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Testing for Chalara fraxinea is currently being carried out by Forest Research and the Food and Environmental Research Agency. Both are primarily funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Until the likely scale of testing requirements is known it is not possible to identify what the cost will be. Samples taken as part of the Scottish horticultural inspections are progressed by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA, a Division of the Scottish Government’s Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities Directorate) as part of existing arrangements.

Chalara fraxinea fungus is one of a number of new tree and plant health threats which have emerged as significant risks over recent years.

In 2011 Forestry Commission and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs published an Action Plan for Tree Health and Biosecurity which focuses on four key areas: protecting the UK; practical actions; public and stakeholder engagement and research opportunities and evidence priorities.

Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Government were closely involved in developing this action plan and have taken forward a number of specific actions including increasing the resources allocated to tree health work, improving awareness and understanding on biosecurity measures and running seminars and tree health days to alert woodland managers to the potential threats.

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In addition Scottish Government horticultural inspectors have been checking ash trees during plant inspections at Scottish nurseries and garden centres since May 2012 and in established gardens as part of the wider plant health inspection programme.

Chalara fraxinea fungus was first identified in England in February 2012 and confirmed in March 2012 and the first signs of the disease were picked up in Scotland on 9 July 2012. Between March and the beginning of July, Forestry Commission Scotland undertook awareness raising work with staff and stakeholders to increase vigilance and to encourage the reporting of any potential tree health issues. Scottish Government horticultural inspectors have also been checking ash trees during plant inspections at Scottish nurseries and garden centres since May and in established gardens as part of the wider plant health inspection programme.

The European Commission’s draft Direct Payment Regulation includes a convergence proposal that would see Member States with average per hectare payment rates below 90% of the EU-27 average rate per hectare have one third of the gap between their current level and 90% of the EU-27 average rate closed between 2014 and 2020.

Based on this proposal, Scottish Government analysts have estimated the impact of the convergence mechanism for Scotland as an independent Member State. This indicates that approximately £150 million extra would be needed to close one third of the gap between Scotland’s current average rate per hectare and 90% of the EU average rate per hectare. Dividing this £150 million by the typical annual number of Single Application Forms (SAF) submitted is equivalent to around £6,000 each.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

SEPA investigates when pollution occurs at any of the 83 designated bathing waters in the bathing water season. The failure at Heads of Ayr appears to have been due to agricultural pollutants, such as livestock manure or slurry, that were mobilised by heavy rainfall; further tests are being carried out to determine the bacterial source. At Stonehaven the failure was primarily due to a problem in the sewerage system; this has now been remedied by Scottish Water and this should ensure compliance with the European standard in future years.

The Scottish Government requires SEPA at the end of each season to review the performance and progress of all bathing waters and ensure that specific improvement plans and pollution control measures are being implemented. We also continue to work with stakeholders, through Scotland’s Diffuse Pollution plan, on the pressures from rural diffuse sources, and with Scottish Water, which is carrying out studies at bathing waters where there is a risk of impact from waste water treatment works.