- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what precautions were taken to ensure that any weapons deployed or operated during the Joint Warrior military exercise held off Scotland’s west coast in May to October 2009 did not negatively impact on either marine or terrestrial wildlife in the area and what monitoring was undertaken to record potential or actual impacts.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31120 on 4 February 2010. 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: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the carbon footprints of the biannual Joint Warrior military exercises off Scotland’s west coast are measured and, if so, what these were in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 and what they are anticipated to be in 2010.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31120 on 4 February 2010. 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: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what precautions were taken to ensure that any sonar devices deployed or operated during the Joint Warrior military exercises held off Scotland’s west coast in May to October 2009 did not harm resident or migrating cetaceans and what monitoring was undertaken to record potential or actual impacts.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31120 on 4 February 2010. 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: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Joint Warrior military exercises held off Scotland’s west coast in May and October 2009 operated in any environmentally sensitive conservation zones containing (a) protected marine habitats, (b) seabird breeding grounds and (c) protected fauna and flora and what precautions were taken to ensure that the exercises did not damage the environment or harm wildlife.
Answer
All matters relating to the defence of the United Kingdom remain the direct responsibility of the UK Government. Naval exercises are therefore a reserved matter which falls within the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD is the competent authority for ensuring that the Joint Warrior exercise complies with the provisions of The Conservation Regulations 1994, The Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations 2007 and any climate change objectives. The MoD liaise with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) about their plans and are responsible for mitigation measures to ensure that any potential environmental impact is minimised.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it considers that compensation of a licensee would be required in the event of the revocation, suspension or modification of a marine licence under section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill in order for that provision to be compliant with the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions under Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answer
The Scottish Executive considers the terms of section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill to be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Section 23 makes no provision for compensation to be paid in the event of revocation, suspension or modification of a marine licence.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the impact on a developer of a decision under section 23(1) of the Marine (Scotland) Bill to suspend, revoke or vary a marine licence for a breach of the licence is proportionate to the breach.
Answer
Any decision to suspend, revoke or vary a marine licence would not be taken lightly. Marine Scotland would have to have good reason to reach such a decision, and would have investigated the breach of the licence conditions, and considered mitigation and compromises, where appropriate, prior to taking the action.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Sheriffs’ Association regarding licensing appeals under the Marine (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The Scottish Government has discussed the issue of Scottish Marine Bill marine licensing appeals with the Scottish Court Service, who provide input for the government on resourcing, including judicial resources, and on processing implications of legislation.
The Sheriffs'' Association are not routinely consulted on standard processes, such as the Marine Bill appeals process.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what examples it can give of relevant reasons under section 23(3)(d) of the Marine (Scotland) Bill for the suspension, revocation or variation of a marine licence.
Answer
This provision exists so that action can be taken for an unforeseen circumstance. An example could be where a new dredging operation might disturb or recover something of great archaeological interest. In such instances, this provision could allow for appropriate mitigation to be put into place and the significance of any discovery to be properly evaluated.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations, bodies and businesses it has worked in partnership with on the development of new acoustic deterrent devices and which of these are still engaged in related work.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30201 on 25 January 2010. 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: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in the testing or deployment of any newly developed species-specific acoustic deterrent devices that might reduce or eliminate perceived need to kill seals or other marine predators.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30203 on 25 January 2010. 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.
