Rob Gibson

1 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of market incentives it is offering to renewable energy firms for projects such as Ocean Power Delivery Ltd's Pelamis project to make commercial application of their research in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive introduced the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) in April 2002.Under the ROS, all licensed electricity suppliers are obliged to sourceincreasing amounts of their electricity from qualifying renewable sources.</p><p>In order to comply…

1 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its #2.125 million investment in the Marine Energy Test Centre, off Orkney, will enable Ocean Power Delivery Ltd's Pelamis wave energy project to be ready for commercial application on schedule.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Marine Energy TestCentre will allow Scotland’s fledgling marine industry to test, accredit, andshowcase its products for the burgeoning world market. Ocean Power DeliveryLtd’s Pelamis device will be the first device to be installed in the centrelater this…

17 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2070 by Mr Andy Kerr on 5 September 2003, what benefits can be achieved from closer co-operation, short of membership of the council, between it and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Benefits of co-operation areexpected to include exchanges of best practice, sharing of information and researchfindings, exchanges of officials and reciprocal attendance and participation atconferences and seminars. There may also be cases where it is appropr…

17 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-335 by Mr Jim Wallace on 4 September 2003, what progress has been made by the group led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in considering transmission issues arising from potential renewables developments in the northern and western isles.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The first meeting of the Highlands andIslands Transmission Issues Group was held on 26 August. The group discussed theaction required in order to develop the case for new power connections from theHighlands and Islands to the principal centres of population i…

17 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-901 by Lewis Macdonald on 23 July 2003, what discussions it is having with the Ministry of Defence on individual wind farm projects.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Our discussions with the Ministryof Defence concentrate on the wider issues relating to renewable energy developmentand its interests in safeguarding, particularly in relation to low flying and radar.</p><p>As for individual projects, itis for the developer t…

16 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any applications for wind farms that have been referred to the Ministry of Defence for approval.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Applications for consent undersection 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 are subject to consultation with interestedparties. In view of its wide-ranging safeguarding interests, the Ministry of Defenceis one of these bodies and is accordingly invited to comment on…

16 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ministry of Defence on any reservations the ministry may have over the placement of wave and tidal power plants in Scottish waters.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None. The development of ouroffshore renewable energy resource will be faced with a number of constraints, includingthose imposed by shipping of all kinds as well as fishing and the marine environment.We are currently considering how these matters will be add…

16 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to aid the successful placement of wave and tidal power machines in Scottish waters.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No such guidelines have beenissued. The Scottish Executive has contributed £2.125 million as the main sponsor of the Marine Energy Test Centre in waters off Orkney. This centre will allow companiesto test and subsequently accredit their devices following succ…

16 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the known cases of accelerated low water corrosion are affecting harbours and piers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We do not keep records on thescale of this problem, nor are we aware of any comprehensive survey work havingbeen done, either at piers and harbours supporting lifeline ferries or at the manysmall fisheries and general piers and harbours throughout Scotland.</…

16 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to combat accelerated low water corrosion affecting harbours and piers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: It is for harbour authoritiesto monitor their own structures and consider what action they require to take toensure that required facilities remain usable. Piers and Harbours Grants are availablefor the development of piers and harbours that support lifeline …

16 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report to the Parliament on the breakdown of the World Trade Organi'ation talks in Cancun, Mexico, as they affect Scottish trade and public services.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The regulation of internationaltrade is a reserved matter. However, Scottish Executive officials maintain regularcontact with officials in the Department of Trade and Industry and other Governmentdepartments regarding trade issues, including those relating to…

10 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of land in the Forestry Commission's Scottish estate are surplus to requirements.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The surplus areasof land managed by Forestry Commission Scotland are as follows:PlantationsApproved for Sale but Not Yet Committed - North Scotland</p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Property Name</p…

10 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will facilitate the publication of details of land areas that can be made available at an early date for the establishment of new forest crofts in the Forestry Commission's Scottish estate.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We are not aware of any criteriafor classifying land as a forest or woodland croft; therefore Forestry CommissionScotland does not hold records for such a classification. However, last month Iasked Forestry Commission Scotland to undertake a review, including…

