- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the potential adverse impacts and benefits for biodiversity of the growth of the marine renewables industry.
Answer
Marine renewables and offshore wind will make a significant contribution to our renewable energy targets and contribute to our wider environmental objectives, particularly in relation to climate change.
The climate change benefits associated with marine renewables and offshore wind will benefit marine biodiversity as well as society and the environment more generally. It will provide Scotland with a better mix of sources of power by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The development of a marine renewables and offshore wind industry will also contribute to economic growth, including significant potential for new sources of employment in coastal communities.
The potential impacts for biodiversity are dependent on the design of wave, tidal and offshore wind projects, construction and operating plans, location of the proposed development and biodiversity features of interest. The potential impacts include habitat loss, disturbance of marine species, collision risk with marine species and barrier effects to migration of marine species. Developments also have the potential to provide artificial reefs, through the placement of manmade structures on the seabed.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the planned growth of marine renewables does not adversely affect European protected species or special areas of conservation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38778 on 26 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a habitats regulations assessment of the Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 1 No 18: Further Scottish Leasing Round (Saltire Prize Projects): Regional Locational Guidance published by Marine Scotland Science is required and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The purpose of this report is to collate baseline information relevant to the development process, to assist developers interested in competing for the Saltire Prize to identify and develop projects rapidly. As its primary purpose is the provision of baseline information, it is not considered to be a qualifying plan or project under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, as amended for Scotland, which implement the EC Habitats Directive.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 1 No 18: Further Scottish Leasing Round (Saltire Prize Projects): Regional Locational Guidance published by Marine Scotland Science will be a material consideration in the determination of applications for relevant energy development made under the Electricity Act 1989.
Answer
The Scottish Government does consider that the document referred to will be a material consideration in the determination of applications for relevant energy development made under the Electricity Act 1989.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the (a) status and (b) role of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan will be in relation to (i) decisions on planning applications, (ii) the preparation of development plans, (iii) decisions on applications under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and (iv) marine planning.
Answer
The National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) Stage 1 and 2 reports identify Scotland''s key locations that can support the development of a globally competitive offshore renewables industry. The reports set out the indicative infrastructure requirements and associated economic returns that could be generated. All projects associated with N-RIP will be required to follow planning and/or consenting procedures, including consents under the Harbours Act and/or the Town and Country Planning Act, and (in future) dredging licences under the Marine (Scotland) Act where dredging may be proposed.
In respect of planning, the National Marine Plan will take cognisance of the N-RIP. Scottish Government officials will also be working closely with planning authorities to ensure that N-RIP objectives are taken into account in the preparation of main issues reports and development plans.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment will be made of the environmental effects of projects before they are considered eligible for funding from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund.
Answer
Applications for funding through the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund will be considered by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). SE and HIE both require that projects obtain the necessary planning consents prior to the provision of funding. This will include environmental impact assessment of projects, where it is required.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan has been undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The results may be used by the site owners when progressing their site-specific proposals.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 1 No 18: Further Scottish Leasing Round (Saltire Prize Projects): Regional Locational Guidance published by Marine Scotland Science to be a qualifying plan or programme in terms of section 5 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The purpose of this report is to collate baseline information relevant to the development process, to assist developers interested in competing for the Saltire Prize to identify and develop projects rapidly. As its primary purpose is the provision of baseline information, it is not considered to be a qualifying plan or programme under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
The Scottish Government is currently undertaking an SEA Maintenance exercise in support of the preparation of the Marine Renewables Plan. The information contained in the report will be used in support of this maintenance exercise.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2011
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 19 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the need for the (i) environmental assessment of plans, programmes and strategies and (ii) habitats regulations assessment of plans.
Answer
In 2010, discussions were held between the Scottish Government''s SEA Gateway and Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the need for environmental assessment of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP).
A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) was undertaken of the short-term and medium-term sites (20 in total) included in the N-RIP. The environmental report and the Stage 2 N-RIP report were published for public consultation in September 2010, for a period of 10 weeks.
A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) of the N-RIP is currently underway and is due to report in January 2011.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 17 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a projected underspend in the 2010-11 rural affairs and environment budget.
Answer
All Scottish Government expenditure is being closely monitored and managed so that there will be a very small underspend by the end of the financial year, in line with recent performance. HM Treasury has advised that it has abolished the existing end year flexibility arrangements which means that we will not be allowed to carry forward any underspend from 2010-11 to a future financial year.
The very small underspend anticipated will be after our budget for 2010-11 has been reduced for the sum we are planning to carry forward to 2011-12 to support the capital programme in that year.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 17 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider using any underspend from the 2010-11 rural affairs and environment budget to prioritise work on the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme.
Answer
Funding for flooding projects, including that allocated to the City of Edinburgh Council, has been rolled up in the local government finance settlement since 2008-09. As such, it is a matter for individual councils to decide how they allocate the total funding at its disposal to meet its own local needs and priorities, including those for flooding schemes.
For its part, the Scottish Government has agreed with COSLA that in allocating the available capital grant it provides amongst councils, it has also maintained funding for specific elements within the total. The Scottish Government has therefore protected the funding allocations for flood prevention schemes, including the Water of Leith Scheme that was approved earlier.