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-17152

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how much and (b) what proportion of Scottish Natural Heritage's budget for national nature reserves has come from (i) the Peatland Action Fund and (ii) other similar sources in each of the last five years.

Year	SNH NNR budget from PAF (£)	Proportion of SNH NNR funding from PAF (%)	* SNH NNR budget from other similar sources (£)	Proportion of SNH NNR funding from other similar sources (%)
2017-18	12,514	0.8	0	0
2016-17	0	0	0	0
2015-16	16,419	1	0	0
2014-15	350,358	17	0	0
2013-14	0	0	0	0

SNH = Scottish Natural Heritage.

NNR = National Nature Reserve.

PAF = Peatland Action Fund.

Scottish Natural Heritage was not eligible for and did not receive any other Scottish Government sourced funding in addition to its Grant-in-Aid (*). The budget figures used above comprise operational/project spending only, staff costs are excluded.

Question reference: S5W-17151

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Natural Heritage-owned national nature reserves have received less than £5,000 for habitat management and species conservation, excluding for access and other infrastructure projects and promotional events, in each of the last five years.

Year	Number of SNH-owned NNRs receiving <£5k for habitat and species conservation
2017-18	Figures not available
2016-17	28
2015-16	26
2014-15	28
2013-14	24

Notes:

NNR = National Nature Reserve.

SNH = Scottish Natural Heritage.

The figures exclude the costs of nature reserve agreements, management agreements, leases and rents; staff time and costs, and volunteer costs.

The figures are net of income (e.g. from venison sales and external funding).

Question reference: S5W-17153

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16040 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2018, how the loss of the six staff will impact on Scottish Natural Heritage's capacity to deliver biodiversity conservation on its national nature reserves.

In its ‘Making Connections-Year 1’ business plan, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) indicates a planned reduction across the organisation of 1,460 days for its Managing Nature Reserves Activity, which includes the management of its 30 nature reserves with the National Nature Reserve accolade. SNH continues to prioritise the use of its resources in line with its Corporate Plan and business plans.

Question reference: S5W-17148

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish Natural Heritage ensures that sites that have been delisted as national nature reserves, but remain designated as sites of special scientific interest, special protected areas or special areas of conservation, have management measures in place to conserve their qualifying biodiversity interests.

Prior to approving the de-declaration of a National Nature Reserve (NNR) following a recommendation by Scotland’s NNR Partnership and the approval of the Board of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), SNH requires the assurance of the relevant Director (and ultimately, SNH’s Chief Executive) that any necessary conservation measures are in place, or will replace those provided by NNR-related arrangements. In some cases, where an SNH NNR has been on land leased from another public body, that body assumes management responsibility under the requirements of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Question reference: S5W-17149

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government which national nature reserves are (a) owned and (b) managed by Scottish Natural Heritage, and how much area they cover.

Details of the National Nature Reserves owned by Scottish Natural Heritage and their area, with information on management responsibility and tenure, are provided in the following table.

NNR name	Documented NNR area (ha)	Management (lead/ secondary/ tertiary)	Tenure
Abernethy	12,754.59	RSPB / SNH	SNH part owned/ NRA/lease; RSPB
Ariundle Oakwood	69.71	SNH	SNH owned
Beinn Eighe & Loch Maree Islands	4,958	SNH	SNH part owned; NTS
Ben Wyvis	2,300.39	SNH	SNH owned
Blawhorn Moss	108.48	SNH	SNH owned
Caerlaverock	8,184.78	SNH	SNH NRA/lease
Cairnsmore of Fleet	1922	SNH	SNH part owned/ NRA/lease
Clyde Valley Woodlands	318.42	SLC / SWT/SNH	SH part owned; SWT; SLC
Corrie Fee	164	SH	SH owned
Craigellachie	257	SNH	SNH NRA/lease
Creag Meagaidh	3,948	SNH	SNH owned
Flanders Moss	821.6	SNH	SNH part owned/ NRA/lease
Forvie	973	SNH	SNH part owned/ NRA/lease
Glasdrum Wood	169	SNH	SNH owned
Glen Nant	388.5	FCS/SNH	SNH NRA/lease; FCS
Glen Roy	1,168.3	SNH	SNH part owned/ NRA/lease
Glen Tanar	4,185	SNH/Glen Tanar estate	SNH part owned; Glen Tanar Estate
Hermaness	964.4	SNH	SNH NRA/lease
Invereshie and Inshriach	3,730.85	SNH/FCS	SNH part owned; FCS
Isle of May	56.6	SNH	SNH owned
Knockan Crag	22.15	SNH	SNH owned
Loch Fleet	1,057.5	SNH	SNH NRA/Lease; SWT
Loch Leven	1,823	SNH/RSPB	SNH part owned/ NRA/lease; RSPB
Loch Lomond	428	RSPB/ LLTNPA/ SNH	SNH part owned; RSPB; LLTNPA
Moine Mhor	492.5	SNH	SNH owned
Muir of Dinnet	1,166.17	SNH	SNH NRA/lease
Noss	313	SNH	SNH NRA/lease
Rum	10,839.2	SNH	SNH owned
St Cyrus	92	SNH	SNH part owned/ NRA/ Lease
Taynish	370.3	SNH	SNH part owned/ NRA/lease
Tentsmuir	563.84	SNH/FCS	SNH NRA / lease; FCS