28 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the online version of the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme form was made available after the paper version had been made available and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Suckler Cow Premium Scheme2003 literature and claim form were available to download from the Scottish Executivewebsite on 1 July 2003, the day the scheme opened. This was in advance of the packswhich issued to claimants under the 2002 scheme on 4 July 200…

27 Aug 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that the electricity grid between the mainland and the northern and western isles is being strengthened and extended, given the social and economic implications of not doing so.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We workedwith the DTI in the preparation of a report that was published earlier thisyear and which assessed the work required to upgrade the transmission systemgenerally to accept increasing amounts of renewables generation. The Executiveis also participating…

22 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its online application form for the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme is available in a text format that is universally accessible.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Suckler Cow Premium Schemeclaim form is published in PDF format on the Scottish Executive website. It canbe read or printed off by any operating system or Internet Browser using Adobe Acrobatsoftware.</p><p>The interactive version of theclaim form is avai…

19 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use disability discrimination legislation to improve access to housing options for disabled people.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Communities Scotland hasprovided funding to Ownership Options in Scotland to develop a DIY Personal Housing Planning andEvaluation Kit …

19 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the availability of suitable housing for disabled people.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34822 on 25 March 2003. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…

19 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Special Needs Capital Grant has been withdrawn and what plans there are to replace or reintroduce it.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her answer isgiven below.</p><p>The Special Needs CapitalGrant has been suspended pending discussions with the European Commission aboutits compatibility with state aid r…

26 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into light pollution and its effects.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned any research into light pollution.

26 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation to control light pollution.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has no plans to introduce legislation to control light pollution.<P>I refer the member to the answers given to questions S2W-1181 to S2W-1183 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the se…

26 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce unnecessary night lighting such as decorative flood lighting, shop lights, lighting on advertising boards and sports floodlighting.

Answer · Ross Finnie: One of the commitments in the partnership agreement is to reduce light pollution and save energy by specifying appropriate lighting standards. The Executive intends to develop and publish guidance on public lighting which will meet these aims.<P>Where the ins…

26 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to local authorities regarding the installation or replacement of street lights and reducing light pollution.

Answer · Ross Finnie: One of the commitments in the partnership agreement is to reduce light pollution and save energy by specifying appropriate lighting standards. The Executive intends to develop and publish guidance on public lighting which will meet these aims.

26 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on light pollution.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As set out in the partnership agreement, the Executive is committed to reduce light pollution and save energy by specifying appropriate lighting standards. The Executive intends to develop and publish guidance on public lighting which will meet these aims.

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the budget allocated by the Department of Trade and Industry to COI Communications to publicise and facilitate the United Kingdom's public debate on genetic modification is adequate to sample opinion in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-822 on 25 June 2003. 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.uk/weba…

20 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include a requirement for the level of each payment under the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme to be made public in the conditions of payment for the scheme in 2004-05.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive does not intend to include a condition along the lines indicated by the member to achieve the publication of individual payment details. Notwithstanding such a condition, the Executive is required by the Integrated Administration and Control Sys…

20 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what payments have been made under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme in 2003-04, broken down by local authority area

Answer · Ross Finnie: The following table shows the total amount of expenditure under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme 2003, as at 30 June 2003. The total is broken down by the council area of the main farm code of the claimant although a producer may hold land in more than o…

18 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a strategy for the dispersal of public sector jobs.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is committed to the dispersal of public sector jobs. When relocation is being considered, no parts of the country are targeted, nor are any ruled out. Each relocation review is viewed on its own merits and decisions are reached on a case-by-case…

18 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome has been of any discussions it has had with the Ministry of Defence regarding any objections it has to wind farm constructions in (a) the Highlands and Islands and (b) other areas in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials continue to have discussions with the Ministry of Defence about individual projects. We believe these discussions have been useful in facilitating the necessary dialogue between the developer and the Ministry of Defence.<P>In addition, we are repres…

13 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when, and where, local outreach meetings will take place in Scotland as part of the United Kingdom's public debate on genetic modification.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-822 on 25 June 2003. 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.uk/weba…