- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 August 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether problems with the application of Aminopyralid herbicides to vegetation that ends up in compost and the consequent damage to gardens and crops in allotments have been brought to its attention and, if so, what action it will take take to address the situation.
Answer
We are aware that these problems have been reported. The relevant manufacturer, Dow AgroSciences Ltd, has indicated that, as a precaution, it is withdrawing from sale products which contain aminopyralid. In addition, the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) has formally suspended its authorisation of the substance while it undertakes further investigation of the concerns of allotment holders and others. I am assured that there are no implications for human health, but I will ask PSD to keep me informed of developments.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the UK Government’s stated support for the proposal that arable farmers be required to manage a small percentage of their land primarily for environmental purposes, what options it is considering to maintain or replace the environmental benefits of set-aside and whether it considers that making this requirement a condition of receiving the single farm payment would be an appropriate course of action in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government are aware of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs'' preferred option to require arable farmers to manage a small percentage of their land primarily for environmental purposes. Whilst this is clearly an option for Scotland, it would be wrong to pre-empt the outcome of our consultation on the Future implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in Scotland which seeks views on this issue.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental benefits it considers have been delivered by set-aside, including benefits to farmland bird and other biodiversity, water quality and public access.
Answer
It is difficult to quantify the environmental benefits that have been delivered as a consequence of set-aside. They can vary greatly, depending on how the set-aside land is managed. Benefits can include the creation of suitable habitats for wildlife, particularly birds, a reduction in diffuse pollution from using fewer pesticides and fertilisers and less disturbance of the soil, where set-aside land is not used to grow industrial crops.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 August 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it shares the concern expressed by the European Commission about the environmental benefits which have been delivered by set-aside, and when it will announce the detail of the measures it will introduce to safeguard those benefits.
Answer
The Scottish Government welcome the environmental benefits that have been delivered as a consequence of set-aside. Our consultation paper Future implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in Scotland invites views on measures that should be taken to maintain the environmental benefits of set-aside. The consultation period runs until 5 September 2008, and we will take a decision on appropriate measures in the light of consultation responses, views from our common agricultural policy (CAP) health check stakeholder group and the outcome of the EU-level discussions on the CAP health check.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 5 August 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to implement the provisions of the EU marine strategy framework directive, in particular for planning at a regional seas scale, and how it is co-ordinating these with the UK Government and other EU member states.
Answer
Discussion is ongoing with the UK Government about the most appropriate way to transpose and implement the marine strategy framework directive. Our current Scottish marine bill consultation
Sustainable Seas for All,
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/07/11100221/0, includes proposals for policy initiatives, such as marine planning, which will be needed to implement this directive.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 August 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if Marine Scotland is to be part of the Scottish Government, whether its advice to ministers will be published and how it will operate transparently.
Answer
We have yet to decide on the appropriate status for Marine Scotland and its detailed governance arrangements. It will be important for it to be seen to operate openly and transparently although also to ensure it can do so efficiently and effectively including, for example, through uninhibited exchanges of views and advice.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 August 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report the outcome of the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting held on 25 June 2008 and, in particular, whether any agreement was reached about better co-ordination of UK and Scottish marine legislation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3F-947 on 26 June 2008. First Minister questions can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor0626-02.htm#Col10250.
In addition, a copy of the joint statement issued following the plenary meeting on 25 June 2008 is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46219).
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 July 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 31 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions have been submitted to Transport Scotland by Tactrans to be considered for inclusion in the strategic transport projects review.
Answer
The strategic transport projects review (STPR) has considered a range of proposals from various sources including the seven regional transport partnerships. These partnerships have been involved individually and collectively in developing the STPR.
Tactrans have proposed approximately 30 interventions which they consider to be relevant for consideration as part of the STPR. All of the proposals have been given due consideration within the STPR process.
The initial findings of the STPR will be reported to ministers during the summer of 2008.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many real-time closures of cod fishing grounds took place from October 2007 to June 2008; for how many days each such closure was in operation; how many Scottish fishing boats were affected, and which fishing grounds were the subject of such closures.
Answer
To date a total of 14 Real-Time Area Closures have taken place, with each closure valid for a period of 21 days. It is difficult to predict how many vessels would have intended fishing in an area that was subsequently closed, though the closed areas, in total size, were relatively small, therefore minimising the effect on fishing vessels’ alternative fishing opportunities. Of the 14 closures, nine applied in ICES Sub-Area IVa (North Sea) and five applied in ICES Sub-Area Via (West of Scotland).
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 17 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive by what percentage Scottish fishing capacity has been reduced since 1998.
Answer
Between 31 December 1998 and 31 December 2007 (provisional figures), the number of active Scottish based fishing vessels fell from 2,631 to 2,191, a decrease of 17 per cent. The power of Scottish vessels fell from 445,146 kW to 401,402 kW, a decrease of 10 per cent.
The most important factor affecting the size of the Scottish fleet has been the decommissioning schemes operated in 2001-02 and 2003 which gave grants to vessel owners in the Scottish whitefish fleet to decommission their vessel and surrender their fishing licence. These two schemes, which cost £56 million, removed 165 Scottish vessels from the fleet.
