Chamber and committees

Fisheries Research Services (FRS)observes up to 140 trips each year. This includes up to 90 demersal, 26 pelagicand 24 nephrops vessels. Plans for 2008 are being drawn up in line with the EuropeanCommission’s Data Collection Regulation (DCR).In 2007, the Scottish Governmentfunded an observer pilot, which placed independent observers on 10 fishing trips.The Scottish Government will complete a reviewof this pilot by the end of February and will determine, in consultation with anew Conservation Credits steering group which I have set up, the deployment of observersin 2008 which would supplement FRS observations. I refer the member to my reference to this steering group in the answer toquestion S3W-7734 on 17 January 2008. Allanswers 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/webapp/wa.search.

I am pleased to reportthat the first notification of a real time closure of sea for spawning cod occurredon Saturday 12 January 2008. The closure occurred in the Norwegian sector,ICES area IVA. Further details can be accessed at www.scotland.gov.uk/realtimeclosures.

While this has beenthe first time the results have been high enough to warrant a closure there arenumerous examples suggesting that vessels are leaving grounds where high numbersof cod are known to be. This contributes to the same end as a closure, with fishingeffort being directed away from high abundance areas.

Fisheries Research Services (FRS)is responsible for collection of scientific data and has a well established routineobserver scheme. A team of about 16 scientists performs this function under theFRS Schedule of Service (project MF01s). The projected spend for this project inthe financial year 2008-09 is £174,731.

This month I have establisheda new Conservation Credits steering group, including science, industry and environmentalNGO experts, which will assess the implementation of supplementary observation programmes,in addition to the FRS work. In considering such programmes it will draw on experiencewith the onboard observer pilot which I launched in 2007, with a FIFG (FinancialInstrument for Fisheries Guidance) grant of £35,800. It will also consider how bestto build capacity to ensure the availability of suitably-qualified observers.

The power to call in certain proposals introduced by theConservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (No. 2) (Scotland) Regulations2007 does not extend to the licensing of oiland gas explorations. The regulation of oil and gas exploration is a function reservedto the Secretary of State.

On 21 December 2007, theUK Department of Business, Enterprise andRegulatory Reform (BERR) announced athree-month public consultation on its assessment of the proposal for an explorationlicence in the Moray Firth. BERR is requiredto have regard to representations made; Scottish Natural Heritage are currentlyconsidering BERR’s assessment of the proposal.

In line with the provisions of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act (2005), consideration was given to whether the GovernmentEconomic Strategy would be the most effective point to conduct a Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment. While there are no discretionary powers for Scottish ministers, theact indicates that, in order to avoid duplication, consideration must be given towhether such assessments should be more appropriately deployed at different levels.

Duplication would inevitablyoccur if the Government Economic Strategy – as a high-level framework - was subjectedto a Strategic Environmental Assessment. We have a robust process in place for conductingStrategic Environmental Assessments[U1]  and this will ensure that assessments are conducted,where required, on the successive sub-strategies and policies which support the Government Economic Strategy’s delivery. Ultimately, this will lead to amore meaningful assessment of the individual environmental impacts, rather thanthe more generic potential impact, of the Government Economic Strategy.

Table 1, shows the total numberof Scottish-registered vessels benefiting from additional days for derogations underthe days at sea regulations for 2006 and 2007. Neither days at sea scheme ran overa calendar year, however, so figures shown in fact represent records of numbersof vessels involved from 1 February 2006 to 31 January 2007 and from 1 February 2007 to date.

Table 1:

Fishing Gear Type	Derogation	ICES Area	No. of Vessels 2006	No. of Vessels 2007
4a.ii & 4a.iii, 70-99mm Demersal Trawls	8.1d, less than 5% cod, plaice and sole during 2002, or observed to catch <5%	IV, IIa and VIID - North Sea	102	99
4a.iv & 4a.v, 100mm and greater Demersal Trawls	8.1d, less than 5% cod, plaice and sole during 2002, or observed to catch <5%	IV, IIa and VIID - North Sea	17	14
4a.iv & 4a.v, 100mm and greater Demersal Trawls	8.1c, less than 5% cod during 2002	IV, IIa and VIID - North Sea	10	4
4a.iv & 4a.v, 100mm and greater Demersal Trawls	8.1h, using >120mm mesh and signed up to system of licence suspensions	IV, IIa and VIID - North Sea	45	59
4b, Beam Trawls	8.1c, less than 5% cod during 2002	IV, IIa and VIID - North Sea	4	6
4b, Beam Trawls	8.1i, less than 5% cod retained on board	IV, IIa and VIID - North Sea	7	1
4a.ii & 4a.iii, 70-99mm Demersal Trawls	8.1d, less than 5% cod, plaice and sole during 2002, or observed to catch <5%	VI - West of Scotland	133	117
4a.iv & 4a.v, 100mm and greater Demersal Trawls	8.1d, less than 5% cod, plaice and sole during 2002, or observed to catch <5%	VI - West of Scotland	6	7
4a.iv & 4a.v, 100mm and greater Demersal Trawls	8.1c, less than 5% cod during 2002	VI - West of Scotland	2	1
4a.iv & 4a.v, 100mm and greater Demersal Trawls	8.1h, using >120mm mesh and signed up to system of licence suspensions	VI - West of Scotland	1	1
4b, Beam Trawls	Any	VI - West of Scotland	0	0

 

It is the ScottishGovernment’s policy that no child should be placed in an adult prison unless absolutelynecessary. And if there is a need to do so, it should be for the shortest possibleperiod of time.

We are investing £20.5 million to support theredevelopment of the secure estate, to ensure the availability of high quality specialistprovision for this very vulnerable group of young people. An additional 29 placeswill be provided delivering an overall estate of 125 places when the redevelopmentis complete in 2008.

We have also supported the development of robust alternatives to secure care,through intensive community-based programmes like Includem’s secure care throughcare and aftercare project, the Impact project and the Intensive Support and MonitoringServices through the children’s hearings system.

The Scottish Budgetannouncement on 14 November 2007 outlined our intention to transfer the StrategicWaste Fund to the main local government settlement. This transfer will include moniesawarded via the “SWF 150” scheme and other resources provided to local authoritiesunder the Strategic Waste Fund for community recycling initiatives in their area.

As well as the resourcestransferred to the local government settlement, the Budget document outlined a zerowaste provision to assist implementation of the National Waste Plan. The Budgetdocument indicated that some of these resources would be used to support communityrecycling groups. The Scottish Government is currently considering with the CommunityRecycling Network for Scotland and the Waste and Resources Action Programme exactlyhow these resources should be used. In particular, we are considering targetingthese resources at waste prevention, innovation in recycling, and community recyclinggroups seeking to become social entrepreneurs.

I understand the currentmembers of the Lismore Seal Management Group decide which organisations and individualsshould become members, with Scottish Natural Heritage consulting current memberson any individual or organisation requesting to join.

The latest figuresfrom the Audit Scotland report on reoffending strategies in 2003-04 show that some£30 million was spent for these purposes in that year.