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The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a mandatory requirement to complete the land register. In May 2014, Scottish Ministers invited the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland to complete the land register by 2024 and committed to registering all public land by 2019.

Our approach to supporting the delivery of Low Emission Zones in Scotland is described in the National Low Emission Framework (NLEF) within the Cleaner Air for Scotland (CAFS) strategy. NLEF will allow local authorities and partners to appraise, justify the business case for, and implement, a range of air quality improvement options related to transport and associated land use, including Low Emission Zones, based on clear evidence.The current National Low Emission Framework (NLEF) programme, is as follows.Data collection and evidence gathering to be complete by mid-2017.Appraisal of sites from mid-2017, with the first NLEF scheme decisions, including any Low Emission Zones, to be confirmed, and notice given to the relevant parties, by the end of 2018.Implementation and operation of first schemes, such as Low Emission Zones, by 2020.This timeline for delivering the NLEF is ambitious and we will ensure continuous engagement with all stakeholders at each stage, on evidence gathering, analysis, and the detail of the NLEF options, including Low Emission Zones, as we progress. Our approach is aimed at maximising partner and public buy-in and ensuring that those who have to adjust their actions and activities are allowed to do so. This pragmatic approach is essential to deliver air quality improvements, whilst recognising the legitimate needs and expectations of local communities.

 

In line with the established Scottish Government policy and as stated in the Financial Memorandum which accompanied the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill on introduction, we are considering options for locating the commission within the existing Scottish Government estate.

Co-location with other public bodies or agencies makes it easier to achieve value for money and results in enhanced collaboration opportunities across the public sector and reduced CO2 emissions.

The answer to SW5-00829 highlighted existing Scottish Government financial support towards transport measures that deliver air quality benefits; many, if not all, of these will continue to be relevant to actions involved within, or in support of, low emission zones. In addition, this answer identified specific funding that has been made available to support transport data collection. This data is an essential tool in establishing the evidence base to define any zone, both in terms of geography and specific measures.

It would be premature to go further in identifying specific costs at this stage, as these will be determined by requirements of the National Low Emission Framework (NLEF), which will be published later in 2016, and the outcome of specific discussions with the low emission zone pilot area, which is still to be identified. The Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy sets out a phased approach to implementing actions such as low emission zones. It is important that we successfully complete each phase before moving on to the next stage. Without such an approach there is a significant risk that the whole NLEF could fail to deliver, in terms of both policy interventions to improve air quality and support from the public and business.

The Scottish Government, together with its partners, is implementing a range of actions to improve air quality at local and national level. These actions are set out in Cleaner Air for Scotland and also in the joint UK action plans which have been submitted to the European Commission outlining how we propose to comply with EU requirements. The intention is that these measures will collectively deliver compliance by 2020.

We continue to promote modal shift of freight transportation from road to the more environmentally friendly modes of rail and sea and engage with companies, assisting them with the application process and exploring potentially viable projects. In 2015-16, through mode shift revenue support of £725,000 we supported 10 rail flows removing more than 100,000 HGV road journeys and despite pressures on Scottish Government resources, we continue to make budget available demonstrating our on-going committed to supporting modal shift.

Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future, Scotland's first distinct air quality strategy, was published in November 2015. It commits to achieving full compliance with EU air quality legislation by 2020.

Development of the third report on policies and proposals (RPP3), setting out how we will meet targets to 2032, is underway across the Scottish Government. Work is on-going, and contributions from individual sectors have not yet been finalised.

For RPP3 we will take a system wide view on how we can most cost effectively deliver our targets, including carbon sequestration through peatland restoration and woodland creation.

The draft of RPP3 is due to be laid in the Parliament in December 2016, but this will be kept under review in the coming months.

The draft report will be subject to a 60 day period for parliamentary consideration.

Rising sea levels and contact with salt water can slow down the rate of peat accumulation. Recent research has been published on this topic which estimates the risk to coastal peatlands of sea-level rise attributable to climate change, while confirming the value of healthy peatlands in limiting the effects of climate change. The Science and Monitoring Group established to support delivery of the National Peatland Plan will consider evidence such as this in its efforts to help protect Scotland’s valuable peatland resource and target future restoration.

<>The National Low Emission Framework process will almost certainly take account of greenhouse gas emissions and will be designed to incorporate an assessment of greenhouse gases. Low emission zones (LEZs) are designed primarily to reduce air quality emissions, such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Research has found that carbon dioxide emissions have not been reported to change significantly within LEZs, although black carbon benefits can be realized. For example, Glasgow City Council’s 2007 LEZ feasibility study identified no significant CO2 savings, whilst Milan have seen a positive impact on CO2 emissions where low or zero CO2 emission vehicles were promoted.