Chamber and committees

The attendance by UK ministers at meetings of the Highlands and Islands convention in each of the last three years was as follows:

In March 2005 Anne McGuire, MP, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Scotland attended the Convention of the Highlands and Islands (COHI) in Shetland.

In November 2005 David Cairns, MP, attended as Permanent Under Secretary of State for Scotland in Inveraray.

In April 2006 David Cairns, MP, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Scotland attended the COHI in Orkney.

There was no representation from the Scotland Office in October 2006 in Forres.

In March 2007, David Cairns, MP, attended as Permanent Under Secretary of State for Scotland in Stornoway.

There was no representation from the Scotland Office in October 2007 in Lochaber.

The role of the convention is to strengthen the co-ordination between member organisations and the Scottish Government and to work together to deliver the Scottish Government''s strategic objectives. Scottish ministers, therefore have decided that they will not extend an invitation to UK ministers to attend future conventions unless the agenda particularly requires it.

However, meetings are open to the public in the capacity of observers.

No UK Government minister was invited to the Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Shetland in March 2008.

Scottish ministers have reviewed the list of attendees and decided that the membership of the convention will in future consist of Scottish ministers and relevant invited public sector organisations, together with co-opted experts as required.

Under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, Scottish ministers, as the competent authority in this case, are required to carry out an appropriate assessment of any plan or project which they consider may have a likely significant effect on a European site. In carrying out the appropriate assessments for the Lewis wind farm application, Scottish ministers have had regard to information supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage and the developer and the views of the Chief Ecological Advisor for the Scottish Government. In line with the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, it is our intention to publish environmental information relating to the Lewis wind farm proposal once the application is determined.

The budget for Freight Facilities Grant was (a) £14.6 million in 2004-05 and (b) £15.4 million in 2005-06.>

The Scottish Government works collaboratively with voluntary sector organisations, local authorities, services users and carers to develop and inform appropriate and responsive services for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

A considerable amount of evidence, relating to a wide range of bird species is already available from existing sources, including international studies and third party research.

In addition, the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned a research project in 2006 to undertake Field Studies on the effects of wind farms on Upland Birds. The work is being carried out by scientists from RSPB Scotland. This is a correlative study comparing breeding bird densities and distributions on operational windfarms across upland Britain with similar areas close to the windfarms, and will report in summer 2008.

The Scottish Government generally includes the requirement for developers to monitor impacts on breeding birds over a number of years as a condition of any consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act for wind farm developments. In due course analysis of these time-series studies will be able to complement the correlative study, but only after a substantial number of wind farms have been operational for at least five years. In addition, specific studies on the effects of wind farms on red kites have been required, as conditions of consent, of two developers whose wind farms are in close proximity to red kite populations. 

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such information as might be necessary for the purposes of an appropriate assessment or to enable a determination to be made as to whether an appropriate assessment is required. Competent authorities responsible for decisions on applications for development (or in relation to other activities) potentially affecting a Special Protection Area or Special Area of Conservation must consult the appropriate nature conservation body which, in relation to such sites in Scotland, is Scottish Natural Heritage.

It is for the European Court of Justice to determine whether member states secure proper compliance with their obligations under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives. In its application of these Directives through legislation and in its decisions, the Scottish Government takes full cognisance of relevant decisions and judgements. Details of such decisions and judgements can be accessed via the following web link: http://curia.europa.eu/en/content/juris/index.htm

The Scottish Government has received information on ornithological issues from a range of bodies including the applicant, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in relation to the Lewis Windpower application. In addition a large proportion of the 9,934 public representations received in respect of this application also contained comments on ornithological issues. In line with the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, it is our intention to publish environmental information relating to the Lewis Windfarm proposal once the application is determined.

Following both the recent Scottish Budget settlement, and the concordat signed between the Scottish Executive and COSLA, decisions on prioritising and funding local and regional transport interventions including enhanced park and ride facilities will be for local authorities working with relevant Regional Transport Partnerships and other key stakeholders.

The Scottish Executive and Transport Scotland will continue to work with all stakeholders to help progress park-and-ride schemes.