Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08723 on 20 August 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Government does not run a formal internship programme. We have previously participated in two schemes which could be considered similar to internships in nature. These were:

Between 2002 and 2009 the Scottish Government offered summer diversity placements through an outreach programme with Scottish colleges and universities offering a six week work placement within the organisation - these were funded opportunities. Between 15 and 25 placements were offered each year.

As a government department, we participated in the UK Civil Service Fast Stream Summer Diversity Internship scheme between 2008 and 2011, offering two places per year (eight in total).

Although we don't run a formal scheme, we do offer informal student placements to both graduates and undergraduates in response to approaches from students and colleges/universities seeking opportunities within the Scottish Government, these can be both paid and unpaid placements. Details of these placements are reported in the answer referenced above for the period April 2008 to March 2012.

With regards to work experience opportunities, the Scottish Government offers informal school age work experience placements, details of which are reported in the answer referenced for the period April 2008 to March 2012.

For both categories, data for earlier years are not held centrally. Data for the current year has not yet been collated.

Marine Scotland’s planned staff budget and staff complement in each year since its establishment are listed in the following tables:-

Notes:

1. The 2009-10 figure is the March 2010 headcount figure. 2009-10 was a year of transition as the resources and functions of predecessor bodies were being integrated throughout the year.

2. In 2010-11 the staff complement was increased temporarily to take account of revised marine crewing arrangements resulting from a restructuring of marine vessel management.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

25 January 2013

Index Heading: Enterprise & Environment

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much Marine Scotland has spent on (a) staff redundancies, (b) staff costs and (c) research in each year since its establishment.

(S4W-12020)

Richard Lochhead: The amount spent by Marine Scotland on staff redundancies, staff costs and research since its establishment are outlined in the following table:-

The research figures relate to pure research projects and do not include spend incurred carrying out statutory and regulatory functions and other operational science activities.

In total Marine Scotland spends around £18 million annually on science related activity which includes the operation of two research vessels at a cost of £5 million per annum. In addition significant work has been undertaken enhancing scientific research capacity and capability through large scale capital investment, including the building of a replacement fisheries veterinary aquarium, the Ellis building, at a cost of £15 million.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government are not aware that any independent testing of the welfare impacts of these traps has yet been carried out since 2009 when these traps were first used in Scotland. The Scottish Government are also not aware of any evidence of adverse welfare impacts of these traps. Some conservation and animal welfare organisations do have concerns about the potential welfare impacts and so Scottish Natural Heritage intend to commission independent research in 2013 to gather objective evidence in this respect.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11729 on 21 December 2012. The Scottish Government are similarly not aware of any independent testing of the impact of these traps on protected species or any non-target species. Scottish Natural Heritage also intend to commission independent research in 2013 to gather objective evidence in this respect.

It is the responsibility of any operator of any trap to ensure that they are not used in such a way so as to likely catch any protected species other than those specified under a specific or general licence. Intentionally or recklessly catching any protected species that is not covered by a specific or general licence is an offence.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

No such evidence is required. It is the responsibility of anyone using a general licence to be satisfied that their actions are compliant with the terms of that licence. Scottish Natural Heritage proposes to work with practitioners in 2013 to develop a Code of Practice for use of traps under general licence. The Code of Practice will provide detail on trap design and use and will aim to ensure greater clarity about what general licences do and how they are used. It is likely that issues such as this will be covered in the development of the code.

No such provision is currently (or has previously been) made for any animals caught by any trap under the general licence.

Scottish Natural Heritage is proposing to work with practitioners to develop a code of practice for use of traps under general licence during 2013. The Code of Practice will provide detail on trap design and use and will aim to ensure greater clarity about what general licences do and how they are used. It is likely that issues such as this will be covered in the development of the code.

Species licensing functions, including the issue of General Licences was delegated to SNH in July 2011.

The general licences list the types of traps that can be used for the purposes set out in the licence. SNH policy is that decisions made about the inclusion or exclusion of certain traps should be evidence-based. Where the available evidence is not available, Scottish Natural Heritage will commission research to provide evidence.

Larsen Mate and Elgeeco cage traps, have been used in Scotland since 2009, and in the absence of any evidence indicating adverse welfare effects, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) believe that it would be disproportionate to prohibit the use of these traps. SNH propose to rigorously and independently test these traps in 2013. If evidence does come to light indicating that they pose unacceptable risks, then any General Licence permitting their use could be revoked at any time.

As at 19 December, we paid 88% of expected claims, equating to some 16,590 farmers and a total of £382 million by value. In comparison with 2011, this is a 3% improvement in the number of farmers paid. This means some 2,300 claims are still to be processed. My officials are working through these outstanding claims with the aim of paying valid claims as soon as possible. I cannot give a firm date when this work will be completed because that depends on individual circumstances and payment cannot be made until all scheme eligibility checks have been completed. Based on our past experience, however, it is likely to be around March 2013.