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The time taken to deal with planning appeals is largely dependent on a number of factors including the volume of information submitted and the complexities that need to be addressed as part of the consideration.

The average weeks taken for planning appeal decisions made in the period 21-08-2016 to 20-08-2017 was 22.61 weeks

The Shaping Surgical Services Programme for Tayside has been under development by the Board for a number of years. During this time Scottish Government officials have met with Board officials to offer advice and guidance in relation to good practice in carrying out public engagement and consultation.

The proposals went out to public consultation on 3 August 2017 and are scheduled to be completed on 3 October 2017.

No decisions have been made and as the proposals constitute major service change, Ministers will ultimately have the final decision on any recommendations approved by the NHS Board.

In common with other Boards across Scotland, NHS Forth Valley has experienced some challenges in providing sufficient GP cover for its out-of-hours service over the summer months. Whilst no formal discussions have taken place with NHS Forth Valley, the Board has kept the Scottish Government fully apprised of the situation and indeed has engaged positively with local MSPs on this matter.

The Principles for Just Trade state that trade should be democratic, work in the public interest and do good.

This is consistent with the Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy.

The UK Government and the European Commission that trade agreements must not adversely affect the delivery of public services, or lower standards or limit the Government’s right to regulate in the public interest.

Since the vote to leave the EU, the UK Government’s approach to withdrawal has seemed to reject the principles of devolution, and the sharing of decision making across these islands. We will continue to challenge this approach and to promote the best possible outcome for Scotland.

We will seek to represent Scotland’s interests internationally and to ensure that these interests are met in future discussions.

The Scottish Food Commission are holding a Summit on 28 September to seek stakeholders views on the content of the consultation for the Bill. The consultation is on track to be published as planned at the end of 2017.

The Scottish Government published the Marine Litter Strategy in 2014 with over 40 actions to reduce the amount of litter entering our seas, including plastic pellets or 'nurdles'. The Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group is meeting 7 September 2017 and the subject of nurdles has been added to the agenda at the request of one of the members Fidra. Fidra runs The Great Nurdle Hunt and promotes Operation Clean Sweep, an international programme designed by the plastics industry to prevent the loss of material by those who make, ship and use nurdles. Marine Scotland chairs the Steering Group and it will work with the group to agree actions to promote this programme with relevant organisations in Scotland.

Scottish Water has no current experience or technologies in place to separate out and treat microplastics, microbeads or micro fibres from the organic content on an operational scale and at reasonable cost.

Any guidance produced in relation to regional land use partnerships will take into account all relevant policy.

Article 7 of the EU Habitats Directive makes provision for the application of Article 6 (2), (3) and (4) of that Directive with the effect of superseding the requirements of Article 4(4) of the EU Birds Directive for Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 make the necessary provisions for the protection of European Sites.

In relation to any proposed development at Coul Links, it would be the responsibility of the Highland Council, on receipt of a planning application, to consider all significant environmental effects likely to arise from a proposed development prior to making a decision whether to grant planning consent and whether any conditions would be attached. Scottish Planning Policy (available at www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/06/5823/7) describes the circumstances where proposed development might affect SPAs.

The Scottish Government commissioned Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to scope the potential to develop a strategic vision for the uplands, which was a proposal in The Land Use Strategy 2016-2021. SNH submitted its report, Scoping a Strategic Vision for the Uplands, to the Scottish Government earlier this year and the report was published in July 2017. We are considering the content of the report and its recommendations and will respond in due course.