Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-26168

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the pension deficit or surplus is for each public sector organisation.

Full actuarial valuations of the Scottish NHS, teachers’, police and firefighters’ pension schemes, based on pension scheme data as at 31 March 2012 have recently concluded. Reports of those valuations by the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), together with supporting papers (such as on data, methodology and assumptions) are published on the Scottish Public Pensions Agency’s (SPPA’s) website: sppa.gov.uk and have been lodged with SPICe.

Required under the UK Government’s Public Service Pensions Act 2013 these actuarial valuations measure the cost of benefits being provided in these ‘unfunded’ pension schemes under a methodology set out by HM Treasury via The Public Service Pensions (Valuations and Employer Cost Cap) Directions 2014. As required by those directions, the valuation reports set out GAD’s assessment of notional scheme assets against accrued scheme liabilities and therefore the notional pension scheme deficit/surplus under that methodology. The treasury directions also require employer contribution rates payable to each scheme from April 2015 to be adjusted to take account of the notional deficit/surplus.

Funding valuations of each of the eleven pension funds which comprise the Local Government Pension Scheme in Scotland have also recently concluded. Reports of each of these valuations are available from each of the administering authorities for those funds, whose website addresses are:

Strathclyde Pension Fund: http://www.spfo.org.uk

Lothian Pension Fund: http://www.lpf.org.uk

North East Scotland Pension Fund: http://www.nespf.org.uk

Tayside Superannuation Fund: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/pensions

Scottish Borders Pension Fund: http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/pensions

Dumfries and Galloway Pension Fund: http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/

Falkirk Council Pension Fund: http://www.falkirkpensionfund.org

Fife Council Pension Fund: fifedirect.org.uk

Highland Council Pension Fund: http://www.highlandpensionfund.org/

Orkney Islands Pension Fund: http://www.orkney.gov.uk

Shetland Islands Pension Fund: http://www.shetland.gov.uk

Question reference: S4W-26144

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that fish farms have measures in place to prevent salmon escaping into the wild.

All authorised fish farm businesses in Scotland are inspected under the Aquaculture & Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 by Marine Scotland for satisfactory measures in place to contain fish and prevent escapes with a range of sanctions available where non-compliance is identified.

The Aquaculture & Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013 includes specific powers to prescribe statutory technical requirements to ensure the installation and deployment of fish farming equipment that is well maintained and appropriate for site conditions. It also imposes a duty for training to use prescribed equipment and requirements on operators to keep records.

On 11 June 2015, The Scottish Government published a Technical Standard for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, available at: www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/5747

Alongside statutory training, the standard will ensure all finfish farms in Scotland have the appropriate equipment and operational procedures to help prevent escapes.

Question reference: S4W-26145

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many fish farms have exceeded their sea lice infestation limit in each of the last 10 years, and what action it took.

There is no statutory limit for a maximum number of sea lice allowable on any aquaculture site or on any individual aquaculture animal. There are sea lice treatment threshold limits within The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Farming – National Treatment Strategy. The SSPO also publishes quarterly fish health management reports which include sea lice counts for 30 areas across Scotland http://scottishsalmon.co.uk/category/science-behind-fish-farming/fish-health/.

Question reference: S4W-26132

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that the rivers and lochs in the north west provide a healthy environment for wild salmon and trout.

The River basin management plans (RBMP) introduced in response to the EU Water Framework Directive, identifying water bodies that are at risk of failing to meet good ecological status or good ecological potential and prioritises them for improvement. Assessment of local fish assemblages including Atlantic salmon contributes to the overall ecological status of water bodies. Consequently, where local salmon populations are impacted by anthropogenic activity, this should trigger a downgrade of the waterbody status and subsequent management action through the RBMP process.

Question reference: S4W-26183

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how often inspections are carried out (a) on levels of sea lice, (b) on levels of pollutants surrounding fish farms, (c) of fish entering the food chain and (d) of the effect of fish farming on wild salmon.

(a) Marine Scotland’s fish health inspectorate monitors sea lice on fish farms through a programme of sea lice inspections and enhanced sea lice inspections. A basic sea lice inspection is conducted whenever aquaculture facilities in seawater are visited, an enhanced inspection is completed in cases where elevated lice numbers have been observed, reported or the site is considered to be at greater risk of elevated sea lice numbers. The number of inspections carried out is noted in the following table:

	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015 (to date)
Basic Inspection	24	250	188	122	90	106	86	52
Enhanced Inspection	2	22	7	10	27	14	29	14

(b) The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for the regulation and monitoring of pollution in the environment arising from fish farming and other sectors. Marine cage fish farms are subject to a system of inspections to determine compliance with conditions in licences issued under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. These conditions are imposed in order to ensure the protection of the environment. Such inspections are ordinarily undertaken on two occasions per year in connection with each authorised marine cage fish farm site and will typically involve an inspection of the cage site and/or potentially any associated shore base plus an inspection of records held at the operating company offices.

In addition to these inspections, marine cage fish farm sites are subject to formal monitoring requirements with operators being required to undertake monitoring of the seabed to show the seabed conditions at each farm being during each growth cycle. A salmon growth cycle lasts around 20 to 22 months and the monitoring must be undertaken when the level of stock in the site is at or close to the maximum permitted – normally in the second year of the growth cycle. The monitoring work is typically undertaken by consultants employed by the fish farm operating company with the results being reported to SEPA. SEPA assesses each survey and classifies the quality of seabed conditions based on compliance with published standards.

