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Marine Scotland will integrate the existing roles and responsibilities of the Scottish Government Marine Directorate, Fisheries Research Services and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. That includes their current decision-making functions in relation to marine nature conservation. To the extent that these responsibilities already rest with the Scottish Government or its agencies, this effectively maintains the status quo. Marine Scotland will continue to seek advice from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee as appropriate. We plan further provisions and functions related to marine nature conservation under the Marine Bill.

Responsibility for some decisions relating to marine nature conservation “ for example, related to the question of any proceedings for alleged offences “ currently rests elsewhere. We have no plans to change that approach.

Establishing Marine Scotland as a delivery-orientated directorate of Scottish Government means it can deliver better integrated policy, science and other marine management functions than would be possible through a non-departmental public body. Combining marine expertise and resources will mean Marine Scotland is well placed to champion Scotland''s seas and play a key role in the UK, Europe and internationally. It is also more transparent through direct accountability to the Scottish Parliament and offers value for money.

A non-departmental body would be more complex and costly to establish and operate and has the significant drawback of fragmentation of functions.

While there were differences of view on the most appropriate status for Marine Scotland, this is also the approach favoured by the largest group of respondents on the Marine Bill consultation who expressed a view on this issue.

Recommendations are expected before the end of 2009, with the intention that, if applicable, a further Amendment Order could be laid within 12 months of the original coming into force.

Research published in early 2007 recommended that permitted development rights distinguish between domestic and non-domestic buildings. We have given priority to domestic buildings. The research recommended that the same rights apply to all non-domestic buildings. However, non-domestic buildings vary enormously in their scale, location and type of activity. We intend to progress work on non-domestic microgeneration when matters are resolved for domestic.

The government is committed to this objective but a decision on removing the need for planning permission for micro-turbines will depend on the recommendations of the study, which will look at all the relevant issues.

A single study will look at the issues relating to the introduction of permitted development rights for domestic wind turbines and air source heat pumps.

The drafting of recommendations will take place as part of the study and any timescale for implementation will depend on the content of those recommendations.

The draft regulations which have not been subject of detailed research or scrutiny to support the provisions of Section 50 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill [as introduced] will be provided to the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee at Stage 2.

Officials are in discussion with the Improvement Service about a range of training and development matters associated with planning modernisation.

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (March 2007) is a non-statutory document. It is for planning authorities to apply the policy as they deem appropriate.

The Scottish Government has put in place a number of measures to assist planning authorities with this including:

providing consultancy support and advice to local authorities on the preparation of Supplementary Planning Guidance for windfarms.

issuing PAN 45 Annex 2, Spatial Frameworks and Supplementary Planning Guidance for Windfarms.

issuing PAN 84, Reducing Carbon Emissions in New Development.