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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-06593

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive who attended the meeting to discuss the establishment of a rural parliament that was referred to in its news release of 25 March 2012.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive who attended the meeting to discuss the establishment of a rural parliament that was referred to in its news release of 25 March 2012.

The following question was answered on 2 May 2012 but was not published

Richard Lochhead: A preliminary meeting was held on 6 March in Perth with a range of stakeholders which included representatives from the:

Development Trusts Association Scotland

Community Energy Scotland

Community Land Scotland

Community Woodlands Association

Scottish Community Alliance

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

Southern Uplands Partnership

Carnegie UK

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Scottish Enterprise

COSLA

NFUS

Scottish Youth Parliament

Rural Policy Centre and

Scottish Government

The meeting provided an opportunity for representatives from a number of stakeholder networks to discuss the intention to create a Rural Parliament for Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-06838

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a policy statement about a strategy for mixed stock fisheries.

A variety of work is currently being undertaken by Marine Scotland, including a National Demonstration Project on Fisheries Management within the River South Esk, to better inform the management of mixed stock salmon fisheries. The government is also considering responses to a range of legislative proposals based upon recommendations contained in the Mixed Stock Fisheries Working Group Report, to inform a proposed Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill.

Question reference: S4W-06599

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it plans to hold with representatives from rural parliaments elsewhere in Europe to discuss its proposed rural parliament and who will attend these.

Representatives from four European Rural Parliaments, (Sweden, The Netherlands, Estonia and Slovenia) will attend the meeting scheduled to take place on 29 May in Edinburgh. It will give participants an opportunity to learn at first hand the structures and processes involved in each parliament. It will also be an opportunity for them to pass on their experiences and discuss the issues they faced during the development of their parliaments.

Question reference: S4W-06805

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use the information in the report on greenhouse gas emissions attributable to Scottish consumption of goods and services required under Section 37 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to inform its policy decisions relating to climate change.

Question reference: S4W-06596

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many members the proposed rural parliament will have; whether membership will be on a regional basis, and how members will be elected.

The structures and processes that will be adopted relating to the creation of the rural parliament have yet to be decided. It is envisaged however, that the rural parliament process will be one of inclusive participation rather than made up of elected representatives. It is not intended to be another layer of government or an elected body.

These issues will be discussed at a seminar scheduled to take place in Edinburgh on 29 May. The seminar will bring together, key rural stakeholders, representatives of regional and local non government organisations and individuals as well as MSP’s, representatives of European rural parliaments and Scottish Government officials.

Question reference: S4W-06594

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what partnerships have been created and (b) who it will work with to take forward the proposed rural parliament.

Question reference: S4W-06832

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the conclusion in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Final Report of the Aquaculture, Introductions and Transfers and Transgenics Focus Area Review Group that, in Scotland, "progress towards achieving the international goals for sea lice and containment was not demonstrated", what additional steps will be taken to address these issues.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06830 on 30 April 2012 and the proposals included in the recent Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill Consultation document. Good progress has also been made through the Improved Containment Working Group’s work with industry on containment best practice training and on developing technical standards for aquaculture equipment.

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.

Question reference: S4W-06830

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the statement in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Draft Report of the Aquaculture, Introductions and Transfers and Transgenics Focus Area Review Group that "in spite of the wealth of regulations and measures demonstrated in the FARs relating to salmon farming no jurisdiction was able to show that it had reached a situation where it had achieved the international goals", what additional steps will be taken to address these issues in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has supported, and continues to support, the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry and wild salmon and recreational fisheries in Scotland.

The draft report does not fully take into account the measures that the Scottish Government has taken, and continues to take, to address the issues highlighted. Examples include the continued work of the Improved Containment Working Group and proposals included in the recent Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill Consultation document. We are considering the way forward in light of responses to the bill consultation.

Question reference: S4W-06833

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the conclusion in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Final Report of the Aquaculture, Introductions and Transfers and Transgenics Focus Area Review Group that, in Scotland, "adequate measures to minimise the risk of disease and parasite transmission have not been implemented", what additional steps will be taken to address these issues.

Question reference: S4W-06834

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional steps it will take to ensure that sampling protocols effective in characterising the sea lice loads in fish farms and on wild salmonid populations are in place, as per the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization's Guidance on Best Management Practices to address impacts of sea lice and escaped farmed salmon on wild salmon stocks.

Marine Scotland’s Fish Health Inspectorate undertake inspections under the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 relating to parasites and related control measures. The aquaculture industry in Scotland uses monitoring protocols detailed in the National Strategy for sea lice control. A protocol for assessing the sea lice loads on wild sea trout is being developed by the Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre.