- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what contacts ministers have had with BP between 16 May and 14 August 2007 (a) by telephone and (b) in face-to-face meetings, giving the dates of such contacts.
Answer
I met with representativesof BP on the 25 June 2007 as part of a seminar I led on energy policy.
The First Ministermet with a representative of BP, among other companies, on 18 July 2007 to discuss carbon capture opportunities for Scotland and has had a number of telephone conversations on thissubject but dates and details are not recorded.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any equivalent duty on Scottish local authorities to that which the Childcare Act 2006 will place on local authorities in England to secure sufficient childcare to enable parents to work or undertake education and training leading to work and, if not, what plans it has to ensure that parents in Scotland who wish to work or study will have the same access to childcare as parents in England.
Answer
There is no statutoryduty on Scottish local authorities to provide child care for parents wishing toenter employment, training or education. Under the existing Childcare Strategy,the responsibility for ensuring that there is sufficient childcare in the area forthose parents who require it falls to local authorities, in conjunction with thelocal child care partnership. The annual Pre-School and Childcare Census providesnational data on child care provision.
There are no plansat present to make this a statutory duty in Scotland. The Scottish Government has a number of concerns about proposed welfarereforms set out in the recent green paper and has made representations to the UKGovernment on this matter.
The Scottish Governmentcurrently provides a range of supports for child care. The Grant Aided Expenditure(GAE) assessment for the Childcare Strategy amounts to over £44 million for 2007-08.In addition, the Working for Families initiative helps build up local childcareprovision. Funding of £15 million for this initiative has been allocated to a selectionof authorities for the period 2007-08. The fund aims to break down the barriersfaced by vulnerable parents entering or sustaining employment, education or training.As well as supporting parents through advice, guidance and training, the fund hashelped increase child care provision, including through the creation of sitter servicesand the development of the childminding sector.
Early years policyin general is currently under review as part of the development of a new early yearsstrategy.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address skills gaps in key industries.
Answer
The ScottishGovernment published its skills strategy on Monday 10 September and I wouldrefer the member to that publication, understanding current and projecteddemand for skills to prepare for further skills needs is one of the keyobjectives.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers intend to consult on proposals to introduce a planning presumption requiring new buildings in Scotland to include sufficient renewable generation on-site to deliver between 20% and 50% of energy needs, as set out in the 2007 SNP manifesto and, if so, when that consultation will be completed.
Answer
The Executive iscommitted to increasing thelevels of renewable energy generation as it has the potential to provide asustainable source of low carbon energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissionsfrom buildings. It will be part of a coherent approach to energy policy,recognising that promoting reduced energy consumption and promoting low carbontechnologies are key to achieving sustainable economic growth. I have started adialogue with key stakeholders and this will continue so as to ensure a clearand shared strategy and achievement of objectives.
Scottish PlanningPolicy (SPP) 6 Renewable Energy already sets a target that all future planningapplications proposing development with a total cumulative floorspace of 500sqmetres or more should incorporate on-site zero and low carbon equipmentcontributing at least an extra 15% reduction in CO2 emissions beyondthe 2007 building regulations CO2 emissions standard. It also saysthat planning authorities should consider whether local circumstances justifygoing beyond 15% and whether higher standards can be secured for particulardevelopments. We intend to issue planning advice on implementing the policy inthe autumn.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 6 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to roll out micro-renewables to government buildings and hospitals.
Answer
The ScottishExecutive is currently working in partnership with the Carbon Trust through itsCarbon Management Programme to establish the feasibility of installingmicro-renewables at selected buildings on its core estate. Initial surveys havebeen completed for a number of buildings, including Saughton House in Edinburgh, Cameron House in Oban and Strathearn House in Perth. These have highlighted a number of opportunitiesthat are to be investigated further.
The ScottishExecutive does not currently have a specific plan to roll out micro-renewablesin hospitals as energy procurement is devolved to NHS boards. However, the Scottish Executive Health Directorates Environmental Management Policy forNHSScotland advises NHS boards that combined heat and power and renewabletechnologies should be considered in new build and refurbishment projects,where feasible and, that in general, energy should be procured from renewablesources, where practicable and feasible.
This policydocument is available at
http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/hdl2006_21.pdf.NHSScotland bodiesare already investigating the use of microrenewables and other energy savinginitiatives. Some of this work is being carried out through the Carbon Trust’s“Partnerships for Renewables” initiative which assists the public sector todevelop on-site renewables projects. For example, NHS Ayrshire and Arran hasutilised this to facilitate the installation of a wind generation facility atCrosshouse Hospital.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 6 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the generating capacity was of onshore wind power projects awaiting consent or a decision of any other kind by ministers on 14 August 2007.
Answer
On 14 August 2007, applications with a potential generating capacity of4.787giga watts of onshore wind capacity were being processed for determinationin due course by Scottish ministers.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 6 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive which energy consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been (a) agreed and (b) rejected by ministers since 16 May 2007.
Answer
Since 16 May 2007, both the Decarbonised Fuels project at Peterhead PowerStation and Inverlael hydro scheme have been approved by Scottish ministers (14June and 4 July respectively). Scottish ministers refused an application forthe Corlick Hill/Devol Moor wind farm near Greenock on 23 July 2007.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to removing any planning obstacles that stand in the way of micro-generation and, if so, how and when it will do so.
Answer
The government intendsto consult in the autumn on extending permitted development rights to micro-renewableequipment.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that every new building meets the highest standards and has an element for renewable energy and, if so, how it will do so and how much it estimates that including an element of renewable energy will add to the cost of each new home.
Answer
I have asked Dr PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) to answer.His response is as follows:
Revised energy standardswere introduced on 1 May 2007 for all new buildings and also existing buildingswhich are converted, extended or altered. These measures are the best in the UK and encourage developers to consider the use of low andzero carbon technologies.
An expert panel isbeing established which will meet this September. Revisions to the energy standardsin Scottish building regulations will be kick-started by this meeting and issuessuch as mandatory low and zero carbon technologies and Scandinavian energy standardswill be on the agenda.
Research is underwayto assess the impact on new buildings of various scenarios for reducing emissionsof carbon dioxide which will include costings for the installation of low and zerocarbon technologies, including micro-renewables. Cost information on each technologyis available, but it is not possible to give a typical additional cost for a newhome due to the variety of house-types and site layouts of new homes and the technologyselected. Equally it is difficult to make a general statement about the energy generatedby particular technologies due to differences between buildings and sites.
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to complete the dualling of the A1 as far as the border between Scotland and England.
Answer
Future transport investmentpriorities on the motorway and trunk road network will be considered by the multi-modalStrategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is undertaking an objective, evidencebased, review of the existing performance and future requirements of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport networks. The A1 provides one of the cross-border linksin the Edinburgh to North East of England transport corridor and the Review willprovide an opportunity to consider how journey times can be improved and safetyenhanced along this route.
