Questions and answers

Question reference: S5O-03033

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how the provision of a care and treatment hub at Pitlochry Community Hospital will improve healthcare for Highland Perthshire residents.

Question reference: S5W-21839

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 12 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Eurasian beaver will be given protected species status, and, once this is place, (a) whether its release into the wild will be treated as wildlife crime, (b) how farmers and land managers will be able to control destructive activity by the species, and what compensation will be made available to them to cover any losses and (c) whether it will facilitate its introduction to all parts of the country.

A Scottish Statutory Instrument, granting Eurasian beavers European Protected Species status, was laid before the Scottish Parliament on Friday 22 February 2019. The legislation will come into force on 1 May 2019.

a) The release of beavers into the wild is already a wildlife crime under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

b) A comprehensive management system which includes licensing options has been developed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in consultation with the Scottish Beaver Forum (a forum comprising 12 key partners including farming, fisheries and other land management interests). Many measures, including management and removal of most types of dams and excluding or deterring beavers through use of electric fencing, will not require a licence.

The focus of the management approach is to prevent beaver damage and the Scottish Government is supporting the provision of expert beaver advice and management by SNH and specialist contractors.

SNH has also established a project to work with farmers and other land managers to continue to develop practical solutions to ensure that beavers do not block field drainage systems and to help ensure that flood defences are protected.

c) The Scottish Government has no plans to facilitate beaver introductions to all parts of the country. Scottish Ministers announced in November 2016 that beaver populations in the Knapdale and Tayside areas could remain and be allowed to expand their range naturally, but made it clear that further unauthorised releases of beavers would be illegal.

Question reference: S5W-21842

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in each year since 2001 for illegally releasing beavers into the wild.

Question reference: S5O-02891

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the full reopening of the Pitlochry minor injuries unit.

Question reference: S5O-02877

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Tayside and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S5F-03042

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 February 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 February 2019

To ask the First Minister what categories of public sector workers will be exempt from the proposed workplace parking levy.

Question reference: S5W-21028

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cairngorms National Park Authority, as a statutory consultee in the A9 dualling project, is responsible for the protection of the interests and assets of the park.

The interests and assets of the Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project are not the sole responsibility of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, or other organisations, but the Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as a consultee, on any proposed development that affects the Park’s statutory aims as set out in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. These are:

(a)to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area,

(b)to promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area,

(c)to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public, and

(d)to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.

Under the arrangements in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, in circumstances where matters raised in consultation, including from statutory consultees, cannot be resolved a project may be referred for examination by an independent Reporter who will make a recommendation to the Scottish Ministers for decision. The Reporter’s examination may be informed by a Public Local Inquiry, to which those with an interest can make representations.

Question reference: S5W-21029

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it conferred sufficient power on Cairngorms National Park Authority to be able to protect the interests and assets of the park in the A9 dualling project to the level expected by the park’s stakeholders.

The powers conferred on the Cairngorms National Park Authority are set in statute in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 and Cairngorms National Park Designation, Transitional and Consequential Provisions (Scotland) Order 2003. The Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as a consultee, on any proposed development, such as the A9 dualling project, if they consider that it may affect the Park’s statutory aims.

Question reference: S5W-21027

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is responsible for the protection of the interests and assets of Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project.

The interests and assets of the Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project are not the sole responsibility of Scottish Ministers or other organisations but the Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as a consultee, on any proposed development that affects the Park’s statutory aims as set out in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. These are:

(a) to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area,
(b) to promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area,
(c) to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public, and
(d) to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.

Under the arrangements in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, in circumstances where matters raised in consultation, including from statutory consultees, cannot be resolved a project may be referred for examination by an independent Reporter who will make a recommendation to the Scottish Ministers for decision. The Reporter’s examination may be informed by a Public Local Inquiry, to which those with an interest can make representations.

Question reference: S5W-21034

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the planning process followed in the A9 dualling project adequately protects the interests of local communities and wider communities concerned with the historic and natural environments, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The projects that make up the A9 dualling programme are being promoted through the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and assessed in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations which protects the interest of those who have concerns, including concerns relating to the historic and natural environments.

The environmental impact assessment process has informed decision-making throughout the design development process to address potentially significant effects where practicable, such as by refinement of the route alignment or by the incorporation of measures to avoid or prevent, reduce, remedy or offset any potential adverse environmental effects.

Working with those affected by the A9 dualling programme is at the heart of our planning and we have been engaging extensively since 2012. This has included undertaking numerous engagement events on each project to consult local communities, road users, businesses and individuals, and take into account feedback received as plans are developed.

As part of the statutory process Transport Scotland has published an Environmental Statement for each project which presents the findings of the environmental impact assessment and also includes the approach taken to consultation. A copy of each Environmental Statement published to date on the A9 dualling programme is available from the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/ .

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