Questions · Liam McArthur

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a “public building” in complying with the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Public building means a building with a floor area of more than 1,000 square metres, which is occupied by public authorities and institutions providing public services, and which can be visited by the public. Guidance is also provided in Clause 6.9.3 of the S…

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether copies of energy performance certificates will be available from the Land Registry and what its position is on the matter.

Answer · Jim Mather: Copies of Energy Performance Certificates will not be available from Registers of Scotland, which is responsible for maintaining and administering the Land Register. The EU Directive that introduced Energy Performance Certificates does not require registratio…

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether information from the energy performance certificates for new buildings will be incorporated into the Home Energy Efficiency Database and what its position is on the matter.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Information from energy performance certificates for new buildings is placed on the building standards register maintained by local authorities. There are no plans at present to record this information on the Home Energy Efficiency Database.

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to raise public awareness about the requirement for an energy performance certificate at point of rental or sale of a property from January 2009.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Seminars are planned later this year for those involved in the sale/rental process and a range of guidance leaflets for different sectors is being developed at present.

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether farmers and crofters who have submitted statements of intent to make applications for funding under the Scottish Rural Development Programme in the last year, and received a red light response, are provided with (a) detailed reasons for such a response, (b) guidelines that they ca…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: All applicants (farmers, crofter, foresters, other land managers, rural businesses or rural community groups) who submit a Statement of Intent to the Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) wil…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers and crofters have submitted statements of intent to make applications for funding under the Scottish Rural Development Programme in the last year, broken down by SGRPID office area, and how many of the applications have so far received red light and amber light responses.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are not able to identify the number of applicants to the Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities element of the SRDP who are farmers or crofters. The scheme is also open to a range of other land managers, rural businesses and community groups. …

12 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofters submitted applications to the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme in 2006 before the deadline of 31 December 2006 without having in place the necessary economic status test documentation and, of this number, how many were (a) rejected because of the lack of such…

Answer · Michael Russell: This is an operational matter for the Crofters Commission, which administers the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme on behalf of Scottish ministers. I have asked the commission’s chief executive to write to you with the information you request.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the replacement Forth crossing to open.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Replacement Crossing is expected to open in 2016.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a contractor for the replacement Forth crossing to be appointed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current programme for the project anticipates that a contractor will be appointed in 2011.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the procurement competition for the replacement Forth crossing to occur.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current programme for the development of the project envisages a procurement competition in 2010 leading to the appointment of a constructor in 2011.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that there are equity profits to be made under non-profit distributing schemes.

Answer · John Swinney: A key feature in the non-profit distributing model is the lack of equity capital as it has a 100% debt funded structure. This means that the returns to the private sector are capped and that any surpluses generated are retained and used for the benefit of the…

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all “14 possible options for work to be carried out under the umbrella of the Scottish Futures Trust”, described by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 5 June 2008 in motion S3M-2057, are currently subject to further development.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust, which is to be set up this summer, will further develop the 14 delivery and funding concepts set out in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605).

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it discovered that patriotic bonds would not be a viable method of financing the replacement Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14013 on 18 June 2008. 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/webapp/w…

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it received on the use of patriotic bonds to fund the replacement Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers are still receiving various forms of advice regarding funding methods for the Forth replacement crossing.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out the procurement, timetable and financing plans for the replacement Forth crossing before autumn 2008.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Decisions on these matters will be made before the end of 2008.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still considering the use of the non-profit distribution model to finance the replacement Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently reviewing various funding options available for the Forth replacement crossing, including the use of the non-profit distribution model.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of the “14 possible options for work to be carried out under the umbrella of the Scottish Futures Trust”, described by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 5 June 2008 in motion S3M-2057, have been identified as suitable for financing the replacement Forth cro…

Answer · John Swinney: As members have been informed previously, the procurement and financing options for the Forth replacement crossing will be brought to the Parliament in 2008.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ruled out tolling on the replacement Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government gave a commitment in the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill on 20 December to end the unfairness that tolling of bridges brought particularly for the people of Fife, Tayside and the Lothians. The Scottish Government are…

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the benefits to consumers of the introduction of smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies and, if so, what the findings were.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is supportive of measures which help to reduce energy demand and we recognise that smart meters and real time displays could play a role. The UK Government is already undertaking a major UK-wide pilot to gain a good understanding of th…

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the timetable for rolling out smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies in Scotland and, if so, what the details were of such representations.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is supportive of measures which help to reduce energy demand and we recognise that smart meters and real time displays could play a role. We work closely with the UK Government in this policy area and are currently awaiting the results…

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations regarding the introduction of smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies and, if so, what the details were of such representations.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has received representations from several organisations on the issue of smart meters for domestic gas and electricity supplies including the Energy Retail Association, energy supply companies, Energy Action Scotland, local authorities …

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the provision of fast broadband connections for businesses and residents in remote and island areas in Scotland compared with that in Scandinavian countries and, if not, whether it will consider making such an assessment.

Answer · Jim Mather: No such assessment has been made and there are no current plans to undertake one. However, the Scottish Government continues to monitor the rollout of fast broadband speeds on a more general basis across all areas of Scotland as well as key developments elsew…

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the mobile phone coverage available in remote and island areas in Scotland compared with that in Scandinavian countries and, if not, whether it will consider making such an assessment.

Answer · Jim Mather: No such assessment has been carried out and the Scottish Government has no current plans to undertake one.

14 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management of patients with complicated problems at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.