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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-24905

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the distribution of fishing now taking place in the West Shetland Shelf MPA adequately protects the priority marine features (PMFs), including cod, in light of many large-size classes being present within the site.

The West Shetland Shelf MPA is designated for the protection of offshore subtidal sands and gravels. Although it covers a significant part of the previous Windsock closure, its purpose is not for the protection of cod. As yet unpublished survey-based analyses on the efficacy of the Windsock closure by Marine Scotland Science was inconclusive, and the ICES stock assessment for cod in ICES area 6a (where the Windsock closure was located) indicates the spawning stock biomass – the total weight of fish in the stock that are old enough to reproduce – has remained very low since the early 2000s. There is therefore no firm evidence that the Windsock closure has made a significant contribution to cod abundance across ICES area 6a.

Question reference: S5W-24906

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the distribution of fishing now taking place in the West Shetland Shelf MPA will continue to enable recovery of cod within the site, in light of the repeal of the overlapping Windsock cod recovery area.

Question reference: S5W-24899

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with EU member states and Norway to reach an agreement to ensure that the distribution of fishing in the recently repealed Windsock cod recovery area is controlled.

The end-year negotiations that will shortly commence with the EU and with Norway focus on the management of fish stocks within the wider ICES area 6a in which the Windsock is located. While the UK is an EU Member State, the Scottish Government will encourage EU and third country vessels to abide by any voluntary measures agreed for the Windsock area. In the event that the UK becomes a Coastal State, we will seek to formalise such measures in any relevant Coastal States Agreed Records.

Question reference: S5W-25262

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the review into the Climate Challenge Fund.

Question reference: S5W-24900

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether damage to protected features in the West Shetland Shelf MPA as a result of trawling is an offence under Section 140 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Question reference: S5W-25178

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) remit, (b) timescale and (c) membership is of the Levenmouth Blueprint project.

On 8 August, at the same time as making the announcement to stakeholders of my decision to progress the re-opening of Levenmouth rail link, I stated that I had asked officials for the remit and criteria for the Levenmouth Blueprint to be set out within the next three months. Transport Scotland officials are currently working on this with Fife Council. The details you are seeking are still in development and I understand Transport Scotland and Fife Council are on track to provide further information in early November.

Question reference: S5W-24907

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what scientific advice it has received from the statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs) to support the acceptance of the distribution of bottom trawling in the recently reopened Windsock cod recovery area.

Question reference: S5W-24904

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the repeal of the overlapping Windsock cod recovery area, how it will ensure that the West Shetland Shelf MPA meets its conservation objectives.

Question reference: S5W-24902

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that the conservation objectives for the West Shetland Shelf MPA are not hindered.

Licensed activities within the West Shetland Shelf MPA are consented in accordance with the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. A public authority must not grant authorisation unless they are satisfied that there is no significant risk of hindering the achievement of the conservation objectives for the site. This process does not apply to fisheries.

The Scottish Government has prepared draft fisheries management measures for the West Shetland Shelf MPA in consultation with stakeholders, which were designed to be implemented in the event that the Windsock closure was lifted. Currently, fisheries management measures for MPAs in UK offshore waters are implemented under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. The measures will therefore be taken forwards once our future relationship with the European Union is resolved. A copy of the draft fisheries management proposal is available on the Scottish Government’s website at https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marine-environment/mpanetwork/SACmanagement/Offshore2017.

Following the lifting of the Windsock closure in August 2019, the Scottish Government facilitated discussions between representatives from the Scottish fishing industry to agree voluntary measures which restrict trawling over approximately 37 per cent of the West Shetland Shelf MPA. Marine Scotland has agreed to monitor the situation to ensure the agreement is adhered to.

Question reference: S5O-03561

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the operators of the ethylene plant at Mossmorran regarding the climate emergency and the need for a just transition.