- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 22 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers high-efficiency condensing boilers to be a more cost-effective or energy-efficient way of running central heating systems; whether it plans to introduce measures to require condensing boilers in all new heating system installations, and, if so, what the timescales are for introducing such a requirement.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
When compared with the level of efficiency for regular boilers required under the current Scottish building regulations, installation of condensing boilers as direct replacements can be difficult to justify in terms of cost-effectiveness or energy-efficiency alone.
Condensing boilers, however, can make significant savings in terms of reducing CO2 emissions and consequently consideration is being given to introducing them into Scottish building regulations as a part of the current review. They would not be made mandatory in all new heating systems as this would disadvantage other emerging energy-efficient technology such as heat-pumps, but could be one way of meeting the energy standard for heating systems. This review will be out to public consultation in early 2006 with subsequent changes being brought into effect in spring 2007.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 22 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-condensing boilers it has had installed in homes under the central heating programme, administered for it by the Eaga Partnership Ltd, and how many it expects to install between now and May 2007; what it estimates the additional cost to it would have been had it required the installation of condensing boilers instead of non-condensing boilers, and what it estimates the value of savings to householders and the reduction in energy consumption would have been if the programme had specified the use of condensing boilers.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
Since the programme started in 2001, a total 33,992 non-condensing boilers have been installed. At this stage the types of boilers to be used in any successor programme have yet to be decided, and as such it is not possible to say if any non-condensing boilers would be installed between now and May 2007. It is estimated that if condensing boilers had been used in the programme to date, the additional cost (based on current prices) would be in the region of £8.5 million.
It is estimated that the average annual savings resulting in using condensing as opposed to non-condensing boilers would range between £19 for a flat to £41 for a detached property. It is estimated that there would be a 10% reduction in energy consumption but there will be wide variations in both price and energy savings as a result of climate, exposure, occupancy patterns, heating controls, insulation and other factors.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 21 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources, services, support or other benefits are available to Inverness and Stirling, as cities, which are not equally available to the cities of Paisley, Ayr, Dumfries and Perth.
Answer
A mix of private and public resources, services, support and other benefits are available to all communities across Scotland, including cities. Comprehensive information on the make-up of this mix is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 7 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to paragraph 21 of Planning Advice Note 74: Affordable Housing, whether it will outline the current and proposed procedures which govern the disposal of land for affordable housing by public bodies, including itself, on a favourable basis; whether it is making representations to the UK Government and public bodies accountable to the UK Government to dispose of land in Scotland on a similar basis, and, if so, how successful these representations have been.
Answer
The Scottish Housing PolicyStatement published by the Executive in March emphasised our commitment to thebetter use of surplus public sector land for affordable housing. Thiscommitment is being taken forward in a number of ways.
Scottish Executive land thatis deemed surplus to requirements is notified internally to ExecutiveDepartments. Communities Scotland is notified through this process, and given theopportunity to register an interest in the land on behalf of registered socialLandlords (RSLs) who may wish to purchase the land for affordable housing. Additionally,we have announced a willingness to release land for affordable housing from the Scottish ministers’ estate, almost all of which is crofting land.
The Executive is workingwith other public bodies, including UK Government Departments, to developframework agreements with a view to securing transfers of surplus land foraffordable housing in areas where particular need has been identified. Thisapproach has resulted in an agreement being reached with Forestry CommissionScotland who, in handling sales of surplus land, now provide a preferentialopportunity for RSLs to acquire the land for affordable housing. It is hopedthat similar agreements can be reached with other bodies in the near future.
Under the Local Government(Scotland) Act 1973, where a local authority proposes to dispose of land forless than the best that can be reasonably obtained, then consent must first begiven by the Scottish Ministers. This consent regime was amended by section 11of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 which provides that localauthorities can decide on their own proposals for the disposal of land at lessthan market price subject to the application of regulations and guidance issuedby ministers. Consultation on draft statutory guidance was undertaken earlierthis year and proposals for implementation are being developed.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 5 October 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the changes to Scots planning law made by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, following the agreement by this Parliament of a relevant Sewel motion, will be re-stated in its proposed Planning Bill, in order to consolidate law on planning and to allow further scrutiny and amendment of those sections of the Act which cover areas of devolved competence.
Answer
The amendments to Scots Planning law contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 will not appear in the bill. The provisions in the proposed Planning Bill, will, where necessary, take account of the provisions introduced by the 2004 act.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 4 October 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out (a) the detailed timetable for the study it is to commission on the key features of the Ayrshire economy, (b) the circumstances in which improved connectivity might lead to improved economic performance in Ayrshire and (c) the specific improvements required to Ayrshire's connectivity and whether it intends to publish the findings of the research.
Answer
The study will concern what scope there may be for improving connectivity within and beyond Ayrshire, including with the central belt, which would support economic development and regeneration. As part of the study, consideration will be given to the general circumstances under which improvements in connectivity lead to improved economic development, and to specific improvements in Ayrshire. Work is at an early stage and a contractor has not yet been appointed. The detailed timetable will be finalised on appointment of the contractor but it is expected that the study will be completed in the spring. It is our usual practice to publish research reports.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6813 by Nicol Stephen on 5 April 2004, what (a) track and signalling and (b) station incremental output statements are currently being prepared jointly by it and the Strategic Rail Authority for possible future implementation.
Answer
None. The development and approval of such schemes remains a matter for the Strategic Rail Authority.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6813 by Nicol Stephen on 5 April 2004, what (a) track and signalling and (b) station incremental output statements have been funded in part by the Executive in each year since the inception of the Strategic Rail Authority's Incremental Output Statement programme, showing in each case what amount, and what percentage of each scheme cost, was, or is, being funded directly by it.
Answer
In January 2002 the Strategic Rail Authority set out a number of enhancements across the GB rail network which could be supported through their Incremental Output Statement programme.
The Scottish Executive jointly funded a package of platform lengthening works in Scotland in 2003 which comprised the following Incremental Output Statement schemes:
· East Kilbride to Glasgow Central platform extensions to allow six-railcarworking;
· Edinburgh Waverly to Bathgate platform extensions to allow six-railcar working, and
· Fife Circle platform extensions to allow six-railcar working.
The total works, including additional platform extension works between Edinburgh Waverley to Dunblane, is around £14 million. The Scottish Executive is providing £5.9 million of funding, which is 42% of the total costs. The Scottish Executive has not funded any incremental output statements.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 4 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9567 by Mr Frank McAveety on 10 August 2004, when it expects to receive the report on Caisteal Tioram’s current structural condition and the statement of its cultural significance from Historic Scotland and whether it intends to publish both reports.
Answer
I expect to receive the current structural condition report and the statement of cultural significance by the end of October. I will send a copy of these reports to the owner and to relevant stakeholder groups. I will also place copies in Parliament’s Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 1 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a consultation paper on a new public records strategy and whether it will legislate in this session to make statutory provision for effective record-keeping by public bodies and to provide for effective audit of local archive policies and practices.
Answer
I refer the member to question S2W-3740 answered on 30 October 2003, in which I announced that the Scottish Executive is developing a Scottish Public Records Strategy looking at these issues, amongst others, and that there would be a formal consultation exercise in 2004. Work on the consultation paper is progressing and we are aiming to publish it within the next couple of months. I cannot give a commitment to legislate at this stage, as this will depend on a suitable legislative opportunity arising in the Parliament.
