Chamber and committees

The development of a new ferry service between Lagg on Jura and Keilmore on the mainland is a matter for Argyll and Bute Council to consider as planning authority. As Scottish ministers may become involved in any future planning application it would not be appropriate to offer any comments on the merits of the proposal.

The Scottish Government has made clear our view that the current system of processing grid connection offers needs to change. While responsibility for connections to the transmission network is a matter primarily for the UK government, we are in continuous discussions with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, National Grid and others to ensure that the connection system does not involve unnecessary delays for viable projects. This includes participation in the current review of grid access arrangements.

Local load and efficiency will be important factors for the grid owners and operators to consider when considering and making connection offers. However, our view is that the connection process needs to give greater weight than at present to factors such as the relevant planning consents being in place and the financial viability of the applicant and their project.

The Scottish Government has allocated funding to assist over 1,500 households into home ownership through the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) during 2008-09. The actual number of households helped will depend upon demand and progress in taking forward new build projects.

The Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have appointed MVA Consultancy to undertake a STAG Appraisal of the route. The STAG Appraisal will consider all of the options available for delivering a ferry service on this route, and will allow us to examine the economic viability of the route. MVA Consultancy is making good progress with this work, and is on target to deliver the appraisal by summer 2008.

Following completion of the STAG appraisal, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland ministers will reach a decision about a future tender for a subsidised ferry service on this route. The Scottish Government has put funding in place to allow the service to start in 2009.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13547 on 9 June 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

A review of eye care services in Scotland has been published to ensure patients receive a good quality and efficient service, in a convenient setting without undue wait. The final report of the review was launched in the Parliament on 14 December 2006 and funding of £2.6 million was made available to support the development of eye care services in Scotland.

A central component was the new eye examination introduced from 1 April 2006 which provides a comprehensive examination of the eye tailored to a patient’s needs. The new eye examination also allows for the management of a wide range of common conditions in the community.

NHS boards are expected to manage costs for the treatment of particular conditions from their overall NHS board funding allocation. Information about individual treatment costs is not held centrally.

In considering future support for crofting, the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting recommended that support for bull hire should only be considered where market failure exists. The previous ram purchase schemes closed in 2004 and we have no plans to introduce a tup hire scheme.

The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS Boards. The decisions of clinicians in relation to the care of individual conditions are a matter of professional judgement.

A review of eye care services in Scotland has been published to encourage the development of integrated eye care services to ensure patients receive a good quality and efficient service, in a convenient setting without undue wait. One of the benefits of the review is a re-defined eye examination which allows for the management of a wide range of common conditions in the community.

The final report of the review was launched in the Parliament on 14 December 2006. Funding of £2.6 million was made available to support the development of eye care services in Scotland.

There is no straightforward definition of a sustainable community. Scottish Planning Policy 1 – The Planning System (SPP 1) states that planning should encourage sustainable development by:

· promoting regeneration and the full and appropriate use of land, buildings and infrastructure;

· promoting the use of previously developed land and minimising greenfield development;

· conserving important historic and cultural assets;

· protecting and enhancing areas for recreation and natural heritage;

· supporting better access by foot, cycle and public transport, as well as by car;

· encouraging energy efficiency through the layout and design of development;

· considering the lifecycle of development from the outset, and

· encouraging prudent use of natural resources.

The Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative is being taken forward currently and a framework document inviting local authorities and their partners to submit proposals for new sustainable communities will be published in the next few weeks.