- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made for possible changes to the structure of Marine Scotland should such changes be made through the marine Bill.
Answer
The proposals in the Marine (Scotland) Bill do not provide for the structure of Marine Scotland.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any appointments already made to the Marine Strategy Board.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22764, on 8 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the high animal welfare standards achieved by the pig industry are adequately recognised by consumers.
Answer
The Scottish Government is encouraged to note that more consumers are now considering animal welfare issues when making purchasing decisions.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether advice given to ministers by Marine Scotland will be published.
Answer
Marine Scotland, as part of the Scottish Government, operates in accordance with the requirements of the freedom of information (FOI) legislation and fully supports transparency and openness. In line with our Six Principles of FOI we publish information proactively wherever possible. In relation to advice given to ministers, any decision to publish proactively or to release in response to a request for information, will be taken on a case-by-case basis. In such cases full consideration is given to the public interest in release as well as the public interest in the need to allow for the uninhibited exchange of views and advice between Ministers and officials so as to assist and protect the formulation or development of policy.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the membership of inshore fisheries groups to include representatives of conservation and sea angling groups.
Answer
Membership of an Inshore Fisheries Group (IFG) is open to commercial fishermen who operate in the IFG area. An IFG must liaise with all relevant stakeholders, such as recreational sea anglers and conservation groups, as it develops its management plan. Where locally appropriate we would expect these interests to be included formally within the IFG''s Advisory Group, which exists to provide expert advice to the IFG and to provide the necessary checks and balances to ensure robust management plans that accord with wider environmental, social, economic and management objectives.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure transparency in the decisions made by Marine Scotland.
Answer
Full, detailed arrangements in relation to Marine Scotland are being worked up, as part of the transition process during the current operating year. However, as part of Scottish Government, Marine Scotland is accountable, through ministers, to the Scottish Parliament. It will produce an annual report and a strategic plan and there will be arrangements for appropriate engagement with stakeholders. Generally, Marine Scotland will operate in a spirit of openness and transparency, subject to the need for uninhibited exchanges of views and advice to assist in the formulation and development of policy.
In the spirit of such arrangements, we have already published a Strategy Statement for 2009, setting out the planned initial programme of work and background to the establishment of Marine Scotland. It can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland2009strategystatement.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish an environmental court to consider appeals against the decisions of Marine Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Marine Bill proposes powers for subordinate legislation to set out an appeals process with regards to decisions relating to marine licensing. The appeals process will be subject to consultation.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish marine regions will engage with industry.
Answer
The Marine (Scotland) Bill includes proposed provisions for the delegation of regional marine planning to a lead authority, where appropriate, and a group of nominated stakeholders representing various marine interests of a Scottish Marine Region. The delegates will be referred to as Marine Planning Partnerships.
The Marine Planning Partnerships will engage with industry, NGO''s, communities and other marine interest groups through consultation on marine planning and through integrated coastal zone management as required through proposed provisions within the Marine (Scotland) Bill.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities will be provided by Marine Scotland for local communities to get involved in the process of marine planning.
Answer
The Marine (Scotland) Bill has proposed provisions with regards to consultation when preparing a national marine plan or regional marine plans.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure transparency in the operation of Marine Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22582 on 8 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.