Chamber and committees

We believe that the forecast supplies of wood from the forest sector, and the commercial and industrial waste streams highlighted in the Woodfuel Task Force report are sufficient to allow the panel industry and the biomass energy sector to continue to grow and develop alongside each other. The key issue is to ensure that the right material goes to the right market at the right time, and we will monitor the usage of biomass as the sector develops to help achieve this.

I launched the Woodfuel Task Force in the summer of last year with the aim of increasing the supply of wood for renewable energy production. The utilisation of forestry residues was considered by the task force, and it features among the recommendations in their report. Our response to the report will be announced shortly, and a working group will be set up to monitor the implementation of the recommendations.

The Scottish Government is keen to encourage the development of anaerobic digestion projects in Scotland.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) will run a capital grant scheme in Scotland worth £6 million over the next three years for infrastructure to recycle organic waste, including anaerobic digestion plants. In addition, WRAP provides support to companies involved in recycling and composting (including companies planning to install anaerobic digestion plants) through their business support service. More information on WRAP''s work can be found at:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/nations_and_english_regions/scotland/index.html.

We also intend to allocate over £100 million from our three-year £150 million zero waste fund to support recycling and composting infrastructure and other infrastructure to divert waste from landfill, including anaerobic digestion plants. We are establishing a working group with COSLA to discuss how best to use these resources.

For renewable energy, support is available in the form of renewables obligation certificates for the biomass fraction of electricity output from energy from waste plants using anaerobic digestion. In addition, the new Scotland rural development programme will make available options that will provide support towards the purchase and installation of equipment with small scale renewable energy capacity, which will include anaerobic digestion.

We place great importance on supporting and encouraging economic development throughout Scotland, including the South of Scotland.

The Government Economic Strategy sets out how we will focus on creating a more successful country through increasing sustainable economic growth. The strategy sets out an approach to growth which is cohesive across Scotland's regions.

It is planned that guidance will be issued to farmers in the nitrate vulnerable zones 3 months before the proposed regulations are to come into force. However, for certain provisions, such as the provision of adequate on-farm slurry storage capacity, the intention is to stage the effective dates to give farmers more time to attain the standards.

In general, the capacity of slurry storage facilities on a farm will need to be sufficient to comply with the relevant provisions of the planned revised regulations and to avoid pollution of the water environment. The proposed requirements are that a farmer in a nitrate vulnerable zone will need to calculate the specific requirements according to a manure and fertiliser management plan “ for which guidance will be provided “ and take into account the following standard requirements:

22 weeks minimum storage capacity for cattle slurry, and

26 weeks minimum storage capacity for pig slurry and poultry manure.

These standard requirements will not apply to farm yard manure because it is not such a high risk to the water environment.

We will shortly introducenew schemes under the Scottish Rural Development Programme and the European FisheriesFund which will support the marketing and processing of Scottish food produce.

There are no targetsfor individual local authorities. The national target is to generate 50% of Scottishelectricity demand from renewable sources by 2020.

However, the ScottishGovernment will provide advice and support to planning authorities on implementingScottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6. In regards to onshore windfarms, we will issueguidance on the preparation of supplementary planning guidance. We have also recentlyappointed a team of consultants to provide expert advice to authorities on the tasksof reviewing and if necessary amending existing policies.

The target for theamount of electricity generated from renewables in Scotland is 50% of whole Scottish demand by 2020. There are no targets for individualtechnologies and the 50% target will be met from a wide range of renewable sources.

There are no plansto set targets for individual local authorities.

Whilst Scotland remainsa bluetongue free area, European Commissionlegislation does not permit vaccination against bluetongue. The Scottish Governmenthas had extensive discussions with industry on bluetongue vaccination and how itmight be best utilised when it becomes available and will continue to keep the situationunder review.