Chamber and committees

In my response, on the 23 December, I stated the following:-

'As you know the Scottish Government worked with SEPA in order to update the carbon calculator into a web based version, which would be more user friendly and I launched this in June at the Scottish Renewables Onshore wind conference. This is, clearly, a technical area and so I have asked my officials to consider these questions, prior to responding in a substantive fashion, as I want to ensure that we have full answers for your constituent and take on feedback where appropriate.

I will respond to you as soon as we have an answer.'

The response to the questions regarding our carbon calculator were sent to you on 16 June 2017. I hope this response answers your concerns.

The Scottish Government has a comprehensive set of policies and procedures to ensure we and our Executive Agencies comply with the Data Protection Act. Our staff undertake annual data protection training and a specialist data protection team are available to give expert advice and guidance.

In addition, the Scottish Government chairs a data protection practitioners group to encourage and promote good practice to public bodies when handling personal information.

The right to privacy and the protection of personal data is a right which the Scottish Government takes very seriously.

Our Enterprise Agencies play a key role in building a more prosperous and fairer future for Scotland and already support a range of possible business benefits of good ethical investment including encouraging businesses to become accredited Living Wage employers and sign up to the Business Pledge which are not just good ethically but are also good for business.

The Scottish Government's drug strategy 'The Road to Recovery' is focused on addressing problem drug use in society, whether this relates to heroin, cocaine or any other substance. Since the publication of that strategy in 2008, the Scottish Government has invested over £630 million in tackling problem alcohol and drug use, with the bulk of our funding, £574 million, being provided via NHS Health Boards to Scotland’s 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs).

Responsibility for the commissioning and provision of specific drug and treatment services is devolved to these ADPs, to allow them to take account of local needs, circumstances and resources. It is for individual NHS boards, local authorities and ADPs to ensure that these services are evidence-based, person-centred, recovery-focused and meet the needs of their resident populations.

Data protection is a reserved matter which is regulated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) across the UK. Public authorities do not fall under The Scottish Ministers ICO registration therefore it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to answer for these bodies. The compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 is a matter for each public authority.

The right to privacy is a right which the Scottish Government takes very seriously. We will continue to promote good practice to all public bodies when handling personal information.

Since 2013, the Scottish Government has awarded £248,000 to the North West Highlands Geopark and practical advice on business planning has been provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

This support was provided to assist the Geopark to develop a business plan as a basis for generating core funding on a sustainable basis. The award of funding for 2015-16 indicated that it was the final year of Scottish Government temporary support. Government is not in a position to continue core funding for the Geopark. We hope that the Geopark will continue to work with partners and UNESCO while it pursues other funding sources.

The Scottish Government has only increased the threshold for forestry projects outside sensitive areas. There remains no threshold for forestry projects in sensitive areas and all woodland creation projects in those areas must undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The Scottish Government has expanded the definition of sensitive areas to include areas of deep peaty soil to mitigate potential biodiversity and hydrological impacts.

In considering the options of changing the threshold for woodland creation projects outside of sensitive areas, the Scottish Government believes that the benefits of reducing bureaucratic burdens in low-risk areas by increasing the threshold will lead to more woodlands being planted. Reducing the threshold would therefore be likely to lead to a reduction in woodland creation with little evidence of a corresponding biodiversity gain.

An assessment has not been made of the cumulative impact on wildlife habitats of woodland that has been planted without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). However, any individual application for EIA consent or grant funding for woodland creation submitted to Forestry Commission Scotland is assessed for potential cumulative environmental impacts, due to its proximity to any other woodland creation projects approved or planted in the last 5 years.

Forestry Commission Scotland officials met with statutory stakeholders and separately with environmental Non-Governmental Organisations to discuss the proposed changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) threshold for woodland creation projects outside sensitive areas. The stakeholders included: Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Historic Environment Scotland, RSPB and National Trust for Scotland.

An independent review found that since 2002, there have been over 3,000 screening requests. In 61 cases or just over 2% of determinations, Forestry Commission Scotland concluded that an EIA was required.

The Scottish Government believes that stakeholders’ concerns regarding biodiversity will be addressed, given that the majority of all new woodland creation projects require grant funding and all approved grant schemes must comply with the UK Forestry Standard and associated biodiversity guidelines. These guidelines ensure the appropriate protection and conservation of designated sites, habitats and species.

This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable to consider taking account of a range of factors including intelligence reports and threat and risk assessments. The standing authority to carry firearms is reviewed quarterly by Police Scotland's Armed Policing Monitoring Group taking into account the threat level.