- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 8 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8475 by Michael Russell on 24 January 2008, what its policy is on the role of Scottish Natural Heritage in the planning process and, in particular, on the size and nature of planning applications against which it should consider submitting official objections.
Answer
SNH plays an important role inthe planning system.
SNH is a statutory consulteeon several categories of planning applications and has a duty to respond to allsuch consultations. The decision to object to any particular planning applicationwill be a matter for SNH to consider, based on the details of the proposal and itslikely impacts on natural heritage. The First Minister on 30 January announced the Scottish Government’s commitment to simplifying Scotland’s public services to delivermore effective government. Part of this approach involves streamline decision makingand increasing transparency. I look forward to discussing with SNH the implicationsof the Heriot Watt report and how it can help towards achievement of that objective.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether there are any proposals to provide interim alternative grant support for the fisheries industry using funding from Her Majesty’s Government or the Scottish Government ahead of the opening for applications to the European Fisheries Fund.
Answer
We will consult shortly onproposals for delivering the European Fisheries Fund Programme in Scotlandincluding arrangements for managing the transition from the predecessorprogramme alongside the forthcoming consultation on the UK operational programme.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether the delay to the opening for applications to the European Fisheries Fund will lead to any loss of funding to Scotland from that originally offered by the European Commission and, if so, what the extent of any such loss is expected to be.
Answer
In the course of theapproval process for the UK Operational Programme for the European FisheriesFund, the Commission will make proposals as to the allocation of funds for theprogramme. The Scottish Government is working closely with the other UK fisheriesadministrations to ensure that the programme can be launched as soon as isfeasible and that the delay does not financially disadvantage Scotland.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6141 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, what the composition will be of any recruitment panel for the appointment of the new Chief Executive of Scottish Development International and what role ministers will have in the appointment.
Answer
The recruitment panelfor the appointment of the new chief executive of Scottish Development Internationalwill consist of representatives from the Scottish Government and from Scottish Enterprise;a Civil Service Commissioner, and an external member.
The involvement ofministers in senior recruitment is set out in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Guidanceon Senior Recruitment, which can be found here:
http://www.civilservicecommissioners.gov.uk/upload/assets/www.civilservicecommissioners.gov.uk/ocsc_guidance.pdf.Ministers will notbe directly involved in the selection and recruitment process for this post, butwill be kept fully up-to-date on the progress of the competition.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the public comments of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism that a nine-month timescale should be the upper limit for renewable energy planning applications, whether this is now its policy and whether it applies only to renewable projects or to all planning applications.
Answer
Scottish ministers have set anaspirational target to process new section 36 and 37 applications within nine months,under the Electricity Act 1989, provided no public local inquiry is called. Thisdoes not apply to planning applications, including those for renewable projectsof 50MW capacity or less, which have separate statutory provisions.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be opened for applications.
Answer
I can confirm that the ScotlandRural Development Programme 2007-13 was approved by the European Commission’s RuralDevelopment Committee on 23 January. This milestone was achieved following intensedialogue between my officials and officials of the Commission to address a numberof outstanding issues.
We can expect formal writtenapproval to follow from the Commission within two to three weeks. The programmewill open as soon as practicable thereafter.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the conclusion of the Beauly to Denny transmission line local public inquiry, when ministers plan to make a determination on the planning application.
Answer
The main public sessions of theBeauly to Denny line public inquiry concluded on 20 December 2007 but hearings connectedwith land acquisition and the sub-station at Beauly will not be concluded untilFebruary or later of this year. Following the complete closure of the inquiry, thereporters will compile their report for the Scottish ministers who will take thisinto account in reaching their determination. Their report is not expected untilthe end of 2008, consequently it is likely to be 2009 before a decision is madeby the Scottish ministers.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6141 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, when the post of Chief Executive of Scottish Development International will be advertised and when it expects any new appointee to be in post.
Answer
The post of chief executive ofScottish Development International is scheduled to be advertised as an open competitionon Friday 18 January 2008. We hope to have the appointee in post as soon as possiblethereafter.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for Scottish Development International in assisting VisitScotland to attract overseas investors for future tourism-related projects in Scotland.
Answer
Scottish Development International(SDI) has lead responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment, includingtourism-related projects, to Scotland. In doing this, SDI works closely with colleagues inthe enterprise networks and in VisitScotland, and discussions are currently takingplace to consider how VisitScotland might support SDI’s inward investment activityin tourism.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many nature designations, including Special Protection Areas, have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.
Answer
Scottish ministers have designatedtwo such sites since May 2007. These are the Renfrewshire Heights and Oronsayand South Colonsay Special Protection Areas.
