- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of South Ayrshire Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of The Highland Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it plans to remove customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022.
Answer
A seasonal spawning closure in the Firth of Clyde has been in place for over 20 years to provide an area to protect cod during their spawning season (14 February – 30 April). Since its introduction in 2001, the closure has included exemptions to allow Nephrops trawlers, creels and scallop dredgers to continue to fish in the area, due to the low numbers of cod they catch. However, despite the ongoing seasonal closure, the stock has shown little sign of recovery. The Scottish Government has therefore decided to introduce a revised and more targeted closure. The overall size of the closure compared to previous years has been reduced by 28%, while providing increased protection to spawning cod by prohibiting all fishing activity in the closed areas for 11 weeks from 14 th February in both 2022 and 2023.
This decision is underpinned by analysis of sediment distribution in the Clyde, as well as by scientific research which suggests that any fishing activity within 10m of the seabed (which would include trawling, dredging and creeling) has the potential to impact on cod spawning activity. Given the vulnerability of cod to any disturbance during the spawning season, we believe that it is appropriate not to continue the exemptions in order to provide a higher chance of stock recovery and contribute to a more sustainable fishery in the West of Scotland in the medium-longer term. We will be increasing monitoring in the area during the period of the closure. We will also arrange a review meeting with stakeholders at the end of the closure to assess its effectiveness and practicality.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of West Dunbartonshire Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Moray Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Fife Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can guarantee that the planned three-month removal of customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022, will not be extended further.
Answer
The Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) (No. 2) Order 2022 introduces a closure for 11 weeks from 14 February in both 2022 and 2023. Both the timing of the closure and the statutory approach are consistent with the approach the Scottish Government has taken to this closure since 2001. There are no plans at this time to amend the statutory instrument cited above.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to creel fishermen, in light of the planned removal of customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022.
Answer
In line with Scottish Government policy, we will not provide financial compensation to fishermen for areas closed in order to protect fish spawning, such as those in the Firth of Clyde. This approach is consistent with that take in respect of similar management measures, including the National Cod Avoidance Plan and MPAs.
Whilst we fully understand that the non-continuation of the exemptions may come with short term costs, this seasonal closure covers a short period of 11 weeks, during which vessels may fish in alternative locations, which the vast majority regularly do. This is a more targeted closure than in previous years; the overall size of the closure compared to previous years has been reduced by 28%. The closure will not affect quota and should not affect the overall volume of fish that fishers are able to catch over the year. Moreover, cod and potentially other stocks, should benefit from the closure period, allowing greater fishing opportunities on the reopening of the seasonal closure.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of East Dunbartonshire Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
