Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

During the last three years onecase due to be held in Inverness Sheriff Court has been held elsewhere. This wasa Fatal Accident Inquiry on 9 January 2008, which was held in Dingwall Sheriff Courtas a result of a heating system fault in the North Tower at Inverness Sheriff Court.No additional costs were incurred for the use of other premises as the case wasmoved to Dingwall Sheriff Court. There was no business planned in Dingwall SheriffCourt that day and therefore no cases were delayed as a result.

I refer the member to answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Government has undertakena consultation on a draft framework for freshwater fisheries developed in associationwith stakeholders. It proposes a national policy that seeks to protect biodiversityand our environment as well as enhancing the economic benefit for our rural economythat results from angling. The consultation period closed on 4 January 2008 andthe responses are being analysed. Thereafter the Freshwater Fisheries Steering Groupwhose members represent the main interests within the sector will prepare a finalversion that government can consider.

The Scottish ministers may onlymake a protection order upon application to them, and each application must be consideredon its merits. Currently, no applications are under consideration.

There are currently no plansto revoke any protection order. However, the operation of protection orders is underconstant review, and any protection order may be revoked or varied where appropriate.

When an area is granted a protectionorder it is on condition that wider public access is made available on terms andconditions that the Scottish ministers consider to be necessary. This access requiresto be maintained unless a different agreement is reached on conservation grounds.

We recognise the issue of decliningyouth participation within angling and we are working with the sector to informyoung people about fish and to introduce them to angling.

We share the vision that is containedwithin the draft Strategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries that Scotland willhave sustainably managed freshwater fish and fisheries that provide significanteconomic and social benefits for its people.