Written Question · S1W-18859 · Session 1
How many cases regarding the notification of an area of land as being of Special Scientific Interest were referred by Scottish Natural Heri…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases regarding the notification of an area of land as being of Special Scientific Interest were referred by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest in each of the last five years and how many times the advisory committee found against Scottish Natural Heritage.
The answer
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has referred 21 notifications to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) since 1996. The table shows the number of cases regarding the notification of a Site of Special Scientific Interest which were referred to the ACSSSI in the five years from 1996 to 2000. Information for 2001, up to 11 October, is also provided. The statutory function of the ACSSSI is to provide advice to SNH regarding notifications and it is not possible to categorise this advice as simply for or against SNH. The table therefore shows a breakdown of ACSSSI responses under the following five categories:ACSSSI agree with SNH case, notification scientifically soundly based and no modifications required;
ACSSSI agree with SNH case, notification scientifically soundly based but some adjustment to boundaries or citation could be considered;
ACSSSI agree with SNH case, notification scientifically soundly based but boundary modification recommended;
some doubts exist over the scientific case and re-examination on a different basis required to verify case before confirming, and
scientific case not made.
ACSSSI responses 1996
- 11 October 2001Year | No. cases referred to ACSSSI | Agree with SNH case no modification required | Agree with SNH case but adjustments to boundaries or citation could be considered | Agree with SNH case, but boundary modification recommended | Some doubts over overall case to be clarified by SNH before proceeding | Case not made
1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
1998 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1
ACSSSI agree with SNH case, notification scientifically soundly based but some adjustment to boundaries or citation could be considered;
ACSSSI agree with SNH case, notification scientifically soundly based but boundary modification recommended;
some doubts exist over the scientific case and re-examination on a different basis required to verify case before confirming, and
scientific case not made.
ACSSSI responses 1996
- 11 October 2001Year | No. cases referred to ACSSSI | Agree with SNH case no modification required | Agree with SNH case but adjustments to boundaries or citation could be considered | Agree with SNH case, but boundary modification recommended | Some doubts over overall case to be clarified by SNH before proceeding | Case not made
1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
1998 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-18859 by reference.