Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

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 ��˿�� 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.

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Question reference: S6W-00722

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, following the announcement that a deposit return system for cans and bottles will launch in Ireland by the end of September 2022, whether it has contacted the Irish Government to ask for advice on setting up such a system efficiently, given the significant delays to the deposit return scheme in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-00882

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many wild wrasse landings there have been at each (a) creek and (b) aquaculture facility in each week since 1 May 2021, broken down by weight, and how many were reported by the wrasse fishers through (i) their standard reporting requirements and (ii) the new weekly reporting required under the point 11 of the licence conditions applying to the harvesting of the species.

Under new arrangements that came into place on 1 May 2021, fishing licences were varied prohibiting vessels from fishing for wrasse unless they were awarded a Letter of Derogation from Marine Scotland and signed up to fish in line with certain mandatory conditions.

In addition to the statutory requirements for fishermen to provide landings details on Form FISH1, Log Books and landings declarations, wrasse fishermen must also now submit to Marine Scotland a record of the total number of wrasse, by species landed for each trip made in each given week. Although the new arrangements are still bedding in, fishermen are now submitting these returns as required.

The fishery opened on 1 May but only a small number of vessels have harvested wrasse so far and I am therefore unable to provide the level of detail you seek as that might lead to individuals being identified. But I can provide a summary of landings.

Between 1 May and 19 June there were 78 landings totalling some 1700 kg, mostly in the Oban, Portree and Mallaig landing districts.

The licence conditions applying to all vessels that hold a Letter of Derogation to fish for wrasse require that all wrasse landings, including any that are made to an aquaculture facility, must be reported by fishermen directly to Marine Scotland. It is an offence to fail to do so and where conditions are breached Marine Scotland can take enforcement action which may lead to vessels losing access to the wrasse fishery.

Question reference: S6W-00881

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many wild wrasse fishing vessel catches have been inspected by Marine Scotland Compliance since 1 May 2021, and what infringements of licence derogation conditions have been identified.

Question reference: S6W-00285

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to incorporate Sea Eagle Management Scheme payments into wider agricultural support payments post-Brexit.

A decision on a future round of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme will be taken following the current round which is due to close in June of this year. In line with the Scottish Government’s “Stability and Simplicity” approach set out in its June 2018 consultation, simplifications and improvements will be made, and potential new schemes for longer term policy piloted, between 2021-2024.

Sea Eagle Management Scheme payments will remain with NatureScot for the time being, but may be included in other approaches to future agri-environment support currently being piloted by NatureScot in partnership with the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-00466

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the resolution of the Parliament on the debate on motion S5M-15096 on 11 December 2018, what progress it has made on delivering remote electronic monitoring for all of Scotland's fishing vessels, and when this will be fully rolled out.

The Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Strategy, published in December 2020, sets out a clear vision for delivering accountability and confidence in our sea fishing activities, and in ensuring that we have the right data and knowledge available on which to base management decisions.

Our approach to sea fisheries compliance and science is already world-class. The introduction of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) to key fishing fleet segments will enhance our capabilities, building on the solid foundation we already have in place.

In relation to the inshore fishing fleet, 30-40% of Scottish scallop dredge vessels are currently fitted with REM systems, including cameras. Voluntary installations are ongoing around Scotland and our intention is to lay legislation this year, making the technology mandatory for scallop dredge vessels. In addition, to inform the wider deployment of REM technology across inshore vessels, around 40 creel boats have been equipped with a low-cost device as part of our Outer Hebrides Inshore Fisheries Pilot. The REM device reports vessel position and provides feedback that assesses fishing activity, testing our ability to manage creel fishing effort within a significant area of sea. The Pilot project reflects the aspirations of our Fisheries Management Strategy for the network of Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups to take a lead role in proposing and developing fisheries improvement projects that will benefit communities while fulfilling our environmental obligations.

We will shortly consult on mandatory rollout to the scallop and pelagic sectors, along with consideration of further rollout to other fleet segments using a proportionate and risk-based approach. It is important to have a level playing field and we will ensure this is delivered through legislation, meaning that any vessels fishing in Scottish waters must also comply with these rules. We are tailoring the deployment of REM across our fishing sectors to reflect the varied nature of fishing activity, a blanket approach is not appropriate. Hence, we do not have a fixed timescale for delivering REM, given the complexities of installation and lead in time needed, particularly for the international fleet. However, it remains a key priority as part of our 10 year delivery plan under the wider Fisheries Management Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-00335

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy 2018, and whether it anticipates any delays in its implementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transport Scotland continues to make good progress on the 2018 Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy, having introduced smart interoperability, exceeded smart journey targets, established the Mobility as Service Investment Fund and continuing to support operators during the pandemic so that over 90% of bus services now accept contactless payment, reducing contagion points for passengers. Work on the Transport Act Smart Ticketing and Bus Open Data measures was paused during the pandemic, however is now reconvening, with consultation on the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board expected this summer. Additional projects responding to the pandemic have also been delivered, including multi-operator ‘Bus capacity tracker’ service through Traveline Scotland - significantly improving people’s ability to plan their journey and travel safely - and a trial supporting the NHS track and trace on board rail and ferry services.

Question reference: S6W-00287

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many independently verified livestock predation incidents have been recorded by independent veterinary post-mortem testing in each of the last five years.

The Scottish Government and its agencies do not collate or hold information on independently verified livestock predation incidents.

However, as I stated in my answer to S6W-00189 on 11 June 2021, NatureScot has published a report on the predation of lambs by sea eagles which included some analysis of post-mortem results.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-00721

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-00190

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Sea Eagle Management Scheme payments are paid from the NatureScot budget and not from the Scottish Government's agriculture budget, in light of these payments being primarily to support farming.

The Sea Eagle Management Scheme is not an agricultural financial support scheme. It has historically been provided by NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) to provide practical support which includes advice, loan of scaring equipment and research for livestock farmers and crofters who suffer impacts across the sea eagle breeding range.

One of the objectives of the current White-tailed Eagle Action Plan is to consider whether support of farm and croft management relating to sea eagles should be included in future agri-environment programmes. This will help to develop the right conditions for the sustainable co-existence between sea eagles and sheep farming in ways which benefit the biodiversity, economic and social interests of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-00191

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Sea Eagle Management Scheme payments are not directed solely to farms and croft landholdings where there are independently verified livestock predation incidents established by veterinary post-mortem analysis.

The Sea Eagle Management Scheme is not a compensation scheme and therefore does not require verification of predation. It is not possible to retrieve all carcasses in suspected predation incidents as sea eagles generally take prey back to their nests. The aim is to support farmers and crofters to manage livestock in the presence of sea eagles and to minimise the risks of possible predation through that management. Applications to the scheme are accepted only where there is known sea eagle activity and after discussions between expert contractors and the applicant to assess the level of sea eagle activity and possible impacts.