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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.

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Question reference: S4W-09860

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how it ensures high levels of energy efficiency in and (b) whether it has a target power usage effectiveness for new or refurbished data centres in its estate.

The energy efficiency of the data centre at Saughton House will be significantly increased in the next two years by a greater number of Scottish public bodies using the facilities. Negotiations continue with a number of Scottish public bodies to house their IT infrastructure in Saughton House data centre which is expected to reach capacity by the end of 2015.

Fully occupied, Saughton House data centre is designed to reach a theoretical PUE of 1.4.

There are currently no plans to build new or refurbish existing data centres.

Question reference: S4W-09692

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Natural Heritage will publish details annually of the number of ravens killed under licence.

Question reference: S4W-09691

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many licences to kill ravens have not been renewed by Scottish Natural Heritage because of non-compliance with conditions in each year since 2011.

Question reference: S4W-09689

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many multi-annual licences to kill ravens have been granted since 2011, broken down by local authority.

All licences issued were for 12 months or less. The period of the licence is set for when lambs are most vulnerable to attacks by ravens. In exceptional circumstances, the licence period can be extended for up to two years.

Licences can only be granted to prevent serious damage to livestock and when there is no other satisfactory solution. This does not necessarily mean that serious damage has occurred, but that it is likely to occur. Numerous conditions are applied to licences including that lethal control can only be used as a last resort and when “scaring” has failed.

Question reference: S4W-09690

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of holders of licences to kill ravens indicated that they had made kills in 2011 and how many birds were killed.

The Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) is currently processing the returns (i.e. number of ravens shot) for the 103 licences issued up to 30 June 2011 with a combined bag limit of 600 birds.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) issued eight licences in 2011 after taking over responsibility for licensing on 1 July 2011. Licence returns received so far show a total of 31 birds shot. SNH is awaiting two returns as they are from licences extending into 2012.

Question reference: S4W-09693

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what factors are considered when considering granting a licence to kill ravens.

For licences that are issued under Section 16(1)(k) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the following factors are considered: what damage to livestock has been experienced; what the likelihood of damage to livestock is; numbers of birds present; whether or not there are possible alternatives; and the conservation implications of any licensed control. In many cases Scottish Natural Heritage relies on expert advice from site visits made by Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) staff to inform licensing decisions.

Question reference: S4W-09688

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many licences to kill ravens were granted by (a) it and (b) Scottish Natural Heritage in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012 and what the grounds were for granting such licences, broken down by local authority.

Licences were issued by the Scottish Government up until 30 June 2011. This licensing function was delegated to Scottish Natural Heritage with effect from 1 July 2012.

Licences issued by the Scottish Government up to 30 June 2011, broken down by local authority:

Local Authority	Number of Licences Issued
Argyll and Bute	40
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	12
Grampian	3
Highland	25
North Ayrshire	15
Perth and Kinross	8
Total	103

Licences issued by SNH from 1 July 2011, broken down by local authority (with some extending into 2012):

Local Authority	Number of Licences Issued
Argyll and Bute	2
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	1
Highland	1
North Ayrshire	4
Total	8

Licences issued by SNH for 2012, broken down by local authority (with a small number extending into 2013):

Local Authority	Number of Licences Issued
Angus	2
Argyll and Bute	41
Scottish Borders	1
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	15
Highland	22
North Ayrshire	12
Perth and Kinross	2
Stirling	1
Total	96

All the licences above were granted for the purpose of preventing serious damage to livestock under Section 16(1)(k) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Licences can only be granted to prevent serious damage to livestock where there is no other satisfactory solution.

Question reference: S4W-09695

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what checks are made to ensure that livestock protection licences to kill ravens are not used for game management.

The conditions included in these licences state that they may only be used to prevent serious damage to livestock. Site visits are made to assess the situation on a case-by-case basis. Failure to comply with the terms or conditions of a licence could constitute an offence. If allegations were made in this respect, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) would rely on the police to investigate. Additionally, SNH is able to monitor licences through information received by area staff, Rural Payments and Inspections Staff, or the public, and has the power to revoke them should it become apparent that a licence is being abused.

Question reference: S4W-09694

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are licensing restrictions to control the killing of ravens in nests during the breeding season.

Question reference: S4O-01360

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that school outdoor environments promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles.