Ms Wendy Alexander

Answer · Jim Mather · 14 Mar 2011

The Scottish Government works to identify and deliver the reinforcement and further development of Scotland''s grid network that will connect and transport Scotland''s energy potential, deliver a low carbon generating mix and ensure security of future energy supply.</p> <p >Our Second National Planning Framework highlights a range of energy generation, infrastructure and grid developments of national importance to Scotland. Proactive use of our powers on spatial onshore and offshore planning and consenting has resulted in a step change in planning, consenting and developing Scotland''s energy future. </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/02105627/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/02105627/0</a>.</p> <p >We work closely with UK, EU Governments, the GB system regulator Ofgem and transmission system operators in a number of strategic groupings envisaging future gird network at UK and EU level; including the Electricity Networks Strategy Group on future onshore and offshore GB reinforcement, and EU level groupings on future interconnected grid development in the Irish and North Seas. </p> <p >The Scottish Government does not hold detailed information on levels of committed and planned grid investment. This is a regulated activity by Ofgem and the three transmission system operators (National Grid Electricity Transmission Limited, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited and Scottish Power Transmission Limited). Decisions on specific grid projects and investment plans are part of this regulated process.</p> <p >The transmission system operators are responsible for developing their networks in line with their licence obligations. The revenue network companies can earn in doing so is determined by the regulatory price control process. This process provides the companies with future revenue levels and incentives to take forward efficient investment and running their systems. </p> <p >The transmission system operators develop projects to upgrade and reinforce transmission infrastructure within their area based on their assessment on what is required to run their network in an efficient manner. They submit these proposals to Ofgem for assessment and funding approval. Ofgem considers cost, and other factors such as need, for the electricity networks investment proposals put forward by network companies.</p> <p >The current transmission price control process (a Retail Price Index based process) runs from 2007-12. In that period Ofgem has agreed the transmission system operators can invest £3.8 billion in grid and network development. Detail is at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/Trans/Archive/TPCR4/Pages/TPCR4.aspx" title="http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/Trans/Archive/TPCR4/Pages/TPCR4.aspx">http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/Trans/Archive/TPCR4/Pages/TPCR4.aspx</a>. </p> <p >In addition, on 25 January 2011 Ofgem also announced a £95 million investment package over the next two years to increase the capacity of Scotland''s power networks. Detail can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?file=ScotlandUpgrade25012011.pdf&amp;refer=Media/PressRel">http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?file=ScotlandUpgrade25012011.pdf&amp;refer=Media/PressRel</a>.</p> <p >This price control period has been extended to 2013 as Ofgem transitions to an output performance-based approach to regulate energy networks. This RIIO model (Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs), covering eight year periods, will set regulatory price controls beyond 2013.</p> <p >The two Scottish transmission licensees are required by their licence obligations to assist National Grid, as System Operators of the National Electricity Transmission System, in preparing detail on the timing and scope of planned grid investment (as opposed to funding). Specific detail is available in the resulting Seven Year Statement at <a href="http://www.nationalgrid.c

Answer · John Swinney · 10 Feb 2011

Scotland''s remaining North Sea oil and gas reserves are estimated to have a potential wholesale value of £1 trillion and act as a significant source of tax revenue for the UK Exchequer. In the next six years alone, the North Sea is forecast to generate £60.5 billion in tax revenue for the UK Exchequer. This compares to the expected £2 billion net cost of all the UK Government''s financial sector interventions forecast in the June 2010 Emergency Budget.</p> <p >With responsibility for this vast resource, and the opportunity to determine the best approach to financial regulation in Scotland, the Scottish Government would be able to ensure financial stability in the banking system.</p>

Answer · John Swinney · 18 Nov 2010

With independence, Scotland would be able to choose the right policy responses to suit its particular circumstances. The recent global financial crisis affected countries large and small. Norway, for example, managed its own banking crisis in the early 1990s, in the end emerging with a more resilient financial sector via a process under which the government actually made money on its investment in the banks. When the global crisis deepened in late 2008, Norway was able to offer securitised bonds totalling more than £33 billion should its banks have needed them.</b></p>

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 9 Nov 2010

We are aware that Tesco has submitted a proposal of application to the local council and plans to hold a public exhibition of its plans in late November 2010. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is continuing to work with Tesco to agree how to move forward with this potential development with regards to the health centre.</b></p>

Answer · John Swinney · 26 Oct 2010

Estimates of the tax revenue raised in Scotland from 2004-05 to 2008-09 are available in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2008-09. The report is available at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0</a>. Estimates for 2009-10 onwards are not currently available.</p>

