Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department has not conducted economic impact assessments on proposed by-law changes (a) in general and (b) regarding the Raasay ranges.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Under the byelaws review process there is no specific requirement to carry out an economic impact assessment.
Following input received as part of the recent byelaw consultation process and due to local concerns, an economic impact assessment is currently being undertaken regarding Raasay Ranges. Its scope will reflect the MOD policy for such reports.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the proposed byelaw changes for the waters between the Scottish mainland and the Island of Raasay.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
In accordance with the byelaws review process the Ministry of Defence has engaged with the Scottish Government Criminal Justice Division regarding the proposed new British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre Byelaws.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department conducted an economic impact assessment of the proposed byelaw changes for the waters between the mainland of Scotland and the Island of Raasay.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The views submitted by members of the public and other local stakeholders as part of the public consultation on the proposed changes will be used to inform if the Ministry of Defence is justified in producing an economic impact as this is not required as part of the review process.
Full and proper consultation on the proposed new byelaws with local fishing communities and stakeholders is part of the current byelaws review process. The review was preceded by initial discussions between QinetiQ and local fishing communities over the summer. While the byelaw review has been extended to the end of November 2015, there is no plan to suspend the on-going public consultation phase of the byelaw review.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State for Defence Procurement of 23 June 2015, columns 861-62, for what reasons full and proper consultation with local fishing communities in advance of consultation on byelaw revision has not taken place; and if he will suspend the byelaw consultation relating to waters between the Scottish mainland and Raasay.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The views submitted by members of the public and other local stakeholders as part of the public consultation on the proposed changes will be used to inform if the Ministry of Defence is justified in producing an economic impact as this is not required as part of the review process.
Full and proper consultationon on the proposed new byelaws with local fishing communities and stakeholders is part of the current byelaws review process. The review was preceded by initial discussions between QinetiQ and local fishing communities over the summer. While the byelaw review has been extended to the end of November 2015, there is no plan to suspend the on-going public consultation phase of the byelaw review.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the contribution of the Minister for Defence Procurement of 23 June 2015, Official Report, columns 861-62, when he expects the planned consultation to commence; and for what reasons this will be part of a separate strand of work to review all current bylaws at 200 defence sites.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The proposed changes to the water space at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC) requires an amendment to the facility's existing byelaw. This proposal coincides with a wider statutory review of byelaws for some 200 defence establishments currently being undertaken by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and is being taken forward as part of that work. It is planned that the public consultation process for the BUTEC site will start later this summer once preparatory legal work to draft the revised byelaw has been completed.
Separately, QinetiQ will shortly hold discussions with the local fishing community and other stakeholders on the possible positioning of in-water equipment and its likely impact on fishing activities.