Section 103 - Reports to Parliament
161.Section 103 imposes duties on Scottish Ministers to lay before Parliament, prior to the end of the relevant period, a report setting out certain information relating to MPAs. The relevant period is the period beginning on the date in which this section comes into force and ending on 31 December 2012, and each subsequent period of 6 years.
162.This report is to include information about Nature Conservation MPAs, Demonstration and Research MPAs, and Historic MPAs. It will include reporting on the overall number of all of these MPA types and particular details relating specifically to these MPA types.
163.With particular regard to Nature Conservation MPAs, the report must include information on the extent to which their designation, taken together with UK Marine Conservation Zones and any European inshore or offshore marine sites, form a network of sites that contributes to the conservation or improvement of the marine environment and satisfies the other conditions in section 79(3).
164.The report to Parliament is also to include information about marine conservation orders and managements schemes, and include information on amendments to either of these.
