HabitatsCrime Prosecution Forum has met three times since January 2006 and is due to meetagain in October 2007. Forum members have already discussed a broad range of issues,including inter-agency communication, information sharing and legisla…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a specialist task force of the members of Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime to consider and advise on the steps necessary to improve the investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime and, if so, by when it will ask such a task force to report.
Answer · Michael Russell: There are noplans to establish such a task force as the purpose of the partnership as awhole is to consider and advise on the investigation and prosecution ofwildlife crime.</p><p>I shall bechairing the next meeting of the partnership and will be leading a de…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the next meeting of Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime to be held; whether a minister will attend; whether it has sought the advice of this group on how to improve the investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime, and whether it will publish any such advice.
Answer · Michael Russell: The next meetingof the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime was scheduled for the 28<sup> </sup>September 2007. However, I have asked for this to bechanged to enable me to attend and chair. The principal topic for discussionwill be how to improve the…
6 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to continue the work previously undertaken by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following theelection, we have a small streamlined Cabinet of six and this requires eachCabinet Secretary to take a shared responsibility in delivering all of theGovernment’s Strategic Objectives. This approach will ensure thatsustainability issues are addres…
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many poisoned baits and dead birds have been found since May 1999, showing (a) the species involved, (b) when each was found and (c) the location, including the name of the estate where appropriate, and the nearest town or village.
Answer · Michael Russell: During the periodMay 1999 to August 2007 a total of 217 incidents involving 455 wild birds to betested for poisoning were submitted to the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency(SASA) and in which it was confirmed that poison had been the cause of death. Afurth…
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that carcases of poisoned wildlife are safely and securely disposed of once scientific evidence has been gathered from them.
Answer · Michael Russell: Where poisoning ofwildlife is suspected and carcases are sent by the police to the Scottish AgriculturalScience Agency’s (SASA) laboratories for examination, I can confirm that SASA securelystore such carcases until investigation or court proceedings are comp…
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a correlation between grouse shooting and poisoning of birds of prey.
Answer · Michael Russell: It is a matter forthe police and the prosecution authorities to draw inferences from evidence of criminalactivity. The Scottish Government considers that grouse shooting makes an importantcontribution to the rural economy of Scotland and also helps to maintai…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its climate change statement on 21 June 2007, how it calculated that an 80% target for reducing emissions by 2050 is equivalent to 3% a year.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Greenhouse gas emissionsfor Scotland in 1990, the base year for the Kyoto Protocol, were 17.62 mega-tonnesof carbon (MtC): a reduction of 80% by 2050 would result in emissions of 3.524 MtCin 2050. The most recent emissions inventory data available is from 200…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-270 by Richard Lochhead on 12 July 2007, what amount of agri-environment funding was distributed per hectare of utilisable agricultural land in 2005 and what the equivalent amounts were in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the Euro…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-269 on 18 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.searc…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-270 by Richard Lochhead, on 12 July 2007, what percentage of utilisable agricultural land was covered by agri-environment measures in 2005 and what the equivalent percentages were in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the European U…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requestedwas provided in the response to the answer to question S3W-270 on 12 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http:…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to deliver biodiversity gains if the Rural Stewardship Scheme agreements are allowed to expire.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Governmentworks closely with a wide range of partners and stakeholders across Scottish societyto deliver the aims of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. We will ensure that ruralland managers can continue to secure recognition for delivering biod…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that those who have practiced beneficial habitat management through the 226 Rural Stewardship Scheme agreements due to expire in 2007 can continue to do so.
Answer · Michael Russell: Participants in theRural Stewardship Scheme whose agreements are expiring in 2007 will have the opportunityto enter into Rural Development Contracts under the new Scotland Rural DevelopmentProgramme which we expect to secure EU approval later this year.</p>
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has met to discuss fisheries issues, also indicating how often he has met them.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since my appointmentI have had meetings to discuss fisheries issues with representatives of the ScottishFishermen’s Federation, Shetland Fishermen’s Association, Orkney Fishermen’s Association,Mallaig and North West Fishermen’s Association, Fishermen’s Associ…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-924 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2007, whether it intends to reconvene the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As I indicated tothe Parliament previously, I am currently considering the recommendations of theAdvisory Group of Marine and Coastal Strategy and it is my intention to announcethis government’s plans for Scottish Marine legislation in due course. At that tim…