The aim of the Stakeholder AdvisoryGroup (SAGE) on ELF (extremely low frequency) and EMF (electric magnetic fields)process is to allow stakeholders to consider implications of a precautionary approachto power frequency electric and magnetic fields and make practical recommendationsfor precautionary measures. The Scottish Executive representative has offered factualadvice to the SAGE group on issues relevant to developments in Scotland.

A background briefing note onStakeholder Advisory Group (SAGE) on ELF (extremely low frequency) and EMF (electricmagnetic fields) was placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 38663) in January 2006. This includes details of the group’s remit.

The Scottish Executive is representedon the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAGE) on ELF (extremely low frequency) and EMF(electric magnetic fields) by a Senior Scientific Adviser from the Scottish ExecutiveHealth Department. He attends meetings of the main SAGE Group which are held atapproximately six month intervals.

The Scottish Executive iscurrently considering how it shall respond to the European Green Paper onMaritime Policy and is doing so in close co-operation with the UK Government. Engagingwith stakeholders is vital in allowing the Scottish Executive to take aninformed position on this green paper. Given the wide ranging scope of this greenpaper Executive officials are currently liaising with a number of stakeholdersacross a range of policy areas.

EU Commissioner Borg(Fisheries and Maritime) visited Aberdeen, Shetland and Stornoway earlier this month. Iaccompanied the Commissioner during this visit and we engaged with a variety ofstakeholders. The maritime green paper was the subject of discussion at theUKOOA Annual Energy Breakfast and a formal dinner in Shetland as part of thisvisit.

Finally, the Executive isworking closely and providing assistance to the European and External RelationsCommittee in its preparations for a stakeholder event on this green paper on 4 December 2006.

A list of those EU directivesin respect of which infraction proceedings are in progress against the ScottishExecutive for which European Commission has issued a reasoned opinion, has beenplaced in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40708). In accordancewith normal practice, details of infraction cases are not made available until theyreach this stage in the process.

The Scottish Executive holdsfrequent meetings at a Ministerial and official level with governmental counterpartsin Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Catalonia and Tuscany. Discussions focus on furthering specific activity under the action plans that underpinthe Co-operation Agreements with our fourpartner regions.

The Scottish Executive has avery close working relationship with the UK Government on the European marine strategyand the associated proposed Directive, with frequent contacts and discussions betweenofficials and ministers as appropriate. Officials from the Scottish Executive’sMarine Group have attended two of the relevant European Council Working Group discussionsin Brussels and representatives for the Scottish Executive’s EU Office in Brusselshave attended a further two such meetings. The Scottish Executive shares the UKGovernment’s stance on both the marine strategy and the proposed Directive, whichis to be generally supportive of the overall objectives of both but to seek greaterclarity about the terms, and more analysis of costs and benefits, of the latter.

There have been no discussionsbetween the Scottish Executive and the UK Government about further devolution withinthe context of the European Commissions marine strategy and proposed Directive.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27599 on 24 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Dredging operationsin the Firth of Forth are not subject to review under the Conservation (NaturalHabitats &c) Regulations 1994. As a matter of law, only plans or projects coveredby regulations 53 – 85 of the Regulations are subject to the specific obligationsat regulation 50. However, regulation 3(4)of those Regulations requires every competent authority, in the exercise of itsfunctions, to have regard to the requirements of the Habitats Directive (92/42/EEC)so far as they may be affected by those functions. Competent authorities are thereforeobliged to comply with the procedures and requirements specified in Article 6 of the Directive, whether or not they are also bound by other obligations.

Accordingly no competent authoritymay agree to a plan or project unless it has ascertained that (a) the plan or projectwill have no significant effect on a European site, or that (b) the integrity of the site will not be adversely affected, or that (c) site integrity will be adverselyaffected but that there is no alternative solution and the plan or project mustbe carried out for imperative reasons of overriding public interest. This legalobligation, and the associated procedural requirements, apply irrespective of whetherthe competent authority is operating under Regulation 3(4) or Regulations 53A to85.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)is not required under legislation to be consulted on routine dredging operationsin the Firth of Forth. However, SNH is consulted annually on the routine disposalof dredged material from operations which require a Sea Disposal Licence under PartII of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

Advice from SNH is that currentroutine dredging operations are unlikely to be having a significant effect on theNatura sites within the Firth of Forth because when the sites were designated theconservation status of the sites was of a quality to merit designation even thoughthese dredging operations had been taking place routinely for some time before designationand also due to the fact that routine dredging operations take place in a few specificlocalities.