NRA = Nature Reserve Agreement (SNH managed land).

SNH = Scottish Natural Heritage.

FCS = Forestry Commission Scotland.

LLTNPA = Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority.

NTS = National Trust for Scotland.

RSPB = Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Scotland).

SLC = South Lanarkshire Council.

SWT=Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Question reference: S5W-17150

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how much and (b) what proportion of Scottish Natural Heritage's budget for national nature reserves has been spent on habitat management and species conservation, excluding for access and other infrastructure projects or promotional events, in each of the last five years.

Year	Spend on habitat and species (£)	Spend on habitats and species as a proportion of NNR spend (%)	SNH NR (incl NNR) spend (from published Annual Reports (£M)
2017-18	Figures not available		1.612
2016-17	145,774	10	1.510
2015-16	145,635	9	1.603
2014-15	27,222	1	2.058
2013-14	197,556	10	1.889

Notes:

NNR = National Nature Reserve.

SNH = Scottish Natural Heritage.

The figures exclude the cost of nature reserve agreements, management agreements, leases and rents.

The figures are net of related income (e.g. from venison sales and external funding received).

Question reference: S5W-17154

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government which national nature reserves that have invasive non-native species that are considered to be a risk to other species and habitats (a) have and (b) do not have a fully-resourced plan in place to eradicate or control these, and what criteria Scottish Natural Heritage uses to determine whether to introduce such a plan.

For each of its National Nature Reserves, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has a management plan that describes the site and its interests, the prevailing pressures including any Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS), and outlines SNH’s planned actions for a period of 10 years. SNH generally does not produce specific INNS plans though it may do so for specific projects. Resourcing of reserve management identified in these plans is subject to the setting of annual priorities in line with its Corporate Plan and business plans.

Question reference: S5W-17073

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the obligation for ministers to do so, what its position is on all public authorities in Scotland having to adhere to environmental principles.

As set out in the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government will publish a consultation later this year on how regard is to be had to the guiding principles on the environment by Scottish Ministers in: (i) developing policies (including proposals for legislation), and (ii) determining how to exercise any of their functions; and by any other Scottish public authority in determining how to exercise any of its functions.

Question reference: S5W-17014

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish an environmental watchdog with legally-binding enforcement powers when the UK leaves the EU, similar to that proposed by the UK Government.

Building on the findings from the recent report by the Roundtable on Environment and Climate Change (published 1 June 2018), and in line with the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government will consult later this year on proposals to ensure that there continues to be effective and appropriate governance relating to the environment following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Question reference: S5W-16950

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 12 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in relation to reviewing and renewing PEDL 162 licences that are due to expire on 30 June 2018.

The Scottish Government welcomes the devolution of the powers to issue and manage onshore oil and gas licences to Scotland in February 2018.

The powers transferred to Scotland through sections 47 to 49 of the Scotland Act 2016, and related subordinate legislation, provide Scottish Ministers with a wide range of powers over the administration of onshore oil and gas licences.

The Scottish Government is aware of the pending expiry of PEDL 162. It would be inappropriate to comment in respect of the future of the licence at this stage.