In addition to these self-monitoring surveys commissioned by farm operators, SEPA carries out audit work related to seabed monitoring on a small number of sites, perhaps 5 to15 sites annually. Some of these surveys involve SEPA taking samples and analysing these or using other techniques such as accompanying the fish farmer and their consultants to assess the veracity of their survey and sampling methodology.

(c) Inspections of farms producing fish for human consumption are carried out by local authorities according to the Food Law Code of Practice (Scotland) under the food establishment rating scheme which determines inspection frequency based on risk.

(d) There are no inspections made of the effect of fish farming on wild salmon in Scotland. Marine and freshwater fish farms are authorised by local authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act 1997. Prior to determining an application, the local authority conduct a detailed assessment of the potential impacts of the proposal on the environment, including wild salmonids, and will seek advice from statutory consultees (including SEPA, Scottish Natural Heritage and the local district salmon fishery board). The Scottish Government is also working with Scotland’s salmon farming industry and representatives of the wild salmon sector on a strategic programme of further research that includes a study to explore any impacts of sea lice from fish farming in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-26139

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how it protects wild salmon and trout from lice.

Sea lice are marine parasites that occur naturally on many different species of wild fish including wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout. Marine Scotland’s Fish Health Inspectorate monitors sea lice on fish farms through a programme of sea lice inspections and enhanced sea lice inspections. A basic sea lice inspection is conducted whenever aquaculture facilities in seawater are visited, and an enhanced inspection is completed in cases where elevated lice numbers have been observed, reported or the site is considered to be at greater risk of elevated sea lice numbers.

Question reference: S4W-26133

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many fish farms have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in each of the last 10 years for not adhering to the guidelines and regulations governing their operation.

The following information has been provided by Marine Scotland Science, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) regarding the regulation of fish farms over the last 10 years:

Marine Scotland Science - (a) 0 prosecutions (b) 0 convictions

Food Standards Scotland - (a) 0 prosecutions (b) 0 convictions

SEPA - (a) 6 prosecutions (b) 6 convictions.

There are also a further two cases from 2014 in the court system at the moment.

Question reference: S4W-26143

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the (a) establishment and (b) operation of fish farms in river systems that contain wild salmonids.

As laid out in the National Marine Plan (NMP), with due regard to the marine environment, the Scottish Government supports the aquaculture industry’s targets for sustainable growth of aquaculture. Alongside existing regulatory controls including an Environmental Impact Assessment, the NMP provides a framework which aims to minimise and mitigate the environmental impacts of developments through, among other things, appropriate siting of farms in relation to protected species and wider biodiversity interests. The NMP also maintains the continuing presumption against further marine finfish farm developments on the north and east coasts to help safeguard migratory fish species.

Marine and freshwater fish farms (both shellfish and fin fish) are authorised by local authorities who will give regard to the NMP when considering applications. Prior to determining an application, the local authority will conduct a detailed assessment of the potential impacts of the proposal on the environment, including wild salmonids, and will seek advice from statutory consultees (including The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage, the local district salmon fishery board and Marine Scotland).

Once in operation, fish farming businesses are authorised by Marine Scotland under the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009, and inspected regularly for disease control, containment measures and sea lice management. They also require consent from SEPA who conduct a programme of monitoring and evaluation of the use of medicines at each fish farm, ensuring that consent conditions are not breached.

Question reference: S4W-26135

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that fish farms adhere to the required withdrawal period between treatment of sea lice infestation and products entering the food chain, and what enforcement action has been taken when producers have not done so.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is the competent authority in the UK responsible for the testing of food producing animals for residues of authorised veterinary medicines products and prohibited substances. Sampling officers from Marine Scotland take around 1,500 samples from fish farms per annum which are analysed by the VMD in accordance with EU standards. If a sample contains an authorised substance above its Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) (which may mean the withdrawal period has been breached), then a Marine Scotland fish health inspector carries out a follow up investigation at the farm of origin to determine the cause of the residue. The appropriate follow up action is decided, in discussion with VMD where necessary. This activity is in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC and implementing legislation The Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits)(England and Scotland) Regulations 2015: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/787/regulation/32/made

No samples were found to contain residues of authorised medicines in fish in 2013, 2014 and 2015 to date. Full details of results can be found by searching for ‘residues surveillance’ at: www.gov.uk

Question reference: S4W-26141

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what account it takes of the paths of migrating salmon and sea trout smolts (a) prior to and (b) following the granting of planning permission for the siting of fish farm cages.

Marine and freshwater fish farms (both shellfish and fin fish) are authorised by local authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act 1997.

Prior to determining an application the local authority conduct a detailed assessment of the potential impacts of the development, which will be likely to include migrating salmon and sea trout smolts. As part of this assessment they will seek advice from their statutory consultees (including The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage, the local district salmon fishery board and Marine Scotland), as well as taking account of representations from others.

As a consultee, Marine Scotland provides advice on: environmental consequences; effects on wild salmonids and fish health issues associated with the proposed development.

Once in operation, fish farming businesses are authorised by Marine Scotland under the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009, and inspected regularly for disease control, containment measures and sea lice management. They also require consent from SEPA who conduct a programme of monitoring and evaluation of the use of medicines at each fish farm.

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