Rhona Brankin

9 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release of 16 June 2007 entitled Keeping It Simple in the Countryside, what proportion of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s regulatory activity is directly related to the countryside.

Answer · Michael Russell: It is estimated that7% of SEPA’s charging income, which recovers the costs of SEPA’s regulatory activities,is directly related to the countryside. This includes the regulation of the agriculture,fish farming and forestry sectors. Approximately 3% to 5% of SEP…

9 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage has a role to play in urban environments.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage’sstatutory responsibilities are set out in the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991. All these responsibilities have relevancefor urban environments.</p>

9 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s regulatory activity is directed at farming.

Answer · Michael Russell: It is estimated thatbetween 3% and 4% of SEPA’s charging income, which recovers the costs of SEPA’sregulatory activities, comes from the farming and crofting sectors, and that between2% and 3% of SEPA’s staff routinely deal with businesses in these sectors.</…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Government intends to respond to the Teachers in Scotland 2007 statistics.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish government iscommitted to tackling violence and to reducing the rates of homicide in Scotland. Killingin the name of honour is murder and will be treated as such. The government isaware of the seriousness of the issues surrounding “honour killing…

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release on 19 June 2007, entitled “Keeping it simple in the countryside”, whether it will list any existing environmental objectives that are to be omitted from the operations of the reformed structure and, if there are none, whether it will confirm that the review pr…

Answer · Michael Russell: The development of a singleenvironmental and rural delivery service is intended to improve theeffectiveness of service delivery to customers. No change to the objectives orstatutory duties fulfilled through these activities is anticipated as a resultof this p…

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release on 19 June 2007, entitled “Keeping it simple in the countryside”, how a single body can be created without legislative change when existing legislation stipulates the existence of separate bodies.

Answer · Michael Russell: The delivery organisationshave been asked to develop proposals for a single environmental and ruralservice which results in a customer experience that feels like interaction witha single body, removing confusion and any duplication. Legislation stipulatesthe …

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release on 19 June 2007, entitled “Keeping it simple in the countryside”, whether it will list examples of “unnecessary red tape” that have been brought to its attention and by what process it has concluded that these are unnecessary.

Answer · Michael Russell: The project to develop asingle environmental and rural delivery service is intended to shift themanagement of complexity from the customer by integrating services currentlyprovided by multiple bodies. The proposal from the delivery organisations willdraw on t…

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release on 19 June 2007, entitled “Keeping it simple in the countryside”, what steps it intends to take to ensure the independence of each body’s decision-making where this is necessary to provide ministers, or others, with independent, expert advice.

Answer · Michael Russell: The key driver in developinga single environmental and rural delivery service is to provide the customer;the land manager, farmer or community group, with a simpler and more accessibleservice through the integration of day-to-day delivery activities. The deli…

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release on 19 June 2007, entitled “Keeping it simple in the countryside”, what plans it or its agencies have to consult stakeholders on any new arrangements to be proposed.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Project Board to beestablished for the development of the new single environmental and ruraldelivery service will, in line with best practice in project management,include key user representatives from the stakeholder community as well as thedelivery orga…

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the Waverley railway project through Midlothian and the Borders.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executiveremains committed to the Waverley railway project on the same terms as the previousadministration.</p>

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the objectives of the existing Sea Fisheries Strategy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I intend to work inpartnership with the industry to take forward many of the aspirations in the SeaFisheries Strategy and the proposals in the SeaFAR Action Plan.</p><p>Working with the industry,I shall keep the strategy and action plan under review to make s…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to convene the next meetings of the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group and Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group; whether the membership of these groups has been reaffirmed and, if there are no plans to reconvene the group, what the reasons are for its position o…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I have set out myplans for the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group (SeaFAR) in my answer toquestion S3W-923 on 28 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be fo…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that, during any fisheries negotiations he attends and at other times, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is aware of environmental, scientific and community perspectives as well as those of the fishing industry.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I intend to treatScotland’s fishing sector as a priority and to ensurethat it has a stronger voice in international fisheries negotiations. In order toachieve this I shall be seeking direct input and advice from all those with an interestin fishing communitie…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the organisations that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has met to discuss fisheries matters since his appointment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since my appointmentI have had meetings with the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Shetland Fishermen’sAssociation, Orkney Fishermen’s Association, Mallaigand North West Fishermen’s Association, Fishermen’s Association Ltd and the ScottishFishermen’s Organisat…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to appoint a new chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Answer · Michael Russell: A new Chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is expected to be appointed to servefrom 1 January 2008.</p>

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it received from (a) organisations and (b) individuals to its consultation on a coastal and marine national park; in each case, how many of these responses were (i) in favour of, (ii) against or (iii) expressed no opinion about such a park and, in the case of responses …

