Parliamentary questions

Mark Ruskell

1,773 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to compensate for the loss of EU funding through the LIFE programme that has supported conservation projects in Scotland, including several that are included in the Scottish biodiversity route map to 2020.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the European Commission’s LIFE programme in delivering environmental outcomes for certain areas not covered by other EU mechanisms or domestic funds. While existing Scottish LIFE projects already awarded fu…

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the condition is of each feature on designated sites in the Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, broken down by whether they are the responsibility of a public body.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: A file containing this information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 62137).

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which notified Site of Special Scientific Interest features in the Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park that are in unfavourable condition, including those where no change has been reported in between monitoring cycles, are the responsibility of (a) Fo…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: A file containing this information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 62136).

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding has been made available in each of the last five years to fund the (a) management and (b) monitoring of (i) Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (ii) Special Areas of Conservation and (iii) Special Protection Areas in order to improve their ecological condition.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: It is not possible to disaggregate the data for the amount of public funding for management and monitoring of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as a majority of SACs and SPAs…

12 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the regulation and use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: On 3 February 2021 thiacloprid loses EU and UK approval for use, joining clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam which have not been approved in the UK since 2018. The Scottish Government supported the regulatory decisions to restrict the use of these ins…

9 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on granting protected status to (a) hedgehogs and (b) hedgehog breeding sites from property developers.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As set out in the response to S5W-27518 answered on 28 February 2020, hedgehogs are listed on schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), which makes it illegal to kill or capture them using specified methods. One of the principles in Scottish Pla…

9 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of Scotland being declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, what measures are in place to ensure that gamebird breeders (a) register captive flocks and (b) comply with all relevant aspects of the legislation.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: a) It is a legal requirement for keepers of 50 or more birds (not necessarily of the same species) to register their birds with the Animal and Plant Health Agency. This information is regularly communicated to bird keepers and continues to be a key part of …

8 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33328 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 December 2020, how many Habitats Regulations Appraisals have been completed regarding applications for the release of non-native gamebirds in each of the last 10 years; whether Scottish Natural Heritage will publish…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: NatureScot have carried out two Habitats Regulations Appraisals in the last ten years in relation to applications for the release of non-native gamebirds. The appraisals were undertaken using expert advice from NatureScot ornithologists. Both Appraisals concl…

8 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33328 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 December 2020, whether NatureScot will publish its monitoring programme that led it to conclude that “there is little evidence to show that gamebirds are causing damage to European sites in Scotland”.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: NatureScot’s Site Condition Monitoring Programme measures the health of the notified features across all of Scotland’s protected areas, including European sites. The Programme also identifies underlying causes for unfavourable condition of features in order t…

8 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33328 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 December 2020, whether it considers its decision to take no action regarding the unregulated release of non-native gamebirds is consistent with the precautionary principle and the principle that preventative action …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As set out in the response to S5W-33328, there is little evidence to show that released gamebirds are causing damage to European sites in Scotland. However we will consider, with NatureScot, whether any additional monitoring or research into the impact of gam…

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue a further fleet compensation scheme or relief funding for the shellfish industry and, if so, whether this would be conditional on remote electronic monitoring.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Further support for the fleet and wider seafood sector is something I am presently considering, but I need the funding to do so. That is why I was so disappointed with the £8 million, one year, UK Government settlement for grant funding over 2020-2021. This f…

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of illegal scallop dredging in marine protected areas and other areas closed to such activity, and what information it has regarding whether any of the vessels being investigated have (a) been fitted with remote electronic monitoring equipment and (b) rece…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since March 2020, Marine Scotland Compliance has received a number of reports, involving 6 vessels, in relation to suspected illegal scallop dredging in MPAs or other closed areas. Marine Scotland Compliance fully investigates all reports of suspected illega…

30 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what partnership work (a) it undertakes and (b) its agencies undertake with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government and its agencies and public bodies undertake partnership work with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) through the following arrangements and projects: National Access Forum National Goose Forum National Spe…

30 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with farming communities to allay concerns in relation to badgers.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has regular dialogue with representatives from the farming sector and communities, principally through the Scottish General Animal Health and Welfare Stakeholder Group. This includes providing reassurance that the Scottish Government i…

30 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the growth and range of the badger population.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Badgers, and their setts, are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which prohibits killing or injuring a badger as well as disturbance or destruction of their habitats. Earlier this year the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protection and Powe…

30 Nov 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its involvement with BiFab, following reported comments from the company’s owner that ministers’ statements had been “inaccurate or untruthful”.

27 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its advice is on the shooting of mountain hares between December 2020 and the end of February 2021.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has always maintained that any large-scale culling that threatens the conservation status of mountain hares is not acceptable and that we expect all land managers to act responsibly and with restraint during this transitional period.

27 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advisory and/or steering groups it will establish to develop a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: No decisions have been taken in relation to the formation of any advisory or steering groups in relation to the development of a licensing scheme for grouse moor businesses.

27 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when a consultation on a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors will (a) commence, (b) finish and (c) report.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government will develop licensing proposals for grouse moor businesses as set out in the answer to S5W-33598, answered on 7 December 2020. The Scottish Government expects to carry out a public consultation on legislative proposals to implement th…

27 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role the (a) Scottish Gamekeepers Association, (b) British Association for Shooting and Conservation and (c) Scottish Land and Estates will play in the development of a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors between now and March 2021.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33598 on 7 December 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

27 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role environmental NGOs will play in the development of a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors between now and March 2021.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government will develop proposals for a licensing scheme for grouse moor businesses on a consultative basis, taking into account the views of all key stakeholders with an interest in grouse moor management, including environmental NGOs, land mana…

26 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32898 by Fergus Ewing on 30 October 2020, whether, within the work of the new steering group and priority workstreams of the Farmed Fish Health Framework, (a) it still plans to (i) scale up the use of cleaner fish, with a concurrent increase of the …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The new steering group will primarily focus on the priority workstreams outlined in the Scottish Government’s response to S5W-32898. Progress has been made in relation to previous commitments on cleaner fish, including the introduction last week of mandatory…

26 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27712 by Fergus Ewing on 16 March 2020, when it expects to receive the results of the research being undertaken by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre into the impacts of the use of thermal treatments for sea lice.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: After an initial delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 12 month project is due to start by the end of March 2021 with early results being available in autumn 2021.

26 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made within the Farmed Fish Health Framework towards the development of a standardised approach to the recording of on-farm mortality, and, further to the answer to question S5W-32898 by Fergus Ewing on 30 October 2020, whether, within the work of the new steering …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government takes the issue of mortality very seriously. As a member of the Farmed Fish Health Framework (FHFF), the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation has committed to undertaking analysis of mortality and considering a standardised approach …

25 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes to taxation it can make to address the reported widening inequality between small retail businesses and large corporations as a result of COVID-19.