Chamber and committees

I set up an independent review of the EU Agricultural Subsidy appeals procedure in November 2007. Following extensive consultation and assessment of the current process I received the Report A review of the European Union Agricultural Subsidy Appeals Procedure in Scotland on 4 November which I have now carefully considered.

I have accepted sixteen of the seventeen recommendations made by the review team led by former NFU President John Kinnaird including the principle of an independent appeals procedure.

Work has now begun on implementing the recommendations we are able to accept. I have asked officials to explore how an independent appeals process can be best delivered and to examine the options including extending the remit of an existing organisation or by part of government.

I plan to introduce changes as soon as possible in 2009.

I received the Report A review of the European Union Agricultural Subsidy Appeals Procedure in Scotland on 4 November which I have carefully considered.

I have accepted 16 of the 17 recommendations made by the review team led by former NFU President John Kinnaird including the principle of an independent appeals procedure.

Work has now begun on implementing the recommendations we are able to accept. I have asked officials to explore how an independent appeals process can be best delivered and to examine the options including extending the remit of an existing organisation or by part of government.

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

I wrote to stakeholders on 16 December providing an update on our plans for quota management and licensing in Scotland. This set out in broad terms our plans to have a phased implementation of quota and licensing arrangements in Scotland during 2009. A report summarising the views received to the consultation was also released at this time.

Due to the focus on the very important year end fisheries negotiations, I considered it sensible to delay final decisions until early in 2009. An interim outcome of consultation report setting out the Scottish Government initial response to the consultation will be issued in January. Following a short period of consultation, measures to be adopted under a Scottish quota and licensing system will then be set out in a final outcome report.

The Scottish Government commissioned an independent economic appraisal of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre from EKOS Ltd, which set out the economic impact, strategic fit, and rationale for market intervention of the Centre.

The Scottish European Green Energy Centre business plan envisages a full staff complement of 10. A copy of the business plan has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164)

The Scottish Government received advice on the benefits of establishing the Scottish European Green Energy Centre from a range of organisations. In particular, the economic rationale for intervention was established through independent consultancy advice and the Centre''s objectives and work priorities were refined following detailed discussions with the European Commission, the Energy Technology Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Scotland Europa and the Scottish EU Energy Network, which comprises representatives of the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The benefits of establishing the centre have been recognised by both the EU Energy Commissioner and by the UK Government former Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in correspondence with the First Minister.

The Scottish European Green Energy Centre''s work programme for the next 12 months is set out in its business plan (under the heading Three Year Plan). A copy of the business plan has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164).

The Scottish European Green Energy Centre business plan envisages funding from a range of sources, including the Scottish Government, other public and private bodies, and European Structural Funds, where applications have been submitted to the current round in both the Lowlands and Uplands and Highlands and Islands programmes. A copy of the business plan has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164).

The principal remit of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre is set out in the centre''s three strategic aims:

Promoting the internationalisation of sustainable energy research

Fostering good practice in the development and deployment of green energy, and

Supporting sustainable economic growth and the European Union''s sustainable energy targets

Further details of how these aims will be realised are contained in the centre''s business plan, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164)