- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 9 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S3W-28285 and S3W-28645 by Stewart Stevenson on 12 and 16 November 2009 respectively, whether the estimated £91 million cost of preparatory work for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route includes (a) the estimated £51 million for relocation of the International School of Aberdeen to Pitfodels and (b) VAT.
Answer
Expenditure up to the end of October 2009, in relation to the relocation of the International School of Aberdeen, is included in the total cost of preparatory work of approximately £91 million undertaken up to the end of October 2009. This includes VAT paid up to the end of October 2009, in relation to the relocation of the International School of Aberdeen.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 9 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council has made to the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer
Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council will contribute 9.5% each to the cost of the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. The cost of the proposed Fastlink to Stonehaven and the maintenance of the entire scheme will be met by the Scottish Government.
To date, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council have each made a contribution of approximately £8.8 million towards scheme preparation costs.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 9 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been spent on purchasing (a) residential property, (b) agricultural land and (c) other land and property in preparation for the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer
To date, 15 residential properties have been purchased at a cost of £18.8 million (including compensation and professional fees). No agricultural land has been purchased to date. The International School of Aberdeen is the only other property that has been purchased to date. The estimated cost of the relocation of the International School of Aberdeen is £51 million (excluding VAT) at today''s prices.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it provides for the development of biomass-fired combined heat and power or district heating schemes.
Answer
Under the Scottish Government''s Biomass Heat Support Scheme, a total of £3.3 million is available to support small and medium-sized businesses in installing biomass boilers and distract heating systems. The scheme is particularly keen to encourage district heating projects. A recent round of the scheme saw over £1 million allocated to businesses across Scotland. Half of the projects awarded grants were for district heating.
A total of £6.6 million was provided under the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme which preceded the Heat Scheme, and supported a number of district heating systems. Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) of £8.1 million has been provided to Tullis Russell towards a CHP biomass plant, and £10 million to UPM, also for a CHP biomass plant.
Our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) also provides support to renewable district heating schemes and has already supported a number of projects, including Glenshellach Community District Heating Scheme in Oban.
The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the main support mechanism for renewable electricity projects in the UK. With the introduction of banding in April 2009, eligible Biomass CHP plant, now receive two Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for each megawatt hour of renewable electricity they provide to the grid.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications it has received for funding from the Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme.
Answer
The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) is managed on behalf of the Scottish Government by an independent company, Community Energy Scotland Limited. Over 300 applications have been dealt with since the launch of the scheme on 27 April 2009.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for an Energy Saving Scotland small business loan were received in each month since November 2008.
Answer
The following table illustrates the monthly breakdown of applications, number of approvals and the value of these, to the Energy Saving Scotland small business loans scheme since November 2008.
| Month | Number of Applications | Number of Approvals | Value of Approvals (£) |
| November 2008 | 7 | 3 | 93,690 |
| December 2008 | 9 | 5 | 64,506 |
| January 2009 | 12 | 1 | 12,815 |
| February 2009 | 1 | 5 | 151,657 |
| March 2009 | 10 | 5 | 143,927 |
| April 2009 | 7 | 3 | 157,863 |
| May 2009 | 8 | 3 | 106,889 |
| June 2009 | 9 | 10 | 340,164 |
| July 2009 | 17 | 3 | 56,426 |
| August 2009 | 9 | 10 | 472,476 |
| September 2009 | 8 | 2 | 47,695 |
| October 2009 | 12 | 10 | 277,628 |
| November 2009 (to 23 November) | 12 | 6 | 210,532 |
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was of approved Energy Saving Scotland small business loans for private sector landlords in each month since November 2008.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29121 on 1 December 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many private sector landlords have applied for an Energy Saving Scotland small business loan in each month since December 2008.
Answer
The following table illustrates the monthly breakdown of applications, number of approvals and the value of these, from private sector landlords since the Energy Saving Scotland small business loans scheme was re-launched to include this sector in December 2008.
| Month | Number of Applications | Number of Approvals | Value of Approvals (£) |
| December 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| March 2009 | 0 | 2 | 93,446 |
| April 2009 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| June 2009 | 0 | 1 | 6,830 |
| July 2009 | 0 | 1 | 11,625 |
| August 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2009 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| October 2009 | 0 | 1 | 2,210 |
| November 2009 (to 23 November) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
The Energy Saving Trust is in the process of developing material for a wider energy efficiency campaign aimed at private landlords. Material will be distributed in early 2010 to around 2,000 landlords via local authorities, and will include promotion of the loans scheme.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with take-up rates for Energy Saving Scotland small business loans among private sector landlords.
Answer
We are pleased that the Energy Saving Scotland small business scheme has offered over £110,000 in interest-free loans to private sector landlords, who were ineligible to apply for energy efficiency loans under the previous administration.
However, we would like more private landlords to recognise the benefits of the scheme and to take advantage of energy efficiency support schemes more generally. We have therefore asked the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to develop material for a wider marketing campaign aimed at private landlords.
Discussions have already taken place between EST and the Association of Registered Letting Agents, the Scottish Association of Landlords and the Scottish Rural Properties Business Association to ensure this campaign is effectively targeted. Material will be distributed in early 2010 to around 2,000 landlords via local authorities, and will include promotion of the loans scheme.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote Energy Saving Scotland small business loans to private sector landlords.
Answer
Through the Scottish Government''s support of the Energy Saving Scotland advice network, the Energy Saving Scotland small business loans scheme is promoted to the many private sector landlords who contact the network for advice on energy efficiency and other sustainable living issues.
More broadly, the scheme has been advertised in publications such as The Scotsman and Chartered Accountants Scotland magazine. A digital marketing campaign has also promoted the scheme to over 3,000 potential applicants, including private landlords.
