- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been received for the public transport fund on an annual basis since 1998, how many bids have been successful and whether there are any plans to review the level of available funds to allow the implementation of more projects each year.
Answer
There have been two Public Transport Fund competitions held to date. In the first competition, for projects commencing in 1999-2000, 17 bids were received with 12 awarded funding. 26 bids were received in the second competition for projects commencing in 2000-2001 of which 21 have been awarded funding. Details of a third competition for projects commencing in 2001-02 will be issued to local authorities shortly and the level of funding available will be considered as part of the forthcoming spending review.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy for the development of Scottish ports and harbours and, if so, what consultation it has carried out, or plans to carry out, with the Scottish Port and Harbours Authorities on this policy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of developing ports and harbours as part of Scotland's transport system and in providing trading links.A Ports Policy Paper is being prepared, following consultation with the industry, to provide a framework for the further development of ports in Scotland within the Executive's integrated transport policy.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it received the consultation document on the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Her Majesty's Government, when its response to the document was submitted to Her Majesty's Government and whether copies of the response will be made available to the Parliament.
Answer
The National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations has been under review since early 1997 with extensive consultation conducted through a Consultative Forum of interested parties, including Scottish local authorities. The Forum completed its consideration of the final draft on 8 November and Lord Macdonald, Minister for Transport, has written to me on the matter. A copy of the Plan will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre in due course.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced guidelines to achieve a balance between support for the development of wind farms and the protection of the natural environment and, if not, when such guidelines will be produced.
Answer
Guidance on renewable energy, including windfarms and hydroelectric schemes, is contained in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 6: Renewable Energy and Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45: Renewable Energy Technologies, which were issued in 1994. NPPG6 states that "planning authorities should seek through their policies and decisions to provide positively for renewable energy developments, where this can be achieved in an environmentally acceptable manner". NPPG6 is currently under review and we intend to issue revised guidance by summer 2000.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced guidelines to achieve a balance between support for the development of small hydroelectric schemes and the protection of the natural environment and, if not, when such guidelines will be produced.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-3085.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current planning process as applied to applications for the development of wind farms and small hydroelectric schemes requires protection of the environment to be balanced against the interests of developers.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-3085.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 10 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected figures for road traffic growth are for the next (a) five; (b) 10; (c) 20 and (d) 30 years and whether it plans to review these figures to reflect policies of traffic reduction.
Answer
The current projections for road traffic growth are contained in the
National Road Traffic Forecasts (Great Britain) 1997 published by DETR on 14 October 1997. These figures were calculated from a 1996 base and relate to Great Britain as a whole. The figures below represent annual percentage growth rates for each period assuming the most likely forecast of traffic growth:
| 1996-2001 | 1.74% |
| 2001-06 | 1.69% |
| 2006-11 | 1.53% |
| 2011-16 | 1.48% |
| 2016-21 | 1.19% |
| 2021-26 | 0.91% |
| 2026-31 | 0.89% |
DETR will consult the Scottish Executive about the review of these projections to reflect current transport policies. The intention is to publish revised forecasts in 2000.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether implementing all of the proposals covered in the Strategic Roads Review would result in (a) more vehicle journeys and (b) longer average journeys.
Answer
The information requested would only become available after detailed engineering design had been undertaken on all schemes considered in the Strategic Roads Review. This detailed work will, however, be confined to these schemes to be progressed.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 7 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether assistance under the Infectious Salmon Anaemia Re-Start Scheme is currently limited to a "de minimis" level of ?100,000 cumulative over three years and, if so, what action it is taking to raise the limit so as to allow full payment of justified claims.
Answer
The "de minimus" provisions referred to do not apply to aquaculture. HIE will be revising its guidance on the matter.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the use of vehicles using liquid petroleum gas can play in reducing the environmental damage caused by vehicles.
Answer
Vehicles using liquid petroleum gas play a number of important roles in respect of the environment. They help reduce emissions of air pollutants that impact on local air quality, as well as reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. Compared to diesel vehicles used in heavy-duty applications, LPG vehicles emit considerably lower levels of nitrogen oxides and particles, which are harmful to health. LPG vehicles are also substantially quieter at low speeds than the diesel equivalents.
