The working group established by the EC Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks to update the previous opinion on electromagnetic fields met first in September 2005. No advice has yet emerged.

We will consider any forthcoming findings of the scientific committee, and any related advice from the Health Protection Agency, who advise the Executive on radiation protection issues, in due course. I refer the member to my answer to question  S2W-21551 on 22 December 2005, which sets out our intention to begin a review of our planning guidance on radio telecommunications development in late 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Authoritative surveys of the levels of public exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone masts throughout the UK continue to show consistently that exposures are a small fraction of current guideline levels. There is no compelling evidence to suggest that exposures below current guidelines are harmful to the health of the general public.

The following information shows that five wind farm applications have been approved on appeal to the Scottish Ministers following refusal by local authorities.

File Reference	Date of Receipt	Development Site	Development Description	Decision Date
P/PPA/170/80	22-02-02	Carlesgill Hill, Langholm	Erection of 5 wind turbines	11-07-02
P/PPA/300/128	23-01-04	Hills of Towie, Drummuir, Keith	Erection of 21 wind turbines	11-04-05
P/PPA/110/456	01-04-04	East Mains of Dummuie, Drumblade, Huntly	Erection of 7 wind turbines	22-09-04
P/PPA/170/117	23-06-04	Carlesgill Hill, Langholm	Erection of 5 wind turbines	09-11-04
P/PPA/300/166	25-05-05	Balnamoon, Crossroads, Keith	Construction of a wind turbine.	06-10-05

Copies of the appeal decision on each case can be downloaded from the Inquiry Reporters Unit website at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/planning_appeals/seiru.

While we have not set targetsfor individual technologies, we are well aware of the tremendous opportunity presentedby marine renewables. We have placed on record our determination to make Scotland theglobal capital for the development and deployment of these technologies. Our overallrenewables target is to generate 40% of Scotland’s electricity from renewable sources, including waveand tidal power, by 2020.

The Highlands andIslands Development Programme is stimulating considerable interest in woodfuel supply.With funding from the Programme, work is already underway in five areas to developwoodfuel clusters and supply chains. The recent increase we announced to the ForestryCommission Scotland’s grant for short-rotation coppice, now up to £1,000 per hectarewill also help in this respect.

Grant offers are also being madeby Forestry Commission Scotland under the Bio-energy Infrastructure Scheme to helpdevelop the supply chain required to harvest, store, process and supply biomassto energy end users. Along similar lines, the commission is also now trialling afarm woodland energy scheme. Other sources of aid include Regional Selective Assistancewhich is delivered by the Executive, working closely with partners such as thelocal enterprise companies. In addition to financial support, information and adviceis available from the Woodfuel Information officers appointed by the commission.

As highlighted in the reportfrom the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland earlierthis year, there are a number of financial support mechanisms for biomass plantand bio-energy schemes. These include the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bio-EnergyCapital Grants Scheme, which will part-fund the planned new biomass electricityplant at Lockerbie. The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative,which is sponsored by the Scottish Executive and managed jointly by the Energy SavingsTrust and Highlands and Islands Enterprise has funded over 30 biomass related projectsto date. Also, the Highlands and Islands Woodfuel Development programme, funded bya partnership including Forestry Commission Scotland and Highlands andIslands Enterprise, can provide capital grants for boiler installation.

We remain committed to the provisionof support for biomass and we are currently considering ways in which we might supportand accelerate a range of renewables developments, including biomass heat and power.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19923 on 8 November 2005. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

There are three schemes whichprovide aid for growing crops as energy crops. Under CAP Reform, farmers can claimaid on industrial crops, including energy crops, grown under contract on set-asideland. Also under CAP Reform, a flat rate supplement of 45 Euros, or around £30,per hectare can be claimed for any crops, except sugar beet, grown under contractfor energy purposes on any land other than set-aside land. In addition, the ForestryCommission Scotland provides grant aid to farmers to establish short rotation coppice,willow or poplar as an energy crop under the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21424 on 23 December 2005. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We do not hold thisinformation centrally.