Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is currently exploring how to enforce the discard ban on pelagic vessels. Given the success of the Fully Documented Fisheries (catch quota) scheme, which uses cameras, in preventing discarding on demersal fishing vessels we are seeking to develop and trial a similar system, in combination with sensor data, on pelagic vessels.

Since 2012 Marine Scotland Officers have boarded UK-registered gillnet vessels fishing within the 200 mile fisheries limit around Scotland on 10 occasions. One of these boarding took place within the 12 mile limit, at the time the vessel concerned was on passage.

The details of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), including the discard ban, have not been agreed between the European Council and the European Parliament. However, the clear intention of both the Council and the Parliament is that a discard ban shall be introduced and shall apply to all fishing vessels in waters of any EU Member State regardless of fishing method.

There have been no Marine Scotland prosecutions raised against this fleet segment since 2012. However, there have been five advisory letters issued and one verbal rebrief issued from the start of 2012 to date for infringements detected on board UK gillnetters. We are in active discussion with the gillnet fleet with a view to ensuring that future infringements do not occur.

Deputy First Minister, as chair of the Public Procurement Reform Board, last met with sectoral representatives including the Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Council on Tuesday 28 May 2013. Topics covered included the Review of Procurement in Construction and the Procurement Reform Bill.

I wrote to the member on 18 May 2013 providing the information requested.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14774 on 22 May 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14774 on 22 May 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The attached table provides comparison data for journey times across the Scottish rail network:

Journey times on the Glasgow to Aberdeen route have increased since 2007 due to increased interaction with other operators, both passenger and freight. However, several ScotRail services now make additional calls on the route, providing enhanced connectivity for passengers.

The improvement in journey times between Edinburgh and Aberdeen is attributable to the Edinburgh Fife Aberdeen project, sponsored by Scottish Ministers and delivered in 2008.

A slight increase in average journey times between Aberdeen and Inverness is attributed to the provision of an extra service since 2008. However, the timetable has been continually developed to provide a reliable and robust service for passengers. A program of enhancements for this route is currently in development for delivery between 2014 and 2019.

An improvement in journey times between the Central belt and Inverness has been delivered through Phase 1 of the Highland Mainline improvement project.

The purpose of the Croft House Grant Scheme is to facilitate the productive use of croft land through improving and maintaining the standards of crofter housing with the aim of attracting and retaining people in the more remote areas of the Highlands and Islands. Crofts may be put to a number of uses, but the Scottish Government maintains that it must be put to active use by the crofter.

In 2012 the scheme received 102 applications. 29 applications were initially refused. Seven of these were subsequently approved following a review process in which additional plans were submitted. In each of these seven cases, insufficient or no croft use had been proposed within the original application.