- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 20 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what annual subsidy it had agreed to pay to NorthLink Ferries in each year from 2002 to 2007, prior to the commencement of the current Northern Isles ferry tender.
Answer
The grant agreement of December 2000 between the Scottish Executive and NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd provided for basic grant payments, expressed in April 2000 prices, as follows:
October 2002 to September 2003 - £10.773 million
October 2003 to September 2004 - £9.662 million
October 2004 to September 2005 - £9.250 million
October 2005 to September 2006 - £8.139 million
October 2006 to September 2007 - £7.828 million.
However, the agreement provided for these figures to be uprated in line with inflation and also made provision for extra payments to be made to the company principally to cover cost factors which were unknown at the time of the contract award and to cover cost increases (egg in fuel prices) that were beyond the control of the operator.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 20 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the total administration costs will be of re-tendering the Northern Isles ferry contract.
Answer
The total administration costs that will be associated with the re-tendering of the contract cannot be estimated with any degree of precision at this stage of a complex procurement process.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm planning applications have been referred to Ministers after being refused by local authorities in each year since 1999, listing them all; how many of these applications are current, and how many have been (a) approved and (b) turned down by ministers.
Answer
The information in the followingtable shows that 17 planning applications involving multiple wind turbines havebeen referred to ministers on appeal after being refused by local authorities since1999. Of the 17 appeals, six appeals remain current and three were withdrawn beforeany decision was reached. Of those that have been determined the appeal was allowedand planning permission granted in four cases and in a further four the appeal wasdismissed and planning permission refused.
| File Reference | Date of Receipt | Development Site | Development Description | Decision Date | Decision |
| P/PPA/130/69 | 25.07.01 | An Suidhe, Argyll | Wind farm comprising 24 turbines | N/A | Withdrawn |
| P/PPA/170/80 | 22.02.02 | Carlesgill Hill, Langholm | Erection of 5 wind turbines | 11.07.02 | Planning permission granted |
| P/PPA/340/283 | 23.04.03 | Balado Activity Centre, Balado, Kinross | Installation of 3 wind turbines | 14.01.04 | Planning permission refused |
| P/PPA/380/232 | 25.07.03 | Penbreck & Carmacoup Forest, Nr Glespin | Formation of wind farm | 26.05.04 | Planning permission refused |
| P/PPA/170/102 | 07.11.03 | Carlesgill Hill, Langholm | Erection of 3 wind turbines | N/A | Withdrawn |
| P/PPA/300/128 | 23.01.04 | Hills of Towie, Drummuir, Keith | Erection of 21 wind turbines | 11.04.05 | Planning permission granted |
| P/PPA/310/88 | 31.03.04 | Clydeport, Hunterston Terminal, Largs | Erection of 13 wind turbines | 08.02.05 | Planning permission refused |
| P/PPA/270/285 | 01.04.04 | Borrowston Mains, Dounreay, Thurso | Erection of 10 wind turbines | 03.03.05 | Planning permission refused |
| P/PPA/110/456 | 01.04.04 | East Mains of Dummuie, Drumblade, Huntly | Erection of 7 wind turbines | 22.09.04 | Planning permission granted |
| P/PPA/110/460 | 13.04.04 | Smiddyhill Farms, Laurencekirk | Construction of wind energy project | N/A | Withdrawn |
| P/PPA/170/117 | 23.06.04 | Carlesgill Hill, Langholm | Erection of 5 wind turbines | 09.11.04 | Planning permission granted |
| P/PPA/110/504 | 12.01.05 | East Bradieston, Laurencekirk | Erection of 6 wind turbines | N/A | Current |
| P/PPA/250/507 | 27.01.05 | Clatto Farm, Ladybank, Cupar | Erection of 17 wind turbines | N/A | Current |
| P/PPA/330/32 | 14.03.05 | Enyas Hill, Rendall, Orkney | Erection of 3 wind turbines | N/A | Current |
| P/PPA/340/420 | 17.03.05 | Land at Green Knowes, By Glendevon | Erection of 18 wind turbines | N/A | Current |
| P/PPA/300/166 | 25.05.05 | Balnamoon, Crossroads, Keith | Construction of a wind turbine | N/A | Current |
| P/PPA/340/459 | 08.08.05 | Land at Drumderg, Blairgowrie | Erection of 16 wind turbines | N/A | Current |
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 25 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has placed a copy of the Cultural Commission’s final report in each public library and, if not, what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18110 on 25 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 25 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that members of the public have access to the Cultural Commission’s final report.
