- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 February 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated by (a) it, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies to initiatives to support capercaillie conservation other than the Capercaillie LIFE Project in each year since 1999 and whether it will provide a breakdown of how the money was spent
Answer
Details are as follows:
| Body | Project | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 |
| | | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 |
| Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) | Fence Challenge Fund | | | 69.8 | | | |
| Species Action Framework | | | | | | |
| UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - project officer | 51 | | | 61.3 | | |
| UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - other projects contributing action towards meeting targets | 4.7 | 0.4 | 25.4 | 36.9 | 30 | 43.4 |
| | Conservation of Capercaillie across Scotland | | | | | | |
| Body | Project | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| | | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 |
| Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) | Fence Challenge Fund | | | | | | |
| Species Action Framework | | 121.3 | 70 | 60 | 116 | 20 |
| UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - project officer | 10.6 | 83.1 | | 28.3 | | |
| UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - other projects contributing action towards meeting targets | 30 | 35 | 45.6 | 23.5 | 57 | 21.1 |
| | Conservation of Capercaillie across Scotland | | | | | 38.7 | 39.9 |
Summary Spend
| Body | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| | £000 | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > | £000 > |
| SNH | 55.7 | 0.4 | 95.2 | 98.2 | 30 | 43.4 | 40.6 | 239.4 | 115.6 | 111.8 | 211.7 | 81 |
| Forestry Commission Scotland | - | - | 734.5 | | 10 | 13.8 | 57 | 218.1 | 182.3 | 125.9 | 172.6 | 106.7 |
| Scottish Government | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 107.9 |
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 February 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has for capercaillie numbers in each geographical area covered by the Capercaillie LIFE Project in (i) each year that the project has received public funding, (ii) 2007 and (iii) the most recent year for which figures are available
Answer
The Capercaillie LIFE Nature project Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie ran from 1 February 2002 to 31 January 2007.
The size of the national capercaillie population is estimated every six years. The most recent published results come from the 2003-04 survey which estimated the national population to be 1,980 birds (95% confidence limits 1,284 “ 2,758). Scottish Natural Heritage expects to announce the results from the most recent survey, undertaken over the winter of 2009-10, in the coming months.
Two forms of annual monitoring are undertaken “ lek counts and brood counts. Lek counts record the peak number of males seen displaying at known lek sites in Spring. These counts provide an indication of the number of displaying males but should not be interpreted directly as population sizes since immature males may not display at traditional sites.
Regional data for numbers of lekking male capercaillie recorded at monitored lek sites during the Capercaillie LIFE Project and in 2007 and 2010 are as follows:
| Year | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| | Leks Counted | Males | Leks Counted | Males | Leks Counted | Males | Leks Counted | Males |
| Easter Ross | 11 | 23 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 29 | 11 | 27 |
| Moray and Nairnshire | 9 | 20 | 9 | 20 | 10 | 22 | 11 | 18 |
| Badenoch and Strathspey | 27 | 86 | 24 | 103 | 29 | 129 | 34 | 132 |
| Deeside and Donside | 19 | 39 | 19 | 32 | 19 | 35 | 20 | 48 |
| Perthshire | 6 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Loch Lomond | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Glen Affric | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Year | 2006 | 2007 | 2010 |
| | Leks Counted | Males | Leks Counted | Males | Leks Counted | Males |
| Easter Ross | 11 | 18 | 11 | 26 | 14 | 22 |
| Moray and Nairnshire | 14 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 19 |
| Badenoch and Strathspey | 37 | 116 | 37 | 126 | 40 | 141 |
| Deeside and Donside | 20 | 40 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 24 |
| Perthshire | 8 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Loch Lomond | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Glen Affric | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 February 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated by (a) it, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies to the Capercaillie LIFE Project in each year since 1999 and whether it will provide a breakdown of how the money was spent
Answer
The EC LIFE Project Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie commenced in 2002 and was completed in 2007. Details of contributions by public body contributors to the project are as follows:
| Body | Contribution (£000) |
| Scottish Government | 85 |
| Forestry Commission Scotland | 406 |
| Scottish Natural Heritage | 217 |
| Cairngorms National Park Authority | 2 |
| European Commission LIFE Co-Funding | 2,099 |
| Total | 2,809 |
Details of expenditure by action is as follows:
| Action | (£000) |
| Community Engagement, Planning and Monitoring | 349 |
| Land Purchase | 1,406 |
| Habitat Management | 752 |
| Predator Control | 729 |
| Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Dissemination | 272 |
| Project Management | 690 |
| Total | 4,198 |
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 February 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons Argyll and Bute Council’s grant settlement in 2011-12 will decrease by 4.94%, almost double the average reduction for the other local authorities.
Answer
Grant funding for Argyll and Bute Council for 2011-12 will reduce by more than the average reduction across all authorities mainly because of two factors within the local government distribution methodology.
The most significant is in relation to the distribution of funding for the former ring-fenced Supporting People grant. Updated needs-based indicators for this funding element were applied, as agreed with COSLA. Both COSLA and the Scottish Government are aware that the impact of the updated indicators has raised questions and these are currently the subject of further discussion.
The second change is in relation to the Special Islands Needs Allowance element of the distribution methodology. This provides for additional funding for island communities which are not otherwise connected to the mainland (by a road bridge) and where the cost of providing local services is greater as a result. Seil Island is so connected but this had been missed in earlier settlements. It was agreed that this oversight should be corrected from the 2011-12 settlement but that the change should not be applied retrospectively.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 3 February 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what it expects the impact of the decrease in grant settlement in 2011-12 will be on Argyll and Bute Council services and what its response is to local concerns.
Answer
Despite the biggest reduction in public spending imposed on Scotland by any UK Government, the Scottish Government has protected local government''s share of the Scottish Budget. Within that, Argyll and Bute Council will receive the highest per capita revenue funding of any mainland authority in 2011-12, 25 per cent above the Scottish average. Both COSLA and the Scottish Government are currently considering the impact of changes made to the distribution formula which may result in some further adjustment to Argyll and Bute Council''s funding. How the council allocates its funding across its services in response to local concerns is of course a matter for the council itself.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 31 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates construction of the new mental health inpatient facility in Lochgilphead will begin.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38998 on 31 January 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 31 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what capital funding it will provide to allow the development of the new mental health inpatient facility in Lochgilphead.
Answer
The development of this project is at an early stage. NHS Highland has recently submitted an initial agreement which is currently being reviewed by the Capital Investment Group within the health directorates. In the context of a 36.5% reduction of available capital, the Scottish Government will be considering the most appropriate method of delivering this important project as quickly as possible.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 28 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the need for competition between providers of air services to and from Scotland via Heathrow Airport.
Answer
Where there is a sustainable market, competition can be beneficial, resulting in lower air fares for the consumer. We believe that such a market exists for air services from Scotland to Heathrow.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 28 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the possibility of a reduction in air services to and from Scotland as a result of BAA’s plans to increase domestic passenger charges at Heathrow Airport from April 2011.
Answer
In the absence of a high speed rail alternative for the foreseeable future, any reduction in Scotland''s connections to Heathrow Airport would be unwelcome. Heathrow''s position as a global hub continues to be very important for Scottish business and for inbound tourism.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 28 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) BAA and (b) the UK Government regarding BAA’s plans to increase domestic passenger charges at Heathrow Airport from April 2011.
Answer
I met with BAA''s Chief Executive Officer, Colin Matthews, on 19 January 2011 when I reiterated the Scottish Government''s concerns about the impact of the new charging structure on Scottish services to Heathrow. I also wrote on 20 January 2011 to the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond MP, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the issue.
