- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what, the total installed capacity was for generating electricity, including pumped storage but excluding windpower, at the end of each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The information requested is not available. Data on the installed capacity of major power producers in Scotland is available for the years 1999 to 2007 from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform at the reference below (DUKES table 5_8):
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/source/electricity/page18527.html.
Data on the installed capacity of renewables in Scotland is available on the Scottish Government Environment Statistics website:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/Q/TID/18.
However the installed capacity of wind power alone for this period is not available.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which authority is responsible for ensuring that the secure future required electricity generating capacity for Scotland, including the planning margin, will be constructed.
Answer
Individual decisions regarding the location and type of generation activity are largely a matter for the private sector and the generators involved who respond to market signals and incentives within the regulation structure set down by UK legislation.
Within Scotland, energy generating stations above 50 megawatts (1 megawatt for water generating stations) must have the consent of Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. As set out in the Renewable Energy Framework published for consultation on 6 October 2008, we are working with the UK Government and OFGEM to put in place the appropriate incentive systems to promote energy security through a much greater proportion of renewable energy, together with cleaner generation from coal and gas.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive of the currently installed electricity generating capacity, what capacity is expected to be in place in (a) 2015 and (b) 2020.
Answer
While we are aware of a number of expected closures of large plants in Scotland over the next few decades, we do not hold precise information on the level of current capacity expected still to be in place at these dates, given the variety of sources of generation and in some instances the flexibility regarding operating life.
However, we are undertaking some research into future projections of electricity supply which we hope to publish shortly. These will make some assumptions about future levels of generating capacity.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on planning margin being allowed for in planning future required electricity generating capacity.
Answer
Individual decisions regarding the location and type of generation activity are largely a matter for the private sector and the generators involved who respond to market signals and incentives within the regulation structure set down by UK legislation. National Grid publishes a statement twice a year which assesses likely future level of demand and capacity in the short-term.
Within Scotland, energy generating stations above 50 megawatts (1 megawatt for water generating stations) must have the consent of Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. As set out in the Renewable Energy Framework published for consultation on 6 October 2008, we are working with the UK Government and OFGEM to put in place the appropriate incentive systems to promote energy security through a much greater proportion of renewable energy, together with cleaner generation from coal and gas.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 29 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the present estimate is of peak electricity demand in Scotland that is being planned for in (a) five and (b) 10 years’ time.
Answer
Predictions of future peak electricity demand are largely a matter for National Grid who operate the electricity transmission scheme across the UK. The Scottish Government are in regular contact with National Grid on a range of issues including discussions around future demand.
In addition, research is being undertaken by the Scottish Government on projections of possible future electricity demand in Scotland. It is hoped that this information will be published shortly.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 23 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of the fossil fuel levy attributable to Scotland and what plans it has for investing these funds in renewable energy.
Answer
The balance in the Fossil Fuel Levy Account for Scotland, held by Ofgem, stands currently at just over £120 million.
The Scottish Government continues to consider how best to make use of these funds in promoting a range of renewable energy technologies.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Pringle on 23 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will carry out a review of the performance and effectiveness of the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman’s office.
Answer
As part of the annual budget process, the SPCB scrutinises the ombudsman''s annual business plan and budget projections to enable it to see what targets and outcomes are envisaged. In addition, as recommended by the then Finance Committee, the ombudsman submits to the SPCB quarterly statistics on its performance. Currently these measures are considered to be appropriate.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when its study into North Sea oil will report.
Answer
The study commissioned by the First Minister to examine the setting up of an oil fund for Scotland will report in October 2008.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 20 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 10-month review of the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre pilot at Stracathro Hospital by PricewaterhouseCoopers has been completed; if so, whether the findings of the review will be published; if not, when it will be completed, and whether a draft report of the review will be made publicly available.
Answer
The 10 month interim evaluation of the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre pilot at Stracathro has been commissioned by NHS Tayside. The report is due to go to NHS Tayside Board meeting on 26 June 2008, which will be held in public session.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated value has been of Scotland’s GDP in each of the last five years.
Answer
At present, there are no official estimates of GDP at market prices for Scotland. However, it is possible to produce an approximate measure by calculating the difference between Gross Value Added and GDP for the UK and applying the ratio to the published Gross Value Added estimates for Scotland. This method has been used to produce the estimates in the following table:
Table 1: Approximate GDP at current market prices for Scotland (2002-06)
| Year | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| GDP at Market Prices (£ million)1 | 84,235 | 89,278 | 93,804 | 98,337 | 104,234 |
Source: Office for National Statistics and Scottish Government.
Note: 1. Market price GDP for Scotland is estimated based on the UK Gross Value Added to GDP ratio. Although, National Statistics outputs have been used in the production of these estimates, the estimates themselves are not.
