- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the monitoring routinely carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to assess the levels of radioactive contamination reaching Scottish air, land and sea as a result of discharges into the environment from the nuclear plant at Sellafield.
Answer
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) carries out a comprehensive programme of monitoring of environmental radioactivity in Scotland. The objectives of this programme include the determination of the levels of man-made radionuclides in the Scottish environment and the assessment of their effects on human health and the Scottish environment.
SEPA's programme concentrates on the monitoring of the marine and coastal environments. This is to determine the impact of liquid radioactive waste discharges from Sellafield on the Scottish environment. SEPA has recently completed a review of its monitoring programme. Following this review, monitoring to assess the impact of Sellafield discharges has been expanded beyond Dumfries and Galloway to include points along the length of the entire west coast of Scotland.Information regarding the monitoring and assessment of Sellafield discharges is published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report. A copy of the current report (RIFE-4) is in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the Scottish environment is adequately protected through the role of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in supervising the operations of the nuclear plant at Sellafield, particularly in the light of the recent report by the Inspectorate on the plant.
Answer
The regulatory role of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) relates to safety within nuclear licensed sites. This is a reserved matter.
Protection of the environment is the regulatory responsibility of the environment agencies who regularly meet the NII to discuss issues of common interest.Discharges of radioactive waste to the environment in Scotland are authorised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), as part of its regulatory role, in accordance with the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. SEPA, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, also have in place programmes to monitor the effects of discharges.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate meet on a regular basis to discuss the operation of nuclear plants in Scotland to ensure that any risk to the Scottish environment from the operations of the plants is minimised.
Answer
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) interact on a regular basis at nuclear sites in Scotland to address areas of mutual interest including minimisation of any risk to the Scottish environment from the operations of these plants. In addition, SEPA regularly meets the NII on a routine basis to discuss both generic and specific site issues of mutual interest.A framework for liaison between SEPA and the Health and Safety Executive (NII's parent body) on nuclear matters, in the form of a draft Memorandum of Understanding, exists to ensure effective co-ordination of the respective regulatory duties. When finalised, the Memorandum of Understanding will be made public by SEPA.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the Scottish environment is adequately protected through the role of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in supervising the operations at nuclear plants in Scotland particularly in the light of the recent report by the Inspectorate on the Sellafield plant.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-4657.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Her Majesty's Government to discuss the implications for Scotland's environment of the operations of nuclear plants in England and Wales.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-4655.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the recent reports by Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate into the operation of the nuclear plant at Sellafield, it has made or plans to make representations to Her Majesty's Government to take any steps needed as a matter of urgency to ensure the safety of the Scottish environment.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of issues including matters relating to the Scottish environment.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Her Majesty's Government to discuss the implications for Scotland's environment of the operation of nuclear plants in Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-4655.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 25 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency will play in the policing of Regulated Fishing Orders.
Answer
Responsibility for enforcement of any controls or conditions of a Regulating Order rests with the grantee of the Order. The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency has no role in such Orders, although it is ready to offer advice on any proposals relating to the grantee's enforcement role.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 23 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding pelagic fishing vessels being unable to carry herring licences covering both the North Sea and west coast fishing areas at the same time.
Answer
I have received representations from the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association.
As I have made clear in response to earlier questions (S1W-5701 and S1W-6384) and in a related answer (S1W-6449), the review of pelagic management arrangements undertaken jointly by the industry and Fisheries Departments last year has recommended that single area licensing for herring fisheries be retained but with some relaxation in the arrangements for the uplift of licences. I have agreed that these arrangements should be reviewed later this year to take stock of circumstances and experience in this year's herring fishing season.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 23 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to allow pelagic fishing boats to carry on board both North Sea and west coast fishing licences at the same time.
Answer
Single area licensing for herring fisheries was introduced in the UK in 1996 to safeguard North Sea stocks and discourage misreporting of catches.
A review of pelagic management arrangements in the UK was undertaken jointly by the industry and Fisheries Departments last year. The working group's report, a copy which was placed in SPICe in January, recommended retention of single area licensing for herring but with some relaxation in the arrangements for uplifting licences. A further review will take place towards the end of the year, and which will take account of the experience gained in monitoring the conduct of this summer's fishery.
