Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-24391

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government��how many applications to decroft by owner-occupier crofters have been made in each year since 2007, and how many were approved.

Question reference: S4W-24319

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government which key stakeholders it plans to meet in advance of the launch of its public consultation on unconventional gas production.

Question reference: S4W-24399

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government��what the (a) estimated and (b) actual carbon savings have been each for projects that have received support from the Climate Challenge Fund.

The total estimated and reported actual carbon savings from projects in receipt of grant awards from the Climate Challenge Fund since 2008 are 1,080,411 tCO₂e and 281,597 tCO₂e respectively.

These figures are not directly comparable. Of the 266 projects funded since 2012 many are still underway or have not yet started. Consequently, only 34 final project reports with estimates of actual carbon savings have been received. Additionally, when the fund was first introduced there was not the same requirement, as now, to submit carbon reduction figures in final project reports and a standard methodology for doing so was not introduced until 2012.

Question reference: S4W-24388

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government��how it monitors the effectiveness of air quality management areas.

As part of their local air quality management responsibilities under the Environment Act 1995 and associated regulations and guidance, all local authorities are required to submit an annual report to the Scottish Government summarising their work on air quality during the previous year. Where an air quality management area is in place, this report should also describe progress with implementing the measures in the air quality action plan.

These reports are formally appraised by the government and feedback is provided to each authority, especially focusing on aspects where it is considered that insufficient progress is being made.

All reports are publically available on the Scottish air quality website: In addition, many local authorities make the reports available on their own websites.

Question reference: S4W-24386

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government��what legal action can be taken if there is a breach of the Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2010.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24387 on 17 February 2015.

The Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2010 transpose into domestic legislation the requirements of Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and clean air for Europe.

Any legal action taken for breaches of the directive is by the European Commission against individual EU member states. The UK is currently the subject of formal infraction proceedings relating to non-compliance with the nitrogen dioxide limit values. The vast majority of other EU member states are subject to similar action.

The UK Government, in partnership with the devolved administrations, has formally responded to the commission’s infraction letter outlining the actions being taken to ensure compliance as soon as possible. We are currently awaiting the commission’s response.

We are also updating the action plans referred to in the answer to S4W-24387, which outline the national and local policies being implemented in relation to air quality.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:.

Question reference: S4W-24393

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government��how many applications have been made each year to the National Forest Land Scheme and how many have been approved, broken down by (a) project category, (b) tenure type and (c) land area.��

Since the National Forest Land Scheme opened in 2005, there have been 55 applications approved to date covering 12,976 hectares.

A detailed breakdown of all the applications broken down by project category, tenure type and land area is shown in the following tables:

