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The Scottish Government defines sustainable economic growth as building a dynamic and growing economy that will provide prosperity and opportunities for all, while ensuring that future generations can enjoy a better quality of life too. This definition was set out in the Government Economic Strategy which was first published in 2007 and refreshed in 2011.

This is supported by our Purpose Framework presented in the Government Economic Strategy, which identifies the key drivers of sustainable economic growth – Productivity, Participation, and Population – alongside our desired characteristics of growth – Solidarity, Cohesion, and Sustainability. This Framework demonstrates how these drivers and characteristics of growth are linked to deliver balanced sustainable growth alongside important social, regional and inter-generational equity objectives.

More information can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ges.

The sustainability appraisal is concerned with the broader environmental, social and economic impacts on Scotland of the proposals for designating new nature conservation MPAs. This Appraisal will draw on a wide and varied evidence base. In cases where existing evidence from the rest of the UK or further afield is relevant to the Scottish context, it may form part of the wider evidence base considered as part of the sustainability appraisal.

<>Our definition of sustainable economic growth is wider than just aggregate GDP growth. The Government economic strategy identifies the key drivers of sustainable economic growth – Productivity, Participation, and Population, alongside our desired characteristics of growth – Solidarity, Cohesion, and Sustainability. We continue to monitor performance against these drivers and characteristics of growth through the Purpose Targets on Scotland Performs. These provide a much broader measure of economic growth, incorporating important social, regional and inter-generational equity objectives alongside measures of aggregate GDP. More information can be found at: www.scotlandperforms.com.

The Government Economic Strategy sets out our approach to supporting sustainable economic growth in Scotland, with an update of the strategy published in September 2011. We engaged widely in the development of the update of strategy with key partners from across the business, public and third sectors and continue to work with all of Scottish society to deliver on these ambitions.

The Scottish Government remains committed to sustainable development as defined in the 2005 UK shared framework, One future, different paths. The key principles identified in the framework are reflected in our Government Economic Strategy and other key policy documents, including the Energy Efficiency Action Plan and Zero Waste Plan. These principles also form a key part of the National Performance Framework which includes indicators on waste, transport, energy and Scotland’s carbon footprint to support the national outcomes and our strategic objectives. The fundamental principle of sustainable development is that it integrates economic, social and environmental objectives. This principle is reflected in both the Scottish Government’s definition of sustainable economic growth and in the five guiding principles set out in the UK shared framework for sustainable development.

It is the clear view of the Scottish Government that on independence Scotland would remain part of the EU as it is at present, fulfilling the responsibilities which membership brings, and maintaining its political, economic and social links to Europe. A Scotland at the heart of European activity enables us to benefit from the opportunities membership brings and ensure Scotland has a full role in the development of EU affairs including its terms under the Common Agricultural policy.

At present, all funding for climate change activity and almost all for fuel poverty activity in 2012-13 and 2013-14 is funded by the Scottish Government through the funding settlement, with the exception of a £16 million transfer from the Department of Energy & Climate Change for the Green Homes Cash Back Scheme and £5 million for the Gas Infill Fund which is loan funding repayable to HM Treasury.

The financial costs of measures in the Reports on Proposals and Policies (RPP) to meet Scotland’s climate change targets will fall across government, business and consumers. The Scottish Spending Review 2011 set out plans for more than £700 million to help deliver emissions cuts. This will ensure that we will continue to make progress delivering the policy framework set out in Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reductions Targets 2010 – 2022, our first climate change RPP.

The Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Committee report into fuel poverty in February 2012 recommended a budget of at least £200 million a year from both Government and energy company obligation funding was required to tackle fuel poverty. The Scottish Government is therefore working closely with utility companies to ensure that Scotland receives an appropriate share of Energy Company Obligation funding, being around £120 million. Combined with Scottish Government funding, this should provide a funding pot of at least £200 million per annum from 2013-14.

A draft budget summary document detailing spending supporting the delivery of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle fuel poverty is available online http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/climatechangefundingdocument Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 54423).

Forestry Commission scientists have been aware of ash dieback as one of a number of potential threats to tree health for a number of years. Ash dieback symptoms were first observed in Poland in 1992 and since then the disease has spread to other parts of Europe.

There was significant uncertainty regarding the identity of the causal agent of the disease until 2010. In 2010 European scientists identified a new species, Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus, as the correct fungus causing the damage. Until then it was thought that the causal agent was a fungus that was already widespread throughout Great Britain.

In line with the policy of successive Governments, the Scottish Government does not currently plan to pay compensation for plants and trees lost through pest and diseases or the measure required to eradicate them. Nursery owners are advised of the need to ensure all stock is disease free prior to importation to the UK.

As at 9 November the majority of the confirmed cases in Scotland related to new planting sites, mostly likely related to imported ash trees. However there were two sites in the wider environment; for one of these sites the cause is unclear while in the other the cause may be wind born transmission.