Chamber and committees

There is a presumption, introduced by Scottish Ministers in 1999 and re-emphasised in Scottish Planning Policy 22, against the development of marine finfish farms on the north and east coasts of Scotland.

Planning authorities are responsible for consenting aquaculture developments in their area.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03561 on 3 November 2011. 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.

Scottish Gas did not manage the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) during its operation in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Scottish Gas was appointed by the scheme managing agent, the Energy Saving Trust, as the nominated insulation installer in the areas of East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and West Lothian in 2010-11. No representations of this type were received.

Representations have been received from some suppliers involved with the Energy Assistance Package about the late payment of invoices by Scottish Gas. It is the case that a number of suppliers have received payment outwith the usual contract terms and this has been investigated with Scottish Gas. Scottish Gas has advised that over 95% in value of all invoices submitted to date have now been paid, and arrangements have been made to resolve any outstanding issues with the remaining suppliers who have been affected.

This information is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government is opposed to the European Commission's proposal for a blanket 25% TAC (Total Allowable Catch) cut on stocks for which there is no quantitative scientific assessment, and believes that it is overly simplistic. Our position is that all robust evidence of stock health that is used to inform management measures for a particular stock, including in relation to the nature of the fishery in which it is caught, should play a role in decision-making. Applying an arbitrary and blanket cut in the absence of quantitative advice does not apply a fishery-based approach to management and is therefore not proportionate and is counter-productive to Common Fisheries Policy reform. In some cases this approach is likely to increase discarding in otherwise healthy stocks. The Scottish Government believes that where there is no quantitative scientific assessment, decisions for each stock should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account any available, robust information. Furthermore, the Scottish Government is strongly opposed to being punished with cuts on so-called data poor stocks, when Scotland is conducting scientific surveys. It is not proportionate for Scottish fishermen to receive cuts in quotas when only one member state has not provided data and we have.

The Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) ran in Shetland in 2010-11 and has now finished. Cavity wall and virgin loft insulation work was done under the UK Government’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) rules and covered by the quality assurance procedures that are mandated for CERT installations by Ofgem. This is normally a 5% sample inspection.

A minimum 5% inspection regime was applied to loft top-up installations which were funded by the Scottish Government and not covered by CERT rules. Inspections were carried out by a contractor, Bierce Technical Services, appointed after a procurement process conducted by the managing agent of HIS, the Energy Saving Trust (EST).

In addition, EST was required to carry out a customer satisfaction survey with 5% of HIS clients post installation.

The Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) ran in Shetland in 2010-11 and has now finished. Changeworks, as operator of the local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre, undertook doorstep visits in Shetland to offer home energy checks and, where suitable, invite householders to sign up for insulation measures.

Technical surveys ahead of the installation of insulation measures were then delivered by the nominated installer in Shetland, Instafibre Consortium, appointed in line with EU procurement rules to achieve best value for money. No bids for the installer contract were received from any Shetland-based businesses.

The Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) which ran in 2009-10 and 2010-11 was designed to achieve best value for money by providing the most cost effective insulation measures – loft and cavity wall – to the highest number of customers.

Where houses were not able to take loft or cavity wall insulation, householders were able to benefit from the range of energy efficiency advice on offer. Energy Saving Scotland interest-free home loans were also available in HIS areas, allowing householders to finance more expensive energy efficiency and insulation measures in those homes unsuitable for basic insulation measures.

The Energy Saving Trust, as managing agent, trained doorstep assessors in order to make the necessary referrals to nominated suppliers for insulation measures. Installation arrangements were a matter for those suppliers appointed by the Energy Saving Trust in line with EU procurement rules.

The Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) ran in Shetland in 2010-11 and has now finished. The Energy Saving Trust, as managing agent of HIS, carried out a procurement exercise in line with EU rules to appoint suppliers offering the best deal for customers in HIS areas. Tenders were invited from companies for the installation of loft and cavity wall insulation. No tenders were received from any Shetland-based businesses.

Installation arrangements under the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) which ran in 2009-10 and 2010-11 were a matter for those suppliers appointed by the Energy Saving Trust following procurement undertaken in line with EU rules. This included Scottish Gas which was the supplier in three HIS areas: East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and West Lothian.

The procurement exercise detailed requirements on standards expected by contractors, including high levels of service in terms of public engagement and quality of work in installing measures.