- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what formal arrangements are in place for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
Scottish Development International''s (SDI) work is formally supervised by a management board made up of the Director-General Economy (chair) in the Scottish Government and the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Officials collaborate on areas of joint interest for SDI''s work with VisitScotland and EventScotland. There is potential for a stronger working relationship in the future as the Scottish Government''s international framework, published on 22 April 2008, makes clear that Scottish ministers wish to see closer co-ordination between the various bodies that promote Scotland''s interests overseas.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 8 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase Scottish Development International’s overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries.
Answer
There are no current plans to increase Scottish Development International''s (SDI) overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries. SDI always seeks to align its staff resources with the extent of opportunity, and it regularly reviews this resource to ensure effective market coverage.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 8 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that a new chief executive of Scottish Development International will be appointed and what role ministers will have in this appointment.
Answer
The process for appointing a new chief executive of Scottish Development International (SDI) is continuing. Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise officials are in close and active discussion about next steps.
Ministers have defined their expectations of the role SDI and its new chief executive should play, but the appointment process is a matter for Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise senior management, under the auspices of the Civil Service Commission.
Lena Wilson, the chief operating officer of Scottish Enterprise, is the acting chief executive of SDI. Under the current interim leadership team, SDI continues to deliver excellent results.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 8 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning any changes to the arrangements for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
There are no plans to alter Scottish Development International''s (SDI) joint venture status so SDI''s working relationship with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise remains unchanged.
SDI, VisitScotland and EventScotland already collaborate on areas of joint interest. There is potential for a stronger working relationship in the future, as the international framework, published on 22 April 2008, makes clear that Scottish ministers wish to see closer co-ordination between the various bodies that promote Scotland''s interests overseas.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 8 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how much income Scottish Development International received from (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) the Executive and (c) any other sources in each of the last three years and what it will receive from these sources over each of the next three years.
Answer
The Scottish Government is the source of funding for Scottish Development International (SDI) irrespective of whether the funds flow through the Scottish Enterprise budget or the Government''s own budgets. However, the division between these two funding channels in relation to the income SDI received in each of the last three years and is receiving in the current financial year is shown in the following tables. The indicative allocation SDI has been given by Scottish Enterprise for 2009-10 and 2010-2011 is the same as for 2008-09.
| Operating Costs | 2005-06 (£000) | 2006-07 (£000) | 2007-08 (£000) | 2008-09 (£000) |
| Field Offices * | 5,437 | 5,724 | 6,853 | 6,910 |
| Scottish Operations +^># | 5,701 | 3,586 | 5,668 | 9,576 |
| International Marketing > | 2,322 | 4,846 | 5,518 | 5,100 |
| Enterprise Salaries < | 4,655 | 4,700 | 4,876 | 5,865 |
| Executive/Government Salaries | 1,672 | 1,683 | 1,682 | 1,680 |
| Totals | 18,115 | 18,856 | 22,915 | 27,451 |
| Funding Sources | 2005-06 (£000) | 2006-07 (£000) | 2007-08 (£000) | 2008-09 (£000) |
| Scottish Enterprise | 15,723 | 16,453 | 20,313 | 24,251 |
| Scottish Executive/Government +# | 2,392 | 2,403 | 2,602 | 3,200 |
| Totals | 18,115 | 18,856 | 22,915 | 27,451 |
Notes:
- Includes Scotland Europa.
+ - Includes Executive/Government contribution to Business Gateway International salaries of £720,000 per annum.
^ - Includes £3 million for regional activity from 2008-09.
> - In 2006-07, marketing spend moved from Scottish operations to international marketing.
< - Includes additional staff previously funded from LEC budgets, but transferred to SDI from 2008-09.
# - Includes £1 million (£200,000 in 2007-08 and £800,000 in 2008-09) from Government to support the higher education pilot.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it expects marine energy will make towards its 2020 and 2050 renewable energy targets.
Answer
It is not the Scottish Government''s policy to set targets for capacity from individual renewable energy technologies. However, a resource study in 2001 found that there is enough potential capacity from wave and tidal energy around Scotland''s coastline to meet our demand for electricity several times over. This suggests that marine energy can make a significant contribution towards achieving our renewables targets and we are working to help the sector maximise that contribution in as short a time frame as possible.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will maximise the contribution of marine energy towards its 2020 and 2050 renewable energy targets.
Answer
The Scottish Government aims to maximise the contribution of marine energy firstly through long-term market support, such as via the Renewables Obligation (Scotland).
Our £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme will help the development of a number of wave and tidal projects, and we will continue to support the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.
We will work to address major strategic issues, such as the provision, availability and affordability of grid capacity and subsea links both within and beyond the UK.
We have set out plans to establish a Marine Energy Policy Group, which will lead on actions relating to further environmental research, monitoring and the production of locational guidance for the marine renewables sector.
We will also continue our close dialogue with marine energy developers and key stakeholders to ensure that relevant issues are addressed as they arise and that our goals are being pursued in a sensible, joined-up manner.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will engage local communities in the development of the marine energy sector.
Answer
The development of individual marine energy projects will enable the involvement of and input from local communities via the relevant consents process. We believe that communities should be able to invest in and benefit meaningfully from renewables projects in their areas. This is an issue for renewables more generally, and one which the Scottish Government is exploring closely, including the preparation of guidance which will help communities to gain maximum benefit from renewables projects.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a marine energy strategy.
Answer
The Scottish Government set out its plans for the marine energy sector in a Marine Energy Policy Statement, published in February and available on the Scottish Government website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS.
In addition, I will set out next month an overview of the Scottish Government''s approach to energy.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage the development of appropriate expertise in the marine energy sector in (a) technology development, (b) manufacture and supply of components and devices, (c) operation and maintenance of devices and (d) planning and management of projects.
Answer
The Scottish Government is encouraging the development of expertise in the marine energy sector in a number of ways.
We continue to support activities at and improvements to the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, including work to develop internationally recognised standards and certification for marine devices.
In addition to the Scottish Government''s £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme, Scottish Enterprise''s Proof of Concept programme supports development activities at Scotland''s universities and research institutes. This includes recent support for a pioneering tidal turbine technology being developed at the University of Strathclyde. Support for marine developers is also available through Scottish Enterprise''s Marine Collaboration Fund, which aims to reduce development costs and improve device performance by accessing advice from other relevant sectors.
Through Scottish Enterprise we are undertaking mapping and analysis of the marine energy sector, including databases for research and development activity and manufacturing, and supply chain mapping to highlight the current strengths and weaknesses in the supply chain.
The Marine Energy Policy Group will lead on producing strategic locational guidance to identify the most appropriate areas for early developments.
