Although the aesthetic valueof wind farms is subjective, visual impact is a material consideration when newdevelopments are being considered. Research into wind farms by VisitScotlandindicates that their impact on tourism is generally felt to be minimal; themajority of those who took part in the research were of the view that windfarms will have few negative impacts on tourism. There is also some evidencethat certain wind farms may attract additional visitors who are interested inthe development of a "green" Scotland, as has been the experience in other Europeancountries.

Wardens will not be givenpolice powers to fulfil their functions and will have no powers of arrest ordetention. Local authorities are already able to give their employees powers toissue fixed penalty notices for activities such as littering, and it will befor each authority to decide whether it is appropriate for these powers to begiven to their community wardens.

The Executive is workingwith UK colleagues to put in place an Energy Crops Infrastructure Support grantscheme. The aim is to provide support to generating plants that utilise energycrops and forestry residue as the fuel sources. State aids approval is beingsought and it is hoped that the scheme can be brought into operation shortly.£3.5 million will be available in the period to 2005.

Biomass projects based in Scotlandhave benefited from the DTI sponsored UK capital grant scheme for biomass technologies.

Grant assistance is alsoavailable for growing short rotation coppice (SRC) under both theWoodland Grant Scheme (WGS) and the new Scottish Forestry GrantsScheme (SFGS). Both schemes are managed by the Forestry Commission.

The forum for renewable energydevelopment in Scotland will be tasked at its January meeting with producingan action plan for the development of a viable biomass industry in Scotland.

The research and development budget for renewableenergy is administered by the Department of Trade and Industry under their Newand Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) which has an annual baseline budget of£19 million. Since 1999, the programme has committed in excess of £15 millionto research and development in this area. Additional support of £5 million willbe provided through a capital grants scheme in 2004-05, subject to a review ofprogress and state aids approval, together with a further £2 million ring fencedfor wave and tidal technologies under the NREP in financial year 2004-05.

The Scottish Executive is providing £2.125 million towards the capital cost of the European MarineEnergy Test Centre off Orkney, currently under construction and due to open shortly.The centre will be a major facility for testing marine energy devices. We willalso be providing, through Scottish Enterprise, £150 million over 10 years tothe new Energy Intermediary Technology Institute which will significantly improvethe opportunities to bring new renewable energy technologies to market.

The Scottish Executive, in partnership with Renewables UK, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands andIslands Enterprise, has commissioned a study of the current status of the UKrenewables industry and its future potential. The study, which will bepublished around the end of the year, will provide information on employmentopportunities in the renewables industry, including the wind sector.

The level of community benefit is a matter between individual developers and communities and ministershave no powers to intervene. However, we are keen to work with representativesof interested parties to see if best practice guidelines can be prepared on thematter of community benefit generally.

These monies are generallypaid into community trust funds, the use of which are a matter for thecommunity concerned.

The regulation of theelectricity network is a reserved matter and network upgrades, includingundersea cables to connect the Northern Isles to the mainland electricitynetwork, are a matter for the network owners in conjunction with the regulator,Ofgem.

The planned introduction of the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA) willallow for the costs of the new transmission capability which will be necessaryto support the development of renewable energy to be borne by electricity usersacross Great Britain.

Our policies have alreadyattracted significant manufacturing investment to Scotland.For example, Vestas-Celtic in Kintyre has provided 186 jobs for a returningworkforce, and the rejuvenation of the Arnish yard in Lewis by CambrianEngineering which has resulted in the creation of over 60 jobs. We willcontinue to work through the enterprise networks and use the outcomes of thestudy into the future potential of the industry to promote further investmentopportunities.

Decisions on the future ofexisting stations are for the plant owners. The overall pattern of electricityproduction and consumption in 2010 including the proportion of non-renewableenergy used will depend on a number of factors, including variations in fuelprices, energy efficiency, and the level of commitment by generators torefurbish or to build thermal plant.