Chamber and committees

The information requested has been supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53500).

The Scottish Government intends to introduce secondary legislation to update the Mobile Homes Act 1983 as soon as possible in 2012.

Work to frame the legislation has been undertaken in partnership with the Mobile Home Stakeholder Working Group, which includes representation from resident groups, local authorities and the mobile homes industry.

Preliminary findings from research being undertaken by Consumer Focus, into Mobile Home sites across the UK, are due to be reported at the end of February 2012. Following agreement with the Mobile Home Stakeholder Working Group, secondary legislation will not be presented to parliament until after the research has reported. In this way, partners will have the opportunity to consider the findings prior to finalising the legislation.

Winter treatment was carried out on the A701, A75, A751, A77 and A76 trunk roads in Dumfries and Galloway at 2pm on 5 December and 4am to 6am and 10am on 6 December. An additional three gritters patrolled continuously on the A75 east, A701 and A76 on these dates, spot treating as required on a 24-hour basis.

The A74(M)/M74 between Junction 12 and Gretna was treated during the early evening and patrolled continuously throughout the night, clearing snow and applying salt as necessary.

There are no towns or villages through which the Scottish trunk road network passes with a permanent 20mph zone in place.

In September 2003, a ministerial announcement confirmed measures to assist roads authorities in implementing 20mph speed limits at schools. The initiative is intended to enable roads authorities to raise awareness of appropriate speeds within communities and contribute to the efforts in pedestrian casualty reduction – particularly with regard to children.

In conjunction with the police forces, local authority representatives and its operating companies, the Strategic Road Safety Unit carried out a survey of all schools adjacent to trunk roads in order to determine those locations that would benefit from mandatory reduced 20mph limits. Further working groups were then set up to investigate the particular signing needs of the higher-speed roads where drivers might need improved advance warning of the part-time speed limit. The results of these investigations were subsequently agreed by all roads authorities and have been installed at many locations across the trunk road network, with many sites already benefiting from the speed management measures in operation at times when the pupils are going to and from school.

Other temporary speed limits are put in place when works are being carried out on or near the trunk roads.

Due to their strategic importance, trunk roads should be kept free from obstruction to permit the efficient movement of goods and vehicles whilst ensuring road safety is maintained.

The Scottish Government is aware of the 40% estimate quoted in the technical note, however as there is no reference cited for the figure its basis is unclear. We acknowledge that changes in land management in recent decades have resulted in a decrease in species rich grasslands throughout the UK.

Scottish Natural Heritage monitors the area of priority habitats in Scotland (as specified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan). It advises that the five lowland grassland priority habitats which most closely approximate the description of species rich grassland declined by an estimated 24% between 1983 and 2005.

The Scottish Government takes the loss of this important habitat very seriously. To address this, the Species Rich Grassland package has been developed in the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). The package provides funding to farmers to conserve, restore and create species rich grassland. To date, committed spend on the Species Rich Grassland package since 2007 totals £11.1 million.

Scottish Natural Heritage is carrying out a project to re-sample previously recorded species rich grassland sites and will report in 2012 on changes in their extent. The Scottish Government is also monitoring the biodiversity outcomes from the agri-environment schemes within the SRDP through a three year programme which began in July of this year. It will assess a sample of 20 agri-environment options which includes seven grassland options.

Details of Environmental Impact Assessments under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 are available on the Scottish Government’s website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/Environment/16808/7217.

Within the last three years, one proposal for intensification works on unimproved grassland has been deemed a “relevant project” likely to have a significant effect on the environment under the provisions of the above regulations, and could not be carried out without the consent of Scottish Ministers. For such projects to proceed, Environmental Statements are required in order to assess environmental impact, and to determine if consent can be given. An Environmental Statement for this proposal was received in 2009 by the Scottish Government and, following careful consideration, consent was refused.

No breaches in relation to unconsented works on species-rich grassland have been investigated by the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate within the last three years.

In 2010, three hen harriers were satellite tagged as part of the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project. All three have now stopped transmitting. One tag was recovered at Langholm, with no trace of the bird. The other two birds were tracked through southern Scotland, south west England and France and Spain. No tags or birds have been found.

In 2011, three birds were satellite tagged and all have now stopped transmitting. Transmissions were last received from south of Carlisle, in the Moorfoot Hills and France. No tags or birds have been found and there are no indications of the cause of the lost signals.

The life expectancy of the satellite tags used is between a few months to around three years. While live, the tags provide valuable information on hen harrier range and dispersal.

The Review of Veterinary Surveillance, chaired by former NFUS president John Kinnaird, reported on 9 November 2011. I immediately accepted a key recommendation of the review, to establish a Strategic Management Board (SMB) chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer (Scotland), and I will soon write to stakeholders seeking suggestions on who should fill the industry, veterinary and public health roles. I intend to make nominations to the SMB quickly, and the board should meet early in the New Year.

The review concluded that the number of Disease Surveillance Centres (DSCs) should be reduced, with alternative means of local service delivery put in place. The SMB will have responsibility for overseeing changes to the veterinary surveillance system, including the number of DSCs, and I expect them to tackle this issue as a matter of urgency to avoid prolonging the uncertainty that SAC staff may have. Any changes to the network of DSCs will be made in consultation with SAC staff, veterinary practitioners and livestock keepers, and will be made with the protection of animal and public health and food safety as the highest priorities.

I immediately accepted a key recommendation of the Review of Veterinary Surveillance, to establish a Strategic Management Board (SMB) chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer (Scotland), and I will shortly write to stakeholders seeking suggestions on who should fill the industry, veterinary and public health roles.

The SMB will have responsibility for overseeing changes to the veterinary surveillance system, and the Scottish Government's agenda will be delivered through that forum, in partnership with stakeholders.

I intend to make nominations to the SMB quickly, and the board should meet early in the New Year.

There are no immediate plans to introduce any secondary legislation under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Resources are currently concentrated on developing new legislation on the welfare of animals at slaughter that will implement EU legislation early next year. Other issues currently under consideration include the use of wild animals in circuses, the regulation of equine establishments, the use of electronic shock collars for dog training and the tail docking of dogs; however, no firm plans are in place as yet.