- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many protection orders have been granted under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 and which waters they cover.
Answer
There has been one protectionorder made under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act2003, namely, by the Assynt-Coigach Area Protection Variation Order 2006 (SI 2006/488).This applies to the catchment area of all rivers entering the sea on the west coastof Scotland between, in the north, a point south of the Unapool Burn and, in thesouth, a point south of the River Runnie, and all rivers which enter the sea onthe east coast of Scotland between, in the north, a point north of River Oykel and,in the south, a point south of the River Oykel, as described in The Assynt – CoigachArea Protection Order 2004 (SSI 2004/260) varied by the Assynt-Coigach Area ProtectionVariation Order 2006 (SI 2006/488).
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has to increase participation in angling among young people in the highlands and islands.
Answer
We recognise the issue of decliningyouth participation within angling and we are working with the sector to informyoung people about fish and to introduce them to angling.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to extend public access to areas currently covered by protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer
When an area is granted a protectionorder it is on condition that wider public access is made available on terms andconditions that the Scottish ministers consider to be necessary. This access requiresto be maintained unless a different agreement is reached on conservation grounds.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it intends to make available to develop freshwater fishing.
Answer
Over the next three years wehave committed to make available £1.2 million towards management and developmentof freshwater fisheries.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has in relation to growth in employment in the highlands and islands as a direct consequence of freshwater fishing.
Answer
We share the vision that is containedwithin the draft Strategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries that Scotland willhave sustainably managed freshwater fish and fisheries that provide significanteconomic and social benefits for its people.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering granting any further protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer
The Scottish ministers may onlymake a protection order upon application to them, and each application must be consideredon its merits. Currently, no applications are under consideration.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to revoke any protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer
There are currently no plansto revoke any protection order. However, the operation of protection orders is underconstant review, and any protection order may be revoked or varied where appropriate.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on creating a national freshwater fisheries policy.
Answer
The Scottish Government has undertakena consultation on a draft framework for freshwater fisheries developed in associationwith stakeholders. It proposes a national policy that seeks to protect biodiversityand our environment as well as enhancing the economic benefit for our rural economythat results from angling. The consultation period closed on 4 January 2008 andthe responses are being analysed. Thereafter the Freshwater Fisheries Steering Groupwhose members represent the main interests within the sector will prepare a finalversion that government can consider.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 December 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 20 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the council tax freeze will benefit all household income deciles.
Answer
Yes. On average households inScotland across all income deciles and council tax bands will be better off witha council tax freeze.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address housing shortages in rural areas.
Answer
The ScottishGovernment recognises that in recent years there has been an undersupply ofhousing across Scotland, in many rural areas as well as pressuredurban settlements, and is committed to increasing housing supply significantly.Our consultation
FirmFoundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland can be accessed online at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/30153156/0or in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43970). Itinvites comments on a proposed aim of increasing house building to 35,000 newhomes each year by the middle of the next decade across rural and urban areas.We are alsotaking action now to try to overcome the obstacles, such as land supply andplanning issues, which stand in the way of new development in rural areas,through the work of the Housing Supply Task Force. The task force hasidentified rural housing supply as an early priority and met to discuss ruralhousing supply on 27 November. Further information about the task force can befound online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Housing/Housing/housing-supply-task-force.