Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-16860

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive of the currently installed electricity generating capacity, what capacity is expected to be in place in (a) 2015 and (b) 2020.

While we are aware of a number of expected closures of large plants in Scotland over the next few decades, we do not hold precise information on the level of current capacity expected still to be in place at these dates, given the variety of sources of generation and in some instances the flexibility regarding operating life.

However, we are undertaking some research into future projections of electricity supply which we hope to publish shortly. These will make some assumptions about future levels of generating capacity.

Question reference: S3W-16862

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on planning margin being allowed for in planning future required electricity generating capacity.

Individual decisions regarding the location and type of generation activity are largely a matter for the private sector and the generators involved who respond to market signals and incentives within the regulation structure set down by UK legislation. National Grid publishes a statement twice a year which assesses likely future level of demand and capacity in the short-term.

Within Scotland, energy generating stations above 50 megawatts (1 megawatt for water generating stations) must have the consent of Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. As set out in the Renewable Energy Framework published for consultation on 6 October 2008, we are working with the UK Government and OFGEM to put in place the appropriate incentive systems to promote energy security through a much greater proportion of renewable energy, together with cleaner generation from coal and gas.

Question reference: S3W-16859

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what, the total installed capacity was for generating electricity, including pumped storage but excluding windpower, at the end of each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is not available. Data on the installed capacity of major power producers in Scotland is available for the years 1999 to 2007 from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform at the reference below (DUKES table 5_8):

http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/source/electricity/page18527.html.

Data on the installed capacity of renewables in Scotland is available on the Scottish Government Environment Statistics website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/Q/TID/18.

However the installed capacity of wind power alone for this period is not available.

Question reference: S3W-16863

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive which authority is responsible for ensuring that the secure future required electricity generating capacity for Scotland, including the planning margin, will be constructed.

Individual decisions regarding the location and type of generation activity are largely a matter for the private sector and the generators involved who respond to market signals and incentives within the regulation structure set down by UK legislation.

Within Scotland, energy generating stations above 50 megawatts (1 megawatt for water generating stations) must have the consent of Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. As set out in the Renewable Energy Framework published for consultation on 6 October 2008, we are working with the UK Government and OFGEM to put in place the appropriate incentive systems to promote energy security through a much greater proportion of renewable energy, together with cleaner generation from coal and gas.

Question reference: S3W-16861

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 29 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what the present estimate is of peak electricity demand in Scotland that is being planned for in (a) five and (b) 10 years’ time.

Predictions of future peak electricity demand are largely a matter for National Grid who operate the electricity transmission scheme across the UK. The Scottish Government are in regular contact with National Grid on a range of issues including discussions around future demand.

In addition, research is being undertaken by the Scottish Government on projections of possible future electricity demand in Scotland. It is hoped that this information will be published shortly.

Question reference: S3W-16169

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Mike Pringle on 23 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will carry out a review of the performance and effectiveness of the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman’s office.

Question reference: S3W-16168

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 23 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of the fossil fuel levy attributable to Scotland and what plans it has for investing these funds in renewable energy.

Question reference: S3O-03970

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 26 June 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive when its study into North Sea oil will report.

Question reference: S3W-14078

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 20 June 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 10-month review of the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre pilot at Stracathro Hospital by PricewaterhouseCoopers has been completed; if so, whether the findings of the review will be published; if not, when it will be completed, and whether a draft report of the review will be made publicly available.

Question reference: S3W-14006

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 18 June 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how many inward investment projects were obtained by Scotland in each of the last five years and what the value was of each project, shown also as a percentage of total inward investment into the United Kingdom.

Table 1 shows the number of involved successes that Scottish Development International (SDI) has reported in each of the last five years. Involved successes are those inward investment projects that SDI has played a significant role in attracting to Scotland. As companies are not required to notify SDI when investing in Scotland, it is not possible to identify all projects.

Table 1: Scottish Development International’s Involved Successes

	2007-08	2006-07	2005-06	2004-05	2003-04
Total projects	69	59	53	46	65
Total investment* (£ million)	£289.988	£313.598	£245.566	£140.797	£231.499
Total jobs	6,715	7,507	6,043	5,068	5,475
Total high value jobs**	2,638	1,774	1,527	1,821	1,261

Notes:

*The value of each project is not available as, unless they receive public funding, companies are not obliged to release details of their investment.

**High value jobs are jobs with salaries at least 20% above the Scottish average and/or those in research, design and development.

Table 2 shows data from Ernst & Young’s European Investment Monitor (EIM), which tracks cross-border investment projects and trends throughout Europe. Although the EIM is the most comprehensive source of this information, it cannot capture every project. Note that the EIM data includes both involved and non-involved successes but excludes intra-UK movement and certain categories of investment project, such as extraction activities, for example. SDI records in its figures projects that come to Scotland from other parts of the UK but excludes non-involved successes.

Table 2: Scottish Inward Investment Projects Shown as a Percentage of UK Projects

	2007-08	2006-07	2005-06	2004-05	2003-04
Total UK projects	708	691	604	556	368
Total Scottish projects	61	65	51	66	29
Scottish projects shown as a % of UK projects	8.62%	9.41%	8.44%	11.87%	7.88%

Chamber and committees