Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-18220

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15362 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 August 2008, when it will launch its consultation on improving the energy performance of existing domestic buildings.

Question reference: S3W-18424

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the precautionary principle should be applied by local authorities to planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

The contents of these documents are material considerations to be taken into account by the planning authority in the determination of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

PAN45 Annex highlights that certain wood fuel boiler systems have been approved for use in areas covered by Smokeless Zone Regulations and indicates that a list of such technologies is available at:

www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk.

Question reference: S3W-18423

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is available to assist local authority planners and environmental health officers in the assessment of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

These documents provide information and guidance to planning authorities on the technology, including fuel types and processes, and the planning issues to be taken into account when considering planning applications.

Guidance and screening tools to help local authorities assess the potential air quality impacts of such planning applications will be included in the revised guidance issued to authorities to assist them in undertaking their local air quality management duties under the 1995 Environment Act. This guidance is due to be published by the end of 2008.

Question reference: S3W-18538

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, what action it proposes to alleviate the pressure on human and financial resources experienced by community centres and similar community services.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Question reference: S3W-18539

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, whether it is aware of the pressure experienced by those delivering frontline services in the voluntary and statutory sector.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Question reference: S3W-18407

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards it envisages will be inserted into the leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate to safeguard biodiversity, access, leisure and recreation.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The consultation exercise and options review will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland''s deliberations on the range and nature of the safeguards to be included in any leases.

Question reference: S3W-18409

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the transfer of Forestry Commission assets and land in perpetuity to a not-for-profit trust is an option being considered by the Scottish Government, as set out on page six of the paper Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill.

Question reference: S3W-18419

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the impact of the current economic downturn has been factored into the financial assumptions behind the proposals for the leasing out of at least 25% of the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The impact of the current economic downturn is one of the many factors that will influence our decision on the leasing option.

Question reference: S3W-18403

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies it is envisaged will be involved in bidding for leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The bidding process for any management lease would be subject to public procurement rules. It is not possible to predict the number of potential bidders at this stage.

Question reference: S3W-18416

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of income is predicted to be raised through the proposal that management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest be leased out.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM. The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The income raised from a lease would depend upon a range of factors including the area that it covered and its terms. There may be good arguments for a lease of up to about 25% of the national forest estate, we have taken no decisions on this. The consultation exercise and options review will help inform deliberations on this issue.

Chamber and committees