Monday 05 March 2018 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Crown Office Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out the reasons for the decision not to reconsider the rape case of the two footballers, David Goodwillie and David Robertson, in light of the successful civil action against them. (S5W-14543) James Wolffe QC: As a result of the decision in the civil case referred to, the Lord Advocate instructed that all of the available case materials and Lord Armstrong’s judgement be considered by a Senior Crown Counsel who had had no previous involvement in the case. Senior Crown Counsel reviewed the case and concluded that, looking at the evidence as a whole, the decision not to raise criminal proceedings was the correct one. Economy Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many seafarers who have been made redundant from the offshore supply vessel sector have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded support by the Transition Training Fund. Holding answer issued: 05 March 2018 (S5W-14384) Paul Wheelhouse: ‏I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.‏ Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many offshore oil and gas workers have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded support by the Transition Training Fund to refresh their basic offshore induction and emergency training (BOSIET). Holding answer issued: 05 March 2018 (S5W-14385) Paul Wheelhouse: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.‏ Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many Decommissioning Challenge Fund grants have been awarded; what the value of each grant has been, and when the next round of grants will be issued. Holding answer issued: 05 March 2018 (S5W-14386) Paul Wheelhouse: ‏I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.‏ Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what the business case is for the closure of the Scottish Loan Fund. (S5W-14431) Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have passed your query to Paul Lewis, the Interim Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, who will provide an answer to you directly. Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the proposed ban on electric shock collars for dogs will be introduced as guidance and not through secondary legislation; what the legal status of this guidance will be, and how it will be enforced. Holding answer issued: 05 March 2018 (S5W-14706) Roseanna Cunningham: ‏I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.‏ Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what devices will be covered by the proposed ban on electric shock collars for dogs. Holding answer issued: 05 March 2018 (S5W-14707) Roseanna Cunningham: ‏I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.‏ Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed ban on electric shock collars for dogs will be extended to apply to other animals and, if so, which. Holding answer issued: 05 March 2018 (S5W-14708) Roseanna Cunningham: ‏I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.‏ Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of salmon that have escaped from Scottish farms in each year since 1999, and what action it is taking to help reduce these numbers. (S5W-14787) Fergus Ewing: Details on the number of salmon that have been reported to have escaped from Scottish fish farms are published on Scotland’s aquaculture website - http://aquaculture.scotland.gov.uk/data/fish_escapes.aspx . The Fish Health Inspectorate undertake a programme of statutory inspections conducted in association with fish health surveillance to ascertain whether satisfactory measures are in place for the containment of fish, prevention of escape of fish and recovery of escaped fish, in accordance with the requirements of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Act) 2007. In addition, the Scottish Government published ‘A Technical Standard for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture’ in 2015 which determines technical requirements for fish farm equipment in Scotland and applies to all species of finfish. The Standard is designed to be used alongside operational procedures and training of staff to ensure equipment is used and maintained appropriately and procedures followed correctly. Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gives to salmon farmers to protect against the escape of stock into the wild. (S5W-14788) Fergus Ewing: As part of their responsibilities, the Fish Health Inspectorate will make recommendations and outline enforcement action where necessary following statutory inspections and fish health surveillance to ascertain whether satisfactory measures are in place for the containment of fish, prevention of escape of fish and recovery of escaped fish, in accordance with the requirements of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Act) 2007. Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it will undertake with Grieg Seafood, in light of reports that 21,700 farmed salmon escaped from its Loch Snizort site. (S5W-14789) Fergus Ewing: In accordance with standard practice, the site will be visited by the Fish Health Inspectorate to undertake an escape investigation and enhanced containment inspection. Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what environmental assessment it has undertaken regarding reports of 21,700 farmed salmon escaping at Loch Snizort. (S5W-14790) Fergus Ewing: At this stage it is important that the Fish Health Inspectorate undertake their escape investigation and enhanced containment inspection before any further assessments are considered. Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the main causes of net breaches at Scottish salmon farms, and what advice it gives to operators to minimise these. (S5W-14791) Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14787 on 5 March 2018. An assessment of the main causes of net breaches at Scottish Salmon farms is available in the following report - http://www.sarf.org.uk/reports/ 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 Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake any engagement with salmon farm operators regarding netting materials in order to minimise breaches and escape of stock. (S5W-14792) Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Technical Standard determines technical requirements for fish farm equipment in Scotland and applies to all species of finfish. Discussions will continue with the industry to ensure that these standards are adhered to. Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of what impact exiting the EU might have on the rural economy. (S5W-14818) Fergus Ewing: This Government established the National Council of Rural Advisers in Summer 2017. One the Council’s first tasks was to consider the potential implications for rural Scotland of the UK leaving the EU. Their analysis (published in late November 2017) makes clear the fundamental and significant role played by EU membership in the environmental, social and economic well-being of rural Scotland.It also makes clear the scale of the challenge and the enormity of the threat posed by Brexit to Scotland’s rural economy. http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/11/6792 To assist the NCRA in their work we have published a paper on understanding the rural economy, which sets out core information including on GVA, employment and businesses in rural Scotland. http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2018/02/3310 Through the Strategic Research Programme we funded Scotland’s Rural College to produce a report into farm level profitability for four Scottish farm types (dairy, beef, sheep and crops) under three potential post-Brexit trade scenarios. The report was published in February 2018. https://www.sruc.ac.uk/downloads/file/3606/assessing_the_impacts_of_alternative_post- brexit_trade_and_agricultural_support_policy_scenarios_on_scottish_farming_systems Along with Defra, NI Daera and WG we funded the FAPRI Brexit report, which outlines the impact of a range of Brexit scenarios on the agriculture sector. https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/publications/FAPRI-UK%20Brexit %20Report%20-%20FINAL%20Clean.pdf We have also commissioned a consortium including SRUC and UHI to research Seasonal Workers in Agriculture on a year-long project which will report by ‎ 31 March. The James Hutton Institute is carrying out demographic work including projections of the numbers of migrants needed to support the economy and society of remote and sparsely populated Scotland which will be also published by ‎ 31 March. We are currently considering the further analytical requirements to help us to better understanding