Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S3W-18330

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit will be of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

The principal remit of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre is set out in the centre''s three strategic aims:

Promoting the internationalisation of sustainable energy research

Fostering good practice in the development and deployment of green energy, and

Supporting sustainable economic growth and the European Union''s sustainable energy targets

Further details of how these aims will be realised are contained in the centre''s business plan, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164)

Question reference: S3W-18338

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what formal requirement there will be for the Scottish European Green Energy Centre to engage with (a) the European Commission, (b) the UK Government, (c) other government departments and agencies, (d) developers and (e) environmental bodies and non-governmental organisations.

Question reference: S3W-18335

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) set-up and (b) annual running costs will be of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

We anticipate that the set-up costs of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre, including the economic report establishing the business case for the centre and the official costs involved in the centre''s study visit to Norway, will be less than £50,000 in the current financial year.

Anticipated annual running costs are set out in the centre''s business plan, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47164), and are budgeted at £800,000 for 2009-10; £1,000,000 for 2010-11, and £1,100,000 for 2011-12.

Question reference: S3O-05235

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 11 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Orkney Islands Council, the Scottish Crofting Foundation and the NFU Scotland regarding the impact on small farmers in the crofting counties of losing access to the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme and what views were expressed during discussions.

We had no formal discussions with any external stakeholders about our proposals prior to the publication of the Scottish Government Response, to the final report of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, because no small farmer needs to be worse off as a result of our decision to focus the scheme on crofters.

Small farmers who are not crofters are currently eligible for grants under both the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme and the Rural Priorities part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme. In future they will continue to be eligible for support on the same financial terms under Rural Priorities. Or, it they wish to retain access to both schemes, they will need to convert their landholdings to crofting tenure.

Question reference: S3W-18332

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 9 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what work will be undertaken by the Scottish European Green Energy Centre that is not carried out by the Scottish Government’s existing departments and agencies.

The Scottish European Green Energy Centre will complement and co-ordinate the range of work already undertaken by the Scottish Government''s existing departments and agencies in the development of green energy, with a specifically European dimension.

It will do this by providing a stronger focus and dedicated resources to proactively engage Scottish researchers, companies and government agencies in European energy policy and associated funding opportunities. This will enable Scottish organisations to access the dedicated expertise required to effectively track and influence this policy environment and develop projects for funding.

The centre will also have a specific focus to disseminate the results of Scottish and other collaborative green energy research across the European Union, raising the profile of Scottish expertise, and capitalising on the significant market opportunities for the green energy sector.

Question reference: S3W-18263

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 8 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the average household’s annual fuel bill has been in each of the last 10 years.

The average fuel bill for the last 10 years has to be derived from two sources, the Scottish House Condition Survey and the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. Combining these sources and making an adjustment for higher fuel bills in Scotland, we estimate that the average domestic fuel bill in Scotland was:

Period Covered (October to September)	Annual Average Fuel Bill in Scotland (£)
April 1998	870
April 1999	830
April 2000	810
April 2001	860
April 2002	860
April 2003	860
April 2004	870
April 2005	920
April 2006	1,000

Sources: 1998-2003 “ estimated based on data from BERR. 2004-2006 “ Scottish Household Condition Survey.

Figures for 2007 are still currently unavailable.

Question reference: S3W-18158

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 5 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the success of the Scottish Rural Development Plan.

The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) was approved in February 2008. Resultant proposals for funding from programme resources have only been made on projects and proposals since then. It is therefore too early to provide an evidence based assessment of the impact of the programme.

The success of the programme will be judged through a combination of the work of the SRDP''s statutory programme monitoring committee, on-going evaluation activities, an annual programme implementation report to the European Commission and annual review meetings with the Commission. The performance of the SRDP will also be assessed in a mid-term evaluation in 2010 and an ex-post evaluation to be completed by 2015.

In addition, the Scottish Government expects to be reviewing the SRDP early next year. This will ensure the programme continues to meet the needs of rural Scotland especially given recent economic developments and taking into account the experience gained in the first year of the programme''s operation.

Question reference: S3W-18102

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 4 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase and improve vocational training in the aquaculture industry.

The Scottish Government''s consultation document A Fresh Start, a Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture highlighted the importance to the aquaculture industry of attracting, retaining and developing people for a long term career in aquaculture and ensuring appropriately trained and skilled industry employees. The new framework will be delivered in conjunction with industry, which has the primary responsibility for training their staff.

Vocational training for the aquaculture industry is provided directly by employers and also by a number of colleges in Scotland delivering SVQ levels II and III in aquaculture, including online and by distance learning, a Scottish Progression Award and the modern apprenticeship scheme.

The Scottish Government has supported the development of best practice in aquaculture training through funding for Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for this sector, which has recognised employer-based training excellence through its annual National Training Award, as does the annual Crown Estate Commission Scottish Marine Aquaculture Award for Training and Education.

Question reference: S3W-18103

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 4 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what practical steps it will take to promote investment in, and the creation of, high-value and highly-skilled jobs in aquaculture.

The Scottish Government is supporting the sustainable economic growth of the Scottish aquaculture industry through developing a renewed strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture. That framework has identified the issues to be tackled and proposes a flexible approach to delivery.

In addition, as part of our economic recovery plan, we have recently challenged the industry to bring forward applications for European Fisheries Funding (EFF) grants by the end of 2008 that can incur expenditure and claim reimbursement by 31 March 2009. Grants available through EFF support investment in Scottish aquaculture ().

Question reference: S3W-18101

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 4 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the uptake of SVQs in aquaculture.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority Accreditation Unit is responsible for promoting SVQs generally to encourage their uptake. A number of colleges in Scotland offer SVQs in aquaculture, including by distance learning, thus increasing access to accredited vocational training.

Lantra, the Sector Skills Council which covers the aquaculture sector, receives additional funding of approximately £400,000 per annum from the Scottish Government to take forward work in Scotland, including on aquaculture. Lantra has already developed an aquaculture industry action plan which addresses the issue of recruitment and workforce-ready recruits. Lantra also works with schools to promote aquaculture as an industry and to encourage young people to enter the industry.