Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government welcomes the recommendations which accompanied the industry-led Marine Energy Group''s Marine Energy Road Map. We are considering these recommendations carefully. In the meantime, we are continuing to provide support to several projects which were awarded grants under the first WATES round.

The emerging offshore renewable sectors will need sound infrastructure, and a strong and responsive supply chain. These are critical issues, pinpointed in our Renewables Action Plan and the recently published Marine Energy Road Map. The Scottish Government is working with its partners to look at the improvements which are needed and how they might be delivered.

Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are carrying out a strategic assessment (the National Renewables Infrastructure Project). This is looking at the ports and harbours infrastructure that the offshore renewables technologies will need. It will develop a spatial framework for port and port-side land infrastructure (including sites for integrated manufacturing, and maintenance/vessel support bases) which can support the manufacturing, construction, operation and maintenance of commercial wave, tidal and offshore wind devices.

The findings from this work will be reported back in October 2009, and the findings will help inform future strategic investment decisions. As part of this work I will lead a trade mission to the German port of Bremerhaven, recognised as a leader in supporting offshore renewables.

As of September 2009, we have allocated £2.196 million to WATES projects, and a further £0.75 million on the infrastructure needed to deploy them at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

This leaves £8.459 million of WATES project money and over £2 million of related infrastructure funding still to be drawn down. Four of the eight WATES projects are complete, with the remainder still on track for completion by March 2011. This means that, as things stand, there will be no unused funds.

The Scottish Government is continuing to provide direct capital support to several projects which were awarded grants under the first WATES round. We expect some of these projects to start receiving revenue payments in the near future, following their successful deployment at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

We have also introduced the highest levels of revenue support for wave and tidal power within the UK, following recent changes to our Renewables Obligation legislation with five ROCs for wave and three ROCs for tidal stream projects.

The Scottish Government also welcomes the proposed £22 million Marine Energy Proving Fund, announced by DECC and which will be available for projects across the UK. This fund will build on our successful WATES scheme, supporting the testing and demonstration of pre-commercial wave and tidal stream devices.

We have also introduced the £10 million Saltire Prize challenge, which will attract international investment in the commercial deployment of marine renewables in Scottish waters.

This question 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/sor0903-01.htm

I understand that Luss Estates, who are responsible for the management of Inchconnachan Island, are in the process of developing a conservation management plan for the Luss Islands, including Inchconnachan. The plan will take account of the island''s inclusion in a site of special scientific interest with objectives which include delivering the best approach to conservation of native wildlife and habitats. The estate has sought and received advice on the formulation of the plan from Scottish Natural Heritage, Deer Commission Scotland and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority. While the plan and any actions flowing from it are the responsibility of the estate, it appears that the process which the estate has put in place is likely to be helpful in informing responsible decisions about the future management of the island.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25978 on 14 August 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 question S3W-25978 on 14 August 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.

Information on the application of Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) is provided in the STAG document, which is accessible via the Transport Scotland website at:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/reports/publications-and-guidance/corporate/j9760-00.htm.

Compliance with the requirements of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) is the norm for road and bridge projects. The DMRB contains both guidance and standards, together with a procedure for considering where departures from standards may be appropriate.