Chamber and committees

The increasing deployment of renewable energy systems, notably wind turbines, does have implications for low-flying aircraft, and, as has always been the case, every proposal for a wind farm is considered by the Ministry of Defence, as a statutory planning consultee, on a case-by-case basis. We are in touch with the Ministry and other departments on the issue of low flying to clarify the issues involved. In the meantime, I would expect wind farm developers to engage in early dialogue with the MoD in order to resolve any potential problems.

Collaborative working is a key principle of our aquaculture policy. Fish farmers, wild fishery interests, the Executive and other stakeholders come together in three groups to improve dialogue and trust, to confront issues and to find solutions: the Tripartite Working Group, which is focused on interactions between both farmed and wild fish, in particular, tackling the problem of sea lice; developing the concept of Area Management Agreements, and, when conditions are right, taking steps to restore wild stocks in areas where they have been in decline;the Aquaculture Health Joint Working Group, which considers ways to improve the health, welfare and management of farmed fish, and informs R&D policy;the Aquaculture Forum, an inclusive group established by the Highlands and Islands Convention and drawn from local authorities, regulators, the fish farming industry, wild fish interests and environmental groups, with a remit to consider those issues of most importance to the sustainable development of aquaculture.

I refer the member to the response I gave to Bruce Crawford within Jamie McGrigor's oral question S1O-3171 on 22 March 2001.

Yes.

The Discipline Task Group recommendation on flexible support provision applies across the country. It will be for individual local authorities to determine the provision they require to make to meet the needs of the children and young people in their areas.

The Discipline Task Group, which recently published its report Better Behaviour - Better Learning, considered a wide range of difficulties created by indiscipline in schools in both urban and rural areas. Members of the task group did have experience of rural areas, and views were sought from teachers and pupils across the country. Evidence is that exclusions and absence rates are lower in rural schools. Nevertheless, the task group acknowledged that some issues raise particular concerns for rural schools. For example, behaviour on school transport can be a problem, as can exclusions where the choice of alternative school is limited.

Some of the task group recommendations can be implemented within existing education budgets or through better targeting of the Excellence Fund, which is currently under review. The allocation of any additional resources provided will take into account local needs and circumstances.

The Scottish Executive is in contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues including the environmental implications of the disposal of material from nuclear-powered submarines.

No representations were received by or on behalf of the Ministry of Defence in response to the consultation process in the review of National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy Developments.

It is an offence under section 8 of the Census Act 1920 as amended by the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991 for an enumerator or any other person, without lawful authority, to disclose any personal census information to another person. A person found guilty shall be liable (a) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both; or (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both. Complaints about the conduct of enumerators or the census form should be made to the Registrar General for Scotland in the first place.