Shiona Baird

7 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the impact on fuel poverty of the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Community and HouseholderRenewables Initiative (SCHRI) was established in 2002 primarily to promote the developmentof new community and household renewable energy projects in Scotland, thereforeno formal assessment has been carried out on its imp…

7 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the average payback periods for each of the technologies supported by the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No formal assessment has beencarried out by the Scottish Executive on payback periods broken down by individualtechnologies. The payback period generally ranges between ten and twenty years accordingto both the technology used and the details of individual pr…

7 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the financial savings delivered by the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (a) in total and (b) for each of the technologies supported.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We do not have the information requested for community projects. Potential financial savings made can vary considerably between households depending on the type of technology being installed and the type and cost of fossil fuel being replaced. The figures sho…

7 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments it has carried out of the CO2 reductions delivered by the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (a) in total and (b) for each of the technologies supported.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following are estimated carbondisplacement figures by Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiativefunded capital grants from the scheme establishment in 2002 to May 2005:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> …

24 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation on the proposed waste minimisation programme will be launched.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We will publish shortly a consultation on household waste prevention.</p>

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department will categorise or consider all responses made to it on the Lewis Windpower Ltd (AMEC/British Energy) wind farm proposal.

Answer · Allan Wilson: All representations received prior to Western Isles Council submitting their consultation response (30 June 2005), will be considered by Scottish ministers as part of the consent determination. Those representations received after that date cannot be consider…

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the responses it has received indicating (a) support for and (b) objections to the Lewis Windpower Ltd (AMEC/British Energy) wind farm proposal since Comhairle nan Eilean Siar reached a view on the project have been from Western Isles residents.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Since Western Isles Council submitted their consultation response, the Executive has recorded 11 responses of support and 1,860 objections to the Lewis Windpower proposal, from Western Isles residents.</p>

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it received indicating (a) support for and (b) objections to the Lewis Windpower Ltd (AMEC/British Energy) wind farm proposal since Comhairle nan Eilean Siar reached a view on whether to support the project.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Since Comhaitrle nan Eilean Siar submitted its consultation response, the Executive has recorded 13 responses in support and 1,903 objections to the Lewis Windpower proposal.</p>

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the responses it received indicating (a) support for and (b) objections to the Lewis Windpower Ltd (AMEC/British Energy) wind farm proposal before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar reached a view on the project were from Western Isles residents.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Prior to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar submitting its consultation response the Executive recorded six responses in support and 2,713 objections to the Lewis Windpower proposal from Western Isles residents.</p>

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it received indicating (a) support for and (b) objections to the Lewis Windpower Ltd (AMEC/British Energy) wind farm proposal before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar reached a view on whether to support the project.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Prior to Comhairle nan EileanSiar submitting its consultation response the Executive recorded nine responses of support and 4,228 objections to theLewis Windpower proposal.</p>

10 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how emerging energy efficiency technologies can become eligible for domestic grant funding.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-20549 answered on 2 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p><a href="http://www.scott…

10 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what energy efficiency technologies are eligible for domestic grant funding.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Support is available through the Scottish Household and Community Renewable Initiative for the installation of small-scale renewables for domestic application. More generally, the Executive provides grant funding to the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland to deli…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications’ agreement to meet the Scottish Society for Autism to discuss the implications for the Camphill communities of proceeding with the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, whether this meeting has taken place and…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The meeting was held on 7 November 2005 at the society’s head offices in Alloa between a representative of the consulting engineers for the project and the society’s Director of Education and Support Services. A range of issues were discussed which will help …

27 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be consultation on an evaluation of the Scottish Communities and Householder Renewables initiative and, if so, when.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Following completion of the evaluationof the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI), we willbe meeting later this year with the scheme’s delivery partners to consider how bestthe SCHRI might evolve or adapt in light of the evaluation…

27 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish an evaluation of the Scottish Communities and Householder Renewables initiative.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The evaluation of the ScottishCommunity and Householder Renewables Initiative will be published on our websitebefore the end of the year.</p>

19 Oct 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies exist for junior physiotherapy posts.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on vacancies for junior physiotherapy posts is not held centrally. However, the total number of vacancies for qualified physiotherapists within NHS Scotland at the 31 March 2005 is 95 whole-time equivalent posts. Of these, 69.3 have been vacant fo…

4 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Angus Council would receive less financial support if it were to close rural primary schools in its area.

