Chamber
Plenary, 04 Feb 2010
04 Feb 2010 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Marine (Scotland) Bill
The Marine (Scotland) Bill is vital and its significance should not be underestimated. The marine area is essential to biodiversity, to food supply, to energy generation and to sequestering carbon—the seas dissolve CO2, so they are an extremely important carbon sink. It is no exaggeration to say that the health of the marine environment is essential to the future of our planet. It is our duty to ensure that future generations inherit a marine environment that is biodiverse, that continues to supply healthy local food, whose power can be harnessed to supply renewable energy, and which continues to act as a carbon sink—if it is to do that, its temperature and pH must be retained.
It is a great pity that the most recent exposé in the saga of our Westminster colleagues' expenses will doubtless ensure that the media today pay little attention to the passage of the bill. It is unfortunate that the repercussions of the shenanigans of a few Westminster MPs are much more interesting to the national media than the passage of important legislation in the Scottish Parliament.
I thank everyone who was involved in the evolution of the bill, from drafting and scrutiny to amendment. That includes the cabinet secretary and his bill team, as well as his predecessor ministers Sarah Boyack and Rhona Brankin, who worked on defining the scope of the bill. Thanks are due, as ever, to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee clerks, who worked beyond the call of duty on hundreds of amendments and what must have been about 16 hours of stage 1 consideration.
On behalf of Labour members, I also thank the witnesses and representative organisations who submitted evidence. I also thank Scottish Environment LINK, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, Advocates for Animals, Scottish Renewables, ScottishPower Renewables, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the bill team, who all made efforts to meet me and colleagues prior to stage 3 to discuss our amendments. I am grateful to them for that.
In the course of the bill's progress through Parliament we have made considerable improvements to what was already a good bill. That is not to say that every consultee or contributor will have achieved everything that they wanted to achieve. That would not be possible. Marine planning partnership will necessarily mean compromise. It will be necessary to understand partners' concerns and aspirations. There are many and varied interests in the marine environment and the challenges of working in partnership will remain when the bill is on the statute book. Nevertheless, I have been encouraged by the way in which the bill progressed, which bodes well for marine partnership working. The vast majority of contributors to the scrutiny process approached the issues in a spirit of consensus and partnership. I hope that such an attitude will be replicated when the regional marine planning partnerships are established, because it is essential to the successful implementation of the bill.
I am pleased that marine planning partnerships will not be able to consist of a single public authority and must at least include a representative of the Scottish ministers, as a result of my amendment 24. I remain sorry that the intention behind my amendments 41 and 22 was misunderstood, particularly by Tavish Scott, and I suspect that John Scott and I will be proved right in time, as joint fish farming and renewables projects are rolled out. Of course, there can still be amendment in that regard, if necessary.
I am very pleased that amendments in the names of Peter Peacock and Liam McArthur on climate change adaptation and mitigation were agreed to, because they have strengthened the bill. I am pleased that amendments that I and Peter Peacock lodged on the protection and enhancement of the marine area and the linking of planning and marine protection in regional plans were agreed to.
I am also delighted by the progress that has been made on the welfare of seals. I know that those who lobbied us to prevent any killing or taking of seals will be disappointed, but we have come a long way from the current situation, in which seals can be used almost as target practice. When the bill is enacted, the killing and taking of seals will be permitted only as a last resort, when all other forms of deterrent do not work. Moreover, any seal licence will contain strict conditions to minimise suffering should a seal have to be taken or killed. Peter Peacock reiterated my request to the cabinet secretary that guidance on the siting of fish farms should be supplied to planning authorities, and I am pleased that the cabinet secretary will consider that.
The bill came to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee last summer, and following its passage has been an interesting experience, which has included a number of visits to different parts of the country. I am lucky to live near the banks of the Solway, which is an extremely important marine area. As the Presiding Officer knows, it is well known for its habitats, wildlife, recreation, angling, fishing and potential renewable energy. The Solway Firth Partnership has provided one model for the way in which marine planning partnerships can work together. Indeed, it has a good record of working within the Solway Firth area in Scotland as well as across the border with representative organisations in Cumbria. I am pleased that the bill, and the memorandum of understanding with the UK and its bill, will continue to allow that.
I agree with the cabinet secretary that today is one of the Parliament's proudest moments. It ranks alongside the passing of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill and I find it an honour to have been involved with the Marine (Scotland) Bill.
It is a great pity that the most recent exposé in the saga of our Westminster colleagues' expenses will doubtless ensure that the media today pay little attention to the passage of the bill. It is unfortunate that the repercussions of the shenanigans of a few Westminster MPs are much more interesting to the national media than the passage of important legislation in the Scottish Parliament.
I thank everyone who was involved in the evolution of the bill, from drafting and scrutiny to amendment. That includes the cabinet secretary and his bill team, as well as his predecessor ministers Sarah Boyack and Rhona Brankin, who worked on defining the scope of the bill. Thanks are due, as ever, to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee clerks, who worked beyond the call of duty on hundreds of amendments and what must have been about 16 hours of stage 1 consideration.
On behalf of Labour members, I also thank the witnesses and representative organisations who submitted evidence. I also thank Scottish Environment LINK, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, Advocates for Animals, Scottish Renewables, ScottishPower Renewables, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the bill team, who all made efforts to meet me and colleagues prior to stage 3 to discuss our amendments. I am grateful to them for that.
