STEVENSON DELIGHTED AS SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WINS MORE DEVOLVED POWERS OVER SCOTLAND’S SEAS

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the announcement that control over planning and conservation off Scotland’s coast has been devolved to Edinburgh. Following an agreement reached through the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), Scotland’s authority in these issues will now stretch to 200 nautical miles from her coast, rather than 12 nautical miles as had previously been the case.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“I am delighted that the Scottish Government has managed to convince our counterparts in the other Devolved Governments and the UK Government that responsibility for these waters should be devolved.

“By having control of marine planning and conservation, we will be able to ensure that there is a joint up, complementary approach to fishing conservation and to where offshore power is generated.

“The waters off the Banff & Buchan coast are of vital economic importance to residents thanks to the fishing industry, but they also offer massive potential for wave, tidal and offshore wind power. It is important that our waters are managed effectively, and by extending devolved responsibility out to the 200 mile limit we can ensure that decisions appropriate for Scotland are taken in Scotland.

“This agreement also represents a success for the Joint Ministerial Committee mechanism for discussion and negotiation between the Devolved Governments and the UK Government, which had fallen into disuse before the SNP came to power. One of our earliest moves after winning the election was to successfully press for it to be resurrected and this agreement only serves to demonstrate that we were right to do so.”