The Marine Scotland Science (MSS) scientific observer programme is scheduled to carry out a total of 80 trips on demersal trawlers and 226 trips on Nephrops trawlers. The programme is expected to cover around 2% of the fishing trips of Scottish demersal trawlers and 1 % of the fishing trips of Scottish Nephrops trawlers and amount to 0.5% of fishing trips of the entire Scottish fleet.

The aim of the scientific observer programme is not for enforcement but to fulfil the requirement of EU regulation 199/2008 to collect biological information (quantity, species, length and age) on the fish caught, for the purposes of stock assessment and fisheries management.

The vast majority of planning appeals are delegated to a Scottish Government reporter who is appointed by Scottish Ministers to make a decision on their behalf. It is at the appointed person’s discretion to decide whether further procedure is needed to obtain further information and if so, the most effective and efficient method of obtaining it. All interested parties who have made representations in respect of each appeal are given the opportunity to confirm their objection or support to each proposal in writing or to participate at hearing or inquiry sessions where relevant.

The vast majority of planning appeals are delegated to a Scottish Government reporter who is appointed by Scottish Ministers to make a decision on their behalf. It is at the appointed person’s discretion to decide whether further procedure is needed to obtain further information and if so, the most effective and efficient method of obtaining it.

The Scottish Government is already revising guidance that will help local authorities and others to fulfil their duties to keep land clear of litter and refuse, and roads clean.

This guidance, which will be laid in Parliament in the coming months, will support duty holders in taking action which prevents litter from arising in the first place - aiming to reduce the amount of resources being spent on cleaning up other people’s mess.

Scottish Government revenue funding for local authorities is provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities. Local authorities are expected to use resources as efficiently and effectively as possible to ensure taxpayers get the best possible services and value for money.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

Litter and flytipping have no place within the circular economy that we want to move towards. It is also important for tourism that Scotland is always presented at its best.

Our National Litter Strategy sets out how Scotland can significantly reduce litter and flytipping, and support cleaner, safer communities. Its focus is on encouraging personal responsibility to prevent the problems in the first place.

The Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy, ‘Making Things Last’ sets out our priorities for supporting circular economy design, bringing together specialist circular economy support from Zero Waste Scotland, and mainstream business and design support from the enterprise agencies.

The Scottish Government does not hold detailed information on delivery of this support.

The Zero Waste Zones initiative was a pilot developed by Zero Waste Scotland in 2011-12 to provide an award framework for communities, schools or workplaces taking action to reduce waste. Sixteen pilot projects were developed.

Learning from the pilots was taken forward into the business-focused Resource Efficiency Pledge scheme, launched in 2014. Around 200 organisations have progressed through the Resource Efficiency Pledge scheme.

The Scottish Government does not hold information in this format.

The Scottish Government takes a strategic and integrated approach to delivering a more circular economy, and turning the concept into meaningful, mainstreamed action. Zero Waste Scotland’s activities therefore span all the different elements of the circular economy, and are specifically designed to bring together activities and organisations from across sectors in a holistic way, and integrate them into day-to-day business.

The Scottish Government’s forthcoming publication National Approach to Controlling Invasive Rhododendron in Scotland will highlight the priority designated sites affected by rhododendron where removal will have the greatest benefit. Information on the specific priority designated sites will be available following publication.

The term Celtic Rainforest has no official designated status. The Habitat Code 91A0 refers to Sessile Oak Woods. There are a total of twenty six woodland features associated with this habitat in Special Areas of Conservation. Of these features five or 19% are considered as Unfavourable, and 9 or 35% are identified as Unfavourable Declining.

The principle causes of unfavourable condition in these Sessile Oak Woods (Habitat Code 91A0) are herbivore overgrazing, invasive non-native species such as rhododendron and invasive native species such as bracken.