Chamber and committees

Marine Scotland will develop and implement Scottish ministers'' policies on marine issues in Scottish seas. SNH is the Scottish Government''s statutory nature conservation adviser and its functions include provision of advice to ministers on the development and implementation of policies for, or affecting, the natural heritage of Scotland, including Scottish territorial waters. The Scottish Government has a duty under the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 to have regard to any representations made by SNH on proposals for developments that are likely to have a significant effect on Natura 2000 sites in Scotland. We intend to retain SNH''s role as statutory adviser on nature conservation issues in territorial waters.

Integrating responsibility for fisheries policy and management alongside other marine management responsibilities within a single organisation will mean that Marine Scotland can bring to bear the necessary range of experience, expertise and policy interests. Consequently, it will be better placed itself to make and to offer consolidated advice to ministers so that they can make, informed and, where appropriate, balanced judgements and decisions about how best to manage our marine assets and resources. Amongst other things, this should help reassure fishing and other interests that appropriate, sustainable decisions have been taken.

Marine Scotland will lead on measures to achieve good environmental status in Scottish waters and we believe there are benefits in integrating within the same organisation lead responsibility relating to policy, science and delivery arrangements for marine nature conservation across Scotland''s seas. That will allow informed and, where appropriate, balanced decisions to be taken on marine nature conservation alongside other issues.

Marine Scotland will continue to consider advice from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on marine nature conservation issues, as appropriate.

Legislation is not required to establish Marine Scotland. The Marine Bill will create new functions for Scottish ministers, which Marine Scotland will deliver on their behalf.

No responses to the Sustainable Seas for All consultation have been amended in person since the consultation closed.

Marine Scotland will take an overarching responsibility for marine management, including through the development of a marine planning framework and national marine plan, and allowing the development of local/regional plans. These will reflect strategic priorities, including in relation to the development of marine renewable energy sources.

Integrating the range of policy, planning, science and other functions within Marine Scotland means that it can bring to bear the necessary range of experience, expertise and policy interests and promote achievement of our key strategic aims in an informed and authoritative way. As part of Scottish Government, it will also be well placed to work with policy colleagues elsewhere in the Scottish Government, its agencies and local government. This sort of integrated approach would be more difficult under a non-departmental public body.

A senior management/organisational structure for Marine Scotland has been decided, comprising a Director and seven functional heads covering:

Marine Planning and Policy;

Aquaculture and Freshwater Policy and Licensing;

Science;

Sea Fisheries Policy;

Compliance;

Performance, and

Priority Projects.

Lower level structures will follow the senior organisational structure. The structure of the organisation will be kept under review in light of experience and developments.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21890 on 23 March 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.

No. These issues fall to be considered currently by the Scottish Government or its agencies, or are new functions we believe are appropriate for Marine Scotland. Integrating responsibility for them within a single organisation will mean that it can bring to bear the necessary range of experience and expertise and make informed and, where appropriate, balanced judgements and decisions about issues.

We will also be introducing appropriate safeguards to ensure robust and transparent arrangements “ for example, a Science Advisory Board to assure the quality and independence of science and appeals mechanisms with an independent element. Enforcement arrangements will involve an appropriate degree of separation and accountability arrangements to ensure they are robust and defensible.

No. These issues both fall to be considered currently by Scottish Government and related agencies.