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A report summarisingresponses to the Executive’s consultation on proposals to establish Scotland’s first Coastal and Marine National Park was published on 1 March 2007. The report is available on the Scottish Executive’swebsite at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.sc…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since his appointment the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has (a) met or spoken to representatives of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and (b) met representatives of other marine industries or relevant stakeholders.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since my appointmentI have met many stakeholders with an interest in marine matters. I have met withrepresentatives of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation on three occasions.</p>

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reconvene the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy and when it will announce its intentions with regard to the implementation of this group’s recommendations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I have previouslyindicated to the Parliament our intentions and on Tuesday 19 June 2007 at the Oceans 07 conference in Aberdeen I re-iterated my support for a Scottish Marine Bill.These discussions are continuing. Broadly, we believe marine legislation should…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reconvene the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group and when it will announce its intentions with regard to the Sea Fisheries Strategy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am keen to workwith the industry to take forward many of the proposals developed by the SeaFisheries Advisory and Reference (SeaFAR) Group.</p><p>I am currentlyreviewing the format and purpose of the group and will be meeting stakeholderssoon to discuss the…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government concerning the provisions of the UK Marine Bill or any proposed Scottish Marine Bill and when it will announce its legislative intentions with regard to the protection of the marine environment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: On Monday 18 June 2007 I met with the Secretary of State for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs, his fellow ministers and with ministers from thedevolved administrations. We discussed many matters including the UK MarineBill.</p><p>I have previouslyindicated …

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the commercial fish stocks in Scottish waters that are considered to be below safe biological limits and what steps it is taking to restore these stocks to favourable status.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The only stocks inScottish waters that are currently assessed by International Council<b> </b>for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) as below the safe biological limit (Blim)are North Sea cod and west of Scotland cod. Both stocks are covered by EU recovery pla…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered fishing boats there are in Scotland; what the estimated GDP contribution was by the fish catching sector in each of the last three years, and what proportion of total Scottish GDP this represents.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information on thenumber of Scottish fishing vessels on 31 December 2006 was published on 30 May 2007 in table 2 of the Statistical News Release presentingprovisional 2006 Sea Fisheries Statistics. Copies of this publication are availablein the Scottish Parli…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual farmers or crofters are registered in Scotland to receive subsidies; what total amount was paid in single farm payments and other subsidies to these farmers and crofters in each of the last three years, and what proportion of these payments was subject to conditions ot…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In 2006 there were21,259 individual farm businesses registered in Scotland to receive subsidies, the most recent figure available for 2007 is 21,036.</p><p>The Single Farm PaymentScheme was introduced in 2005 and payments under the scheme run from 1 Decembere…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the functions or structures of Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; whether any such review will include other bodies and agencies; what consultation it is planning with stakeholders, and when it will announce its intentions.

Answer · Michael Russell: The landscape ofpublic sector delivery is crowded. As the Cabinet Minister for Finance andSustainable Growth indicated on 24 May 2007, weintend a wide ranging review of this landscape so that we can, if necessary,make changes that both create efficiencies but…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Scottish Government is taking to eliminate illiteracy among schoolchildren.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers were giveninformation that showed the cost of the Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine rail link had more than doubled from the original estimates.At the same time, ministers were also given information on the transport programmeas a whole. It later transp…

6 Jun 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ease traffic congestion in the Edinburgh city region.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Tackling traffic congestion inthe Edinburgh city region is the responsibility for SESTRAN and therelevant local authorities. The Scottish Executive will continue to work closelywith those bodies in meeting the transport needs of Edinburgh andits surrounding a…

1 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget it has calculated for the Scottish Rural Development Programme period for the following Axis 2 elements: (a) ongoing commitments to honour existing agreements in respect of environmentally sensitive areas, the Countryside Premium Scheme, the Rural Stewardship Scheme, the Organ…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As I announced during the Debateon the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 on 31 May 2007, the newprogramme will cost approximately £1.6 billion.</p><p>On the specific points raisedin this question and taking them in order, I can confirm that:</p><p>…

1 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive from which budget the £70 million funding to lower voluntary modulation will come and whether any environmental objectives will be adversely affected.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Resource allocationsfor the three years beginning 2008-09 for rural development and all other partsof my portfolio will be agreed later this year in the <i>2007 Spending Review</i>.Without prejudice to the outcome of that review, I expect to be able to fund t…

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ guidance on the biodiversity duty under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and whether it intends to issue any parallel guidance in relation to the biodiversity duty under sect…

Answer · Michael Russell: I am aware of the guidancelaunched by the Department forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)to support public authorities in England and Wales implementing the biodiversity duty brought in underthe Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.</p…

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its best estimate is of the costs of (a) securing favourable conservation status for Scotland’s Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation classified under the EU birds or habitats directives and (b) meeting the objectives of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan in Scotland…

Answer · Michael Russell: The best estimateof the costs to ensure that appropriate management is in place for Natura featuresto achieve favourable condition is approximately £6 million a year. This figuretakes account of the need to put in place appropriate management where featuresar…