- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with animal charities regarding gifting animals at Christmas, and what action it is taking to educate the public on this issue.
Answer
The Scottish Government has discussed animal welfare with stakeholder organisations throughout 2016, but there have been no specific discussions on the gifting of animals at Christmas. Independent animal charities, such as the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Dogs Trust, have issued a seasonal reminder that pets are not suitable gifts.
The Scottish Government endorses the view that owning an animal entails a lifetime welfare commitment and that all animals should go to permanent, loving homes.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to carry out a full and unified survey of all marine birds on land and within Scottish waters.
Answer
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Scottish Natural Heritage, and other partners are presently developing a proposal to undertake a full census of breeding seabirds. In addition, the JNCC are developing a UK wide marine biodiversity monitoring strategy for consideration by the Scottish Government and other UK administrations. This will include the monitoring of marine birds.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the original coverage area of native Caledonian woodland it considers is the optimum to be restored.
Answer
The Scottish Government is taking action on improving the condition of Scotland’s Native Woodlands including Caledonian woodland through its commitments in the Scottish Biodiversity 2020 Route Map. There is not a specific target or stated optimum level of native Caledonian woodland restoration.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the establishment of a new national park would have on tourism and conservation.
Answer
While the Scottish Government recognises the important contribution our existing National Parks make to tourism, conservation and the wider Scottish economy, any new national parks would incur significant costs. At a time of pressures on public finances, we do not believe that it is right to raise expectations regarding the designation of new national parks. We will therefore continue to focus our support on our existing Parks so that they can continue their track record of success.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much the Heritage Lottery Fund has spent on nature conservation in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what funding national nature reserves have received in each of the last five years.
Answer
The ownership and management of Scotland's network of National Nature Reserves (NNRs) is shared between a range of public, third sector and private interests and there is no centrally-held record of funding.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is directly involved in the management of 30 of Scotland’s 41 NNRs. Of these, SNH is the sole manager of 24 NNRs and manages 6 in partnership with an None Governmental Organisations (NGO) and/or a public body or private landowner. NGOs and other public bodies manage 11 NNRs.
SNH does not hold information on its expenditure on NNRs but its overall land management expenditure (the majority of which is on NNRs) is provided in the following table.
2013-14
(actual)
|
2014-15
(actual)
|
2015-16
(actual)
|
2016-17 (allocation)
|
£2,160,620
|
£1,575,491
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£1,556,568
|
£1,379,236
|
Approved funding for NNRs from Forestry Commission Scotland forestry grants in each of the last five years is provided in the following table.
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
£92,000
|
nil
|
£426,000
|
£439,000
|
£40,000
|
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Dumfries and Galloway Council, (b) Police Scotland, (c) port authorities, (d) the Scottish SPCA and (e) other stakeholders regarding the illegal trade in puppies from Ireland to Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports the action being taken by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Police Scotland and local citizens regarding the illegal introduction to Scotland of puppies. Scottish Government officials have been attending meetings of the group convened in Cairnryan to discuss the issues with all of these bodies and to report back to Scottish Ministers.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the licensing system for animal rehoming agencies.
Answer
The possible need for licensing of animal rehoming agencies will be considered as part of an ongoing review of pet welfare. The Scottish Government has already held a number of meetings with stakeholders around that ongoing review; and will invite further participation from them.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the proposal for a new bridge connecting Renfrew and Clydebank as part of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal.
Answer
The Clyde Waterfront and Renfrewshire Riverside Project, which includes a proposal for a new bridge over the River Clyde between Renfrew and Yoker is being taken forward by Renfrewshire Council as part of the Glasgow City Region Deal.
This Government is fully committed to supporting projects which form part of the overall £1.13bn City Deal agreement, where they have a robust business case, ensuring that public funds are directed to those projects which deliver most benefit. The City Deal encourages Local Authorities to operate strategically at the regional level to focus on the priorities required to deliver Scotland’s Economic Strategy. As such, the Glasgow City Region Deal Cabinet will determine the projects and the programme for investment in those projects, in line with the Government approved assurance framework.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 November 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to local authorities to support kerbside recycling systems in each year since 2011, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities to support recycling services through its delivery body Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS).
Local Authorities have received funding from Zero Waste Scotland to support implementation of food waste and kerbside collection services. The following table indicates the level of funding awarded since 2011 to each council in this respect.
Local Authority
|
ZWS Funding received since 2011 for food waste
|
Aberdeen
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£1,429,517
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Aberdeenshire
|
£1,590,467
|
Angus
|
£203,367
|
Argyll and Bute
|
0
|
Clackmannanshire
|
£347,831
|
Dumfries and Galloway
|
£1,653,283
|
Dundee
|
£213,791
|
East Ayrshire
|
£1,006,675
|
East Dunbartonshire
|
£806,673
|
East Lothian
|
£221,840
|
East Renfrewshire
|
0
|
Edinburgh
|
£2,477,961
|
Falkirk
|
£776,280
|
Fife
|
£556,645
|
Glasgow
|
£3,243,470
|
Highland
|
£957,541
|
Inverclyde
|
£685,000
|
Midlothian
|
£537,816
|
Moray
|
0
|
North Ayrshire
|
£886,370
|
North Lanarkshire
|
£1,400,000
|
Orkney
|
0
|
Perth and Kinross
|
0
|
Renfrewshire
|
£1,733,383
|
Scottish Borders
|
£113,583
|
Shetland
|
0
|
South Ayrshire
|
£1,031,269
|
South Lanarkshire
|
£708,649
|
Stirling
|
£268,000
|
West Dunbartonshire
|
£370,060
|
West Lothian
|
£1,084,462
|
Western Isles
|
0
|
TOTAL
|
£24,303,933
|
Funding was awarded following applications by Councils to Zero Waste Scotland. The Councils that received no funding, either did not apply or did not meet the necessary criteria.
The Scottish Government is also supporting Councils with implementation of the Household Recycling Charter. 20 Councils have already signed the Charter, and an award of just over £2 million was made to East Ayrshire Council in October 2016.