Chamber and committees

All Scottish coastal local authorities maintain counter pollution contingency plans in line with a general power under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 with respect to emergencies or disasters. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), as the responsible UK authority, has advised local authorities that they should revise and submit their plans every five years, or earlier if substantial changes are needed. While such plans will refer to, and mesh with, the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations (NCP), they will usually only cover minor spills that can be tackled locally. In the event of a major spill in the UK pollution control zone, similar to that involving the off Spain, the MCA will implement the NCP, calling on participation or assistance from relevant statutory bodies, and deploying the UK's national assets in response.

Scottish ministers place much reliance on working with landowners and managers of land containing invertebrate species as an important aspect of their protection. Many of the threats to such species can be the absence of key features of their habitats so landowners and managers are well placed to provide the necessary habitats and food sources important to their survival.The Scottish Executive issued guidance in October 2001 which offered advice to local authorities and developers on the licensing arrangements which apply in cases where European Protected Species are presently on any site which is the subject of a development proposal. This guidance re-enforces the protective regime for the animal and plant species listed respectively in Schedule 2 and Schedule 4 to the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Regulations 1994.

There are two known sites for Metrioptera brachyptera (the bog bush-cricket) in Scotland. This species has been recorded in 2002 at Aucheninnes Moss/Little Cloak near Dalbeattie. There is also a record from the 1960s, for Raeburn Flow a SSSI/cSAC, near Kirkpatrick Fleming in Dumfries and Galloway. There is no UK Species Action Plan for the bog bush-cricket. The bog bush-cricket is listed as a Local Priority Species within the Dumfries and Galloway Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP), published June 1999. LBAPs encourage positive conservation management for species which are regionally or locally scarce but are not endangered on a UK level.

During the 1960s the bog bush-cricket was recorded at Raeburn Flow, a SSSI/cSAC. This is the only record on any SSSI in Scotland. The guidelines for the selection of a biological SSSI specify a number of criteria under which invertebrates may be "qualifying features" for SSSI designation. As it is not an endangered species in Great Britain, the bog bush-cricket is unlikely to be considered a "qualifying feature". There are no international protection measures in place for the bog bush-cricket. Scottish Natural Heritage, as the Scottish Executive's Statutory Advisor implements the protection of rare invertebrate fauna through provision of guidance and direction. This includes the protection of species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, by SSSI and other designations and through UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plans.

I am currently considering the responses to the consultation exercise, and I hope to be in a position to announce the outcome of my consideration early in the New Year.

I can confirm that there are thoroughly tested plans in place to deal with safety issues in respect of submarines operating around the coastal waters of Scotland. The Clyde Public Safety Scheme and the Rosyth Public Safety Scheme are the two most significant examples. These are published documents and are available in these two areas in public libraries. The contingency plans are designed to respond to a wide range of possible scenarios, to address the full range of known effects from potential accidents, irrespective of the cause or location, and to be equally effective whether a submarine is at sea or berthed.

The proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral route is being promoted by Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council and the other NESTRANS partners. NESTRANS has commissioned STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) appraisal of the route that incorporates economic, environmental, safety, accessibility and integration criteria. Publication of any economic assessment is a matter for the promoting organisations but I expect the STAG report to be made available.

The incentive to implement the recommendations of The same as you? is the achievement of better outcomes for people with learning disabilities and their families. Partnership in Practice Agreements for the period 2001-04 show that local agencies are making better use of resources to improve services for people with learning disabilities. We will continue to work in partnership with local agencies to ensure progress towards full implementation of the recommendations.

This is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

The Executive is aware of developments on this estate, but it would not be appropriate to comment on any related civil action.