- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 28 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will determine the environmental impact of any compensatory tree planting linked to the programme of wind power development on the national forest estate at (a) site level and (b) cumulatively across the country.
Answer
At the site level, compensatory planting required by local authorities or (in the case of consents under the Electricity Act 1989) Scottish Ministers should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the UK Forestry Standard and its associated environmental guidelines. While all tree planting is potentially subject to environmental impact assessment, the environmental impacts of compensatory planting may also be considered during environmental assessments of individual wind power developments. At the cumulative level, compensatory planning should help deliver the Scottish Forestry Strategy (2006), which was subject to strategic environmental assessment.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 28 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a strategic environmental assessment is required for the programme of wind energy development on the national forest estate and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
No strategic environmental assessment is required for the programme of wind energy development on the national forest estate as it forms part of our overall programme for developing opportunities for onshore wind and hydro power. This programme is set out in the 2020 Routemap for Renewable Energy in Scotland, which is subject to strategic environmental assessment.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 28 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a habitats regulations appraisal is required for the programme of wind energy development on the national forest estate and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
In line with guidance from Scottish Natural Heritage, individual potential renewable energy developments on the national forest estate will be screened in relation to the Habitats Regulations to determine whether there could be an effect upon any Natura site (nature site of European importance), and whether an appropriate assessment should be carried out.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 28 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the (a) design, (b) consent and (c) operation of all renewable energy developments on the national forest estate is carried out in accordance with its statutory duties to biodiversity.
Answer
All renewable energy developments on the national forest estate will require planning approval by the local authority or (for wind farms in excess of 50 megawatts) consent from Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The implications for biodiversity will be considered fully as a part of these processes.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 28 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has carried out on the programme of wind energy development on the national forest estate; which stakeholders have been consulted, and when.
Answer
Between November 2008 and January 2009, we carried out a public consultation (Climate Change and the National Forest Estate) that explained there were significant opportunities relating to wider development of the renewable energy potential of the national forest estate and sought views on allowing the Forestry Commissioners to enter into joint ventures, with the intention of participating in renewable energy programmes. There were 368 responses to this question, from a wide range of stakeholders. The analysis of responses is available at:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ccbillconsultationanalysis.pdf/$FILE/ccbillconsultationanalysis.pdf.
In addition, between April and June 2008, Forestry Commission Scotland had consulted on its Framework Strategic Plan which stated that, with due regard for community, planning and environmental concerns, Forest Enterprise Scotland would maximise for wind farms and small scale hydro-electricity developments on the national forest estate; There were 105 responses to this consultation, from a wide range of stakeholders. The analysis of responses is available at:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FSPConsultationsummaryandanalysis.pdf/$FILE/FSPConsultationsummaryandanalysis.pdf.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 28 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will consider the cumulative environmental impact of wind energy developments when developing wind energy on the national forest estate.
Answer
<>I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05548 on 28 February 2012. 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.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is a legal requirement for snaring training under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 to be UKAS accredited.
Answer
No, it is not a legal requirement for snaring training under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 to be accredited with UKAS.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it requires training providers offering training required by legislation to be UKAS accredited.
Answer
No, snaring training providers offering training are not required to be accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association are considered by the Scottish Government to have the necessary knowledge and expertise in a Scottish context to carry out training in the setting of snares, without the need to seek additional accreditation by UKAS.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish SPCA or another independent animal welfare organisation will review the content of snaring training courses required under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.
Answer
The Order which will set out the requirements for the snaring training course, as required under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011, has not yet been made. However, The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has reviewed the animal welfare aspects of the snaring training courses that currently are being run.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 February 2012
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the regulations on snaring before 2016 in light of the publication of the report, Determining the Extent of Use and Humaneness of Snares in England and Wales, by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which is expected to be published in February 2012.
Answer
The Scottish Government will consider the findings of the report, Determining the Extent of Use and Humaneness of Snares in England and Wales by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when it is published. At present we have no plans to review the regulations on snaring in Scotland before 2016.