Chamber and committees

Arrangements will be agreed between the Scottish Government and the UK Government to ensure that Marine Scotland and the UK Marine Management Organisation will work effectively together when and where necessary.

Science is central to our aspirations for marine management in Scotland, and to the role and responsibilities of Marine Scotland. We believe there are benefits for marine management in integrating science with policy development, delivery and other functions so that informed, holistic advice can be provided and appropriate, informed decisions can be made. There are also efficiency and value for money benefits for Scotland.

We also recognise the importance of assuring scientific objectivity and credibility within the new arrangements and, to that end, will be appointing a panel of independent experts to a Science Advisory Board to assure the quality and independence of science.

The Scottish Government is encouraged to note that more consumers are now considering animal welfare issues when making purchasing decisions.

Membership of an Inshore Fisheries Group (IFG) is open to commercial fishermen who operate in the IFG area. An IFG must liaise with all relevant stakeholders, such as recreational sea anglers and conservation groups, as it develops its management plan. Where locally appropriate we would expect these interests to be included formally within the IFG''s Advisory Group, which exists to provide expert advice to the IFG and to provide the necessary checks and balances to ensure robust management plans that accord with wider environmental, social, economic and management objectives.

Full, detailed arrangements in relation to Marine Scotland are being worked up, as part of the transition process during the current operating year. However, as part of Scottish Government, Marine Scotland is accountable, through ministers, to the Scottish Parliament. It will produce an annual report and a strategic plan and there will be arrangements for appropriate engagement with stakeholders. Generally, Marine Scotland will operate in a spirit of openness and transparency, subject to the need for uninhibited exchanges of views and advice to assist in the formulation and development of policy.

In the spirit of such arrangements, we have already published a Strategy Statement for 2009, setting out the planned initial programme of work and background to the establishment of Marine Scotland. It can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland2009strategystatement.

Marine Scotland, as part of the Scottish Government, operates in accordance with the requirements of the freedom of information (FOI) legislation and fully supports transparency and openness. In line with our Six Principles of FOI we publish information proactively wherever possible. In relation to advice given to ministers, any decision to publish proactively or to release in response to a request for information, will be taken on a case-by-case basis. In such cases full consideration is given to the public interest in release as well as the public interest in the need to allow for the uninhibited exchange of views and advice between Ministers and officials so as to assist and protect the formulation or development of policy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22989 on 7 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

A task force to look at the urban gull problem in Dumfries was set up following the Urban Gull Summit held in Dumfries in June 2008. One of the group''s recommendations was to trial the flying of a falcon over the town centre to deter nesting and breeding attempts by gulls. Funding of £76,340.15 (plus VAT) has been awarded from the Contract Research Fund to engage the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) to carry out this trial and assess its effectiveness as a deterrent measure.

The nesting and breeding success of gulls during 2009 will be evaluated and compared with data for the previous nine years to inform a cost-benefit analysis of the trial. This will determine whether an application for a further two years funding from the Contract Research Fund should be progressed.

The Scottish Government will not be funding the use of a falcon as a deterrent in other areas. However, the findings of the Dumfries project will be available to other local authorities and may potentially assist them in formulating local approaches to dealing with urban gull problems.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22989 on 7 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22989 on 7 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.