- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has produced an interim assessment of the impact on (a) the local economy, (b) jobs, (c) cod spawning progress of the Firth of Clyde cod spawning closure for 2022-23.
Answer
The Firth of Clyde cod spawning closure took place from 14 February to 30 April. During my appearance at the RAINE Committee on 9 March I committed Marine Scotland officials to meet with stakeholders after the closure both to hear their thoughts on how it has worked from their perspective and for Marine Scotland to report on activities observed from their part and this meeting will take place in the coming weeks.
The Scottish Government continues to monitor the impact of policy decisions on the economy and the environment and in the spirit of co-management will work alongside all relevant stakeholders for a more sustainable West of Scotland cod stock.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many Rural Payments and Services area offices are open for face-to-face appointments.
Answer
15 of the 16 Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) Area Offices are currently open for face to face appointments. The exception is the Area Office based in Galashiels, which is currently closed due to building works. The RPID Area Offices have other customer support offers including phone calls, MS Teams calls, web chat or emails. Officials in Galashiels have also offered, in a very small number of specific of cases, to support the customer face to face in a location outwith the Galashiels Area Office.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the recent visit of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands to Catalonia, what the method of international travel was, and how any carbon emissions resulting from this travel were offset.
Answer
Myself and officials used a low cost carrier to travel from Scotland to Catalonia for the visit.
Travel is an essential part of official Government business and Ministers take their responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aim to use more sustainable forms of transport wherever possible.
A carbon emission levy is collected against air travel on a journey by journey basis. The levy aims to compensate for the carbon that our business travel generates. It raises funds that are put into projects that will remove the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere.
The carbon emissions levy is applied to all journeys undertaken by air as follows:
Domestic – £5 per journey
European – £6 per journey
International – £15 per journey
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of (a) trees and (b) hectares of woodland that have been lost as a result of Storms Arwen, Malik and Barra.
Answer
Using satellite data and computer modelling, Forest Research have recently issued a revised estimate of around 8,000 hectares of forests impacted by the winter storms. This equates to around 16 million trees that have been blown over or otherwise damaged.
After Storm Arwen at the end of November, Scottish Forestry and Confor brought together the industry to take a strategic and collective view and co-ordinate the recovery of the fallen wood so that it can get to market in a safe and timely manner. Many landowners are still clearing up and this will continue for months to come, and will continue to be supported in that work by the Scottish Government and its agencies.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an update to the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland.
Answer
The Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland (SAPRS) is a joint initiative supported by Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Government, Plan stakeholders and partners.
I refer to the response I gave on 7 March 2022 (S6W-06724). An evaluation of the SAPRS is currently underway; it will be published in Summer 2022.
This evaluation will help inform what future action is needed to drive forward co-ordination and delivery of skills for rural Scotland.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05015 by Màiri McAllan on 7 January 2022, what assessment it has made of the average cost per farm of upgrading slurry storage.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05015 on 7 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost was of the recent visit of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands to Catalonia, broken down by the cost of travel, accommodation, and expenses.
Answer
Ministers and Civil Servants travel for a range of reasons including ensuring that the people of Scotland are effectively represented and ensuring that Scotland’s voice is heard on important issues.
The purpose of the trip to Catalonia was to further engage with Catalonian Government on agriculture, food and drink and climate change following engagement at COP26 and moreover attend Seafood Expo Global event. The Seafood Expo is a major seafood event where many key Scottish seafood companies exhibit as well as international companies and organisations.
Total costs (Flights and hotels for Minister, Private Office and Food and Drink officials) was: £3165.49. This can be split into circa £1340 in flights and £1850 in accommodation.
Incidental and meals expenses maybe claimed by officials in line with travel and subsistence policy and Ministerial expenses will be published in due course.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 11 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the draft five-year plan for the Cairngorms National Park and any potential impact of the plan on (a) rural workers, (b) gamekeepers, and (c) tenant farmers.
Answer
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has carried out extensive consultation on the draft National Park Partnership Plan (NPPP), which was supported by extensive evidence papers and a Strategic Environmental Assessment. The consultation process generated 1400 responses (the largest ever response to a Park Plan consultation). Fifty percent of the responses came from people in the Park, with over 10% of responses from land managers. The CNPA board is currently reviewing the consultation responses and considering what changes need to be made to the draft plan in response to this consultation.
The Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan sets out a bold vision to restore nature in the Park, tackle the climate emergency and build a wellbeing economy that works for all the people of the Cairngorms. The Plan will create significant opportunities for those working in the land management sector, as well as additional jobs in environmental restoration and management, including, for example, peatland restoration, river restoration, species management, and habitat enhancement.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much funding it has provided to and (b) many people have been successful in using the Scottish Land Matching Service in each year since the service was established.
Answer
The Scottish Land Matching Service (SLMS) launched at the end of September 2019. During the period 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020, Scottish Government provided £55,480 of funding. For the second year between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2021, Scottish Government expenditure was £54,785. So far £31,958 has been spent in the seven months from 1 October 2021 to 30 April 2022.
The SLMS has dealt with over 300 enquiries and has helped achieve 19 contractual agreements since its introduction.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 10 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many successful prosecutions there have been for livestock theft in each year since 2007.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of prosecutions for livestock theft.
The Criminal Proceedings in Scotland database does not contain details on the type of item(s) stolen, therefore we are unable to identify how many thefts involve livestock.