- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 8 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the costs currently borne by Shetland Islands Council and Orkney Islands Council as a result of exercising their statutory planning powers over aquaculture developments in the sea around their islands and whether such costs should be refunded to Shetland and Orkney Islands Councils from the aquaculture rents collected by the Crown Estate Commissioners.
Answer
No such assessment has been made. This is a matter for the respective councils in Orkney and Shetland. The management of the Crown Estate is reserved to Westminster.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 8 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Crown Estate Commissioners on proposals to transfer to Scottish local authorities full planning control over marine developments in Scottish coastal waters and what the outcome of any such discussions was.
Answer
Discussions have taken place on a number of issues including the procedures relating to marine aquaculture developments. These will help inform the future regulatory framework for such proposals.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 8 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in preparing legislation to transfer to Scottish local authorities full planning control over marine developments in Scottish coastal waters.
Answer
Primary legislation will be required to introduce planning controls over marine aquaculture developments. I intend to issue a consultation paper later this year.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 7 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what implications Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd's (HIAL) purchase of Ministry of Defence property at Stornoway Airport has for HIAL's capital expenditure plans for the coming year.
Answer
The purchase of Stornoway Airport by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) from the Ministry of Defence was in line with established guidelines for transfers of property within the Government's estate. The transfer cost was met out of HIAL's resources in 1999-2000 and has no implications for capital expenditure requirements in 2000-01.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets are in place for the generation of solar energy in Scotland.
Answer
The consultation exercise currently under way on the Scottish Climate Change Programme prepossess that between 2003 and 2010 the share of Scotland's energy consumption met from renewable sources will increase by 5%. This will take the form of an obligation on all electricity suppliers to meet that target and, under the Utilities Bill, once enacted there will be no statutory powers to enable targets to be set for any specific renewable technology.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what areas of the Highlands and Islands are currently included in the "Initiative of the Edge" designation; whether there are any plans to add to these areas, and what assessment of the initiative has been done or is due to take place.
Answer
Iomairt aig an Oir (Initiative at the Edge) was introduced as a means of assisting a number of areas in the Highlands & Islands which have endured particularly severe, long-term economic and social decline. The eight areas covered by the Iomairt are: Uig & Bernera, Bays of Harris, Eriskay and Lochboisdale in the Western Isles; as well as North Sutherland, Colonsay, Ardnamurchan, and the Orkney Islands of Westray & Papa Westray. The success of the Initiative is being assessed against an evaluation framework and a strategy agreed by the partners in the Iomairt.
The National Steering Group of Iomairt aig an Oir will consider the circumstances of any request to broaden Iomairt Oir.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing an area based scheme of Hill Livestock Compensation Allowances to be implemented on 1 January 2001.
Answer
Proposals for a new Less-Favoured Area based scheme were put to the European Commission in late December as part of the Scottish Executive's Rural Development Plan. A response is now being prepared to points of principle and detail raised by the Commission.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the use of active solar heating systems in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to the promotion of renewable sources of energy. There is, however, no monitoring of the use of active solar heating systems in Scotland, but we are keen to see solar energy play a part in contributing to the use of renewable energy.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise is promoting the production of photovoltaic cells in Scotland.
Answer
Although Scottish Enterprise does not promote the production of photovoltaic cells in Scotland, it was a sponsor of the recently held European Photovolaic Conference in Glasgow, and my officials were able to use the opportunity to discuss their manufacturing plans with photovoltaic panel manufacturers.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Student Awards Agency on its policy for the payment of travel costs faced by students from the Scottish Islands.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has had no recent discussions with the Student Awards Agency for Scotland about the arrangements for reimbursing excess travel costs to students in higher education, which have been in place for many years and in our view work well.
However, I am always keen to learn of particular areas of concern about the way in which the student support system impacts on students. The Executive is currently consulting on its plans for changes to the system from academic year 2001-02 in the light of the publication of Scotland: The Learning Nation - Helping Students. I am happy to receive any views on the issue of reimbursing travel costs as part of that process.