Answer
The Executive believes that members of the public should have access to the final report of the Cultural Commission, which was published on 23 June. The document is available via the Scottish Executive’s website - – and can be accessed online in public libraries. An electronic “html” version is also being produced for posting on the Executive’s website.
The commission was responsible for printing the report. Since the launch – for which the commission had 100 copies printed, all of which have been distributed - the Scottish Executive has arranged for an additional 1,000 printed copies of the report to be produced. They are being distributed to main public libraries, local authorities, those who provided assistance to the commission, including respondents who have not yet received copies, and others who have requested a copy.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 25 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of the Cultural Commission’s final report were printed and distributed.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18110 on 25 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 24 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive which companies expressed an interest in bidding for the new Northern Isles ferry tender and what criteria were used to compose the short list of three companies.
Answer
Expressions of interest in the Northern Isles ferry contract were received by the Scottish Procurement Directorate from:
ASP-Seascot Ship Management Ltd
Aberdeen Harbour Board
Adsteam(UK) Ltd
Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (UK)
Braeside Shipping
Burness
Caledonian MacBrayne
Clyde Marine Group
Harrisons (Clyde) Ltd
Irish Continental Group plc
Milford Haven Port Authority
Nor-Cargo Ltd
Northern Marin Management Ltd
NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd
Orkney Islands Council
P&O European Ferries (Irish Sea) Ltd
Pentland Ferries Ltd
Scot Ferries Ltd
Sea Containers
Serco Denholm
Smit International.
Not all of these companies submitted Pre-Qualification Questionnaires. The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire process assessed the technical capacity, experience and financial standing of the applicant in deciding the short list of bidding companies invited to tender
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 24 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) P & O Scottish Ferries and (b) NorthLink Ferries bid to run the current Northern Isles ferry tender.
Answer
The bid submitted by P&O Scottish Ferries was for a total of £59.600 million at 2000 prices over five years. The bid submitted by NorthLink Ferries was for £45.652 million at 2000 prices over five years.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 24 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public subsidy P & O Scottish Ferries received to operate Northern Isles ferry services in each year from 1990 to 2002.
Answer
The following table lists thepayments made to P&O Scottish Ferries between 1990 and 2002. The figures aretaken from Scottish Transport Statistics and other sources.
| Calendar Year | Subsidy (£ Million) | SOLAS* | Total (£ Million) |
| 1990 | 4.659 | | 4.659 |
| 1991 | 4.100 | | 4.100 |
| 1992 | 4.284 | | 4.284 |
| 1993 | 6.027 | | 6.027 |
| 1994 | 6.519 | | 6.519 |
| 1995 | 7.622 | 0.478 | 8.100 |
| 1996 | 8.100 | | 8.100 |
| 1997 | 9.412 | | 9.412 |
| 1998 | 12.990 | 1.270 | 14.260 |
| 1999 | 11.400 | | 11.400 |
| 2000 | 11.500 | | 11.500 |
| 2001 | 11.472 | 0.128 | 11.600 |
| 2002 (January to September) | 10.608 | 0.598 | 11.206 |
Note: *Grants paid to P&Oto make the necessary vessel modifications to meet safety requirements under theSafety of Life at Sea Regulations (SOLAS).
The system of support for ferryservices to the Northern Isles changed in 1998. Prior to this, P&O receivedTariff Rebate Subsidy (TRS), based on volumes carried. From 1998, a block grantpayment mechanism was used. The higher levels of subsidy paid to P&O from 1998partly reflect that change.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 3 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the output from hydro-electric generating stations was in each year since 1999 (a) in total and (b) broken down by station.
Answer
The requested information isnot held by the Scottish Executive. The UK Government’s Department of Trade andIndustry (DTI) has collected statistics from generating companies in respect oftotal output across all hydro stations since 2000.
Hydro output statistics for Scotland havebeen published in the September editions of the DTI “Energy Trends” publication,which may be found on the DTI internet site at:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy_trends/.Pumped storage hydro isexcluded as the energy which is used to pump the water may not originate fromrenewable sources. Information is not disaggregated to the level of individualstations. This information is only held by the generating companies themselves.
