Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-00269

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many hectares have been acquired and (b) what the cost has been to purchase land through the Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise since 2009.

Question reference: S4W-00270

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive where woodland purchased through the Forestry Commission Scotland’s provisioning exercise (a) was located and (b) the date each purchase was completed since 2009.

Question reference: S4O-00005

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the safeguarding of national forestry treasures as set out in the Scottish Forestry Strategy.

Question reference: S3W-40558

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2011
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 21 March 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will offer those affected by the proposed job losses at the West Freugh satellite ground station.

The Scottish Government provides support through the PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) Partnership to all individuals facing redundancy. The local PACE Partnership is aware of potential job losses at West Freugh and has contacted the company to offer advice and support. To date QinetiQ has declined the offer of this support as they already have arrangements in place to provide support to any staff facing redundancy. However, PACE support will remain available through partner organisations and can be accessed by employees.

The type of support available through PACE will be tailored to meet individual needs and local circumstances but will include: Jobcentre Plus Scotland services; one-to-one counselling; comprehensive information packs; access to high-quality training; seminars on skills such as CV-writing and starting up a business.

Question reference: S3W-39963

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 March 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39204 by Richard Lochhead on 10 February 2011, whether it has made representations to (a) Sodexo and (b) Graham’s Family Dairy to ensure that the dairy farmers supplying the Scottish Government are receiving a price per litre in excess of production costs and above the average market rate.

The Scottish Government contract with Sodexo is to provide catering service, not specific foods or products. Whilst we expect our contractor to pay a fair price, the arrangements between our contractor and their suppliers are commercially sensitive and for the contractor to manage.

Separately I have recently met with Robert Graham junior to discuss options to increase the sustainability of the Scottish dairy sector.

Question reference: S3W-39943

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 March 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is legislation or guidance on the replanting of like-for-like commercial woodland for parts of the national forestry estate that are allocated for wind energy technology projects.

There is no specific legislation to that effect.

Policy direction on woodland removal, including compensatory planting, is set out in the Scottish Government''s Policy on Control of Woodland Removal (June 2008), a key aim of which is to minimise inappropriate loss of woodland in Scotland. Implementation guidance for Forestry Commission Scotland staff is available on their website. The consolidated Scottish Planning Policy now makes reference to the policy as does the second National Planning Framework.

Where compensatory planting is required, the default position is for this planting to be of equivalent woodland area, on appropriate site types and with at least the equivalent, woodland-related net public benefits, this including timber production and carbon sequestration.

Forest Enterprise Scotland will seek to maintain the productive potential of the national forest estate by ensuring that potential timber production lost through removal of woodland for wind farms will be replaced by the creation of new productive woodlands.

Question reference: S3W-39958

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 March 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what duties and roles the Forestry Commission’s Regional Advisory Committee for Scotland has in protecting and enhancing Scotland’s wildlife, historic environment, landscape and public access.

The role of the Regional Advisory Committee in Scotland is to adjudicate on disputed applications for grants or felling licences and in the case of unresolved objections from statutory consultees to the contents of Forest Enterprise Scotland''s forest design plans.

FC Scotland also has five Regional Advisory Forums comprising a range of relevant stakeholder representatives. These Fora provide general advice to FCS on national and local issues.

Question reference: S3W-39947

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 March 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive where woodland sold through Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise has been located since 2009 and what the date was of completion of each sale.

Details of the location, date and woodland sold since 2009, through Forestry Commission Scotland''s repositioning programme is shown in the following table.

