Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03804 on 10 November 2011. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Scottish Planning Policy provides that development that affects a SSSI should only be permitted where it will not adversely affect the integrity of the area or the qualities for which it has been designated, or when any such adverse effects are clearly outweighed by social, environmental or economic benefits of national importance. The circumstances are unique to each case and may only be considered on a case by case basis.

Sections 12 to 15 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 apply to the exercise of functions and operations by public bodies and consent by certain regulatory authorities which might damage a natural feature or features for which a SSSI has been notified. Further information is provided in the Act’s Explanatory Notes which are available via the following web address:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2004/6/notes/contents?view=plain.

Section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 applies to the exercise by a public body or office holder of any function on, or so far as affecting, any land which is or forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Action taken in accordance with the duty provided by section 12 is for relevant public bodies or office-holders to consider on a case by case basis. The Scottish Government has not published any specific guidance on this duty. Further information on section 12 is available in the Explanatory Notes which accompany the act.

It is planned that all the provisions of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 will be in force in January 2013.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association are considered by the Scottish Government to have the necessary knowledge and expertise in a Scottish context to carry out training in the setting of snares. It has not been necessary to seek additional accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.

Officials are scheduled to meet with colleagues in the UK Government’s Department for Education to discuss the issue of child performance in October of this year. It is the intention that this discussion will be followed by engagement with local authorities and other relevant organisations, with a view to bringing forward proposals in 2012 should changes to existing safeguards be considered necessary.

Information on the number of looked after children in kinship care for 2010-11, broken down by local authority, is not currently available. This information will be obtained from the Scottish Government’s 2010-11 Children Looked After Survey, results of which are due to be published in February 2012.

The latest statistics available showed that, as at 31 July 2010, of the 15,892 children being looked after by local authorities in Scotland, 3,172 were being looked after by friends and relatives.

The following table below shows the number of looked after children being looked after by friends and relatives, broken down by local authority, as at 31 July 2010:

Further information on these statistics can be found here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/02/18105352/0.

Number of Looked After Children at 31 July 2010 Being Looked After by Friends/Relatives by Local Authority

The local government funding package for 2008-11, agreed as part of the concordat, was not agreed item by item, but rather as a total amount within which it was agreed that local government would deliver a specified set of commitments. As part of the package the Scottish Government agreed to the removal of ring-fenced funding and allowed local authorities to retain any efficiency savings.

We consulted formally in January and February on the most effective way of providing independent monitoring of prisons.

The consultation received a significant number of detailed submissions which we are currently considering. A formal response will be published shortly.

We consulted formally in January and February on the most effective way of providing independent monitoring of prisons.

The consultation received a significant number of detailed submissions which we are currently considering. A formal response will be published shortly.