National Forest Land Scheme applications approved and sold or leased

Name	Applicant	Purpose	NFLS category	Hectares	Financial year sold or leased ��
Dalavich, Loch Awe	West Highland Housing Association	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	0.1	2006-07 Sold ��
Kilmun, Dunoon	Fyne Homes	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	0.6	2006-07 Sold ��
Salen, Sunart	West Highland Housing Association	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	0.5	2006-07 Sold ��
Slewdrum forest, Coulnacraig	Birse Community Trust	Community woodland	Community acquisition	167.2	2006-07 Sold ��
Strathmashie forest, Laggan	Laggan Forest Trust	Forest centre and trails	Community acquisition	18.1	2006-07 Sold ��
Succoth, Arrochar	Dunbritton Housing Association	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	2.2	2006-07 Sold ��
West Ardhu and Langamull forest, Isle of Mull	North West Mull Community Woodland Company	Community woodland	Surplus land	693.4	2007-08 Sold
Ford, Loch Awe	Ford Community Project Ltd	Community centre	Surplus land	2.5	2007-08 Sold ��
Milehouse, Kincraig	Highland Small Communities Housing Trust	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	5.2	2008-09 Sold
Bettyhill, Farr Bay	Highland Small Communities Housing Trust	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	0.3	2008-09 Sold
Forest park, Burghead	Burghead Thistle Junior Football Club	Football pitch	Surplus land	1.4	2008-09 Sold ��
Donich park, Lochgilphead	Dunbritton Housing Association	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	1.5	2009-10 Sold
Ae village, near Dumfries	Loreburn Housing Association	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	0.4	2009-10 Sold ��
Badluarach and Durnamuck, Gairloch	Badluarach and Durnamuck Community Woodland	Community woodland	Surplus land	8.5	2009-10 Sold
Gaudiedale strip, Bennachie	Bennachie Access Group	Access to Bennachie	Surplus land	0.1	2009-10 Sold ��
Acharossan, Tighnabruaich	Kilfinan Community Forest Company	Community woodland	Community acquisition	125.5	2010-11 Sold ��
Balfour wood, Aboyne	Birse Community Trust	Community woodland	Community acquisition	241.0	2010-11 Sold ��
Golticlay forest, Lybster	Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Development Company	Renewable energy scheme (wind)	Community acquisition	39.1	2010-11 and 2011-12 and 2012-13 Sold ��
Dyke forest (phase 1,2and3), Strath Halladale	RSPB	Habitat restoration	Surplus land	1,548.6	2011/12 Sold
Ardentinny walled garden, Cowal	Ardentinny Community Trust	Community gardens and visitor attraction	Surplus land	1.4	2011-12 Sold
Broadford wood, Skye	Broadford and Strath Community Company	Community woodlands and tourist facilities	Community acquisition	20.0	2011-12 Sold
Smithton, Inverness	Albyn Housing Association	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	2.0	2011-12 Sold ��
Tormore forest, Skye	Sleat Community Trust	Community woodland	Surplus land	441.0	2012-13 Sold ��
Camustorsa, Sunart	Highland Small Communities Housing Trust	Affordable housing	Affordable housing	1.1	2012-13 Sold
Stronafian forest, Glendaruel	Glendaruel and Colintraive Community Development Trust	Community woodland and wind	Surplus land	615.6	2012-13 Sold
Stank Glen, Callander	Callander Community Development Trust	Renewable energy scheme (hydro)	Community acquisition	8.8	2013-14 Leased
Dalmochie, Ballater	Deeside Donside Development Group	Visitor attraction	Community acquisition	0.5	2014-15 Sold ��
Garmony, Isle of Mull	Mull and Iona Community Trust	Renewable energy scheme (hydro)	Community acquisition	0.2	2014-15 Leased
��	��	��	Total hectares sold or leased	3,946.8	��

��

National Forest Land Scheme approved but not yet sold or leased

Name	Applicant	Purpose	NFLS category	Hectares	Year approved ��
Achnaha, Morvern	Morvern Community Woodland Company	Community woodland	Community acquisition	8.5	August 2014
Aigas forest, Strathglass	Aigas Community Forest	Community woodland	Surplus land	240.0	December 2009. Scottish Land Funding agreed December 14 ��
Balloch wood, Creetown	Creetown Initiative	Renewable energy scheme (hydro)	Community acquisition	1.2	April 2014
Barcaldine, Loch Creran	Spotlight Musical Theatre Company	Storage facility	Surplus land	0.1	January 2014
Brochel forest and Inverarish forest, Isle of Raasay	Raasay Development Partnership	Community woodland and hydro	Surplus land	288.0	October 2013
Brocketsbrae, Lesmahagow	Lesmahagow Development Trust	Allotments	Community acquisition	0.1	January 2014 (Lease) ��
Dalavich hydro, Argyll	Dalavich Improvement Group	Renewable energy scheme (hydro)	Community acquisition	1.0	August 2014 (Lease)
Dinmurchie farm buildings, Ayrshire	Barr Community Development Company	Community craft hub	Surplus land	0.5	August 2014
Part Forsinain and Dyke forests, Strath Halladale	North Sutherland Community Forest Trust	Community woodland and some habitat restoration	Surplus land	566.0	February 2010 (Lease)
Fourpenny plantation	The Embo Trust	Community runrig and amenity	Community acquisition	17.0	January 2015
Glen Mallie, Loch Arkaig	Achnacarry, Bunarkaig and Clunes Group	Community woodland	Surplus land	1,096.0	April 2014
Glen Seillisdeir forest, Isle of Mull	Ross of Mull and Iona Development Group	Community woodland	Surplus land	758.0	October 2013
Innerleithen, near Peebles	AIMuP	Mountain bike facilities	Community acquisition	250.0	December 2012 (Lease) ��
Invergarry depot and woodland	Glen Garry Community Woodland Group	Community hub and woodland restoration	Surplus land	30.0	November 2014
Kinachreachan, Loch Awe	LOCHWATCH	Community woodland	Surplus land	2.0	April 2014
Kirkton of Maryculter woods, Kirkton of Maryculter	Maryculter Woodlands Trust	Community woodland	Surplus land	67.0	September 2013
Kirkton wood, Lochcarron	Kirkton Woodland Group	Community woodland	Community acquisition	92.0	August 2011
Lael forest, Ullapool	Ullapool Community Trust	Renewable energy scheme (hydro)	Community acquisition	6.0	October 2013
Longhill wood, Aberdeenshire	Enzie Crossroads Community Woodland Assoc	Community woodland	Community acquisition	3.0	August 2014
Rannoch Barracks	Scottish Wildlife Trust	Habitat restoration	Surplus land	4,487.0	November 2014
Strontian old schoolhouse, Sunart	Sunart Community Company	Amenity ground	Surplus land	0.1	August 2014
Upper Acharossan	Kilfinan Community Forest Company	Community woodland	Community acquisition reapplication	434.0	January 2015
��	��	��	Total hectares sold or leased	8,347.5	��

