The following petitions have been referred to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee.

Current Petitions

The following petitions were referred to the Committee in November 2008.  The Committee will consider the petitions in the early part of 2009.

Petiton PE1047 - Coastal and marine protection process

Petition PE1081 - Maritime and maritime air space responsibilities and organisations

Closed Petitions

Petiton 749 - Sewage Sludge

The Committee considered this petition at its meeting on 19 September 2007 and agreed to write to Scottish Water seeking an update on when it expects to publish the sewage sludge disposal strategy.

The Committee considered the petition at its meeting on 19 December 2007 and agreed to consider it again once Scottish Water’s national sludge strategy is published.

The Committee agreed to conclude consideration of the petition at its meeting on 8 October 2008 and agreed to write to Scottish Water inviting it to meet with the petitioner to discuss concerns in relation to the spreading of sewage sludge in the Newcastleton area.

Petition 799 - Lamlash Bay

The Committee considered this petition at its meeting on 19 September 2007 and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary asking whether he endorses the general approach of the previous Minister and, specifically, whether he will support scientific funding for the project. The Cabinet Secretary responded on 30 October 2007.

Further correspondence was received from the Cabinet Secretary on 24 January 2008. The letter sets outs action which The Scottish Government is taking with regard to Marine Management in Lamlash Bay.

The Committee agreed to close the petition at its meeting on 5 March 2008.

Ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Firth of Forth

Petition 956

Petition 982

The Committee considered these petitions at its meeting on 19 September 2007 and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary seeking an update on discussions with the UK Government on further legislative measures to protect the Firth of Forth. The Cabinet Secretary responded on 8 October 2007.

The Committee agreed to close both petitions at its meeting on 5 March 2008.

Petition 1011 - National Park (Scotland) Act 2000

The Committee considered this petition at its meeting on 14 February 2007 and agreed to write to the Minister for Environment and Rural Development seeking comments on the petition.

The Committee considered the Minister's response at its meeting on 19 September 2007 and agreed to close the petition on the basis that the Scottish Government has already made clear that it has no plans to amend the relevant legislation.

Petition 1207 - Review of Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 7 Planning and Flooding

The Committee considered this petition at its meeting on 19 November 2008 and agreed to take the issues raised by the petition into consideration during its scrutiny of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 and to close the petition on that basis.