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Scottish Natural Heritage provides advice on possible impacts of developments, including ballast water transfers, on Natura sites. No specific funding is available to port authorities on this issue.

It is the responsibility of the port/harbour authority to ensure that any environmental legislation, such as the Habitats Directive, is met within the area under their authority.

Vessels will have to meet the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention once it enters into force. The standard aims to reduce the risk of introducing non-native species.

Where possible, ballast water exchange should be conducted at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in waters 200 metres deep.

It is the responsibility of the ship owner to comply with the international requirements as set out in the Ballast Water Convention when it enters into force.

Under Regulation 48A of the Habitats Regulations 1994, the Scottish Ministers can request a copy of the proposal and may direct an assessment in compliance with that legislation.

Scottish Ministers must consult the appropriate nature conservation body regarding the exercise of these functions.

If not managed properly the transfer of ballast water is a potential route for the introduction of invasive non-native species to marine habitats in Scotland.

We intend that the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland would be used for the appointment of the chairs of regional boards of colleges in multi-college regions.

We plan to bring forward legislation to make provision for the establishment of statutory regional boards in those college regions where there is more than one college (except in the Highlands and Islands, for which separate provision will be made). Subject to that legislation completing its Parliamentary stages, we shall begin the appointment round for chairs of those regional boards as soon as possible.

We plan to bring forward legislation to make provision for the establishment of statutory regional boards in those college regions where there is more than one college (except in the Highlands and Islands, for which separate provision will be made). Subject to that legislation completing its parliamentary stages, we shall begin the appointment round for chairs of those regional boards as soon as possible.

Decisions regarding the provision of NHS services remain matters for NHS boards. Also, clinicians remain responsible for clinical decisions regarding the care of individual patients. Details of each NHS board’s individual patient treatment request process is not available centrally.

The Scottish Government issued CEL 17 (2010) on 17 May 2010, which set out a framework within which boards were expected to develop and align local policies regarding access to new medicines. This was followed up by the issue of good practice guidance on the management of Individual Patient Treatment Requests which was issued on 18 March 2011 by the Chief Medical Officer under cover of SGHD/CMO(2011)3. Also, guidance to further strengthen the safe and effective use of new medicines across the NHS in Scotland was issued on 13 February 2012 under SGHD/CMO(2012)1.

The guidance was circulated widely to healthcare professional groups and the good practice guidance contains a section on providing information to the public. It asks boards to ensure their policies are available to the public in accordance with relevant legislation including equalities legislation.