Chamber and committees

John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, announced on 4 July 2008 that he wanted to ensure that the eligibility criteria of the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People is extended so that injured veterans in Scotland are able to benefit from free bus travel. Consideration of the detail of this is being included as part of the review of the scheme, which is currently being completed.

Visitors to Scotland for Homecoming 2009 will use many different forms of transport to get here. Once in Scotland, VisitScotland encourages visitors to cherish the Scottish environment, and raises awareness of tourism impacts and what can be done to reduce these impacts.

Their activity to promote the use of public transport, which will continue throughout the Homecoming year includes:

Providing excellent, highly visible information for visitors on how to access and travel around Scotland by public transport, cycling and walking through the VisitScotland.com website.

Promoting the advance booking service offered by rail companies and integrated ticketing opportunities.

Providing sustainable itineraries for tourists.

The Scottish Government considers that good air links support Scotland''s economy, including the tourism industry. The government has introduced the Scottish Climate Change Bill which sets a target of an 80% cut in Scotland''s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The target applies collectively across all sectors of the economy, including international aviation. Although the government is not in a position to assess the level of greenhouse gas emissions that will be generated by aviation resulting from Homecoming 2009 it is expected that the Homecoming Year may make flights to and from Scotland more fuel-efficient by filling empty seats.

The Scottish Government considers that good air links support Scotland''s economy, including the tourism industry. The government has introduced the Scottish Climate Change Bill which sets a target of an 80% cut in Scotland''s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The target applies collectively across all sectors of the economy, including international aviation. Although the government is not in a position to assess the level of greenhouse gas emissions that will be generated by aviation resulting from Homecoming 2009 it is expected that the Homecoming Year may make flights to and from Scotland more fuel-efficient by filling empty seats.

VisitScotland''s promotional work for Homecoming Scotland 2009 is focussed on increasing overall tourism revenue from domestic and international tourism, rather than on straightforward visitor numbers. They will seek to measure the net positive difference which results from the intervention of EventScotland and VisitScotland in their marketing of Homecoming 2009.

VisitScotland''s European campaigns prioritise Homecoming Scotland, picking up on the culture, whisky and golf themes. VisitScotland has secured prominent positions for Homecoming Scotland throughout VisitBritain''s web platforms and e-communications and PR programmes “ this further extends the reach and impact of Homecoming.

The Homecoming Scotland TV advert has been seen by over 60 per cent of the Scottish population in the week over St Andrews Day 2008. Tailored information on Homecoming has been mentioned in mailshots to 260,000 UK consumers through the Visitscotland relationship marketing programme last summer.

Three hundred and fifty thousand UK consumers have received information about how to get involved and celebrate Burns through the World Famous Burns Supper campaign in November. 1.9 million UK consumers will have seen Homecoming press adverts in key magazines last autumn including Coast Magazine, Good Housekeeping and Guardian Weekend. Half a million London consumers have seen 25 large outdoor posters around the main arterial routes in London and digital advertising in over 30 underground stations last autumn.

This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm

 

Such detailed information on the greenhouse gas emissions from existing non-domestic buildings is not held by the Scottish Government. However, from 2007 information from the Building Research Establishment, it is estimated that the non-domestic building stock in the UK accounts for around 17% of CO₂ emissions per year. This figure includes the energy uses that are covered by building regulations (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, etc.) and small power loads (computers, printers, faxes, etc), but excludes industrial processes.

In addition, greenhouse gas emissions data is published annually in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The latest available data, covering the period 1990-2006, was published on 18 September 2008. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46558), and on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory website where more detailed data is also available. http://www.naei.org.uk/report_link.php?report_id=527.

Whilst emissions from non-domestic buildings are included in the inventories, emissions from existing non-domestic buildings are not reported as specific emission sources.

There is a range of ways in which emissions data can be presented and data given in published reports will vary according to the assumptions made and what is included/excluded.

However, from 2006 information on carbon dioxide emissions from household energy use for Scotland published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, it is estimated that the domestic sector in Scotland accounts for 29.6% of CO₂ emissions on an end user basis that, for example, includes emissions from the generation of electricity used in the domestic sector. This figure is for CO₂ only and is based on the UK factor for the amount of carbon per unit of electricity generated.

In addition, data on greenhouse gas emissions on an at source basis is published annually in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The latest available data, covering the period 1990-2006, was published on 18 September 2008. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46558), and on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory website where more detailed data is also available.

http://www.naei.org.uk/report_link.php?report_id=527.

The reporters appointed by the Scottish ministers will consider only those representations that fall within the remit of the public local inquiry and the terms of their appointment. The information requested will be contained in their report.

Scottish ministers have received more than 10,000 representations concerning the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. These have been passed to the reporters appointed to conduct the public local inquiry and will be considered as they formulate their findings and recommendations. The breakdown requested could only be provided now at disproportionate cost.