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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-06830

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the statement in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Draft Report of the Aquaculture, Introductions and Transfers and Transgenics Focus Area Review Group that "in spite of the wealth of regulations and measures demonstrated in the FARs relating to salmon farming no jurisdiction was able to show that it had reached a situation where it had achieved the international goals", what additional steps will be taken to address these issues in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has supported, and continues to support, the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry and wild salmon and recreational fisheries in Scotland.

The draft report does not fully take into account the measures that the Scottish Government has taken, and continues to take, to address the issues highlighted. Examples include the continued work of the Improved Containment Working Group and proposals included in the recent Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill Consultation document. We are considering the way forward in light of responses to the bill consultation.

Question reference: S4W-06833

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the conclusion in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Final Report of the Aquaculture, Introductions and Transfers and Transgenics Focus Area Review Group that, in Scotland, "adequate measures to minimise the risk of disease and parasite transmission have not been implemented", what additional steps will be taken to address these issues.

Question reference: S4W-06834

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional steps it will take to ensure that sampling protocols effective in characterising the sea lice loads in fish farms and on wild salmonid populations are in place, as per the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Guidance on Best Management Practices to address impacts of sea lice and escaped farmed salmon on wild salmon stocks.

Marine Scotland’s Fish Health Inspectorate undertake inspections under the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 relating to parasites and related control measures. The aquaculture industry in Scotland uses monitoring protocols detailed in the National Strategy for sea lice control. A protocol for assessing the sea lice loads on wild sea trout is being developed by the Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre.

Question reference: S4W-06836

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional steps it will take to assess sea lice induced mortality of wild salmonids, as per the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Guidance on Best Management Practices to address impacts of sea lice and escaped farmed salmon on wild salmon stocks.

Question reference: S4W-06831

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the statement in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Final Report of the Aquaculture, Introductions and Transfers and Transgenics Focus Area Review Group that "the number of sea lice may be less than one per farmed fish but that may still translate to large numbers of lice in the environment because of the scale of production".

Question reference: S4W-06835

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional steps it will take to assess sea lice loads on wild salmonids compared with areas with no salmon farms, as per the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Guidance on Best Management Practices to address impacts of sea lice and escaped farmed salmon on wild salmon stocks.

Question reference: S4W-06837

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on a trial of closed containment for marine finfish aquaculture, in light of the recent trial of such a system by Aquamarine in Canada.

<>The Scottish Government is aware of a recent pilot study by AgriMarine in Canada and will continue to monitor developments with interest. Marine closed containment does not come without its challenges as shown in recent press relating to this study, which can be found at http://www.fishfarmingxpert.com/index.php?page_id=76&article_id=94657.

The technology is still in the experimental phase and will need to be proven to be both practical and economically viable if it is to be adopted widely by industry.

Question reference: S4W-06832

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the conclusion in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Final Report of the Aquaculture, Introductions and Transfers and Transgenics Focus Area Review Group that, in Scotland, "progress towards achieving the international goals for sea lice and containment was not demonstrated", what additional steps will be taken to address these issues.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06830 on 30 April 2012 and the proposals included in the recent Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill Consultation document. Good progress has also been made through the Improved Containment Working Group’s work with industry on containment best practice training and on developing technical standards for aquaculture equipment.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-06839

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill will include provisions to ensure that fish genetic samples are produced from salmon fisheries where necessary.

Question reference: S4W-06585

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recommendation of the UK Committee on Climate Change that "it will be essential for the Scottish Government to ensure full roll-out of measures in devolved policy areas, such as demand-side transport and agriculture and land use" what steps it has taken to ensure a full roll-out of proposals listed in its first report on proposals and policies to meet its emissions reduction targets.

The independent Committee on Climate Change noted in its first Scottish progress report (published 31 January 2012) that good progress has been made in Scotland, highlighting investment in renewables, the outperformance of the Government’s targets on renewable heat, moves to improve the efficiency of buildings and electric vehicle markets, smarter choices programmes and cycling programmes.

The Scottish Government is determined to continue this progress. Despite real terms cuts imposed by the UK Government to the Scottish Government’s budget of 8.3% Resource and 32.9% Capital between 2010-11 and 2014-15, the Scottish Spending Review 2011 set out plans for more than £700 million to help to deliver emissions cuts, with around £1 billion of support each year for public transport and other sustainable travel options.

The Scottish Spending Review 2011 is available. Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53222).

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/04153155/0.

The answer to S4W-06582 on 24 April 2012 contains details about the emissions mitigation measures that the Scottish Government has brought forward since the publication of the first climate change report on proposals and policies in March 2011.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.