Chamber and committees

This year’s annual assessment for the presence of Dothistroma needle blight on the national forest estate is still in progress. The 2011 survey detected 11,500 hectares of pine woodland with Dothistroma infection (Lodgepole pine: 7,500 hectares; Scots pine: 3,300 hectares; and Corsican pine: 250 hectares).

In 2006, the survey detected Dothistroma infection in 132 hectares of Corsican pine woodland. This figure is not directly comparable with future year’s data as the extent and structure of each year’s survey has evolved with our understanding of the disease and its host range.

On the national forest estate there is a moratorium on the planting of:

Corsican pine

lodgepole pine other than the more resistant Alaskan origin of that species when planted in self-thinning mixtures with Sitka spruce on sites where higher inputs of fertiliser and drainage would otherwise be required to secure successful establishment.

Asymptomatic Scots pine (from nurseries where infection has been detected) within 550m of known uninfected pine crops or in Caledonian pinewood areas.

With respect to privately owned land, Forestry Commission Scotland has informed owners of the potential risks of Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) and of the approach being taken on the national forest estate. Private owners may then make decisions that are based on their own particular circumstances and objectives. If DNB causes failure of grant-aided pine on private estates, the owners remain liable for grant reclaim in accordance with the conditions of grant support.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The £18 million Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund will support the development and deployment of the first commercial scale wave and tidal array projects in Scottish waters.

Issues with (a) potential and (b) mitigation of impacts of marine renewables devices on biodiversity are well understood by Marine Scotland, who ensure that the development of wave, tidal and offshore wind energy sectors is achieved in a sustainable manner in the seas around Scotland. In addressing the various issues and challenges of developing offshore renewables in relation to impacts on biodiversity, Marine Scotland has initiated a number of projects and commissioned research to provide solutions and support to partner organisations and industry on potential interactions with natura species; including seabirds, marine mammals and migratory fish. This will include; addressing flight characteristics and habitats, collision risk modelling, baseline data, population modelling and effects of displacement.

A number of work streams are being progressed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Scottish Natural Heritage to identify locations at sea of importance to species covered by the requirement to classify Special Protection Areas under the EU Wild Birds Directive.

The Scottish Government expects to receive recommendations for wintering waterfowl, red throated divers, terns, and shags during 2013, with the aim of completing classification of these proposals by end of 2015.

For other seabirds and migratory species areas of search are being identified using the European Seabirds at Sea database. The JNCC will undertake further research to corroborate these findings with supporting evidence from other sources. The identification of Special Protection Area proposals from this work stream should be completed by 2015 with classification as soon as possible thereafter.

The A90 cycle path from Edinburgh to the start of the Forth Road Bridge is classified as a local road and not a trunk road and, as such, Transport Scotland provides no direct funding for this route. All local roads in Scotland are the responsibility of the local authority, in this case, the City of Edinburgh Council.

Last year the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland worked in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), awarding it a total of £121,000 for upgrading and design works on the A90 cycle path. This financial year, CEC will receive £565,000 funding for cycling, walking and safer streets projects directly from Transport Scotland. Local authorities are encouraged to work with Sustrans whose grant award of £7,160,000 this year can be used to match local authority funding for large cycling projects, such as the A90 cycle path.

The Bridge Operating Company Contract for the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) and the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) will include the connecting roads from M90 Junction 3 Halbeath in the north through to Junction 1A on the M9 at Kirkliston in the south. Transport Scotland will continue to be responsible for the management of these roads although the day-to-day maintenance will be carried out by the appointed bridge operating company.

The FRC scheme has been carefully designed to incorporate new sections of footpaths, cycleways and safe crossing points to maintain and enhance existing routes.

This is a landmark and ambitious project to bring cutting-edge technology to Scotland, involving overseas investors as well as careful planning and close partnerships with stakeholders in Scotland, including local authorities and the waste management industry.

Following its Mixed Plastics Capital Grant Programme, Zero Waste Scotland is now working with a preferred supplier and is following due diligence considerations to finalise a project which would see significant investment being made in Scotland to establish a mixed plastics reprocessing plant.

While a site location is still to be confirmed, the plastics reprocessing plant would create local jobs and allow Scotland to benefit further from the economic opportunities associated with recycling.

The Scottish Government contracted the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the Hutton Institute/Macaulay Land Use Research Institute to undertake a study and prepare a research report to inform and support the development of a marine litter strategy. The total cost of this study was £30,000.

We intend to undertake a public consultation on a strategy later this year and costs relating to that process and beyond have not yet been confirmed.

A breakdown showing staff resources in supporting the process is unavailable.

Marine Protected Areas will be managed to achieve the conservation objectives. The need for specific management over and above existing sectoral measures and licensing will be determined on a site-by-site basis. It will be based on the protected features, their condition, the conservation objectives, and the level of sensitivity to pressures caused by marine activities. Discussions with stakeholders who have practical environmental knowledge of the location will help shape the most appropriate management measures.

Competent Authorities will also have to consider the potential impacts on MPA features when exercising any of their functions as required by sections 82 and 83 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.