��

National Forest Land Scheme approved but withdrawn

Name	Applicant	Purpose	NFLS category	Hectares	Financial year approved
Rascarrel Moss, Auchencairn	Auchencairn Community Company ��	Community woodland	Surplus land	167.0	2008-09
Fourpenny wood, Dornoch	The Embo Trust	Woodland crofts	Woodland crofts	158.0	2008-09
Clauchrie forest, Ae	Nith Valley LEAF Trust ��	Community woodland	Community acquisition	235.0	2009-10
Salachry forest, Craignish	Craignish Community Company	Community woodland	Community acquisition	120.0	2009-10
Achinchanter, Dornoch	The Embo Trust	Allotments and amenity	Community acquisition	1.7	2011-12
��	��	��	Total hectares	681.7

Question reference: S4W-24315

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government,��further to the answer to question S4W-23976 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 January 2015, whether capital funding provided to the National Performing Companies is ringfenced to assets owned by those organisations, or whether it can be used for assets owned by third parties and, if so, to what extent.

Question reference: S4W-24317

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23976 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 January 2015, whether it will provide a breakdown of the capital allocations to the National Performing Companies by the (a) asset benefiting from the funding, (b) value of the funding and (c) year of expenditure.

From the figures set out in the answer to S4W-23976, Scottish Ballet’s expenditure was all on the Tramway building, Scottish Opera’s expenditure was all in relation to the Theatre Royal project and the Royal Scottish National Opera expenditure was all on the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

The National Theatre’s expenditure up to 2011-12 was all on their existing building at Civic House. In 2012-13 and thereafter, capital funding was spent on the planned new headquarters at Speirs Lock.

Question reference: S4W-24318

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism on 28 January 2015 (Official Report, c.17), how it will examine the climate consequences of unconventional gas production during the current moratorium.

Question reference: S4W-24394

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government��what progress is being made toward its target to establish 100,000 hectares of new woodland by 2022.

The Scottish Government recognises that this is an ambitious target that will require efforts to address the barriers which are preventing new planting and to increase the demand for planting grants.

The Scottish Rural Development Plan 2015-2020 includes new forestry proposals, which should encourage more woodland creation applications. Programme approval from the European Commission is expected in 2015, however the new Forestry Grant Scheme will open for applications from mid-March 2015.

The following table shows the amount of new planting since 2012:

New planting (ha)	Conifer	Broadleaved	Total
2012-13	1,700	5,300	7,000
2013-14	2,000	6,300	8,300
Total	3,700	11,600	15,300

When the new scheme opens in March 2015, Forestry Commission Scotland expect to approve an additional 1,500 hectares of planting for 2015-2016 planting season giving a forecast figure of new planting in 2015-2016 of 7,000 hectares.

��˿��

Chamber and committees