Chamber and committees

The Ferries Plan will form the basis of the tender specification of the ferry services to be procured for the Clyde and Hebrides network from 2016.

The best available scientific evidence was used to identify proposals for nature conservation marine protected areas (MPAs) in Scotland’s seas, and this included the identification of Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA that was designated in July 2014 for common skate. Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA is home to relatively high numbers of common skate, in particular of large, reproductively mature common skate. The study referred to in the question undertaken by Neat, Pinto et al has already been taken into account in the identification of the MPA, as well as in considering the conservation objectives and the approaches presented at the recently closed consultation on the management of the MPA.

It is inappropriate for Marine Scotland Compliance to comment on the evidence in any live case. However I can confirm that an investigation is currently on going and a case may be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Until our investigations have concluded you will appreciate that nothing further can be said on the matter.

Marine Scotland Compliance investigates all suspected illegal activity at sea within its remit and, where sufficient evidence exists, reports the matter for consideration by the Procurator Fiscal or takes other action such as offering a fixed penalty. Since the establishment of the Firth of Lorne special area of conservation no cases have, to date, been reported by Marine Scotland Compliance to the Procurator Fiscal or fixed penalties offered in relation to that specific area.

The consultation on management measures for marine protected areas has recently closed and Marine Scotland intends to use the conclusions from the consultation to consider options which could help deliver improved deterrence and detection of illegal fishing, including illegal dredging.

Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura marine protected area (MPA) that was designated in July 2014 does recognise that common skate is critically endangered with declining numbers worldwide. Common skate was identified as an MPA search feature due to its endangered status as well as for its relevance to Scottish waters. The prohibition on landing common skate was introduced in 2009 and as such there has to date been an insufficient time series to statistically assess whether common skate is currently stable, declining or increasing in our waters. A survival rate of 0.64 is low, but the report cited by the member also states that there is considerable uncertainty surrounding this figure. Nevertheless it suggests the species still requires further protection and we hope to be able to do our part to help this iconic species retain its place in our seas.

With regards to fishing we have recently ended a consultation on approaches to management within the MPAs which includes Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA. The approaches for the MPA that were presented for consultation were for the conservation of more features than just the common skate – management has also been proposed for benthic features that would also confer protection for common skate. As a result of this wider protection, there are a range of depths from the shallows of Loch Sunart to the deeps of the Sound of Jura being proposed in the MPA management approaches that would provide protection to the common skate. The approaches that relate to tickler chains are being proposed as there is evidence that this type of gear can cause damage to the common skate, and the purpose of this proposed measure is to ensure this is not used in this area by other fleets in the future. There have however been very few studies of damage caused by nephrops trawls on skate so at this stage there is little evidence available to support stricter approaches that relate to nephrops trawls. As with the other designations there is not a target for coverage of fisheries management; instead the aim is to have management in place that achieves the conservation objectives and the approaches we have consulted on reflect the views of our scientific advisers to achieve the objectives. The next stage in considering the management is to analyse the responses we have received from the consultation and a decision will be made following this analysis on the levels of management required to achieve the conservation objectives for the common skate in the MPA. The aim is to implement these measures by the end of 2015.

Vessels over 12 metres in length are required by EU Regulation to report their position to their Flag State every two hours, via a Vessel Monitoring System.

Marine Scotland has commissioned a trial of an Automatic Identification System fishing vessel monitoring system on 300 inshore vessels of less than 12 metres in length. The intention is that the trial, which benefits from European Fisheries Fund support, will establish whether such a system would be a suitable fisheries management tool in some circumstances in Scottish waters.

The outputs of the trial together with the conclusions from the recent consultation exercise on the management of marine protected areas will inform Marine Scotland’s consideration of options to help manage fishing activity around the country.

The new contract will take effect from 1 October 2016. I will make an announcement shortly confirming the approach and project timeline, including the key stages of the tender process.

The Ferries Review involved extensive public engagement and consultation from the spring of 2009 through to the publication of the Ferries Plan in December 2012. The plan sets out the level and type of ferry services to 2022 which will be applied to the Clyde and Hebrides network.

Key stakeholder groups will continue to be engaged and consulted on the development of the specification for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

The Scottish Government is awaiting finalised advice from the Joint Nature Conservancy Council and Scottish Natural Heritage on possible locations that may warrant consideration for designation as special areas of conservation for harbour porpoise. This will include the development of a timetable for this process to ensure that consultations about any potential sites can proceed as quickly as possible.

It is for local authorities to decide whether they would wish to support this scheme in Scotland, taking account of their particular circumstances and priorities. The Scottish Government’s revised guidance to local authorities on the preparation of local housing strategies notes that self and custom build approaches can be viable options for a variety of households across a range of areas, both urban and rural.

There are no current plans to introduce a right to build scheme in Scotland.

The UK Government accepted recommendation 4.21:

Recommendation 4.21: The responsibility for appointing, or approving appointments of, senior civil servants to senior posts in the Scottish Government should be delegated by the Prime Minister to the Head of the Home Civil Service, acting on the advice of the UK Civil Service Commissioners.

Authority to appoint permanent secretaries and director generals in Scotland has now been formally delegated to the Head of the Civil Service.

The advice of the UK Civil Service Commissioners is contained in the recruitment principles for appointments to the civil service. In line with the commission’s revised recruitment principles (December 2014), the First Minister will make the final selection decision in relation to the appointment of a permanent secretary in the Scottish Government. This provides formal delegation of authority.

For director general roles in the Scottish Government the recommendations of the selection panel are approved by the Head of the Civil Service following agreement by the First Minister or by the cabinet secretary most closely associated with the appointment having discussed with the First Minister.