Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-04158

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity last spoke with officials of Rio Tinto regarding the sale of some or all of the company’s Highland estate and assets.

Question reference: S5W-04154

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) ministers and (b) officials have attended the meetings of the Regional Economic Development Joint Working Group set up by Rio Tinto to examine economic development opportunities in the Fort William area; whether it has been given sight of the group’s minutes; when the group last met, and what information it has regarding whether the group is providing input into the company’s review of its Highland estate and assets.

The Scottish Government, through is agencies Highlands and Island Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland, has been represented at the meetings of the Regional Economic Development Joint Working Group set up by Rio Tinto, to examine economic development opportunities in the Fort William area. Minutes of the meetings are shared with members of the Joint Working Group, the group last met on the 6 September 2016 and is due to meet again on the 6 December.

Question reference: S5W-04157

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many bidders are being considered by Rio Tinto to buy some or all of the company’s Highland estate and assets and whether it has information regarding what the status is of any talks between the company and the bidders.

The Scottish Government and Rio Tinto’s Lochaber workforce were informed on 21 October 2016 that as an outcome of the strategic review the Rio Tinto Board had agreed to consider a sale of its Lochaber assets and that discussions with a potential buyer would begin.

The Government understands that a sale of the assets is not automatic and confidential commercial negotiations are on-going.

While the commercial process continues all parties are bound to respect strict boundaries of commercial confidentiality.

Question reference: S5W-04016

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much will be invested by Network Rail in the Far North Line between 2014 and 2019, broken down by individual project and their related costs.

As part of the Scottish Government`s wider £5 billion programme of transformative investment in Scotland`s railways over the five-year control period to March 2019, Network Rail are investing over £30 million to maintain, renew and enhance the rail infrastructure on the Far North Line. This includes over £7 million in track renewals, around £13 million on earthworks and associated remediation works, over £3 million on structures works supporting scour prevention and rectification and coastal improvements, and around £9 million to complete the roll out of next generation signalling system renewal. This investment is over and above that required through Network Rail to support the daily operation of rail services along the route.

Question reference: S5W-03553

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Natural Heritage responses to environmental impact assessment consultations are accessible to the public.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) responses to environmental impact assessment consultations are open to the public via the competent authority responsible for carrying out the consultation, for example Forestry Commission Scotland if the EIA relates to forestry.

Responses received from other parties to environmental impact assessment's carried out directly by SNH are available on their website at: http://www.snh.gov.uk/

Question reference: S5O-00293

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity will next visit Lochaber.

Question reference: S5W-03545

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used to determine whether proposed activities are likely to have a significant effect and require screening in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999.

The selection criteria for projects having significant effects on the environment are detailed in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. These criteria include the characteristics and location of the project and the characteristics of the potential impact on the environment, such as probability, duration and reversibility of the impact.

Question reference: S5W-03559

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of land approved for woodland expansion is (a) agricultural, (b) BAP priority open habitat and (c) an other category of land.

Between 2007 – 2014 the Scotland Rural Development Programme Rural Priorities Grant Scheme, approved 37,718 hectares for woodland creation, of which 33,808 hectares were eligible for farmland premium. Therefore approximately 90% of woodland expansion was on agricultural land.

The Scottish Government does not collate information on the proportion of woodland expansion taking place on BAP priority open habitats. Woodland expansion applications are considered on a site by site basis and information is therefore contained in each individual case file. BAP priority open habitats are a major consideration in assessing woodland expansion cases.

The Scottish Government does not collate information on other categories of land which has been approved for woodland expansion.

Question reference: S5W-03561

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is for approval of a new woodland creation scheme from submission.

Question reference: S5W-03558

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what checks are in place to ensure that land use balance in regions is prioritised for woodland expansion.

The Scottish Government, through planning policy, encourages planning authorities to prepare forestry and woodland strategies, in consultation with stakeholders, to inform the development of forests and woodlands in relation to other land uses within their area. In 2010, Forestry Commission Scotland published The Right Tree in the Right Place, providing guidance on the development of forestry and woodland strategies. These regional forestry and woodland strategies are used to inform the suitability of applications to the Scotland Rural Development Programme Forestry Grant Scheme.

In addition, Forestry Commission Scotland published guidance in 2013 that requires specific measures to be taken when considering ‘larger or more sensitive’ woodland creation proposals on farmland. These measures include informing those managing neighbouring land of the proposal and requesting advice from the local Rural Payments and Inspections Division office on the local patterns of agriculture.

Tell us your views

Seòmar agus comataidhean