Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-18538

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, what action it proposes to alleviate the pressure on human and financial resources experienced by community centres and similar community services.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Question reference: S3W-18424

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the precautionary principle should be applied by local authorities to planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

The contents of these documents are material considerations to be taken into account by the planning authority in the determination of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

PAN45 Annex highlights that certain wood fuel boiler systems have been approved for use in areas covered by Smokeless Zone Regulations and indicates that a list of such technologies is available at:

www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk.

Question reference: S3W-18539

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, whether it is aware of the pressure experienced by those delivering frontline services in the voluntary and statutory sector.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Question reference: S3W-18416

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of income is predicted to be raised through the proposal that management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest be leased out.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM. The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The income raised from a lease would depend upon a range of factors including the area that it covered and its terms. There may be good arguments for a lease of up to about 25% of the national forest estate, we have taken no decisions on this. The consultation exercise and options review will help inform deliberations on this issue.

Question reference: S3W-18408

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of monitoring it will put in place to assess to what extent biodiversity, access, leisure and recreation are safeguarded if management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest estate are subject to leasing.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The consultation exercise and options review will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland''s deliberations on the level of monitoring required to assess the extent to which biodiversity, access, leisure and recreation were safeguarded under a lease.

Question reference: S3W-18405

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages allowing foreign companies to bid for leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The bidding process for any lease would be subject to public procurement rules, which include compliance with international obligations. Therefore, foreign companies are free to bid.

Question reference: S3W-18413

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are currently estimated to work in the areas identified under proposals for leasing out management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM. The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

It is therefore too early to say how many staff are working in the areas which might be selected for leasing, should that particular option be taken forward.

Question reference: S3W-18404

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is envisaged that leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate will be released in one block or in smaller parcels.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

No decisions have therefore been taken on the size of any blocks which may be leased, although there may be good arguments for a single lease. Forestry Commission Scotland will be considering a range of options on this aspect during its review.

Question reference: S3W-18417

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive in which financial year it is anticipated that income will be generated by leasing out management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The timescale for the generation of income from the leasing option will depend on the decisions taken following the options review and consultation exercise, as well as the availability of the necessary legal powers.

Question reference: S3W-18403

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies it is envisaged will be involved in bidding for leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The bidding process for any management lease would be subject to public procurement rules. It is not possible to predict the number of potential bidders at this stage.

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