Seòmar agus comataidhean

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.

The information requested is not held centrally.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Details for the last two financial years are as follows:

Details for the past two financial years are as follows:

The capacity of the schemes is determined by a mixture of the available budget, the number of applications and the value of each application.

The outturn figures for the Home Owners’ Support Fund for the past two years are as follows:

2010-2011 £20.1 million

2011-2012 £14.4 million

The Home Owners’ Support Fund budget for 2012-2013 is £10 million.