Parliamentary questions

Jamie McGrigor

1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the news that Stewart McNee (Dunoon) Ltd has gone into administration.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Upon being alerted to the situation by Michael Russell MSP I was very concerned to learn of events in respect of Stewart McNee Dunoon Ltd and the impact this would have on the employees concerned, their families and on the surrounding area. I oversaw the subs…

5 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of retailer businesses in the centre of Dunoon and decrease the number of empty shops.

Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Town Centre First Principle agreed with COSLA, together with the range of measures set out in the Town Centre Action Plan, set the conditions and underpin activity designed to tackle key issues such as empty shops, diversify town centre offer and t…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that fish processors were not adequately consulted before the proposed marine protected areas were published on 11 June 2015.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since April 2013 Marine Scotland has offered a range of opportunities for engagement at events to fishermen, Industry representatives, and any other stakeholders at locations throughout Scotland. This included 14 drop-in events at key locations during the 201…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 will lead to a major displacement and increased effort of scallop fishing in other areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The environmental report considered the implications of the various management approaches that were consulted on. This also considered the implication of 100% displacement of scallop dredging from each marine protected area. This report can be found at: http:…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow fishing organisations a time extension to the current consultation period on the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 to allow them to have adequate time to prepare socioeconomic reports on what they consider will be the impact of the …

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following requests from a number of stakeholders, Scottish Ministers extended the period for representations to 9 August 2015. Implementation of the new orders is now scheduled for 1 November 2015.

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns that its predicted economic impact assessments of the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 do not factor in the impact on processing and other associated economic activity and employment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26571 on 20 August 2015. 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…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns that the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 go beyond Scottish Natural Heritage recommendations and protected features.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The advice from Scottish natural heritage (SNH) with regards to the protected features at each site was either to remove, avoid or reduce limit pressure from various fishing activities. SNH did not specify how the advice should be met. The measures proposed a…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many scallop fishermen who dredge over hard gravel or rock and do not pull up mass marine vegetation might be affected by the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015; what support it can provide, and what discussions it has had with their representatives.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: All scallop dredge operations have a negative impact on the seabed to some extent. The estimated total impact on the annual revenue of the 103 boats potentially affected by the measures is approximately £300,000. This equates to 1.6% of the estimated annual g…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns that the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 will be used as a means to regulate fishing rather than a protection of limited marine features.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposed measures will regulate fishing activities to protect the marine environment. They will ensure that the conservation objectives of each marine protected area are furthered.

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of fishermen that material changes, which have not been the subject of consultations, have been made to the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has made changes to management proposals in response to views expressed through the public consultation. The sites with the greatest change are Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA, Small Isles MPA, South Arran MPA, and Wester Ross MPA. dr…

6 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the plans for proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 are consistent with statements in Scotland's National Marine Plan: A Single Framework for Managing Our Seas, that "all efforts should be made to agree the Strategy with [fish…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals are consistent with the national marine plan. The marine protected areas with the most significant mobile fishing gear activity all have a zonal management arrangement proposed to minimise disruption as far as possible. There has been considerab…

6 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the prohibition on mobile fishing gear in Broad Bay in the Western Isles since 1984 has led to an increase in (a) scallops and (b) other fish species in the area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The closure of broad bay was not to manage scallop fishing or protect scallop habitats. Broad bay was an important spawning and nursery ground for flatfish species, in particular the European plaice (pleuronectes platessa). The prohibition of mobile gear was …

6 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the agreed voluntary measures with Marine Scotland for a depth zoning approach to fisheries in the Summer Isles was not recognised in Marine Scotland's consultation paper ahead of the publication of details of the proposed Summer Isles' marine protected area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26569 on 20 August 2015. 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…

6 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the marine features that it is seeking to protect through the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 will be able to co-exist with current sustainable fishing activities.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposed measures have been designed to allow fishing activities to continue as much as possible within the marine protected areas. The scale of the measures varies depending on the potential level of impact that an activity could have on the protected ha…

6 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns among fishermen and processors that the economic impact of the proposed marine protected areas that were announced on 11 June 2015 has been significantly underestimated.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government provided estimates of economic impact in a set of business and regulatory impact assessments (BRIAs) and an updated set were published on 11 June 2015, taking account of the proposed management measures in the draft marine conservation…

6 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a zoning approach for prawn fishing vessels was not adopted as a proposal for the Mingulay Reefs area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: East Mingulay SAC was designated as a special area of conservation (SAC) in 2011 to protect both stony and biogenic reef habitats. This includes 100% of the only known lophelia pertusa reefs in UK inshore waters. The avoidance of physical disturbance and abr…

6 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received scientific advice suggesting that the voluntary depth restrictions on scallop dredging in the Summer Isles area is insufficient and should not continue and, if so, whether it will publish this.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish natural heritage (SNH) provided scientific advice relating to the impacts of activities on the protected marine features at each site. Advice specific to the summer isles was published in 2014 and can be seen from p25 onwards in the following documen…