Chamber and committees

refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05292 on 13 December 2016.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Each new fish farm site is dealt with on its merits by local authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, taking account of advice from statutory consultees plus any representations from other interested parties, including the general public.

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 does not affect how the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 works in practice but will improve outcomes for communities by improving the process of community planning, ensuring that local service providers work together even more closely with communities to meet the needs of the people who use their services.

The Islands Bill will include provision for island proofing, which is about considering the particular needs and circumstances of island communities and taking account of island characteristics when the Scottish Government and other relevant public authorities are exercising their functions and making decisions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05292 on 13 December 2016.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

We have made a number of commitments to using our new powers including abolishing the bedroom tax, reinstating housing support for 18-21 year olds, introducing a top up to the Carer’s Allowance to the same rate as the Jobseeker’s Allowance, introducing a new Job Grant for young people, extending eligibility for Winter Fuel payments to families with severely disabled children and a new benefit, the Best Start Grant which will see support for all children being increased and substantially helping families on low incomes.

The Scottish Government has published a Memorandum of Understanding with the DWP on joint working arrangements to implement the Scotland Act 2016, which describes the way in which the Scottish Government can access information and systems that belong to DWP to plan for the exercise of the devolved powers.

Vehicles used for transporting salmon morts to a disposal site must be approved or registered under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 (ABPR). The operators of these vehicles must ensure that salmon morts be collected and transported in sealed new packaging or covered leak-proof containers. Transporters approved or registered under the ABPR are inspected on a risk-based basis by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and any issues would be an enforcement matter for local authorities. Information on the number of journeys made from farm to final disposal in each of the last three years is not held centrally.

Labelling for Beef produces have strict guidelines within regulation EU1760/2000. Information must be provided on country of birth, rearing and slaughtering at Member State level.

Our meat inspectors do spot check visits at abattoirs and cutting plants to ensure that all the required information is included in the labelling, and that full traceability is satisfactory.

The Scottish Government supports the objectives of the Political Declaration on Energy Cooperation between the North Sea Countries – to roll out a regionally optimised North Sea Grid that will enable electricity trading and the integration of offshore renewables in the most cost effective manner.

The work plan for the Declaration has created four sub-groups attended by North Sea Country officials. Prior to the UK Government signing the declaration on Monday 21 November 2016, Scottish Government officials attended an inception meeting and the first meeting of Support Group one as observers. Now the declaration has been signed, Scottish Government officials will be able to participate fully in the groups and work with UKG officials to ensure that Scottish views are considered when representing the UK. Regrettably, Scotland cannot present its views or negotiate as a nation state in our own right, while current constitutional arrangements persist.

The Declaration will work within the confines of the European Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Directives to take account of ecological impacts. The Declaration will support the further development of offshore renewable technologies by ensuring cost-efficient offshore and onshore grid development and, clearly, believe Scotland has a key role to play in supporting developing those existing technologies.

The Scottish Government supports a number of measures, both local and national, to successfully tackle air pollution and its impacts on health. These measures include the promotion of active travel and modal shift to low and zero emission transport, supporting the development of renewable energy, providing grant funding for local authority action plans, and providing advice and information through the Scottish Air Quality Website and Scotland’s Environment Web.

These initiatives will continue to be taken forward in the context of 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' - Scotland's first separate air quality strategy which was published in 2015. The strategy sets out six key policy objectives, including one for health which is for 'A Scotland which protects its citizens from the harmful effects of air pollution, reducing health inequalities'.

The Scottish Government monitors a wide range of information and sources relating to the impact of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and is engaging with the Department for International Trade on aspects of CETA and potential future trade agreements.