Chamber and committees

Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027, published on 27 June, sets out the policies and proposals that can deliver a 42% reduction in emissions by 2020. The Scottish Government will be implementing and developing these policies and proposals between now and 2020, and the draft budget 2014-15 outlines plans to boost investment in meeting our world-leading climate change targets.

The detailed information requested has been collated and a copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 55207).

No tender process has occurred for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service for2013-2016 as a contract extension for this period has been directly awarded.

The tender for the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, post 2016, is set to commence in Autumn 2014. As stated in answer to S4W-16819, we will involve action groups regarding other ferry services as and when appropriate. The level and type of involvement for such groups can be considered by Ministers on a case by case basis.

Under section 66 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the Scottish Government has a duty to report to Parliament on the operation and uptake of energy efficiency discount schemes.

The following table has been taken from Annex A in the first annual report, BIB number SG/2012/240, laid in SPICe on 23 November 2012.

Relief from Council Tax through Energy Efficiency Discount Schemes

Scotland – 2011-12

Further to the answer to S4W-16541, we will involve action groups regarding other ferry services as and when appropriate. The level and type of involvement for such groups can be considered by ministers on a case by case basis.

In her letter dated 1 July 2013, to the Gourock Dunoon Ferry Services Steering Group, the Deputy First Minister explained the steps that would be taken following the publication of the MVA feasibility report.

Transport Scotland will be engaging with potential operators, to gauge market interest in the route. A timetable for this to occur has yet to be finalised.

The Deputy First Minister indicated that the Gourock Dunoon Ferry Services Steering Group would be involved in this process in some way. Options for the level and type of involvement will be considered by Ministers before the start of the consultation/engagement process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08559 on 19 July 2012 which details the annual subsidy payable to Argyll Ferries in respect of the six-year public service obligation contract for the passenger-only service between Gourock and Dunoon.

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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

As set out in that reply, Argyll Ferries Limited were contracted to receive £1,215,330 in grant subsidy, in contract year 2012-13 (1 July 2012-30 June 2013). This figure does not include fuel costs.

The full level of subsidy given to Argyll Ferries Ltd for the contract year 2012-2013 has still to be finalised. Argyll Ferries Ltd’s published accounts for 2012-13 will detail the subsidy payments received during the financial year (1 April 2012-31 March 2013) and will be available, in due course by accessing the following link:

http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/reports/

The published accounts for 2012-13 will include the subsidy (i.e. operating grant), fuel grant, and any other associated costs, under the terms of their contract with the Scottish Ministers.

Given that the reason for any difference between the subsidy contracted for, and the subsidy received, in contract year 2012-13 cannot be confirmed at this time.

CalMac Ferries Limited and Argyll Ferries Limited regularly publish information on scheduled sailings, actual sailings and sailings cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, on a route by route basis on their own websites. These can be accessed by following the attached links:

http://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate-calmac/Route-Performance-Figures/

http://www.argyllferries.co.uk/news.htm

Scottish fishermen have already reduced discards significantly, through the Conservation Credits Scheme. Marine Scotland is building on this progress with further trials and studies to prepare for the smooth implementation of the landing obligation for each commercial fishing sector, including the onshore sector.

Marine Scotland had considerable interest from skippers wanting to participate in our fully documented fisheries landing obligation trials which are currently underway on both pelagic and demersal vessels. These aim to identify the impacts of the landing obligation, including the expected size and quantities of landings into port, and to develop effective monitoring of activity at sea. We are working with stakeholders to build on these trials in 2014. Scottish vessels have also been invited to participate in gear trials to increase the selectivity of fishing gears being used and we recently announced, as part of our prawn and white fish action plan, that we would invite vessels to trial a discard-free prawn fishery.

Our trials are currently focused in North-East Scotland. We will disseminate the learning from this activity to other ports in due course.

We regularly liaise with other parts of the UK on preparations for introducing a discard ban. There is a long tradition of discard reduction work in the other fisheries administrations, including selective gear development and operation of fully documented fisheries. We are not yet aware of other parts of the UK operating fresh trials in the wake of the recently agreed EU commitment to a discard ban.

The study sets out a wide-ranging analysis, drawing on a variety of information and stakeholder views. The Deputy First Minister has requested that Transport Scotland engage with potential operators to gauge market interest in the route, in the light of the findings of the study. Relying solely on information provided to MVA Consultancy by operators during the investigation stage of the feasibility study would not therefore fulfil the Minister’s requirement.