The sustainability appraisal is concerned with the broader environmental, social and economic impacts on Scotland of the proposals for designating new nature conservation MPAs. This Appraisal will draw on a wide and varied evidence base. In cases where existing evidence from the rest of the UK or further afield is relevant to the Scottish context, it may form part of the wider evidence base considered as part of the sustainability appraisal.

Socio-economic assessments as part of an overall sustainability appraisal will identify what activities currently take place in potential nature conservation MPAs, and estimate the potential economic and social consequences arising from any potential interactions. This will include a qualitative assessment of the potential benefits of those proposed MPAs taking into account the possible effect on ecotourism in Scotland. This will be made available for the public consultation in 2013.

The Scottish Government does not currently intend to undertake new primary quantitative research into the monetary valuation of benefits of MPAs in advance of the public consultation. Instead the socio-economic assessments will be based on the existing evidence base. Quantified analysis of benefits of hypothetical networks of MPAs was undertaken as part of gathering the evidence base for the UK Marine Bill. Evidence from studies such as these will form part of the wider evidence base that will be considered as part of the socio-economic assessments for the sustainability appraisal.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11140 on 20 November 2012. 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.

Between 1 September 2012 and 14 November 2012 the Scottish Government has received 737 emails and letters from members of the public regarding the inclusion of seabirds in the marine protected area network.

The Government Economic Strategy sets out our approach to supporting sustainable economic growth in Scotland, with an update of the strategy published in September 2011. We engaged widely in the development of the update of strategy with key partners from across the business, public and third sectors and continue to work with all of Scottish society to deliver on these ambitions.

<>Our definition of sustainable economic growth is wider than just aggregate GDP growth. The Government economic strategy identifies the key drivers of sustainable economic growth – Productivity, Participation, and Population, alongside our desired characteristics of growth – Solidarity, Cohesion, and Sustainability. We continue to monitor performance against these drivers and characteristics of growth through the Purpose Targets on Scotland Performs. These provide a much broader measure of economic growth, incorporating important social, regional and inter-generational equity objectives alongside measures of aggregate GDP. More information can be found at: www.scotlandperforms.com.

The Scottish Government defines sustainable economic growth as building a dynamic and growing economy that will provide prosperity and opportunities for all, while ensuring that future generations can enjoy a better quality of life too. This definition was set out in the Government Economic Strategy which was first published in 2007 and refreshed in 2011.

This is supported by our Purpose Framework presented in the Government Economic Strategy, which identifies the key drivers of sustainable economic growth – Productivity, Participation, and Population – alongside our desired characteristics of growth – Solidarity, Cohesion, and Sustainability. This Framework demonstrates how these drivers and characteristics of growth are linked to deliver balanced sustainable growth alongside important social, regional and inter-generational equity objectives.

More information can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ges.

It is the clear view of the Scottish Government that on independence Scotland would remain part of the EU as it is at present, fulfilling the responsibilities which membership brings, and maintaining its political, economic and social links to Europe. A Scotland at the heart of European activity enables us to benefit from the opportunities membership brings and ensure Scotland has a full role in the development of EU affairs including its terms under the Common Agricultural policy.

At present, all funding for climate change activity and almost all for fuel poverty activity in 2012-13 and 2013-14 is funded by the Scottish Government through the funding settlement, with the exception of a £16 million transfer from the Department of Energy & Climate Change for the Green Homes Cash Back Scheme and £5 million for the Gas Infill Fund which is loan funding repayable to HM Treasury.

The financial costs of measures in the Reports on Proposals and Policies (RPP) to meet Scotland’s climate change targets will fall across government, business and consumers. The Scottish Spending Review 2011 set out plans for more than £700 million to help deliver emissions cuts. This will ensure that we will continue to make progress delivering the policy framework set out in Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reductions Targets 2010 – 2022, our first climate change RPP.

The Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Committee report into fuel poverty in February 2012 recommended a budget of at least £200 million a year from both Government and energy company obligation funding was required to tackle fuel poverty. The Scottish Government is therefore working closely with utility companies to ensure that Scotland receives an appropriate share of Energy Company Obligation funding, being around £120 million. Combined with Scottish Government funding, this should provide a funding pot of at least £200 million per annum from 2013-14.

A draft budget summary document detailing spending supporting the delivery of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle fuel poverty is available online http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/climatechangefundingdocument Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 54423).

Forestry Commission scientists have been aware of ash dieback as one of a number of potential threats to tree health for a number of years. Ash dieback symptoms were first observed in Poland in 1992 and since then the disease has spread to other parts of Europe.

There was significant uncertainty regarding the identity of the causal agent of the disease until 2010. In 2010 European scientists identified a new species, Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus, as the correct fungus causing the damage. Until then it was thought that the causal agent was a fungus that was already widespread throughout Great Britain.