Chamber and committees

The statutory consultation on the Renewables Obligation (Scotland), which was published on 3 August, contains proposals for a significant expansion in Scotland's use of renewable energy; the consultation material is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. We are confident that our policies to exploit Scotland's very considerable potential for renewable energy, coupled with the new markets for renewable energy equipment that these policies are creating, will energise Scottish electricity suppliers to deliver the additional renewable energy required to meet our objectives.

The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that the Scottish Water Authorities meet statutory requirements. The authorities have achieved a very high level of compliance, and where problems remain, urgent action is being taken to address them.

Achieving compliance is an ongoing process. The water quality and standards process put in place by the Executive, in consultation with the Water Industry Commissioner, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Scottish water authorities, outlines the environment and drinking water standards (including UK and EU statutory requirements) the water authorities must meet and estimates the investment required to meet them.

"Water Quality and Standards, Investment Requirements for Scotland's Water Authorities 2000-2002" (Q & S 1) is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre Bib number 8483.

A copy of the consultation paper on Water Quality and Standards 2002-2006 is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre Bib number 14923. A copy of "Water Quality and Standards, Investment Requirements for Scotland's Water Authorities 2002-2006" (Q & S 2) will also be available shortly in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Table 10.6 of the Annual Expenditure Report shows the overall provision made for flood prevention and coast protection grants to local authorities over the period 2001­04. Distribution of these funds is dependent on which schemes local authorities decide to take forward and on the associated grant claims made. To date in the current year grants (5 payments in total) have been paid to Perth and Kinross Council for the Bridge of Earn Flood Prevention Scheme (£126,000), to Renfrewshire Council for the Moredun Flood Prevention Scheme (£49,000) and to Aberdeenshire Council for the Stonehaven Coast Protection Scheme (£12,000). We do not have the necessary information from local authorities to enable us to provide a breakdown for the balance of this year or future years.

The target of 95% is being achieved. For year 2000-01 and to date in this financial year the Executive has confirmed/approved all flood prevention and coast protection schemes within 3 months of information being available.

No Water Treatment Works have been built using PPP and PFI.

9 contracts have been signed for Waste Water Treatment Works which have been or are being constructed using PFI/PPP.

Licensed electricity suppliers who are unable, or who fail, to meet the targets imposed under the forthcoming Renewables Obligation (Scotland) will be required to pay a buy-out charge on every unit of shortfall during each period of the Obligation.Full details of our proposals for the paying and recycling of buy-out charges are contained in the current statutory consultation on the Renewables Obligation (Scotland); the relevant material is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Table 10.6 of the Annual Expenditure Report shows the overall provision made for flood prevention and coast protection grants to local authorities, taking account of their needs, over the period 2001-2004.We are, in general, aware of the likely funding needs of local authorities for flood prevention and coast protection works. However, it is only when authorities take schemes forward on a formal basis and make grant applications, that the Executive is able to consider funding requests. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide a definitive breakdown of the individual needs of authorities for future years.

The target of 95% is being achieved. For year 2000-01 and to date in this financial year the Executive has made all grant offers for flood prevention and coast protection schemes within 6 weeks of the relevant information being available.

The Scottish Executive has allocated £50.4m over 3 years (£4.2m in 2001-02, £16m and £30.2m) to the Strategic Waste Fund for local authorities to begin to implement the National Waste Strategy. The funds are available for authorities to implement their part of the Area Waste Plans (AWP) which are currently being prepared. No specific allocation of funds has been made yet in support of any specific AWP. To date, no applications for funding have been received from local authorities as the Area Waste Plans are not yet complete, although an initial £3m was distributed between all authorities in 2000-01 to assist with recycling and composting projects.

Additional grant-in-aid, totalling some £16.5 million over the 3-year period 2001-02 to 2003-04, has been announced for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The extra grant-in-aid takes account of the increased responsibilities and duties that will fall to SEPA in implementing European and domestic legislation and in fulfilling the Executive's Programme for Government commitments. This includes the implementation of Scotland's National Waste Strategy. No ring-fenced funding has been allocated for this, or any other, specific initiative.