Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government intends to make ID tags on snares compulsory. It will be the responsibility of individual police forces to determine how to investigate any contraventions of the law.

I hope to be able to lay an order amending legislative provisions on snaring before the Scottish Parliament before the end of the summer recess.

The Scottish Government intends to make failure to check the action of a snare before setting the snare an offence. It is intended that this new offence will assist in prosecuting the offence of setting a snare which has a self-locking action by removing the defence that the person who set the snare was not aware that the snare had a self-locking action.

The term translocated species, used on page 37 of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill Consultation Document, refers to species whose presence beyond their natural range results from intentional or accidental human intervention and would not be applicable to species within their natural range which make use of man-made structures in preference to, or in addition to, natural features.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24965 on 8 July 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.

Forty-five community bodies have successfully registered an interest in buying land since the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 was implemented on 14 June 2004. The number of community bodies registering in each calendar year is five in 2004; eight in 2005; nine in 2006; 10 in 2007; 14 in 2008; and two in 2009. Within the above figures, one body registered separate interests in 2004, 2006 and 2008. A second body similarly registered separate interests in 2005 and 2007. Two community bodies are currently in the process of registering their interest and their applications are being considered by ministers.

These 45 community bodies have made some 74 registrations in the Register of Community Interests in Land. Some community bodies have more than one registration (a registration is made in respect of land owned by one landowner).

As the community right to buy requires a willing seller (it does not involve a compulsory purchase of registered land), there is no certainty that a landowner will want to sell the land during the period when a community body has registered its interest. The purpose of these provisions in the act is to provide communities with the opportunity of a pre-emptive right to buy the land in which it has a registered interest should the right to buy be triggered. Community right to buy was never intended as the only way that communities achieve ownership of land.

The right to buy has been triggered in respect of 22 parcels of land relating to registrations held by 15 communities. While five registered communities have acquired their desired land using the full provisions of the act, an additional two have negotiated a successful purchase after having their interest registered. Beyond that, eight further community bodies had the opportunity to acquire registered land when it was offered for sale (i.e. triggering the right to buy) but failed to purchase. One community body has also successfully purchased, by negotiation, two pieces of land following approval of their application for registration under the act.

Experience of the practical operation of the community right to buy provisions led to revised guidance being published on 15 June 2009, which provides more hands-on advice on the required processes and procedures for community bodies, landowners, heritable creditors and third parties who may be affected by the provisions. A revised application form with provisions for re-registration, also came into force on that date.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 has only been in effect for a relatively short period of time and we are continuing to monitor the community right to buy provisions. If there is evidence that the provisions are not working as Parliament intended then a review of the act will be considered.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24965 on 8 July 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.

Employers wishing to re-employ apprentices whom they have made redundant may be able to claim support under the Adopt an Apprentice scheme. However, they would need to demonstrate that the circumstances which led to the redundancies have changed and that the jobs are now sustainable. The evidence provided will be considered by Skills Development Scotland on a case-by-case basis.

The financial incentive available through the Adopt an Apprentice scheme is available to employers who have recruited a redundant apprentice on or after the start date of 10 June 2009.

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 will come fully into force on 1 September 2009. Under the act, it will be possible for representatives of voluntary organisations to apply for an occasional licence. The Licensing Board must refuse the application if it considers that granting it would be inconsistent with one or more of the licensing objectives, which include protecting children from harm and protecting and improving public health. Where alcohol is to be sold for consumption on the premises, and children or young persons are to be allowed entry, the licence must set out the terms on which such entry is allowed.

The Scottish Government''s Alcohol Framework for Action sets out our next steps in tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland. The framework includes both specific legislative measures designed to effect change in the short term and actions which focus on creating and building an environment that supports cultural change in the longer term.

The framework includes a commitment to continuing to work with partners to develop and promote workplace alcohol policies, noting that the workplace can be a key point of connection with individuals in the promotion of a healthier relationship with alcohol.