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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: S5W-13045

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to license management techniques to prevent beaver damage.

At present, beavers in Scotland are not a protected species and so licences are not required for any management activity. As previously announced, however, the intention of the Scottish Government is to place a Scottish Statutory Instrument before the Scottish Parliament that will grant beavers European Protected Species status. This will be during the course of 2018.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) currently is discussing options for the management of beavers with a range of stakeholders, including farmers, fishery managers and local authority staff.

The arrangements for the licensed control of European Protected Species are set out in the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 1994. These require that licensed activities must be for a specified purpose, including preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or any other form of property or to fisheries; and preserving public health or public safety. Under the Regulations, the licensing authority, who would be SNH, must be satisfied that that there is no satisfactory alternative, and that the action authorised will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status.

The SNH discussions with stakeholders are focusing on the types of actions that will require a licence, for example the use of lethal control, trapping and relocation, and the removal of certain types of beaver dams. Options for the approach to the licensing arrangements are also being considered. Many management measures such as use of fencing and protection for trees will not require a licence. Discussions are also taking place on the standards of service that will be provided by SNH, or its contractors, in responding to requests for licences and advice.

Question reference: S5W-13046

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what legislation is in place to protect beavers.

Question reference: S5W-13047

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what additional protection beavers will be given following their receiving protection in line with the EU habitats directive, and whether it plans any other action to enhance their legal status.

The Scottish Government intends to put a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) before the Scottish Parliament during the course of 2018. This depends on the completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, which is currently underway.

The SSI will add beavers to Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 andso will grant beavers European Protected Species status. No other action is planned to enhance the legal status of beavers.

Question reference: S5W-13049

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gives to land and fishery managers regarding the (a) current and (b) future legal protection afforded to beavers.

There is no legal protection for beavers in Scotland at present. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), however, provides a free advisory service including a site visit by a specialist beaver adviser (if appropriate) in order to help land managers and others address impacts from beaver activity, through use of established management techniques that are widely used elsewhere in Europe. SNH advise that any management should take account of animal welfare, in particular between April and September when female beavers may have dependent young.

SNH is working with land and fishery managers through the Scottish Beaver Forum, which comprises a number of key partners including those with fisheries and land management interests, to advise on what European Protected Species status will mean for management of beavers. Some management activities will only be able to be carried out under a licence issued by SNH. A licensing framework is being developed by SNH in consultation with the Forum The framework will provide land managers with clear guidance on what management activity would require a licence (or not), the arrangements for licensing, and how specific beaver management techniques should be carried out to mitigate beaver impacts.

Question reference: S5W-13048

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government on what date in 2018 will beavers (a) receive protection in line with the EU habitats directive and (b) be placed on the list of protected species, and what the implications of this will be.

The date on which beavers will (a) receive protection in line with the EU habitats directive and (b) be placed on the list of protected species, depends on the completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, which is currently underway. It is expected that this will be completed and the Scottish Statutory Instrument laid in the first half of 2018. I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-13045 on 11 December 2017 for further details on the implications of granting beavers protected status. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5F-01785

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2017

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-01759

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2017

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-12765

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the distributing of funds in Scotland from the (a) current and (b) future expanded dormant assets scheme.

Over £30m has been directed towards good causes in Scotland since the Dormant Assets Scheme started in 2008. This is distributed by Big Lottery Fund Scotland through their Young Start programme which creates opportunities for children and young people aged between 8 and 24 to help realise their potential.

Scottish Government officials engage regularly with counterparts in the UK Government on the current Dormant Assets Scheme and the distribution of associated assets.

The Scottish Government is also aware of the work of the Independent Dormant Assets Commission which was established in December 2015 to look at whether the current dormant asset scheme, which includes funds in banks and building societies, could be extended to other financial services. These include insurance products, stocks and shares, and pensions that have been classed as dormant. The Commission reported on 4 March 2017 and that report referred to untapped assets across these products totalling £2 billion. We expect the UK Government to respond to this Commission in 2018 and will continue to liaise closely with their officials as this develops.

Question reference: S5F-01703

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2017

To be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-01679

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2017

To be taken in Chamber.