Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-23994

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of recreational activities, such as paddle boarding, kayaking, cycling, fishing and camping, on the biodiversity of National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, particularly in relation to protected species such as otters and birds.

NatureScot undertakes a rolling programme of monitoring of the natural features for which our protected areas have been designated. This programme of Site Condition Monitoring looks at around 5,500 such features on nearly 1,900 protected areas across Scotland on a 10-year cycle. This includes all National Nature Reserves (NNRs). The assessment includes recording negative impacts on these natural features, which includes ‘recreational’ pressures where they occur.

The published Official Statistics for 2023 ( https://www.nature.scot/doc/proportion-scotlands-protected-sites-favourable-condition-2023 ) indicated that a total of 308 Sites of Special Scientific Interest features are impacted negatively by a ‘recreational’ pressure. 47 of these features were on NNRs. There are 35 reported instances of recreational activities impacting bird features on NNRs and two impacting otters. Overall, 118 instances of negative recreational impact on birds occur on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and four in relation to otters. Further information on pressures and feature condition can be found at https://informatics.sepa.org.uk/ProtectedNatureSites/ . Recreational disturbance is the fourth most common negative pressure recorded on protected areas after invasive species, over-grazing and water-management.

Where there are potentially significant pressures that have been highlighted or suspected, NatureScot may put in place targeted monitoring to assess likely impacts and inform interventions. On NatureScot managed NNRs examples include monitoring access around breeding terns and seal haul-outs on Forvie NNR, bird numbers and incidents of waterborne access at Muir of Dinnet and Loch Leven NNR and breeding success of black-throated divers at Beinn Eighe NNR. This has informed the development of Local Access Guidance for these sites to manage pressures, for instance by restricting access to certain areas/zones at the most sensitive periods. At present, no specific access measures are considered necessary for otters.

The effectiveness of these measures are reviewed each year with changes made as required in accordance with the recently revised guidance prepared by the National Access Forum on “Managing public access in areas of wildlife sensitivity in Scotland” : https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/doc/guidance-managing-public-access-areas-wildlife-sensitivity-scotland .

Question reference: S6W-24130

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 January 2024

Question reference: S6W-24242

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassifying Atlantic salmon as "Endangered" in Great Britain, what assessment it has made of the state of salmon stocks in Scotland, including the differing genetic components, in rivers that are Special Areas of Conservation for this species, including the River Dee; what its recovery plans are for these stocks, and how these plans will be carefully monitored across the species' whole lifecycle.

An assessment of the conservation status of Atlantic salmon is carried out annually for 173 separate inland water assessment areas, including the 17 Special Areas of Conservation where Atlantic salmon are a primary or secondary qualifying feature. Each assessment area is assigned to one of three grades based on the probability of the stock meeting an internationally agreed conservation limit over a five-year period. The assessment informs regulation that determines where the killing of salmon by fisheries is permitted outside of the spring season. The results of the latest assessment are available on the Scottish Government website - Overview - Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2024 season - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot ).

NatureScot has initiated a project to update the site condition assessment, which includes differing stock components, of the 17 Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland where Atlantic salmon is a qualifying feature, and a final report will be published in due course.

The main expression of genetic diversity of Atlantic salmon in Scottish rivers is when the fish return to the river. Populations of early running fish are assessed to be particularly vulnerable across Scotland and are therefore protected by regulations that prevent the killing of Atlantic salmon before 1 April each year.

District Salmon Fishery Boards and the River Tweed Commission have statutory powers and duties for the protection and improvement of fisheries, and the increase of salmon within their districts. At the national level, the Scottish wild salmon strategy was established in 2022 in response to the long-term downward trend in the number of Atlantic salmon returning to Scottish waters. In 2023 we published the wild salmon strategy implementation plan, which sets out over sixty actions to tackle the wide range of pressures affecting the species throughout their life cycle.

A delivery group oversees and directs the delivery of the strategy and implementation plan and will also review and shape the programme of work considering new evidence and other policy developments. The delivery group is supported by a Scientific Advisory Board, established to coordinate and harmonise research and monitoring activities across science organisations and regulators

Question reference: S6W-23991

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassifying Atlantic salmon as "Endangered" in Great Britain, and what action it will take to protect this species, particularly with regard to threats from predators.

The Scottish Government takes the issue of declining wild Atlantic salmon populations very seriously and is committed to working with our partners, both domestic and international, to safeguard this iconic species.

The Scottish wild salmon strategy was established in January 2022 in response to the long term downward trend in the number of Atlantic salmon returning to Scottish waters. In February 2023 we published the wild salmon strategy implementation plan, which sets out over sixty actions to tackle the wide range of pressures affecting the species throughout their life cycle.

Question reference: S6O-02933

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reopening of Historic Environment Scotland sites following the completion of work to make them safe for the public, including when the remaining sites will reopen.

Question reference: S6W-23593

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions relating to rural crime there have been in each local authority area in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023 to date, also broken down by the crimes that were in relation to (i) livestock theft, (ii) machinery theft, (iii) fuel theft and (iv) livestock worrying.

The latest available information on convictions is for the financial year 2021-22.

(i),(ii),(iii) The Scottish Government does not hold data that allows us to distinguish between rural and urban crime, or theft of specific items. These offences are likely to be charged under broader crimes of Attempted theft and theft and/or Theft of a motor vehicle.

(iv) Information on the number of people convicted for livestock worrying, by LA, is provided in the following table.

People convicted under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, section 1(1)&(6), where main charge, by Local Authority, 2021-22.

	2021-22
Aberdeen City	1
Angus	1
East Ayrshire	1
Highland	2
Perth & Kinross	1
West Dunbartonshire	1
Total Scotland	7

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database.

Please note that data for 2020-21 and 2021-22 are affected by the pandemic, subsequent court closures, reduced court capacity due to physical distancing measures and delays to cases where key participants were forced to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, and should not be considered indicative of long term trends.

Question reference: S6W-23594

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many crimes have been recorded in each local authority area classed as rural in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023 to date, also broken down by the crimes that were in relation to (i) livestock theft, (ii) machinery theft, (iii) fuel theft and (iv) livestock worrying.

(i),(ii),(iii) The Scottish Government does not hold data that allows us to distinguish between rural and urban crime, or theft of specific items. These offences are likely to be charged under broader crimes of Attempted theft and theft and/or Theft of a motor vehicle.

(iv) Information on the number of police recorded offences of Protection of livestock from dogs, by LA, is provided in the below tables. Data for the full year of 2023-24 will be published in June 2024.

Offences of Protection of livestock from dogs, by local authority, 2021-22 to 2022-23

	2021-22	2022-23
Aberdeen City	3	2
Aberdeenshire	9	9
Angus	6	2
Argyll & Bute	8	14
Clackmannanshire	3	1
Dumfries & Galloway	22	17
Dundee	-	-
East Ayrshire	5	7
East Dunbartonshire	-	1
East Lothian	1	4
East Renfrewshire	-	3
Edinburgh City	9	3
Falkirk	-	3
Fife	3	11
Glasgow City	-	1
Highland	17	24
Inverclyde	-	-
Midlothian	3	8
Moray	7	3
Na h-Eileanan Siar	4	6
North Ayrshire	6	1
North Lanarkshire	7	7
Orkney Islands	1	2
Perth & Kinross	5	8
Renfrewshire	2	1
Scottish Borders	14	10
Shetland Islands	4	-
South Ayrshire	1	2
South Lanarkshire	5	8
Stirling	10	9
West Dunbartonshire	2	2
West Lothian	2	2
Total	159	171

Source: Recorded Crime in Scotland National Statistics, 2022-23

Offences of Protection of livestock from dogs, by local authority, April to end September 2023

	Apr - Sept 2023-24
Aberdeen City	1
Aberdeenshire	6
Angus	2
Argyll & Bute	7
Clackmannanshire	1
Dumfries & Galloway	12
Dundee	0
East Ayrshire	3
East Dunbartonshire	0
East Lothian	0
East Renfrewshire	0
Edinburgh City	2
Eilean Siar	0
Falkirk	1
Fife	2
Glasgow City	0
Highland	11
Inverclyde	0
Midlothian	2
Moray	5
North Ayrshire	4
North Lanarkshire	2
Orkney Islands	0
Perth & Kinross	5
Renfrewshire	2
Scottish Borders	6
Shetland Islands	1
South Ayrshire	1
South Lanarkshire	3
Stirling	0
West Dunbartonshire	1
West Lothian	4
Total	84

Source: Recorded crime in Scotland: year ending September 2023

Question reference: S6W-23588

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33611 by Mairi Gougeon on 4 December 2020, whether it will provide the information for (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24 to date regarding the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.

Information on the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 for 2021-22, 2022-23 and April to September 2023 is provided in the following tables. Data for the full year of 2023-24 will be published in June 2024.

Offences of Protection of livestock from dogs, by local authority, 2021-22 to 2022-23

	2021-22	2022-23
Aberdeen City	3	2
Aberdeenshire	9	9
Angus	6	2
Argyll & Bute	8	14
Clackmannanshire	3	1
Dumfries & Galloway	22	17
Dundee	-	-
East Ayrshire	5	7
East Dunbartonshire	-	1
East Lothian	1	4
East Renfrewshire	-	3
Edinburgh City	9	3
Falkirk	-	3
Fife	3	11
Glasgow City	-	1
Highland	17	24
Inverclyde	-	-
Midlothian	3	8
Moray	7	3
Na h-Eileanan Siar	4	6
North Ayrshire	6	1
North Lanarkshire	7	7
Orkney Islands	1	2
Perth & Kinross	5	8
Renfrewshire	2	1
Scottish Borders	14	10
Shetland Islands	4	-
South Ayrshire	1	2
South Lanarkshire	5	8
Stirling	10	9
West Dunbartonshire	2	2
West Lothian	2	2
Total	159	171

Source: Recorded Crime in Scotland National Statistics, 2022-23

Offences of Protection of livestock from dogs, by local authority, April to end September 2023

	Apr - Sept 2023-24
Aberdeen City	1
Aberdeenshire	6
Angus	2
Argyll & Bute	7
Clackmannanshire	1
Dumfries & Galloway	12
Dundee	0
East Ayrshire	3
East Dunbartonshire	0
East Lothian	0
East Renfrewshire	0
Edinburgh City	2
Eilean Siar	0
Falkirk	1
Fife	2
Glasgow City	0
Highland	11
Inverclyde	0
Midlothian	2
Moray	5
North Ayrshire	4
North Lanarkshire	2
Orkney Islands	0
Perth & Kinross	5
Renfrewshire	2
Scottish Borders	6
Shetland Islands	1
South Ayrshire	1
South Lanarkshire	3
Stirling	0
West Dunbartonshire	1
West Lothian	4
Total	84

Source: Recorded crime in Scotland: year ending September 2023

Question reference: S6W-23587

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average daily traffic flow volume has been on the A96 trunk road between Aberdeen and Inverness in each year since 2017.

Question reference: S6W-23605

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that supporting refugees and asylum seekers has had on local health services in NHS Grampian.

Chamber and committees