Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government's Regeneration Strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future, sets out our strategic approach to regeneration for all disadvantaged communities across Scotland. Local authorities have responsibility for delivering local regeneration and they, and the community planning partnerships, are best placed to identify the priorities and issues in their communities.

We are continuing to fund the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) in 2012-13 to 2013-14 to become a self-sustaining organisation so that it can continue to support former coalfield communities. Also, we will continue to work with the CRT to look at funding opportunities including through our people and communities fund.

In addition, we have given priority status to former coalfield areas in our community ownership support service which is delivered through the development trusts association Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Whilst the Coalfield Regeneration Trust provides an annual report detailing the projects that they fund, this does not include whether the project is related to a derelict site.

(a) Our records management policy requires that our payment files are destroyed after three years and as such we do not have a record of the spend in 2003-04. The following are the payments recorded on our payment system for the years 2004-05 to 2011-12:

(b) We have agreed to provide the following funding to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust from 2012-13 to 2014-15:

Note: *We have also agreed to fund a feasibility study into the acquisition of a new property.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has not been asked to provide information to this level. Figures used in their annual reports are provided for the 13 local authority areas that include coalfield areas.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) is no longer funded to provide grant awards. We currently provide funding for the CRT to provide the following programmes: Coalfields capacity building programme; Coalfields community futures; and Coalfields community challenge.

It is for the CRT to determine which communities will benefit from these programmes next year. Any former coalfield communities that require support should contact the CRT if they feel they would benefit from one of their programmes.

We are continuing to fund the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in 2012-13 and 2013-14 to become a self-sustaining organisation so that it can continue to support coalfield communities. In addition, we have given priority status to former coalfield areas in our community ownership support service which is delivered through the development trusts association Scotland.

The Scottish Government's people and communities fund, along with funding through BIG Lottery and other organisations, will continue to support disadvantaged communities and coalfield communities will have the opportunity to access these funds. Support is also available through local authorities and community planning partnerships that have responsibility for regeneration in their areas.

The Scottish Government's Regeneration Strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future, sets out our strategic approach to regeneration of all disadvantaged communities across Scotland and we will monitor progress and priorities through our work on implementing the Strategy.

Local authorities have responsibility for delivering local regeneration and they, and the community planning partnerships, are best placed to identify the priorities and issues in their communities.

Local authorities have responsibility for delivering local regeneration and they, and the community planning partnerships, are best placed to identify the priorities and issues in their communities. They also have a key role in identifying suitable local funding for regeneration.

In the main, the Scottish Government’s funding is not place specific and all organisations who meet the eligibility criteria can apply. We have a number of different funding streams, many of which will be available to former coalfield areas.

In addition to the specific support for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust which amounts to £510,070 in 2012-13 and £422,977 in 2013-14 (this has been indicatively agreed assuming appropriate progress is made this year), there is at least £6 million per year available to support community anchor organisations through the People and Community Fund. We also provide £300,000 each year to support the Community Ownership Support Service, delivered through the Development Trusts Association Scotland, and through which coalfield communities have been given priority status.

Plans for a Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, worth £25 million, are being developed in partnership with COSLA. The aim is for this to be available from 2014-15.

There are also a number of other funds available through organisations like the BIG Lottery that play an important role in helping support communities.

However, the solutions required to tackle regeneration must deliver across a wide range of economic, physical and social outcomes and will involve utilising available resources from across mainstream budgets including housing, health, justice and education.

In 2001, the feed ban was tightened by EU legislation preventing fishmeal use in ruminant animal feed. However, it was still allowed to be used in animal feed for non-ruminants under certain conditions. The feed ban is viewed as a key control in preventing new cases of BSE in cattle. Under the feed ban, it is illegal to feed potentially infectious material to ruminant animals.

26 November 2012

(S4W-11093)

Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government works with a wide range of partners to deliver the protection of woodlands and wildlife, and enables land managers to deliver environmental improvements through measures in the Scotland Rural Development Programme. We also maintain the law to ensure protection of the natural environment through the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.

Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) promotes the sustainable management of woodlands in Fife, in accordance with the Scottish Forestry Strategy. FCS has recently worked closely with Fife Council, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and other partners in developing the Council’s FIFE Forestry & Woodland Strategy 2012-17, which is currently in final draft form. This strategy aims to maximise the potential benefits of forests and woodlands in Fife. As part of its Woods for Nature biodiversity programme FCS aims to halt the loss of biodiversity in Fife through targeted action for specific species (such as the red squirrel) and habitats, and through broader action at a landscape scale. FCS has also been engaged in a range of other partnership projects in Fife, including the control of invasive non-native plants (such as rhododendron) and work aimed at achieving good ecological status of watercourses.

SNH is working to improve the condition of designated sites in Fife, and chairs the Fife Local Biodiversity Action Partnership (LBAP). SNH is a partner in the Sea Eagle Release programme in north east Fife, which helps meet international obligations. The Fife LBAP is working with NHS Fife on a long term project to enhance the grounds of nine hospitals for biodiversity and for the well-being of patients, visitors and staff.