Chamber and committees

The carbon assessment of the draft budget provides, for the first time, an estimate of the consequences of government spending in terms of carbon emissions. The assessment highlights in which sectors of the economy the emissions associated with our spending are taking place. Raising awareness of this pattern of emissions is a first step towards taking action to reduce the carbon attributable to public sector expenditure and thereby more sustainable ways of working.

I refer the member to questions S3W-27904 and S3W-27905 answered on the 26 October 2009. 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.

In addition, the methodology adopted for carbon assessment does not provide a direct analysis of potential impacts on employment, but reflects the emissions associated with the spending proposals in the draft budget.

High labour market participation and increased solidarity and cohesion, as well as environmental sustainability, are key targets for achieving the Government Purpose of sustainable economic growth. Reducing salaries has unpredictable impacts and could, through lowering the cost of production as a result of lower labour costs, encourage higher production and consumption, and hence emissions. The Climate Change Delivery Plan, published in June, sets out how we intend to reduce Scotland''s emissions and in doing so, develop more sustainable ways of living and working in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27906 on 26 October 2009. 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.

In addition, reducing expenditure in the budget will reduce the associated projected emissions in the carbon assessment. However, in order to genuinely reduce emissions a real reduction in the carbon intensity of the goods and services used by the public sector is required. This cannot be achieved simply through cuts in expenditure but must result from a progressive decoupling of emissions from economic activity over time.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27904 on 26 October 2009. 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.

In addition, it was recognised at the time of publication that the carbon assessment reported on this year was a first, and to some extent experimental step, and that the methodology will continue to be reviewed and improved over time.

Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/341), section 68 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 will come into force on 1 April 2010. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2009/ssi_20090341_en_1.

We are currently considering what guidance can be provided on this. There is existing guidance available on improving the environmental performance of buildings. This includes the Net Waste Tool, by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, www.wrap.org.uk/nwtool, which enables project teams to estimate the carbon savings associated with implementing the top opportunities for waste reduction and recovery on a construction project; information from the Carbon Trust, on low carbon buildings, www.carbontrust.co.uk/technology/technologyaccelerator/lcba.htm, and information from SUST on sustainable design in architecture and the built environment, www.sust.org/.

Section 68 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 inserts section 46A into the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003. Section 46A lays down that on and after the day on which this section comes into force, it shall be competent to create a real burden in relation to climate change. Section 6(1)(a) of the 2003 act lays down that a real burden is created by registering against the land which is to be the burdened property a deed which is granted by or on behalf of the owner of that land. Therefore, once section 68 is commenced, any owner of land, including the UK Government, may create a climate change burden. However, it is not mandatory for them to do so.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

The SPS''s normal service provider''s interpreters have either a formal qualification or can evidence a minimum 1,000 hours of interpreting experience.

On rare occasions, in order to meet urgent needs, individuals who may not meet these criteria have provided these services.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27780 on 21 October 2009. 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.