John Farquhar Munro

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many small-scale hydroelectric schemes have been implemented since 1990; how much electricity is generated from these schemes, and what proportion of Scotland's electricity generation small-scale hydroelectric schemes represent, both in terms of capacity and units produced.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Since the first Order in 1994 under the Scottish Renewable Obligation, eight small-scale hydro-electric schemes have been commissioned in Scotland. These stations have an aggregate capacity of 5.82 MW. A further four stations with an aggregate capacity of 4.6…

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support the development of further small-scale hydroelectric schemes.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Small-scale hydroelectric schemes will be supported by means of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland). I expect that the statutory consultation on the detail of how the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) will support renewables will be issued during July.

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual vehicles have been converted to run on liquid petroleum gas under the Powershift programme in each year since the programme started.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The following table shows the number of converted vehicles for each year.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 WIDTH=170><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="BOTTOM" HEIGHT=17><P></TD><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="BOTTOM" HEIGHT=17><P>Vehicles</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="BOT…

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual grant applications have been made and how many have been awarded under the Powershift programme in each year since the programme started.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The following table shows Powershift grant applications and the number of awards.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=406><TR><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="37%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Number of Applications</TD><TD WIDTH="37%" VALIGN…

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual budget has been for the Powershift programme and how much has been spent under it in each year since the programme started.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive only took over financial responsibility for its share of the UK Powershift programme at devolution. Therefore, there has been a separate Scottish element of the budget only since 2000.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=284>…

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies have received grants under the Powershift programme to convert vehicles to run on liquid petroleum gas in each year since the programme started.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: A total of 92 Scottish companies have received grants since the programme began. The figures for each year are broken down in the table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=276><TR><TD WIDTH="59%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="41%" VALIGN="TO…

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of administering the Powershift programme in each year since the programme started.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The total cost to the Energy Saving Trust of its administering the Powershift programme from its inception up to date is £383,000.

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of grant under the Powershift programme has been as a percentage of the total average cost of converting a vehicle to liquid petroleum gas.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Powershift grants are on average 60% of vehicle conversion cost.

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify what the process and eligibility criteria are for applications under the infectious salmon anaemia re-start fund.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Applicants make their initial approach through the local enterprise network. My department provides HIE with a judgement on eligibility.<P>Eligible businesses are those with fish or shellfish sites registered prior to the outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any areas of Scotland have been rejected as potential sites for the development of wind farms due to anticipated objections from the Ministry of Defence.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 6: Renewable<I> </I>Energy<I> </I>Developments<I> </I>notes that planning policy is based on the principle that renewable energy developments should be accommodated throughout Scotland. However, the NPPG recognises th…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any objections by the Ministry of Defence to wind farm developments in relation to the impact of low flying aircraft have been considered during the development of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Ministry of Defence made no response to our preliminary consultation on the Renewables Obligation (Scotland). The Ministry of Defence position on the siting of wind farms in tactical training areas was set out by Dr Moonie, the Defence Minister responsibl…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications for wind farms in low flying area 14(T) have been (a) approved and (b) rejected.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16272.

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications have been received for wind farms in low flying area 14(T).

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Ministry of Defence regarding recent revisions to planning guidance on renewable energy developments.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No representations were received by or on behalf of the Ministry of Defence in response to the consultation process in the review of <I>National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy Developments</I>.

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what weight is given to objections from the Ministry of Defence in relation to decisions on whether wind farm planning applications should be approved.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is for the decision-maker to consider the weight to be attached to all issues raised by a development proposal, including objections, before reaching a decision on the application.

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ministry of Defence in relation to the siting of wind farms in low flying areas.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There have been no discussions between the Executive and the Ministry of Defence on this matter.

29 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding plans to decommission nuclear submarines at Loch Ewe and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No.

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what formal communication links have been established between it and the Gaelic Task Force.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Officials of the Scottish Executive provide support for and attend meetings of the Gaelic Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Donald Meek. I attended the first meeting of the Group on 21 March 2001.

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the removal of litter from verges, landscaping and lay-bys on the trunk road network in each of the maintenance contract areas and whether there has been any alteration to these arrangements as a result of the recent letting of new contracts.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Responsibility for the removal of litter from special roads and motorways lies with the Scottish Executive as the roads authority. For all other trunk roads the responsibility rests with the local councils through which area the trunk road passes. These are s…

27 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider further relaxation of the rules governing movement of livestock in areas of low risk from foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to Parliament on 5 April 2001 where relaxation of movement controls were announced.

26 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the financial impact of the precautionary measures to combat foot-and-mouth disease in relation to the movement of livestock still residing on over-wintering farms.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I recognise the difficulties which movement restrictions have given rise to for farmers, including those who have away-wintered animals. These restrictions are being reviewed in the light of experience and the disease situation locality.<P>An assessment is be…

26 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any livestock destroyed in the foot-and-mouth disease pre-emptive cull were blood sampled prior to their destruction.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The pre-emptive cull is being carried out to control and eradicate the disease as quickly and as effectively as possible. In view of the importance and urgency of this exercise blood sampling is not being carried out at present.

16 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene to protect the pensions of Highland Council employees who will be working for BEAR (Scotland) Ltd after 1 April 2001.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the response I gave to Bruce Crawford within Jamie McGrigor's oral question S1O-3171 on 22 March 2001.

7 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to help the tourist industry to deal with any loss of business caused by the foot and mouth outbreak.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: I am fully aware of the effect that the outbreak of foot and mouth is having on the tourism industry. I have arranged to get regular reports about the position in every part of Scotland and I have met with individual businesses to find out the problems at fir…

28 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or is making to Her Majesty's Government and the EU Commission on the provision of compensation in the aftermath of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive like the UK Government has announced that any farmer who has animals slaughtered to control disease will be compensated at full market value.<P>The Scottish Executive has agreed with the UK Government that representation should be made …

28 Feb 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider giving compensation to those whose main activity is the haulage of livestock.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I recognise and sympathise with your concerns about the livelihoods of hauliers. Their situation will have eased with the introduction on Saturday 3 March of a scheme of licensed movements of pigs, cattle and sheep outside infected areas direct to slaughter.

9 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations the new trunk road contractors will have to clear access along trunk roads for local authority direct labour organisation snow clearing equipment.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The new operating companies must consider and consult with the emergency services and other interested parties on the arrangements for winter maintenance operations at the boundaries of the unit with other road authorities and other operating companies. The c…

9 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to sportscotland regarding levels of funding for shinty.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive has had a series of discussions with sportscotland about levels of funding for shinty.

24 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to use the estimated annual #15 million saving through the trunk road maintenance contracts to negotiate with the Bank of America for an early return of the Skye Bridge to public ownership.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Skye Bridge is already owned by Scottish Ministers. The Executive has frozen the tolls at 1999 levels and reviewed the impact of the 1998 concessions for regular users, meeting its commitment in the <I>Programme for Government</I>.

22 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why sportscotland has turned down the Camanach Association's development plan proposals.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: In the first instance, you may find it helpful to have a statement of the situation with regard to funding for shinty and shinty events.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Shinty receives considerable funding from <B>sport</B>scotland, nearly £100,000 per annum in c…