- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 14 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a comprehensive policy and financial management review has been carried out on (a) Scottish National Heritage, (b) Scottish Environment Protection Agency, (c) Historic Scotland, (d) West of Scotland Water Authority, (e) North of Scotland Water Authority, (f) East of Scotland Water Authority, (g) Crofters Commission, (h) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, (i) Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, (j) Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, (k) Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (l) Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, (m) Highlands and Islands Enterprise, (n) Hill Farming Advisory Committee for Scotland, (o) Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, (p) Lands Tribunal for Scotland, (q) Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, (r) Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland and (s) Scottish Arts Council and to specify, in each case where a review has taken place, when the review was carried out, what the recommendations of the review were and when each of the recommendations was implemented.
Answer
Policy and Financial Management Review (PFMR) is at the heart of the Executive's commitment to achieve better quality and more responsive public services. Reviews are usually conducted on a five-year cycle but the timing may be varied. Recent guidance on quinquennial reviews for public bodies has developed from previous approaches and now includes continuous improvement. It ensures that NDPBs:
- are subject to regular and challenging review;
- can deliver the Executive's agenda effectively and operate in an efficient and integrated way; and
- retain a strong focus on improving future performance, including the scope for more partnership working and better use of technology.
Details regarding specific NDPBs are provided below.
| NDPB | Last Quinquennial Review Completed or When expected | Review Recommendations | Recommendations Implemented |
| Scottish Natural Heritage | 1999 (May) | Action Programme agreed 1999 | Majority implemented between September and December 1999. Some on-going |
| Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest | No PFMR to-date | | |
| Scottish Environment Protection Agency | No PFMR to-date. Review planned 2001 (April) | | |
| Scottish Arts Council Never had one. Review delayed because of setting up of Parlt; Review planned for later this year or next | No PFMR to-dateReview deferred. Review date to be announced 2000-2001. | | |
| Lands Tribunal for Scotland | No PFMR to-date | | |
| Water Authorities: West of Scotland, 3 H2O established '96 therefore PFMRs due next yearNorth of Scotland, and East of Scotland | The 3 Water Authorities were established in 1996 therefore PFMRs due next year | | |
| Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland | Reviewed 1995 | Commission to be relocated to its own officesEnsure Best Value on printing and publishing | 1995 1995 |
| Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency | No comprehensive review. Prior Options review 1995. Next due 2000 | SFPA to remain an Agency | Some minor amendments to the Framework Document |
| Historic Scotland | Policy and Finance Review 1992-1993 | To remain an Agency for the next 4 years; pursue market testing and contracting out programme; introduce new mechanism for handling policy in framework document; review sponsorship responsibilities | Implemented 1994-1997 |
| Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland | PFMR 1998-99 | Retain present status; core functions to be continued; privatisation or contracting out all activities not feasible; contract out in discrete areas; merger not cost effective or more efficient. | 1999 |
| Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland | Policy review 1997-98 | Retain present status, objectives & membership | 1998 |
| Historic Buildings Council for Scotland | Policy review 1997-98 | Retain present status, objectives & membership | 1998 |
| Crofters' Commission | PFMR currently on-going | | |
| Highlands and Islands Enterprise | Prior options completed 1996 (Dec). Stage II completed March 1999 | Retain current status; several other recommendations | Majority implemented. Some on-going |
| Hill Farming Advisory Committee for Scotland | 1998 | Merger with Scottish Agricultural Consultative Panel | New body effective from September 1998 |
| Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd | Not covered by PFMR | | |
| Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd | Not covered by PFMR | | |
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of its timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the report by the Scottish IACS Red Tape Review Panel and whether it will make a ministerial statement to the Parliament.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has already implemented many of the recommendations of the report by the Scottish IACS Red Tape Review Panel and is currently considering the timetable for implementing the remaining recommendations.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful applications for support under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme, as set out by Lord Sewel in March 1999, there have been in each parliamentary constituency and what is the total value of these applications in each constituency.
Answer
Details of the number of successful Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) applications are not readily available by parliamentary constituency. The information is held on an agricultural parish and Departmental Area Office basis, and is summarised below.
| | No of Approvals | Approved Grant (£) |
| Shetland | 72 | 340,990.99 |
| Orkney | 1,466 | 3,684,295.22 |
| Northern | 981 | 2,676,580.30 |
| Highland (mainland) | 1,164 | 4,507,743.33 |
| Skye | 36 | 262,153.60 |
| Western Isles | 3 | 4,812.97 |
| Grampian | 353 | 702,510.13 |
| Argyll & Islands | 982 | 3,183,891.90 |
| Arran, Bute & Cumbrae | 270 | 941,893.51 |
| Totals | 5,327 | 16,304,871.95 |
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to monitor the indicators adopted by Her Majesty's Government as set out in the document A Better Quality of Life.
Answer
The document
A Better Quality of Life, published before devolution, makes it clear that sustainable development is a devolved matter which it is for the Scottish Executive to take forward reflecting Scottish institutions, landscape, culture and way of life.
The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland, which I chair, has begun work on indicators which will reflect Scottish life and the priorities for sustainable development which I outlined to the Scottish Parliament on 3 February. In that work, the indicators mentioned in A Better Quality of Life may provide a useful reference but there are no plans for monitoring them.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop "quality of life" indicators to measure progress in delivering sustainable development.
Answer
The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland, which I chair, has started work on the development of indicators of sustainable development for Scotland. A research contract will be let shortly to examine existing good practice in Scotland, to compare that with the best across the world and to propose a paper to open discussion across Scotland. It is hoped to produce, by the autumn, a set of indicators of practical value for trial in the next financial year.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 9 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the management of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and what matters were discussed.
Answer
Ministers meet the management of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) from time to time to discuss a variety of issues. The last meeting was in July last year when operational matters were discussed. Scottish Executive officials also meet HIAL's management regularly to discuss financial and operational matters, as well as through the presence of an assessor at Board meetings.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy for the development of Scottish ports and harbours and, if so, what consultation it has carried out, or plans to carry out, with the Scottish Port and Harbours Authorities on this policy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of developing ports and harbours as part of Scotland's transport system and in providing trading links.A Ports Policy Paper is being prepared, following consultation with the industry, to provide a framework for the further development of ports in Scotland within the Executive's integrated transport policy.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government to develop a strategy for the development of renewable energy schemes in Scotland as part of the overall UK strategy to meet international obligations to reduce the burning of fossil fuels.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is firmly committed to the promotion of renewable energy, which is an executively devolved matter. The Department of Trade and Industry is currently reviewing the mechanisms required to achieve the generation of 10% of the UK's electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010. The Scottish Executive has participated in this review since its inception, and is determined that Scotland will pay a full part in meeting the target.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced guidelines to achieve a balance between support for the development of small hydroelectric schemes and the protection of the natural environment and, if not, when such guidelines will be produced.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-3085.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced guidelines to achieve a balance between support for the development of wind farms and the protection of the natural environment and, if not, when such guidelines will be produced.
Answer
Guidance on renewable energy, including windfarms and hydroelectric schemes, is contained in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 6: Renewable Energy and Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45: Renewable Energy Technologies, which were issued in 1994. NPPG6 states that "planning authorities should seek through their policies and decisions to provide positively for renewable energy developments, where this can be achieved in an environmentally acceptable manner". NPPG6 is currently under review and we intend to issue revised guidance by summer 2000.
