Chamber and committees

SEPA is responsible for ensuring that Scottish Water meets the required standards regarding discharges of wastewater to the environment and in this instance has written to Scottish Water. SEPA as the appropriate regulator will decide how best to engage with Scottish Water regarding any alleged licence breaches and SEPA will keep me informed of any necessary action to be taken in respect of improvements to address any discharge into the environment. I will ask SEPA to also maintain close contact with you on progress.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16045 on 22 July 2013. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W–15595 on 24 June 2013. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W–15595 on 24 June 2013. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15595 on 24 June 2013. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W–15595 on 24 June 2013. 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.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) issued a consultation document on the possible introduction of legislation to create a statutory code and pub adjudicator. That consultation recognised that the proposals were not a reserved issue. Discussions with BIS are on-going to determine whether or not these proposals should be extended to Scotland. This consultation closed on 14 June. We encouraged Scottish interests to respond to the consultation on the basis that while we have not come to a formal view on whether to support this measure, if it were to progress as a UK Bill, Scottish industry interests will have been considered.

While we do not hold statistical data on the makeup of the pub trade, through discussions with the industry we have established that in England around 70% is leasehold and 30% freehold, whereas the Scottish industry is made up of 65% freehold and 35% leasehold (of which, less than half fall within the control of the larger Pub Companies). Of the seven large Pub Companies in operation in the UK, only three operate in Scotland. The interest of these large Pub Companies covers around 800 pubs (or around 16% of the market) in Scotland.

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism met with representatives from the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign to discuss the proposed introduction by the UK Government of an adjudicator and statutory code. The Scottish Government will work with the group to identify all relevant research to help understand the implications for Scotland. Official-level discussions have been held with the Scottish Licenced Trade Association, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, Heineken UK and the Pubs Independent Rent Review Scheme.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W–15595 on 24 June 2013. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W–15595 on 24 June 2013. 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.

The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 require an environmental impact assessment is undertaken before determining any planning application, or review of any mineral permission, for a quarry which is likely to have a significant effect on the environment. It is a matter for the planning authority to ensure that all relevant regulatory requirements are met before such applications are determined.