Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-28931 and S3W-28932 on 27 November 2009 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-28931 and S3W-28932 on 27 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Scottish ministers believe it is important the Distributed Price Control Review process allows for effective and efficient investment in Scotland''s electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure.

This will help to ensure security of Scotlands'' energy supply, deliver our renewable energy potential, sustain and grow energy sector employment and to help deliver our overarching aim of sustainable economic growth.

As indicated in my answer to question S3W-28931 on 27 November 2009, Ofgem will publish the final proposals of the Fifth Distribution Price Control Review for consultation on 7 December 2009. This will be available on Ofgem''s web pages at:

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/CustomPages/Pages/Publications.aspx.

I encourage the Parliament and its members to respond actively to that consultation.

We believe that additional renewable energy generation capacity will enhance our energy security. It will promote the creation of new jobs from a skilled workforce, thus contributing to Scotland''s economic growth. Ultimately, this will contribute to us meeting our climate change targets and ambitions to be the renewables capital of Europe.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

The following table illustrates the number of suspected drug finds recorded since
1 January 2005 to 23 November 2009 broken down per establishment. The SPS does not carry out analysis on substances found, and is not always advised of the outcomes of such analysis, it is, therefore not possible to provide information on the nature of the substance.

Establishment	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005
Aberdeen	120	89	53	50	43
Addiewell (opened 09-12-08)	206	0
Barlinnie	256	303	396	340	320
Cornton Vale	121	117	110	89	96
Dumfries	13	36	34	24	21
Edinburgh	225	316	226	229	281
Glenochil	124	133	148	118	118
Greenock	60	83	79	82	85
Inverness	21	14	13	18	2
Kilmarnock	171	298	253	368	263
Low Moss (closed 31-03-07)			26	67	114
SPS Open Estate	49	64	72	100	60
Perth	127	145	147	190	231
Peterhead		2	6	12	1
Polmont	110	135	120	115	164
Shotts	102	113	96	140	160
Totals	1,705	1,848	1,779	1,942	1,959

 

The Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals are currently making arrangements with the main parties, namely North British Windpower, the Ministry of Defence and those third parties who have indicated that they wish to participate, in order to agree suitable dates to hold the reopened inquiry. It is expected that the inquiry will reopen in early 2010.

Some 800 people who either participated in, or had an interest in the original inquiry (meaning had either taken part in the original inquiry or sent a letter of representation in regard to the original application/inquiry) were contacted and offered the opportunity to give evidence at the reopened inquiry. The deadline for response was 30 October 2009. The parties who will take part are: Emma Dewar, Burness LLP on behalf of North British Windpower; Douglas Milne, Morton Fraser Solicitors on behalf of the Ministry of Defence; David Lochhead, Chairman of Cranshaws, Ellemford and Longformacus Community Council; Ian Kelly, Graham and Sibbald and John Campbell QC, Oracle Chambers on behalf of Black Mountain Farms Ltd and Cranshaws Ltd (for Mayshiel and Cranshaws Estates), Northumberland Estates Ltd (for Burncastle Estate), Moorfoot Capital Management Ltd (for Horseupcleugh Estate), Faccombe Estates Ltd (for Hopes and Tolles Estates Ltd), Lauderdale Estates Ltd (for Lauderdale Estate) and The Lammermuir Protection Group (for affected individuals).

Following requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act all legal advice received in relation to the reopening of the inquiry has been made available, subject to Freedom of Information legislation.

The Scottish Government Housing Investment Division, as the grant provider, and Scottish Borders Council, as the strategic housing authority, jointly consider the priorities for affordable housing funding across the whole of the Scottish Borders including Berwickshire. The priorities for the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) take their steer from the council''s Strategic Housing Investment Plan and Local Housing Strategy. Consideration is also given to the expected committed carry forward of funding together with geographic and tenure priorities across the whole Scottish Borders Council area.

The following table gives details of how many new units for affordable rent and low cost home ownership were completed in Berwickshire and the Scottish Borders. This data is provided in a financial year format reflecting how the data is recorded.

	Berwickshire Only		All Scottish Borders
Financial Year	Affordable Rent	Low Cost Home Ownership	Affordable Rent	Low Cost Home Ownership
2004-05	6	0	79	3
2005-06	20	0	54	1
2006-07	14	7	52	8
2007-08	36	1	75	8
2008-09	18	8	69	26

 

The Scottish Government Housing Investment Division, as the grant provider, and Scottish Borders Council, as the strategic housing authority, jointly consider the priorities for affordable housing funding across the whole of the Scottish Borders including Berwickshire.

The priorities for the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) take their steer from the council''s Strategic Housing Investment Plan and Local Housing Strategy. Consideration is also given to the expected committed carry forward of funding together with geographic and tenure priorities across the whole Scottish Borders Council area.

In total, the Scottish Government has supported the building of new affordable housing in Berwickshire to the tune of £7.43 million over the last five financial years with £32.65 million provided to the whole of the Scottish Borders over the same period. In addition, for this financial year (2009-10) we estimate a further £1 million will be spent in the Berwickshire area.

Officials of the Scottish Government have met with representatives from Berwickshire Housing Association to discuss the supply of affordable housing in Berwickshire on two occasions in the last two months. On 4 September, the Housing Investment Division - East Region Manager met with the Chief Executive of Berwickshire Housing Association to discuss a range of strategic housing issues. More recently, on 7 October, an Affordable Housing Investment Programme meeting was held where discussion took place on individual projects.