Forest District	Property Name	Date of Completion
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Auchernach Excambion (Glen Nochty Woodland)	14 May 2009
Dumfries and Borders	Nether Linkins (Bentudor)	13 October 2009
Dumfries and Borders	Nether Linkins (Barcloy)	13 October 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Fochabers Bypass (Appropriation Order)	16 October 2009
Cowal and Trossachs	Ledcreich	22 October 2009
Cowal and Trossachs	Acharossan	10 November 2009
Scottish Lowlands	Stallashaw Moss	12 November 2009
Lochaber	Corrour	20 November 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Gartly, Clinkstone	3 December 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Gartly, Clinkstone	3 December 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Gartly, Clinkstone	3 December 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Auchmull, Lot 1 (Kinnoir Outliers)	7 December 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Barlatch Wood (Lot 2, Rothiemay)	26 January 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Bog Wood (Lot 3, Rothiemay)	26 January 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Gartly, Clinkstone	3 December 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Auchmull, Lot 1 (Kinnoir Outliers)	7 December 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Barlatch Wood (Lot 2, Rothiemay)	26 January 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Bog Wood (Lot 3, Rothiemay)	26 January 2010
Cowal and Trossachs	Auchtubhmhor	2 February 2010
North Highland	Ardchronie	19 February 2010
North Highland	Loubcroy	9 March 2010
Tay	Smyrna	16 March 2010
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Inverinate and Dorusduain	19 March 2010
North Highland	Camster	19 March 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Burnfield (Lot 1, Rothiemay)	26 March 2010
Tay	Harran (Glenhead)	26 March 2010
West Argyll	Land at West Loch Caravan Park, Tarbert	26 March 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Clintlaw	30 March 2010
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Durnamuck	16 October 2009
Dumfries and Borders	Affordable Housing Site at Ae Village	29 March 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Land at Gaudiedale	31 March 2010
Cowal and Trossachs	Acharossan 3 (KCFC)	26 March 2010
Tay	Port an Eilean House, Tummel - Water Supply	6 April 2009
Inverness, Ross and Skye	West End Croft, Lochview (Clawback)	14 April 2009
Galloway	Greenfield Farmhouse and Land	20 April 2009
North Highland	Land at Bumble Bee Cottage, Embo	24 April 2009
Lochaber	Land Adjoining Torgulbin House	11 May 2009
Lochaber	Land Adjoining Am Bealach Farmhouse	1 June 2009
Cowal and Trossachs	Water Mains Pipe - Loch Eck - Rashfield	8 June 2009
Scottish Lowlands	High Boreland Farm (Reconveyance)	22 June 2009
West Argyll	Afon Orchy - Water Supply Servitude	13 July 2009
North Highland	Land at Inver House, Culrain	14 July 2009
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Land at Broadford (HIE)	23 July 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Pipelines to Roseisle Distillery (Diageo)	24 July 2009
Scottish Lowlands	East Grange - Lots 2, 3 and 4	29 July 2009
Scottish Lowlands	Leigh Letters Service Reservoir, Lamlash, Arran	21 August 2009
West Argyll	Land adjoining Harbour Cottage, Crinan	24 August 2009
Galloway	Land at Deughside, Dundeugh (Boundary Encroachment)	1 September 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Land at Fochabers (Scottish Water)	15 October 2009
Scottish Lowlands	Crowhill, Auchlochan	16 October 2009
Tay	East Freuchies - Water Supply Servitude	27 October 2009
Lochaber	Access Servitude at Invergarry	30 October 2009
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Land at Feshiebridge	2 November 2009
Tay	Ladywell Farm boundary adjustment	2 November 2009
Cowal and Trossachs	Capercailzie Cottage, Strathyre	13 November 2009
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Land at Kerrow Burn, Access Servitude	23 November 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Land at Binhill, Cairney	23 November 2009
West Argyll	Land for Additional Car Parking for Mull Rugby Club	3 December 2009
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Land at Viewfield Rd, Portree (Aros Centre)	23 December 2009
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Access Servitude Castlehill	29 December 2009
Scottish Lowlands	Birkhill, Auchlochan	30 December 2009
West Argyll	Land at Three Bridges	30 December 2009
Scottish Lowlands	Boghill, Auchlochan	26 January 2010
Tay	Land at Easter Dalguise, (Excambion)	27 January 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Land at Old Merdrum	28 January 2010
Scottish Lowlands	Westoun	12 February 2010
Lochaber	House Site at Croft No 2, Bohuntin	8 March 2010
North Highland	Sibster Farmhouse	11 March 2010
Cowal and Trossachs	Matheson Lane, Innellan	18 March 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Land at Badgers Rest, North Acquitie	29 March 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Wood of Balchers	1 April 2010
West Argyll	Three Bridges	26 April 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Kinnoir (Lot 3-Lodgewood)	27 April 2010
West Argyll	Balinoe Plantation	5 May 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Kinnoir (Lot 3-Bogenspro and Fourman Hill))	26 May 2010
Cowal and Trossachs	Clachaig	9 July 2010
Tay	Camusericht	12 July 2010
West Argyll	Glen Forsa	19 July 2010
Dumfries and Borders	Land at Burnfoot, Westerhall	17 September 2010
Scottish Lowlands	Devilla Sawmill Site	12 October 2010
West Argyll	Auch (South)	18 October 2010
West Argyll	Mungosdail	20 October 2010
North Highland	Ledmore	13 January 2011
North Highland	Rumster Plantation (LLCCDC)	1 February 2011
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Balfour Wood	25 May 2010
North Highland	Dyke Plantation (Tranche 1)	2 March 2011
Lochaber	Stronmilchan Common Grazings	20 July 2010
North Highland	Land at Quebec Bridge	10 April 2010
North Highland	Land at Gravity Bridge	27 April 2010
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Land at Woodside Cottage, Stromeferry	5 May 2010
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Mullans Wood, Tore (Standard Security Discharge)	5 May 2010
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Aigas Excambion	7 May 2010
Scottish Lowlands	Johnshill, (Auchlochan)	19 May 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	Cloddymoss Classroom	10 June 2010
Tay	Land at Inch Cottage, Dunkeld	14 June 2010
Scottish Lowlands	Hillside, (Auchlochan)	16 June 2010
Tay	Drumlinn and Dalvatten Cottages - Excambion (Water and Access Serv)	30 June 2010
West Argyll	Site for Pumping Station, Ford	9 July 2010
North Highland	Land at Grudie Bridge, Achany	23 August 2010
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Balcladaich Sawmill	6 October 2010
Lochaber	3 Morven Crescent	8 October 2010
Moray and Aberdeenshire	A96 Newtongarry Climbing Lane	10 November 2010
Cowal and Trossachs	Land at Argyll Sawmill, Strachur	10 November 2010
West Argyll	NWMCWC - Access Servitude	17 November 2010
Inverness, Ross and Skye	Beauly-Denny O/H Power Line	22 November 2010
Cowal and Trossachs	Donich Park, Lochgoilhead (Servitude)	12 January 2011
Scottish Lowlands	Knowehead Cottage, (Boundary Adjustment)	12 January 2011
North Highland	3 Blackwater Cottages (Servitude)	22 February 2011

Question reference: S3W-39946

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 March 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how (a) many hectares have been sold and (b) much money has been raised through Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise since 2009.

Question reference: S3W-39956

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 March 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Forestry Commission Scotland to complete (a) an environmental and (b) a habitats regulations assessment of plans to develop renewable energy projects on its estate.

Chamber and committees