No. Groundwater feeds surface waters. At concentrations above 50 milligrams per litre, the threshold set in the EU Nitrates Directive, nitrate can result in undesirable ecological changes in rivers, lochs and coastal waters.

Bus Service Operators Grant payments in these years is as shown:

As of April 2010, the Bus Service Operators Grant became budget limited. The annual expenditure for 2010-11 and 2011-12 would therefore have remained the same, if the new formula had been applied.

Prior to April 2010, the payment rate varied with fuel duty and the budget was demand-led. It is not therefore possible to apply the new allocation formula for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10.

The involvement of industry leaders in research projects is an important way of ensuring that practical issues are considered and that strict scientific protocols can be followed in a commercial environment. The Scottish Government appreciated the involvement of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association in the Defra-funded research project on electronic training aids. We are aware that ECMA helped to ensure that the strict scientific procedures required during the project were adhered to, and their knowledge and experience in this area were a welcome contribution.

The Defra-funded research project was due to finish in November 2011; the Scottish Government received a draft final report in July 2011. The research has been completed and the project is currently being peer reviewed. Peer review is an important part of the research process as it ensures that the results reported have arisen from suitably structured scientific research and analysis and are not biased. This process should be completed later this year, at which point the Scottish Government will consider whether any further action is required on electronic shock collars.

The Scottish Government is aware of the evidence that the Welsh Government considered when legislating against the use of electronic shock collars; however, we do not consider that the studies that have been published to date are sufficiently robust to impose a ban or regulation at this point in time. Scottish Government policy is that such regulatory burden should only be imposed where there is clear evidence that doing so will improve animal welfare in the most proportionate manner.

Psoroptic mange, or cattle scab, is difficult to diagnose, requires prolonged treatment (which is not always successful) and is spread by bringing infected cattle into a herd. The best defence against the disease is taking appropriate precautions when buying cattle. To help animal keepers to do so, the Scottish Government funds, through the Scottish Agricultural College, a free service for testing skin samples, and encourages veterinary practitioners and farmers to submit samples whenever the disease is suspected.

The Scottish Government has had no discussions with Network Rail regarding how the punctuality of Scotrail services as part of the Public Performance Measure (PPM) at (a) staffed and (b) unstaffed stations is determined.

PPM is reported by franchise and service group within that franchise, rather than by specific station, staffed or not. The measure was introduced in 1997 by the-then Strategic Rail Authority, before the devolution of rail powers in 2005, as a way of measuring improvements to the rail system over time. The measure also allows a way of comparing FirstScotrail performance on a basis consistent with the other franchises.

In deciding whether woodland creation proposals are likely to have a significant effect on the environment of a site, Forestry Commission Scotland seek the views of other relevant organisations to identify potential issues and mitigations early in the application process.

For biodiversity, consideration is given to the sensitivity of the site, for example, whether proposals are within a sensitive site such as a Site of Special Scientific Interest or Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Special Protection Area (SPA), to the presence of any priority habitats or species as identified within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) and to the potential impacts on soil and water.

For historic environment, consideration is given to the presence of historic features such as Scheduled Ancient Monuments; other features of historic significance such as veteran trees and also the impact of proposals on the wider historic landscape aspects.

The number of woodland creation proposals which were consented without an Environmental Impact Assessment, split by sensitive sites and by non-sensitive sites, since 2007 is set out in the following table.

Note: *Information by conservancy is not available as woodland creation approval figures are compiled by RPAC Region.