- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for licences under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the purposes of (a) preserving public health or public air safety, (b) preventing the spread of disease, (c) preventing serious damage to livestock, (d) preventing serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock, crops or vegetables and (e) preventing serious damage to timber, fisheries or inland waters have been (i) granted and (ii) refused in each year since the Act came into force.
Answer
I wrote to the member on 22 July enclosing three tables showing individual licences granted by the Scottish Office and the Scottish Executive under section 16 since 1990. My answer to S1W-16300 explained that comprehensive information is only readily available for the period since 1990. The tables I provided with my letter show licences by year, species and purpose. Copies of all three tables have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 16175).
Copies of relevant general licences were also enclosed with my letter. Copies of all general licences currently in force have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
In relation to statistics on refusals of licence applications, I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-16300 and S1W-17693.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any licences have ever been granted under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the purpose of controlling predators and, if so, what the specific purpose of each licence was.
Answer
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes no specific provision for licences to control predators. Section 16 of the Act permits licences to be issued, in certain circumstances, for the purpose of conserving wild birds and wild animals and in order to prevent serious damage to livestock and fisheries.
I wrote to the member on 22 July providing three tables showing licences granted by the Scottish Office and the Scottish Executive under section 16 since 1990. Cases involving predatory species, and the relevant section 16 purpose, can be determined from each table. Copies of the tables have also been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 16175). My answer to question S1W-16300 explained that comprehensive information is only readily available for the period since 1990.
A summary of individual licences under section 16 issued in respect of predatory species between 1990 and 2000 is given. Figures for the 2000-01 season have not yet been fully compiled.
| | Licences | Number Killed | Purpose |
| Ravens | 142 | 710 | Preventing serious damage to livestock |
| Pine Martens | 5 | 0 |
| Otters | 3 | 0 | Preventing serious damage to fisheries |
| Cormorants | 382 | 2,385 |
| Mergansers | 1,780 |
| Goosanders | 4,375 |
| Herons | 21 |
| Eider Ducks | 113 |
General licences under section 16 also permit the control of certain common bird species with predatory behaviour, such as crows, rooks, magpies, jackdaws, jays, greater and lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls. Copies of all general licences have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
No licence is required for the control of mammalian predators such as foxes, weasels, stoats or mink, which are not included on Schedule 5 of the Act, provided legitimate methods of killing are employed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 2 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that infectious salmon anaemia and viral haemorhagic septicaemia should be added to the list of diseases contained in Article 3 of EC Decisions 90/424/EEC.
Answer
Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) was added to the list of diseases in the Annex to Council Decision 90/424, by means of amending Decision 2001/572 dated 23 July 2001. The effect of this addition is that, in the event of further outbreaks of ISA, affected member states may, at their discretion, seek a financial contribution from the Community towards the cost of implementing a programme for the eradication and monitoring of this disease.
We have no plans to request the addition of viral haemorhagic septicaemia to this list.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sent to the European Commission for their attention and comment a copy of the European Committee's 7th Report 2000, Report on a review of the impact of European list 1 designated disease Infectious Salmon Anaemia and list 2 disease Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia on the Scottish aquaculture industry and, if so, when it sent a copy of the report, whether it will place a copy of any reply from the Commission in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and, if no reply has been received, what explanation the Commission has given for the delay in replying and what representations it will be making to the Commission on this matter.
Answer
It is the responsibility of Parliament to communicate to the European Commission recommendations of parliamentary committees which are directed towards the European Commission. I understand that this has been done. It will be for Parliament to decide how to deal with the response.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings it has had with other EU member states or European countries which operate national compensation schemes for losses incurred by fish farmers as a result of the compulsory slaughter of farmed fish and what information it has about any such schemes.
Answer
No such discussions or meetings have taken place. There has been no detailed research into national compensation schemes, but we understand that there is no common approach.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 28 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek a meeting with officials of the European Commission (EC) to discuss the future of the Scottish aquaculture industry and any measures which it wishes the EC to take in order to promote the sustainable development of the industry.
Answer
The Executive is in regular discussion with European Commission officials about measures designed to ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture such as the review of the fish and shellfish health directives and the emerging fish welfare proposals, the operation of the EU/Norway salmon trade agreement and the Common Fisheries Policy, which embraces aquaculture development.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposals for development of the Fort William waterfront.
Answer
The Scottish Executive believe the proposals have the potential to benefit not only Fort William but also communities throughout Lochaber, both in terms of job creation and the local economy.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 26 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps it has taken or intends to take in response to the findings of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee's Report on the Inquiry into Fuel Prices in Remote Rural Areas.
Answer
The Scottish Executive's response to the committee's report was sent to its Convener on 27 August, after lengthy consideration.
The report recognised that the tax-varying proposals being put forward to address the higher cost of fuel in rural areas are reserved to the UK Government. It also acknowledged that the Executive has already put into place many measures which will help to mitigate the effects of higher rural fuel prices. We have:
- increased the Rural Transport Fund to £18 million over three years, funding some 380 new and improved public transport services;
- used the Rural Petrol Station Grant scheme to fund structural improvements at 24 vital rural petrol stations;
- increased funding in Scotland for the Powershift Liquefied Petroleum Gas vehicle conversion scheme by £900,000 over the next three years, and
- introduced, with the UK Government and Shell UK, an initiative to deliver 23 new LPG outlets in rural areas.
We will continue to press Scotland's interests on taxation, as on other reserved matters, through the Scotland Office and through direct contacts with UK ministers. We will also continue to develop effective measures of direct benefit to rural communities, and remain open to imaginative and innovative proposals.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 25 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S1W-16226 by Jackie Baillie on 2 July 2001, when it will announce who will be the managing agents of its central heating installation programme and why the announcement has been delayed.
Answer
Eaga Partnership Ltd were appointed to administer the Central Heating Programme on 29 August 2001. The appointment was made as soon as possible following a careful and thorough evaluation of the tenders received.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 25 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not met its target for the commencement of its central heating installation programme of 1 April 2001.
Answer
The programme did begin as planned and we are paying grant for all heating systems installed in local authority dwellings since 1 April 2001. We will ensure that our commitment to provide every council and housing association tenant and everyone aged 60 or over in the private sector with a central heating system is met. We are also considering how the programme might be extended.