In the course of the bill's progress through Parliament we have made considerable improvements to what was already a good bill. That is not to say that every consultee or contributor will have achieved everything that they wanted to achieve. That would not be possible. Marine planning partnership will necessarily mean compromise. It will be necessary to understand partners' concerns and aspirations. There are many and varied interests in the marine environment and the challenges of working in partnership will remain when the bill is on the statute book. Nevertheless, I have been encouraged by the way in which the bill progressed, which bodes well for marine partnership working. The vast majority of contributors to the scrutiny process approached the issues in a spirit of consensus and partnership. I hope that such an attitude will be replicated when the regional marine planning partnerships are established, because it is essential to the successful implementation of the bill.
I am pleased that marine planning partnerships will not be able to consist of a single public authority and must at least include a representative of the Scottish ministers, as a result of my amendment 24. I remain sorry that the intention behind my amendments 41 and 22 was misunderstood, particularly by Tavish Scott, and I suspect that John Scott and I will be proved right in time, as joint fish farming and renewables projects are rolled out. Of course, there can still be amendment in that regard, if necessary.
I am very pleased that amendments in the names of Peter Peacock and Liam McArthur on climate change adaptation and mitigation were agreed to, because they have strengthened the bill. I am pleased that amendments that I and Peter Peacock lodged on the protection and enhancement of the marine area and the linking of planning and marine protection in regional plans were agreed to.
I am also delighted by the progress that has been made on the welfare of seals. I know that those who lobbied us to prevent any killing or taking of seals will be disappointed, but we have come a long way from the current situation, in which seals can be used almost as target practice. When the bill is enacted, the killing and taking of seals will be permitted only as a last resort, when all other forms of deterrent do not work. Moreover, any seal licence will contain strict conditions to minimise suffering should a seal have to be taken or killed. Peter Peacock reiterated my request to the cabinet secretary that guidance on the siting of fish farms should be supplied to planning authorities, and I am pleased that the cabinet secretary will consider that.
The bill came to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee last summer, and following its passage has been an interesting experience, which has included a number of visits to different parts of the country. I am lucky to live near the banks of the Solway, which is an extremely important marine area. As the Presiding Officer knows, it is well known for its habitats, wildlife, recreation, angling, fishing and potential renewable energy. The Solway Firth Partnership has provided one model for the way in which marine planning partnerships can work together. Indeed, it has a good record of working within the Solway Firth area in Scotland as well as across the border with representative organisations in Cumbria. I am pleased that the bill, and the memorandum of understanding with the UK and its bill, will continue to allow that.
I agree with the cabinet secretary that today is one of the Parliament's proudest moments. It ranks alongside the passing of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill and I find it an honour to have been involved with the Marine (Scotland) Bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-5559, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on the Marine (Scotland) Bill.
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead):
SNP
I am delighted to open the debate on Scotland's first ever marine bill. This is truly a historic day for Scotland, our seas and the people of Scotland who wa...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
Robin Harper made a point about haul-out sites, which Elaine Murray picked up on when summing up on the group of amendments in question. Elaine Murray referr...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I am happy to put it on record that we will work with all the relevant authorities to ensure that appropriate guidance is in place on the identification of h...
Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
The Marine (Scotland) Bill is vital and its significance should not be underestimated. The marine area is essential to biodiversity, to food supply, to energ...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
I begin, like others, by thanking all those who have contributed to the creation of the Marine (Scotland) Bill. In particular, I thank our clerks, who have w...
Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD):
LD
This day has been a long time coming. Our bill has enjoyed a lengthy gestation, but it is important that it has throughout that period enjoyed widespread sup...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
We move to the open debate. If members stick to their time limits, we will get everyone in.
Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I am delighted that the Marine (Scotland) Bill is well on its way to success. Indeed, I might venture to say that nobody examining the bill could accuse the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Wind up, please.
Bill Wilson:
SNP
Understood.I hope that the cabinet secretary will consider that suggestion when he comes to consider the definition of the "health" of the seas.
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
I am delighted to be able to participate in this, the final stage of the Marine (Scotland) Bill. Its long process, which began in the previous parliamentary ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Wind up, please.
Karen Gillon:
Lab
Finally, I welcome the progress that has been made on the emotive issue of seals. I think that at stage 3 we have managed to get the balance right and, in ti...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
We are about to pass our first Scottish marine bill and it has been a long time in coming. It is not quite the bill that Green ministers would have written—m...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
This is a watershed moment in the management of our marine environment. For too many generations, what was out of sight in a large part of our marine environ...
Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD):
LD
The Liberal Democrats welcome the Marine (Scotland) Bill, which will create a framework for the management of Scotland's seas. We have had a constructive deb...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I am delighted that this long-awaited and extremely important bill has reached the final stages of its passage through Parliament. Following close on the hee...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab):
Lab
I agree with colleagues that the bill is landmark legislation. It has been a long time in coming, and a tremendous amount of work has been done not only by m...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I thank all members for their contribution to the debate on the bill. There have been many positive contributions; we have heard members speak of their pride...
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
Order. Members who are talking are missing a fascinating geographical talk.
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
There is also spectacular marine wildlife off the coast of Galloway and Upper Nithsdale.As we know, marine wildlife tourism is another opportunity that Scotl...