Chamber and committees

With apologies for the delay, please note that S4W-29361 has now been updated to reflect the current position regarding payments made to farmers and crofters in Scotland. The relevant information is also copied below:

As of 24 February 2016, a total of 8,846 (approx. 49%) payments have been issued to farmers and crofters in Scotland.

As of 24 February 2016, a total of 8,846 (approx. 49%) payments have been issued to farmers and crofters in Scotland.

There were no prosecutions for the purchase of tobacco products by under 18 year olds since 2011-12.

Information for 2014-15 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2014-15 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be published on 23 February 2016.

The dates of all Scottish Government Official and National Statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/ForthcomingPublications.

The available information is show in the following table.

Number of people proceeded against for the sale of tobacco products to under 18 year olds

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database.

Information for 2014-15 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2014-15 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be published on 23 February 2016.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is an advisory non-departmental public body. As such, decisions about the conduct of the Fifth Reviews of Electoral Arrangements have been taken solely by the commission and Scottish Ministers have not directed the commission in relation to the Fifth Reviews. The commission outlined to the Scottish Government its proposed approach to the Fifth Reviews before it began that process. In response the Minister for Local Government and Planning wrote to the chair of the commission on 19 December 2013 commenting on the role of ministers and factors that ministers would take into account in taking decisions following the Fifth Reviews. The commission has subsequently kept the Scottish Government advised of its progress in conducting the Fifth Reviews. During those discussions, the commission has been advised of the importance that ministers attach to local communities in considering electoral arrangements.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29419 on 3 February 2016. 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 Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is an advisory non-departmental public body. Under section 15(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Scottish Ministers may give directions to the commission for their guidance in conducting reviews. However they have no power to require the commission to use or not to use any particular methodology in conducting reviews.

Due to the site-specific nature of proposals, each line is different and needs to be considered individually on its own merits. Assessing the impacts of proposed powerlines on wildlife is integral to the Environmental Impact Assessment process required by the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000, where the applicant is expected to provide such information in the environmental statement for each application. In turn, this information is made available to the public by being placed on the planning register by the relevant planning authority.

During construction, sensitive species such as nesting birds can be disturbed and sensitive habitats such as native woodland can be damaged. These effects are minimised through careful route selection during the route planning stage. Any remaining effects are assessed during the Environmental Impact Assessment process and mitigation measures put in place.

Once installed, the most significant effect of an overhead powerline on wildlife is likely to be through collision mortality of birds. Again, this effect can be minimised through careful route selection to avoid areas where activity by sensitive birds species is highest. Remaining risks are assessed and can be mitigated through measures such as fitting bird diverters to the conductors.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29395 on 1 February 2016. 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.

Scottish Ministers take their obligations to safeguard the natural environment extremely seriously and when considering applications for overhead lines take advice from consultees including Scottish Natural Heritage on potential impacts on wildlife and mitigation. Where appropriate, consents are granted by Scottish Ministers with conditions which serve to reduce or mitigate the impacts of the lines on wildlife.