John has today (, welcomed the decision by Scottish Water to withdraw its application for a variation of authorisation for Gairloch Waste Water Treatment Works. The application (CAR/L/1002928) would have allowed a discharge of sewage effluent into Loch Gairloch.

Commenting John said:

“I am delighted that Scottish Water has taken this step to reassess its plans for Gairloch. It was clear from the communications I received from constituents that there was continued unease in the community, and wider, about Scottish Water’s proposal. I encouraged all those who contacted me to request, as I had done on the 28^th of February, that the Scottish Government call in the decision by SEPA to allow the variation. I am glad that this protracted process can now be avoided for the time-being

“Scottish Water’s plans to establish a stakeholder group to explore the options for the long-term, including community representatives, under an independent chair is a welcome step. I hope that the concerns of the community will continue to be taken seriously and a solution can be found that satisfies both the community concerns and meets the long-term needs of Gairloch.”

This article first appeared in the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald and other Scottish Provincial Press publications.

Last week animal rights charities Onekind and The League Against Cruel Sports released footage which showed large-scale culling of mountain hares on grouse moors in the north and north east, including at the Corrybrough Estate in Tomatin, Inverness-shire.

Currently landowners are allowed to shoot hares between August and February, without a license. Shooters are expected to exercise “voluntary restraint.”

This latest evidence once again highlights that it is barbarism, rather than restraint, that is commonly exercised.

Rather perversely, the shooting of Scotland’s iconic mountain hares only takes place to facilitate the shooting of another iconic Scottish species, Grouse.

Landowners claim shooting is to control “large numbers” of mountain hares, yet there is no evidence to support this claim, and no studies have been undertaken to assess the number.

There is a similar lack of evidence to back up the claim that mountain hares spread disease carrying ticks to grouse, yet this is another reason trumpeted for the continued persecution of these beautiful creatures.

Greens raised this matter at First Minister’s Questions last week and were assured that the Scottish Government are urgently engaging with stakeholders to address the serious concerns that we have.

Meetings are all well and good of course, but bold action is required to stop the decimation of this precious species.

I support the calls for a moratorium on the shooting of hares, which would provide the necessary space for research to be carried out on hare numbers. Once this evidence has been compiled and assessed we would then be in a position to discuss the management of the species going forward.

The introduction of a licensing system for shoots on grouse moors would be a positive step which could be taken by the Scottish Government.

Not only might this protect the hare, such a system could also provide protection to our birds of prey, which all too often mysteriously vanish in proximity to moors, preposterously badged as “sporting estates.”

I don’t find anything particularly sporting about the slaughter of defenceless animals.

One welcome step the Scottish Government could take immediately, which would begin to address some of the serious concerns that exist, would be to address perceptions that Scottish Land and Estates have privileged access to Scottish Ministers.

I don’t believe it is unreasonable to contend that it the landed class have easy access to Ministers, then so should those organisations promoting the welfare of the creatures that are under siege.

In recent years the Scottish Government have taken, somewhat tentatively, but never the less positive, steps toward much needed land reform in Scotland. It’s now time for it to take the next steps to help protect the wonderful biodiversity in the Highlands, which we all have a right to enjoy.

New polling for the Scottish Green MSPs is set to pile pressure on managers of the Scottish Parliament’s pension fund to stop investing tens of millions of pounds of public money in firms that contribute to wars, climate change and ill-health. [1]

John , Justice spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has been a consistent campaigner on the issue, revealing the extent of such investments in 2014. [2]

Now, a poll of 1,000 Scots by Survation shows that, of those expressing an opinion, 72 per cent say the MSP pension fund should not be able to invest in companies involved in arms manufacture, fossil fuel extraction and tobacco, while 28 per cent say it should.

On Thursday this week (8 Mar), JOhn is due to question the parliament’s Corporate Body on its pension fund investment strategy and whether current and former MSPs will be consulted about which industries their pensions support.

Commenting, John said:

“The pension fund for MSPs is complicit in the misery caused by warfare, climate change and the legacy of the tobacco industry. Anyone with an ounce of ethics would want this fund to get out of those investments, and it’s now clear that is also the view of most Scots.

“The managers of Holyrood’s fund cannot wring their hands any longer. In light of major divestment announcements recently from the likes of Edinburgh University, Lloyd’s of London and even New York City, there’s simply no excuse. I will continue to press for change.”

Notes:

[1] https://greens.scot/sites/default/files/Scottish%20Greens%20Final%20Tables.pdf

[2] https://johnfinnie.scot/2014/11/13/msps-pensions-bankrolling-fossil-fuels-tobacco-and-the-arms-industry/

Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie has called on the Scottish Government to lead by example following the publication of a report by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) showing that HIAL Inverness Airport, which is owned by Scottish Ministers, is among 59 businesses in Scotland listed ‘very poor’ for environmental compliance.

The results published today (15/02/2018) by SEPA show Scottish regulated businesses achieved a six year high, with 91.7% of sites recorded as ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’, or ‘Broadly Compliant’.

Another major concern in the north was the Dounreay Nuclear facility which was recorded as ‘Poor’.

John Finnie said:

“It is encouraging to see an overall improvement in environmental compliance from businesses and organisations in the Highlands and Islands and across Scotland. This is due in no small part to the thoroughness of SEPA staff across the country and they deserve to be commended for that.

“The recent SEPA enforcement in the Cromarty Firth – halting the movement of two oil rigs – was a great illustration of them taking prompt and robust action to protect our precious environment. It is clear this has been happening across the country, in conjunction with businesses, culminating in today’s positive results.

“There are a number of extremely concerning issues that come out of the SEPA figures which shows the need for continued vigilance. I am astounded to see that HIAL Inverness Airport, which is owned by Scottish Ministers, has again been rated ‘very poor’. The Scottish Government and its various organisations must lead by example and I will be taking this issue up with Ministers when parliament returns next week.

“It is no surprise to see Dounreay listed among poor performers, yet this is still extremely concerning. I would hope that complying with environmental regulation would be the number one priority for the operators of a decommissioning nuclear plant and I will be raising my serious concerns with the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.”