Chamber and committees

Through a strategic partnership with the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland and its network of 25 member trusts over the last three years this Government has invested £1.2 million directly into the preparation of modern, up-to-date fishery management plans covering approximately 95% of mainland Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and Skye. Our investment has supported 150 individual projects proposed and implemented by fisheries trusts to deliver on local plan priorities. This includes a dedicated and specialist resource undertaking genetic analysis programmes to inform local fisheries management activities in partnership with Marine Scotland''s Freshwater Laboratory. In addition there are ongoing Marine Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Environment Protection Agency science and research programmes and projects which are aimed at ensuring sustainable fisheries for Atlantic salmon throughout Scotland, providing significant economic and social benefits for its people.

The last meeting with the SSPO took place in Perth on 11 January 2011 to discuss issues involving the use of wrasse for the biological control of sea lice infestations on populations of Atlantic salmon in aquaculture facilities. The discussion was wide ranging and included the sources of wrasse available to Scottish fish farmers, acceptable strategies for their use, biosecurity and fish health issues and whether current fish health legislation controlled their use and movement.

The Scottish Government has its approach to mixed stock fisheries under consideration in the light of the report of the Mixed Stock Salmon Fisheries Working Group published last year. A copy of the report can be found on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/03/31154416/0.

The accepted international definition of a mixed stock fishery (MSF) for wild Atlantic salmon is a fishery exploiting a significant number of salmon from two or more river stocks. While fisheries by any method inside estuaries may be MSFs, those located outside estuaries are almost certainly MSFs.

In 2009, the annual catch of the coastal fixed engine net fisheries was the lowest since records began in 1952, and was 3% of the maximum reported catch. Reported effort in the fixed engine net fisheries was also the lowest on record at 3% of the maximum reported.

All salmon fisheries in Scotland are operated under private heritable titles. All those with a legal right to fish have the ability to exercise that right in accordance with the law, including the provisions for conservation measures in the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.

There is no legal obligation under the terms of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 to publish the details of any inspections carried out. The Scottish Government are currently discussing the detail of a scheme to publish the results of inspections carried out under the act.

The impact of netting on individual river stocks depends on the composition of the catch in the fishery and the status of river stocks that are being exploited. Data on the precise stock composition of catches at individual netting stations such as the Usan Ness station in the Esk Salmon Fishery District is not collected. However, Marine Scotland is currently considering the likely effect of new conservation measures proposed for the River South Esk by the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board.

The following tables give the changes in teachers and classroom assistants in the North East of Scotland parliamentary constituency, since the September 2006 school census.

Primary

	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
Aberdeen City	-56	-96	40	-20
Aberdeenshire	16	83	-19	29
Angus	14	5	-10	15
Dundee City	36	-16	3	-10
Moray	-3	-2	1	-1
Perth and Kinross	3	-3	2	-1
NES PC	11	-29	17	12

 

Secondary

	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
Aberdeen City	-6	-92	-15	-55
Aberdeenshire	22	10	-13	-13
Angus	2	4	7	-13
Dundee City	34	-119	82	-34
Moray	1	-1	-3	-3
Perth and Kinross	-	-	-	-
NES PC	53	-198	58	-118

 

Classroom Assistants

	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
Aberdeen City	57	-4	36	17
Aberdeenshire	-20	-15	3	-1
Angus	167	-153	-8	4
Dundee City	26	-4	-27	18
Moray	-3	-26	2	0
Perth and Kinross	0	0	0	0
NES PC	226	-202	6	38

 

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38563 on 24 January 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38563 on 24 January 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

No.

No decisions on structural reform of our police service have been taken. Significant arguments have been made for a single force but questions remain over accountability and centralisation of services.

We will launch a public consultation in February 2011 to allow those who support a particular option make their case and to build consensus. Three options will be consulted on: significantly enhanced collaboration between the eight existing forces; a single service, and a rationalised regional model of three or four forces.

Only once we have consulted and considered the evidence on the ability of these options to protect frontline services, whilst delivering the efficiencies required by reduced budgets, will any decision on future structures be taken.