Chamber and committees

Regional Selective Assistance grant and the support available through the Business Gateway are some of the few methods of direct public support for industry allowable under the European Union’s single market rules.

There is currently a 20p per litre fuel duty incentive which has been extended to bioethanol in January 2005. These measures have been successful in pump priming the UK biofuel market. However, more certainty in the UK renewable transport fuels market is needed to attract substantial investment into renewable fuels infrastructure and equipment.

To this end we are continuing to discuss with the UK Department for Transport the possible introduction of a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, which could further increase the use of biofuels by introducing some form of regulatory obligation in the UK renewable transport fuel market.

Scottish Development International (SDI), the Executive’s joint operation with Scottish Enterprise, leads on attracting inward investment and other international business to Scotland. SDI works with industry specialists in Scotland and uses its overseas sales force to uncover project opportunities and make proposals to target companies around the world. SDI is currently assessing the potential for biofuels investment. This will involve developing a better understanding of exactly what expertise and resources Scotland has to offer and what types of project would provide the maximum benefits to Scotland.

There are no dedicated subsidies available for the production of biofuels. However, businesses wishing to invest in biofuel production can be considered for assistance through other generic schemes for providing assistance to business, including Regional Selective Assistance.

The EU Directive on biofuels (2003/30/EC) requires member states to set indicative targets for biofuel sales by 2010, with a reference value of 5.75% of all petrol and diesel sold for transport purposes. A target has not yet been set for the UK.

With the Department for Transport, we are currently considering how best to meet the requirements of the Directive. This includes liaison with them on the consideration of a possible introduction of a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). A RTFO could provide a mechanism to ensure the gradual substitution of fossil fuels for biofuels - and other renewable transport fuels - over the long-term. However, no decisions have been taken on this as yet.

The stocking of biofuels is a commercial matter for fuel manufacturers and retailers. However, the Scottish Executive has provided funding of £1.2 million through a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant towards the construction near Motherwell of Scotland’s first large scale biodiesel plant by the Argent Group. The plant became operational earlier this year and produces biodiesel from a variety of raw materials, including used cooking oils and animal fats - material previously considered waste. The plant is now fully operational, and we expect that this will lead to increased availability of this fuel in Scotland.

Furthermore, we expect the 20 pence per litre fuel duty differential for biodiesel, introduced by the UK Government in July 2002, and a similar differential for bioethanol, introduced in January this year, will help to stimulate sales of biofuels in Scotland.

The Scottish ministers do not determine local plans and only intervene in local planning in exceptional circumstances. The finalised local plan for Angus will be subject to a local plan inquiry early next year. The Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters’ Unit will conduct the inquiry and then produce a report for Angus Council. It will be for the Council to consider the recommendations of the inquiry and progress the plan to adoption.

The Scottish ministers do not determine local plans and only intervene in local planning in exceptional circumstances. Reporters from the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters’ Unit are appointed to hold inquiries into objections to local plans and report to local authorities. The Scottish Executive does not hold figures on the average length of local plan inquiries. They may, however, last from several days to several months depending on the amount and complexity of objections.

This information is not held centrally.

Information on the location of civil service jobs within the Scottish Executive administration prior to 2000 is not held centrally. Since 2000, 20.5 full-time equivalent posts have been lost from Scottish Executive Departments and Agencies in Angus*. Details of civil service posts in other Government Departments located in Scotland are not held by the Scottish Executive.

Note: *Refers to the local authority area of Angus.

The information requested is not held centrally.