Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28252 on 16 November 2015. 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 final allocation for each of the centres will be determined once the final range of services to be provided at each site has been agreed.

Findings from the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland in 2014 have been used to inform the development of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and Scotland’s Biodiversity – A Route Map to 2020. In particular, ‘Priority Project 2: Restoration of Native Woodland’ in the route map aims to improve the condition and extent of existing native woodlands and further increase new woodland planting.

Specifically, this project aims to create 3,000 to 5,000 hectares of new native woodland creation per year and restore approximately 10,000 hectares of native woodland into satisfactory condition in partnership with woodland owners through deer management plans.

In addition, a working group consisting of governmental bodies, environmental groups and representatives from the forestry sector has also identified target areas for priority action to improve the condition of native and ancient woodland.

On the National Forest Estate, Forest Enterprise Scotland used the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland to refine its methodology to assess the ecological condition of semi-natural woodland. This methodology will be used to identify appropriate management operations for each woodland on the estate. Forest Enterprise Scotland has also begun the process of restoring over half of the plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland.

In addition, support for new woodland creation and the sustainable management of existing woodlands, including native woodlands, is available under the Forestry Grant Scheme, part of the Scotland’s Rural Development Programme. Improvement grants for woodland and habitats are available to land owners to improve and restore native woodland condition. £0.75 million is currently available each year under those improvement options.

I expect to be able to announce details of the remit, the timetable and who will be leading the review before the end of 2015.

Fife Council, as the promoter of this project, are currently undertaking an appraisal in line with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance to determine the most appropriate transport intervention for the Levenmouth area. Transport Scotland officials have met with both Fife Council and their consultants to provide advice and support on the use of the guidance for the appraisal. We have been advised that it is scheduled to be completed in the near future.

Should there be a request for its use; Network Rail will be required to reinstate the line at its own cost within a 12 month period. This would be to its previous capability, which in this case is for a single freight service operating on the line at 20mph at any given time. Any work required to improve the capability of the line beyond this condition would require third party funding.

Under the Short Term Network Change process, Network Rail is required to maintain this line to a standard which is sufficient to enable it to be brought back into use within 12 months should such a request be received.

Planning authorities would need to be confident that the land can be brought forward for development within the plan period, taking account of the Scottish Government’s advice on effective land supply in Planning Advice Note 2/2010. Subsequent development management and Coal Authority procedures provide the necessary safeguards to ensure that all legacy mining issues are properly assessed so that future problems will not occur.

Scottish Planning Policy states:

“Local development plans should identify areas of search where surface coal extraction is most likely to be acceptable during the plan period and set out the preferred programme for the development of other safeguarded areas beyond the plan period, with particular emphasis on protecting local communities from significant cumulative impacts. Where possible, plans should secure extraction prior to permanent development above workable coal reserves.”

The Coal Authority’s position is not an absolute requirement and is a matter for consultation between the Coal Authority and the planning authority.

The Scottish Government is clear that the development of new energy technologies such as underground coal gasification must be consistent with our environmental objectives, and we will continue to take a careful, evidence-based approach to such developments.

Underground coal gasification would only ever be allowed in Scotland under the strictest environmental and planning regulations to ensure the highest level of environmental protection, which is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. No planning applications for underground coal gasification have been submitted, but any future application would be subject to the same cautious, rigorous and evidence based approach that we are adopting for unconventional oil and gas.