John Finnie

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mitigate any economic damage to the islands as a result of the operation of remote airport towers throughout the HIAL network.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The aim of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s (HIAL) Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy (ATMS) Project is to ensure the continuation of air services in the medium to long term, which in turn helps secure the economic prosperity of remote and rural com…

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in place to prevent damage by irresponsible tourists in the Highlands and Islands when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Visitor Management Group published a series of actions on 19 March that the Scottish Government and its agencies will take to support rural visitor management in 2021. This includes increasing the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund to £6.2m in 2021-22 and…

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of remote electronic monitoring equipment on Scottish inshore fishing vessels.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Modernisation of the Inshore Fishing Fleet Programme will equip our commercial inshore fleet with appropriate and proportionate vessel monitoring and tracking systems. The Programme is part of our recently published Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030…

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation (a) it and (b) its agencies undertook prior to the lodging of the Red Rocks and Longay Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Order 2021 in respect of each of the prohibited activities.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-36147 on? 22 March 2021 for details of the groups which Scottish Government consulted with. This allowed Scottish Government officials to engage with the groups representing mobile fishing, static fishing, sca…

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it had with affected commercial and industry bodies regarding the Red Rocks and Longay Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Order 2021; what was discussed, and whether these meetings changed its proposals.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Scottish Government officials undertook a series of stakeholder engagement meetings. Although consultation is not necessary when using urgent powers within the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, these meetings allowed local stakeholders to be involved in shaping the…

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence base it used to prohibit each activity in the Red Rocks and Longay Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: NatureScot provided the Scottish Government with advice on the flapper skate nursery area on 26 October and 18 December 2020. This advice is published here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/protection-flapper-skate-naturescot-advice-scottish-government-rega…

10 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to classify marine Special Protection Areas in Orkney waters, as recommended by the Scottish Natural Heritage and Joint Nature Conservation Committee report, ‘Final advice and recommendations on a network of proposed marine Special Protection Areas’, which was published o…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Marine Scotland are currently in close dialogue with NatureScot and other interested parties in order to address outstanding objections raised through public consultation on the proposed Special Protection Areas in Orkney. A Ministerial announcement is expect…

5 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35256 by Fergus Ewing on 4 March 2021, in light of the comment by the cabinet secretary that the "information required to estimate the total number of sea lice in salmon farms each year is not held by the Scottish Government and therefore we cannot …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The data which Marine Scotland has analysed to determine the general trend in average sea lice numbers per fish in recent years is monthly data which has been published by the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation via their website and which has been in the …

3 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Infrastrata to discuss the future of the BiFab yards at Methil and Arnish.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: InfraStrata made contact with Scottish Government officials on 3 February 2021, confirming their intention to acquire the business and assets of BiFab through the Administration process. Officials in Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise ha…

3 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the potential impact on (a) the economy and (b) workers of the establishment of freeports.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has considered all the relevant evidence and information carefully in developing our approach to green ports in Scotland. This includes commissioned research from Edinburgh University’s School of Economics; open source research, includ…

3 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that establishment of freeports does not lead to the displacement of jobs from other parts of country,

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has developed a green port model tailored to the Scottish context. We are mindful of the risk of economic displacement within Scotland and between Scotland and other parts of the UK. Our green port model focuses on encouraging innovati…

3 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it has had with Crown Estate Scotland regarding the potential impact on the ScotWind Leasing process of its greenports policy.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A just transition to a net zero economy will be a fundamental component of green ports in Scotland and offshore wind will have a critical role to play in that transition as we work towards delivering up to 11 GW by 2030 and net zero in 2045. The ScotWind lea…

26 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it will take to address any concerns of coastal communities regarding damage to the marine environment from the further expansion of salmon farming before all the issues outlined in the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee's 2018 Report on the environmental …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The environmental impacts of aquaculture largely depend on the circumstances in which the fish are produced and regulated, and on both, I can confirm that we have one of the most rigorous regulatory regimes in the world. The Scottish Government and its agenc…

26 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of damage to the marine environment it would support in furtherance of the economic interests of the salmon farming industry.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The environmental impacts of aquaculture largely depend on the circumstances in which the fish are produced and regulated, and on both, I can confirm that we have one of the most rigorous regulatory regimes in the world. Salmon farming is a vital sector for …

24 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support it has provided to Global Energy to develop the Nigg Energy Park since its purchase of the Nigg base, and what projects have been supported.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Government have not provided any funding directly to Global Energy Group for Nigg Energy Park development. However, I am aware that funding has been provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and to be helpful, I have asked Highlands and Islands En…

24 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support (a) it has and (b) its agencies have provided to the Port of Cromarty Firth since 1999, and what projects have been supported.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not centrally hold details of payments made to the Cromarty Firth Port in the period 1999 to 2009. For the period since 2009, I would refer you to the answer given to your question S5W-31477 on 11 September 2020, which details fin…

23 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity’s recent engagement with the Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group, whether it will outline the group’s recommendations to the Parliament, alongside publishing its final report.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group was established by the Scottish Parliament as an independent stakeholder Group. As an independent Group, it is for the Group to determine when to publish, and how to present their recommendations to Parliame…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the extent to which people are victims of online fraud.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are challenges in seeking to assess the extent to which people in Scotland are victims of online fraud. As with other types of crime, not all cases are reported to the police, whilst the term ‘online fraud’ can potentially encompass a wide range of inci…

18 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether evidence showing that habitats of most importance to porpoises are most likely to be affected by acoustic deterrent devices has been factored into the licensing regime for such devices.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: In accordance with regulation 44 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, in certain circumstances licences may be granted by the appropriate authority to undertake activities which would normally constitute an offence against a European …

18 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it adjusts its model for determining whether a species can be restored to, or maintained at, Favourable Conservation Status, in response to new data.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Under Article 17 of the European Union’s (EU) Habitats Directive, the UK was required to assess and then report upon the conservation status of European Protected Species. The most recent report was made in 2019 and the UK assessments can be found on the Join…

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Marine Scotland monitors the deployment of acoustic deterrent devices on salmon farms that do not have a European protected species licence.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: As required by the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020, the report submitted on 1 March to Parliament on the use of ADDs at Scottish finfish farms includes a chapter on the sufficiency of existing monitoring of ADD use…

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cetaceans it estimates will be disturbed or injured due to acoustic deterrent device use being included in all applications for European protected species licences received by Marine Scotland.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: There are currently no active applications for European Protected Species licences for the use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices at fish farms. Marine Scotland will give due consideration to any European Protected Species licence applications that are submitted, …

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the total number of sea lice in salmon farms in each of the last five years, taking into account the number of lice per fish and the biomass of fish on the farms.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The range of information required to estimate the total number of seal ice in salmon farms each year is not held by the Scottish Government and therefore we cannot provide such an estimate. However data on average number of sea lice per fish indicates a down…

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Marine Scotland will licence the use of acoustic deterrent devices on salmon farms prior to laying the report on their use before the Parliament, as required by the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The report was laid before Parliament on 1 March 2021. There are currently no active applications for European Protected Species licences for use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices at fish farms. Marine Scotland will give due consideration to any European Protecte…

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional biomass of farmed salmon and trout has received consent since the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee concluded in its report, Salmon farming in Scotland, that "urgent and meaningful action needs to be taken to address regulatory deficiencies as well as fish heal…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) introduced a more stringent regulatory framework for marine finfish aquaculture in June 2019 following the recommendations of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee Salmon farming in Scotland report, and…

21 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government against what criteria applications for licences to provide water or sewerage services are assessed.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Water Industry Commission grants water and sewerage services licences if it is satisfied that an applicant is able to perform adequately the activities authorised by the licence. Throughout the licence application process, the Commission reviews an applic…

21 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors organisations that are licensed to provide water or sewerage services to ensure that they are meeting their licence conditions, and what action can be taken if these conditions are breached.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Water Industry Commission for Scotland monitors licensed providers’ compliance with their licence by reviewing the complaints and enquiries that it receives from customers and other stakeholders. The Commission also liaises with the Scottish Public Servic…

21 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to protect commercial customers from harassment by utility providers.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Regulation of the energy and telecoms sector are reserved to UK Government. In relation to water and sewerage charges, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland regulates the market and Licensed Providers have their own complaints processes which can be foll…

21 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to protect business customers affected by COVID-19 restrictions from harassment by utility providers.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34730 on 29 January 2021. 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…

18 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will examine making the provision of an assessed number of suitable public conveniences a statutory local authority duty, and ensure that necessary funding is made available to councils to address a reported shortage of this public health resource.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government does not have direct responsibility for public toilets. The responsibility for public conveniences rests with the owner, which can be a variety of different bodies, such as local authorities, businesses, community organisations and tou…