Liam McArthur

23 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20740 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 March 2009 and given the imminent cessation of the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative programme, how it will monitor demand for the scheme in light of the proposed changes to permitted development…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22259 on 9April 2009. Support offered through the Scottish Community and Householder Renewable Initiative (SCHRI) will not cease, but will run under two distinct programmes from April 2009.</p> <p …

16 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19776 by Richard Lochhead on 28 January 2009, what steps it has taken since 28 January 2009 to ensure that the next round of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payments and single farm payments can both be made in 2009.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In my answer to question S3W-19776, and in previous correspondence with the Member, I said that officials were already looking carefully at the payment positions for the 2009 Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS), and the 2009 Single Farm Payment Scheme (…

16 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Countryside Rangers’ Association.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The then Minister for Environment, Michael Russell MSP, met with the Scottish Countryside Rangers'' Association on Monday 10 November 2008.</p>

16 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities employ fewer countryside rangers than they did two years ago.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21999 on 25 March 2009. 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/Apps2/…

16 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many countryside ranger posts there are.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not collect comprehensive information on the number of countryside ranger posts in Scotland.</p>

16 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many countryside ranger posts there were in May 2007.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21999 on 25 March 2009. 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.scottish.parliament…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will task Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise with preparing a detailed supply chain analysis for, and in close collaboration with, the marine renewables industry.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government and the marine renewables industry are working closely with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to consider how we collectively take forward a detailed supply chain analysis of marine renewables in the very near fu…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the marine renewables industry about the need for a detailed supply chain analysis.

Answer · Jim Mather: The need for a detailed supply chain analysis has been raised by the marine renewables industry within the FREDS (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland) Marine Energy Group (MEG). As a short-term action from MEG, the Scottish Government and the m…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prepare a detailed supply chain analysis for the marine renewables industry.

Answer · Jim Mather: The need for a detailed supply chain analysis has been raised by the marine renewables industry within the FREDS (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland) Marine Energy Group (MEG). The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Isl…

5 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Orkney Islands Council to discuss funding for council services.

Answer · John Swinney: <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0305-01.htm">http://www.scot…

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will accede to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s request for a joint legal opinion to be given by the Scottish and UK law officers on the legality of the Scottish Executive’s proposals on fishing quotas and licences.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not disclose either that Law Officers'' advice has been sought or what that advice was. As a result of the devolution settlement and the fact that Scotland now has a devolved administration, it would be highly unusual for the Scot…

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the legality of its proposals on fishing quotas and licences with Her Majesty’s Government; whether a joint position was agreed, and, if so, what that joint position is.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not discuss legal issues publicly. The Westminster Government is familiar with the proposals and the consultation that we are undertaking.</p>

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has obtained on the legality of its proposals on fishing quotas and licences and whether it will make that advice public.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not discuss legal advice publicly. We are confident what is proposed is within devolved competence of Scottish ministers.</p>

25 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to Her Majesty’s Government or to utility companies to ensure that schemes for the provision of free home insulation are available to households across the whole of Scotland and, where schemes offer free insulation, that households in areas with higher …

Answer · Alex Neil: We have raised the issue of the availability in Scotland of Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) funded home insulation, both free and subsidised with the UK Government on a number of occasions during the development of the CERT programme.</p> <p >The UK…

25 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the home insulation grants that it makes available to households, either directly or through third parties, outlining (a) what is available in each case, (b) any restrictions on who can apply and (c) whether any cap on the maximum value of the grant offered varies…

Answer · Alex Neil: The main vehicle for home insulation measures is through the UK Government''s Carbon Emission Reduction Target. This places an obligation on the Energy Supply companies to meet a carbon reduction target through a range of free and subsidised energy efficiency…

25 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken, is undertaking, or plans to undertake a survey into the variation across Scotland of the cost of installing home insulation and whether it will outline the results of any survey undertaken.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not undertaken, nor does it currently plan to undertake any survey into the variation across Scotland of the cost of installing home insulation.</p> <p >We are however aware through the development of our fuel poverty programmes, …

25 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken, is undertaking, or plans to undertake a survey into the availability across Scotland of schemes for the provision of free home insulation and whether it will outline the results of any such survey undertaken.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not undertaken, nor does it currently plan to undertake any survey into the availability of free home insulation schemes across Scotland.</p> <p >We are however aware through the development of our fuel poverty programmes, and th…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20102 by Shona Robison on 4 February 2009, whether it considers there to be a contradiction between the statement that there is no intention to withdraw existing direct payments in Orkney and the number of recipients of direct payments in Orkney betw…

Answer · Shona Robison: The decline in numbers of direct payments recipients in Orkney between financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 equates to a drop in service user numbers of 15. Orkney Council have explained the drop citing a number of reasons, including four deaths, changes in le…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20102 by Shona Robison on 4 February 2009, whether it will review the funding arrangements for Orkney Islands Council to enable its waiting list of direct payment applications to be eased and whether it will consider granting transitional funding in …

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding for self-directed support, is provided by mean…

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its carbon emissions reduction target strategy will be published.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish CERT (<em>Carbon Emissions Reduction Target)</em> Strategy, which sets out how we are working with the energy suppliers to achieve a fair share of CERT activity in Scotland, will be published in the spring of 2009.</p>

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for grants there have been under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative in 2008-09 and for what technologies the applications were made.

Answer · Jim Mather: There have been 1,204 applications for grants under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative in 2008-09. These applications are listed by category in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td va…

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what technologies were supported by each grant awarded under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative in each year since its introduction.

Answer · Jim Mather: The number of grants awarded for each technology supported under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative, and broken down by year, are listed in the following tables:</p> <p >Household Stream</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpaddi…

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative is expected to provide under the 2008-09 budget.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government expects to provide around 1,200 grants under the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative under the 2008-09 budget.</p>

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of CO2 are likely to be reduced through the introduction of the proposed permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration equipment.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The potential reduction has not been calculated. The figure would depend on numerous factors, including the type and models of technologies people choose to install; their efficiencies relative to their location and actual use, and the CO₂ emission…

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the carbon-reducing impact will be of the introduction of the proposed permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration equipment.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The carbon-reducing impact will be from the increased up-take of renewable and low carbon sources of heat and electricity leading to carbon savings being made.</p> <p >I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20747 on 2 March 2009. All answers t…

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with local authorities and representatives of local planning officers on the interpretation and implementation of the proposed permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration equipment.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Local authorities and representatives of local planning officers were able to respond to the consultation paper relating to permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration. Nineteen responses were received from planning and national park authorities…

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the likely impact will be of the proposed permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration equipment on reducing any burden on local planning authorities.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Order will reduce the number of planning applications that require to be determined by planning authorities. The Regulatory Impact Assessment, accompanying the proposed Order, estimates the number of these as follows:  (Table in para 5.19)</p> <table bo…

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households are projected to benefit from the introduction of the proposed permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration equipment.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Regulatory Impact Assessment provides estimates of the potential microgeneration uptake, copied below (Fig 6). The figures are based on the most recently available information prior to publication, however, they do not take account of specific locational …

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be established to evaluate the success of a permitted development rights scheme for domestic microgeneration equipment.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Information for evaluating the success of the PD Order for domestic micro-generation will come through the feedback which the Directorate for the Built Environment receives from stakeholders, including practitioners, industry representatives and professional …

9 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the introduction of the proposed permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration equipment is likely to have on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Regulatory Impact Assessment, accompanying the proposed Order, indicates that the microgeneration industry is characterised by small scale firms. The removal of the requirement to obtain planning permission aims to promote micro-generation technologies an…