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 MSPs 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: S5W-33763

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of illegal scallop dredging in marine protected areas and other areas closed to such activity, and what information it has regarding whether any of the vessels being investigated have (a) been fitted with remote electronic monitoring equipment and (b) received any public funding relating to COVID-19 relief.

Since March 2020, Marine Scotland Compliance has received a number of reports, involving 6 vessels, in relation to suspected illegal scallop dredging in MPAs or other closed areas.

Marine Scotland Compliance fully investigates all reports of suspected illegal fishing, including suspected illegal scallop dredging, to the extent that the evidence allows and appropriate action is taken where necessary.

Of the vessels involved, two have Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) equipment fitted and the others do not.

As a result of the impact of Covid-19, emergency hardship support of up to £21,370 per vessel paid to the owner, or up to £42,740 to businesses operating more than one vessel was made available to over 12 metre vessels landing shellfish. A list of successful business awarded funding is available here: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/competition/transparency/public.

Question reference: S5W-33647

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the growth and range of the badger population.

Badgers, and their setts, are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which prohibits killing or injuring a badger as well as disturbance or destruction of their habitats.

Earlier this year the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protection and Powers) Act was passed by the Parliament, which affords badgers additional protection by increasing the penalties for the most serious crimes to a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

NatureScot provides advice to planners, developers, farmers and landowners on issues involving badgers, to help ensure that Scotland’s badger populations continue to thrive whilst mitigating any negative effects.

Question reference: S5W-33648

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with farming communities to allay concerns in relation to badgers.

Question reference: S5W-33598

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what role environmental NGOs will play in the development of a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors between now and March 2021.

The Scottish Government will develop proposals for a licensing scheme for grouse moor businesses on a consultative basis, taking into account the views of all key stakeholders with an interest in grouse moor management, including environmental NGOs, land management and shooting organisations, animal welfare organisations and law enforcement. We expect this process to begin in January 2021 and to continue beyond March 2021.

Question reference: S5W-33602

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its advice is on the shooting of mountain hares between December 2020 and the end of February 2021.

Question reference: S5W-33601

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what advisory and/or steering groups it will establish to develop a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors.

Question reference: S5W-33600

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when a consultation on a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors will (a) commence, (b) finish and (c) report.

Question reference: S5W-33649

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what partnership work (a) it undertakes and (b) its agencies undertake with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

The Scottish Government and its agencies and public bodies undertake partnership work with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) through the following arrangements and projects:

National Access Forum

National Goose Forum

National Species Reintroduction Forum

Scotland’s Moorland Forum

Scottish Action Group on Non-Native Species

Scottish Snaring Technical Assessment Group

Working for Waders

Scottish Firearms and Explosives Licensing Practitioners Group

Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland

Lowland Deer Network Scotland

Deer Management Qualifications

BASC has a lease agreement with Forestry and Land Scotland to undertake deer culling work on the island of Arran. This was won via an open market tender exercise.

Question reference: S5W-33599

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what role the (a) Scottish Gamekeepers Association, (b) British Association for Shooting and Conservation and (c) Scottish Land and Estates will play in the development of a licensing scheme for driven grouse moors between now and March 2021.

Question reference: S5W-33330

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it is aware of that the conclusions of the UK Government’s review into how gamebird releases on or near European protected sites are managed are consistent with the likely impacts on such sites in Scotland.