Answer · Peter Peacock: As indicated in the answer toquestion S2W-19651 on 8 November 2005, Angus Council receives additional support related tothe percentage of pupils educated in small schools. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website…

4 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional financial support is made available to Angus Council as a result of the number of rural primary schools for which it is responsible.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Angus Council receives additionalsupport of £0.79 million in 2005&#8209;06 as a result of a redistribution of thePrimary School Teaching Staff Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocation which isbased on the 9.0% of Angus pupils who are educated in small schools…

19 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18361 by Tavish Scott on 5 September 2005, what specific data have been collected on the work of the Camphill communities and from what sources these data have been acquired.

Answer · Tavish Scott: In addition to gathering information from the Medical Director and staff in written and oral reports and from escorted visits, information has been obtained by canvassing opinions and interviewing officials in local authorities who refer children to Camphill …

19 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18360 by Tavish Scott on 5 September 2005, to what extent the criteria set out in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) have been applied and whether a full STAG assessment report has been prepared in respect of each of the options for the…

Answer · Tavish Scott: A assessment of each of the route options using the criteria set out in Part 1 of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) has been undertaken. The analysis will be presented in the form of the Part 1 Appraisal Summary Tables as suggested by STAG and …

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the building of an eastern bypass for Aberdeen would compare with the Western Peripheral Route options in terms of building costs, potential traffic reduction and environmental impact.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19278 on 29 September 2005.</p> <p>All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will complete and publish its assessment of the viability of an eastern bypass for Aberdeen as a proposed alternative to the Western Peripheral Route options.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The assessment of the viability of the suggested Aberdeen Eastern Bypass is expected to be completed shortly and will be published following the decision on the preferred route which I expect to make in the autumn.</p>

15 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce targets for renewable heat generation analogous to the targets for renewable electricity generation.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are no immediate plans to introduce targets for renewable heat. The development of a successful biomass sector in Scotland will play a significant role in delivering increasing amounts of renewable heat. The Department of Trade and Industry and Departme…

24 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether convictions for flytipping have increased following the establishment of the "Dumb Dumpers" stopline.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Statistics on the number of prosecutionsfor fly-tipping offences since the <br>“Dumb Dumpers” stop line commenced in March 2004 are not yet available.</p>

24 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it gauges the success of schemes such as the "Dumb Dumpers" flytipping stopline.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The stop line is part of the“Dumb Dumpers” campaign which is co-ordinated by Keep Scotland Beautiful on behalfof the Scottish Fly-tipping Forum. The Scottish Executive looks to the ScottishFly-tipping Forum to advise on the success and effectiveness of the sc…

11 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the consultation report on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The report will be published following the decision on the preferred route which I expect to make in the autumn.</p>

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has gathered on the impact of the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route on the Camphill communities and to what extent this information will inform its decision on the route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: A wide range of data has been collected on the work of the communities together with information such as traffic levels, noise and air quality to help assess the impact on Camphill and inform the decision on the route. I visited the Camphill Community on 1 Se…

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to assess the relative impact of each of the options for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route on the quality of life for local people, communities and individuals with special needs and how such assessments will be weighted prior to a final decision being made on the route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The options under consideration are being assessed against the criteria set out in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) a copy of which is available on the internet at:</p> <p><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/transport/stag.pdf">http:/…

4 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the presumption in favour of building the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, in light of concerns expressed regarding the impact of the route on oil prices and climate change.

Answer · Tavish Scott: No.</p>

13 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how preliminary treatment of sewage can be considered an appropriate treatment, given that it is not referred to in the Scottish Environment Protection Agencys Policy Number 28 - Initial Dilution and Mixing Zones for Discharges from Coastal and Estuarine Outfalls.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: As the independentregulator, it is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)to determine the conditions for a Consent to Discharge. SEPA’s Policy 28prescribes the dilution standards that SEPA expects new or modified sewagedischarges, serv…