Chamber and committees

The Blue Flag beach award is an international programme administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education. The main themes are; water quality; safety and information provision; environmental education; and land based facilities. Keep Scotland Beautiful coordinated the Blue Flag awards in Scotland until 2016. The following table shows how many beaches were granted Blue Flag status in Scotland from 2007 until the final award in 2015.

Short-term let licensing and powers to designate control areas allow local authorities to strike a balance between the economic benefits of short-term lets and the needs and concerns of communities in their areas. It is for local authorities to use the powers available to them to achieve the right balance in their areas recognising the need for a thriving tourist economy, as well as having sufficient homes for people to live in.

The short-term let licensing scheme will ensure that all short-term lets in Scotland comply with basic safety standards. Many hosts will already be following these standards as a matter of compliance with existing law or best practice. We do not consider them to be onerous. Whether someone is sharing their own home or letting a portfolio of properties, in rural Skye or in central Edinburgh, safety matters.

The requested information is not held centrally. The Official Statistics on Police recorded crime include offences recorded under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, such as section 1 on dogs bred for fighting and section 3 on keeping dogs under proper control. However they do not identify specific circumstances where an individual has been harmed.

This information is not held centrally. Criminal Proceedings data counts people proceeded against and convicted in Scottish courts. It does not include details of disposals relating to animals.

The management of the court estate is an operational matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. The car park to the south of Glasgow Sheriff Court is considered an essential part of the SCTS estate.

A total of 494 people have benefited from an interim care placement procured using our additional funding offer. The total number of people in interim placements as of 3 April is 545.

This information is published at Interim care placement uptake - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information regarding the number of the interim care beds acquired through the announced additional funding that are still being used as of 1 April.

Scotland's Blue Economy Vision has been developed from the fundamental principle that Scotland's economy is embedded within nature, not external to it. At its core, our Vision recognises that economic prosperity and well-being are underpinned by nature and in order to secure long term economic prosperity from our seas, we must transform our economy and society to thrive within the planet’s sustainable limits.

The marine sectors within Scotland's Blue Economy depend on nature but current trends in nature degradation place a significant risk on Scotland's economic prosperity.

Scientific studies indicate that fish stocks can increase in HPMAs, providing spill over benefits for fishers and making sure there are sustainable levels of fish and other marine products to be derived and benefitted from our seas. For example, a study by Lenihan et al in California has shown spill over benefits with increased stocks of spiny lobster.

As set out in our initial consultation, which closed on 17 April, any specific potential impacts can only be considered once specific site proposals have been developed, following close stakeholder and community engagement.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-02113 on 19 April 2023 and can be found: Meeting of the Parliament: 19/04/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .

The Scottish Government does not hold this data, however it is collected by the Scottish Social Services Council and can be found in their annual data report here .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-02113 on 19 April 2023 and can be found at: Meeting of the Parliament: 19/04/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .

The Scottish Government does not hold this data, however it is collected by the Scottish Social Services Council and can be found in their annual data report here .

(a) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where all commercial fishing is currently restricted, which are within the MPA network, is 60 square kilometres. This is less than 1%, of both, waters up to 12 Nautical Miles and waters in the inshore MPA network. The presumption for MPAs is that their use will be sustainable use, therefore fishing gears prohibited in MPAs is based on their potential impact on the protected features of the site, usually allowing some fishing to continue.

(b) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where scallop dredging is currently restricted, which are within the MPA network, is 4,753 square kilometres. This is 5% of waters up to 12 Nautical Miles and 13 % of waters in the inshore MPA network.

(c) Nephrops trawling is included in measures restricting trawl, bottom trawl or mobile gear. The numbers presented below reflect this. The area of Scotland's inshore waters where trawling is currently restricted, which are within the MPA network, is 5,084 square kilometres. This is 6% of waters up to 12 Nautical Miles and 13 % of waters in the inshore MPA network.

(d) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where creeling is currently restricted, which are within the MPA network, is 2,659 square kilometres. This is 3% of waters up to 12 Nautical Miles and 7% of waters in the inshore MPA network.

The MPA network includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Special Areas of Conservation(SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and RAMSAR sites. The area calculated for restrictions is based on where there is a limit on the fishing activity all year round dependent on, for example, vessel size and power usage as well as where there is a complete ban on that type of fishing activity in a designated site as part of the MPA network. The Scottish Government are currently developing fisheries management measures for MPAs where they are required, but not already in place, and for Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas outside of MPAs.