Answer · Stewart Stevenson · 9 Nov 2010

Following the Scottish Parliament''s ratification of the Budget (Scotland) Act on 3 February 2010, which formalised the Scottish Government''s reluctant decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) branch line works; and in accordance with the requirements of the: Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM); the Scottish Government undertook an internal trawl of all of its Departments and Agencies to ascertain whether there was any other legitimate use that the land, previously acquired under compulsory powers for the GARL project, could be put to. The internal trawl concluded that there was no other use for the land and consequently it was deemed to be surplus to requirements. Therefore in accordance with the statutory obligations of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act (2007) “ Section 44 Application of Crichel Downs Rules was applied.</p> <p >We have been in consultation with the following parties in order to comply with the requirements of the SPFM and Crichel Down rules:</p> <p align=left >Previous land owners</p> <p align=left >District Valuation Office</p> <p align=left >Land agents</p> <p align=left >Legal advisors</p> <p >The Scottish Parliament has been informed of the intention to dispose of land, purchased under Compulsory Powers and subsequently deemed surplus to requirements, and I would refer the member to the answer to questions: S3W-31078 on 4 February 2010; S3W-32289 on 19 March 2010; S3W-33248 on 23 April 2010; and S3W-33171 on 22 April 2010. Answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.</p> <p >The discussions that we have had with the previous owners of the land acquired using compulsory powers is set out in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=124 valign=top > <p >Date</p> </td> <td width=485 valign=top > <p >Summary of Letter ontent</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr > <td width=124 valign=top > <p align=left >10 November 2009</p> <p align=left >&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=485 valign=top > <p >Informing previous owners that we were awaiting confirmation of the formal agreement of the Budget proposed on the 17September 2009. Until outcome of this is known we were not in a position to dispose of any of the land previously acquired, however we confirmed that we would contact original owners shortly thereafter to advise of the Parliament''s decision and propose a way forward. </p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=124 valign=top > <p align=left >11 February 2010</p> <p align=left >&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=485 valign=top > <p >Confirming that Parliament met on 3 February 2010 and voted on the Budget as proposed by Cabinet Secretary for Finance &amp; Sustainable Growth. This formalised the cancellation of the GARL branch line. We would develop a strategy for the disposal of the land deemed as surplus to requirements and would make further contact to advise of likely timescales for concluding the process. </p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=124 valign=top > <p align=left >11 and 26 July 2010</p> <p align=left >&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=485 valign=top > <p >Confirming that internal government land sale process complete and various plots have been declared surplus to the requirements of the Scottish Government and of our intention to sell.  Confirming that under Crichel Downs rules former owners are offered the opportunity to repurchase the land acquired from them. </p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=124 valign=top > <p align=left >November 2010</p> </td> <td width=485 valign=top > <p >Formal price offer letters to be issued to former owners. </p> </td> </tr> </table> <p >&nbsp;</p>

Answer · Jim Mather · 14 Oct 2010

The recently published Stage 2 National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) report provides the main source of information on a range of key sites for offshore wind manufacturing in Scotland. The report identifies the opportunity to create clusters of economic activity throughout the supply chains around these locations and highlights the potential to support an offshore wind sector manufacturing 750 complete offshore wind units per year. Scotland''s economic development agencies are taking forward the next stage of N-RIP involving investment in facilities and attracting offshore wind manufacturers to establish operations in Scotland.</b></p> <p >The previous UK administration published, and subsequently updated, a UK offshore wind ports prospectus, which set out high-level site characteristics and contact details in relation to a large number of potential sites, including several in Scotland, designed to make it easier for offshore wind companies to make contact with port owners. However, as the prospectus made clear this was, and is, by no means an exclusive list.</p>

Answer · Jim Mather · 6 Oct 2010

Four carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects will be supported by the CCS Levy under the Energy Act 2010, with potential co-financing from the European Union under the New Entrants Reserve competition.</p> <p >One of these four demonstration projects will be the UK CCS competition winner. The two remaining bids for funding from this competition are Scottish Power at Longannet and E.ON at Kingsnorth in Kent. The competition winner will be selected next year.</p> <p >Under the Energy Act 2010, the UK Government is required to consult Scottish ministers on wider programmes to support further CCS demonstration projects with the CCS Levy. The Scottish Government is working closely with the UK Government on this wider programme, including making representations that CCS should be demonstrated on a gas plant as well as on coal.</p> <p >Sites chosen for demonstration of CCS will be dependent on the projects which are successful in both the UK and EU competitive processes, and on projects securing the necessary permits to safely capture, transport and store carbon dioxide.</p>