Chamber and committees

First, significant investment by the Scottish Government in transport infrastructure projects including the M74 completion project, the Airdrie to Bathgate rail project, the Paisley Corridor Improvements, Fastlink rapid bus transit, and Dalmarnock Station refurbishment will reduce congestion and make public transport an attractive option for those travelling to Commonwealth Games venues. Operational arrangements being put in place by the Games transport partners will also alleviate congestion.

Secondly, a wide range of measure to reduce transport emissions will be explored covering decarbonising vehicles, promoting sustainable communities, engaging with businesses and organisations, and improving road network efficiencies. Further information will be available when the draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies is published.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with stakeholders, including credit unions, to assist those who are suffering from financial difficulty due, in whole or in part, to high interest credit, particularly pay day loans.

We recognise that credit unions may be able to offer affordable alternatives to
high-interest short-term lenders, and will do all that it can to promote them, where this is appropriate.

We are committed to continuing our engagement with stakeholders, including credit unions, on the issues of high interest credit.

<>Stations located anywhere in the UK and which wish to accredit as combined heat and power (CHP) schemes for the purposes of demonstrating eligibility for the additional Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) which are available for renewable CHP schemes must meet the criteria as set out in Guidance Note 44 of the CHP Quality Assurance Standard , available at: www.chpqa.com.

These criteria enable the calculation of a quality index for CHP schemes, based upon the heat efficiency and power efficiency of the station in question. The calculation also takes into account the electrical capacity of the station and its fuel/technology type.

The criteria are designed to ensure that all CHP stations larger than one Megawatt (MW) electrical capacity deliver a primary energy saving of at least 10% compared to separate generation of heat and power from the same fuel in order to fully qualify as good quality CHP for all of their output. The 35% overall efficiency requirement is an additional, secondary requirement for stations with an electrical capacity of more than 25 MW, intended to ensure that a minimum quantity of heat (as well as power) is supplied by qualifying stations.

However, the Scottish Government is aware of, and welcomes, plans for a forthcoming consultation aimed at strengthening these criteria and ensuring that stations seeking accreditation and CHP status deliver the required energy savings and supply a significant proportion of heat energy.

Over the past year the Scottish Government (through Forestry Commission Scotland and the SG Plant Health Team) has communicated with the UK Government on Chalara fraxinea, and various other tree health issues, by participating in the Forestry Commission Biosecurity Programme Board and the UK Plant Health Strategy Board. This includes the development of emergency legislation that introduced a prohibition on the import and movement of ash within Great Britain.

The Scottish Government has participated in the COBR meetings regarding the Chalara outbreak and the ongoing UK Outbreak Management Team on Chalara. It is also working closely with the UK Government on developing a control plan for Chalara and in sharing data regarding the spread of the disease across the British Isles.

In addition, the Scottish Government, through FCS, has a close working relationship with the DEFRA funded Forest Research team based at Roslin, Midlothian, who have been playing an important role in providing scientific support to FCS and Ministers as the Scottish Government responds to the emergence of Chalara in Scotland.

A meeting between the fishing industry and the main retailers was scheduled for 5 November. However, since discussions on the mackerel stock between the European Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, and the Icelandic, Norwegian and Faroes Fisheries ministers are still on-going, we agreed with the fishing industry and the retailers to postpone the meeting and convene in the new year once those discussions have progressed.

Forestry Commission Scotland works with Forest Research to undertake awareness raising work through Forest Health Days, which are open to forest managers, local authority and National Park staff, community groups and others with an interest in woodland management. Since September 2010 there have been eight Forest Health Days in different parts of Scotland. Presentations on tree health have also been made at professional meetings such as the Institute of Chartered Foresters 2012 annual conference. In addition, Forestry Commission Scotland participates in the work of the Forestry Commission’s Biosecurity Programme Board, along with stakeholder representatives from the UK Forest Products Association, Confor, the Timber Trades Federation, the Woodland Trust and the Arboricultural Association.

The issue of Chalara fraxinea was raised with stakeholders at awareness raising events, such as Forest Health Days, in the context of the range of tree health threats that we are facing. Similar discussions have taken place with staff at management meeting and at Tree Health Champion events.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the chief executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

From the available information on the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database, in the Fife Police force area there were 22 convictions in total during the financial years 2009-10 to 2011-12, where the main offence was proxy purchasing of alcohol. Over the same period there were 301 convictions in total across Scotland.