Chamber and committees

The Lighthouse Caledonia announcement is of course regrettable and, coupled with the downturn in the Harris Tweed industry, poses obvious challenges to the Western Isles economy. The Scottish Government will continue to work with local partners, both in the public and private sectors, to consider all possible options for economic recovery and sustainability in the Western Isles.

We have today published Investing in Affordable Housing: a consultation which invites comments from the wider housing sector on our proposals for reform. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47123)

The Commission has made no assessment of its proposal''s likely economic impact on the affected areas. However, I am certain that if it went ahead it would have a devastating effect on the west coast, removing landings worth at least £70 million from vulnerable west coast fishing communities.

It is for this reason I will strongly resist this proposal.

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Decisions about the dispersal of work to Benbecula are an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS). However, I understand that they have no plans to reduce current staffing at the centre and indeed are looking to further develop its use as part of their operating plan for 2009-10. I also understand that this information has been conveyed to SDS staff there.

In January I set out the Scottish Government''s relocation policy. Our approach is based on making better use of the existing government estate, securing value for money and ensuring the operational effectiveness of individual bodies.

Where those tests can be satisfied, relocation of organisations will remain an option.

We will also continue to explore opportunities for the relocation of small units within the Scottish Government to remote and rural locations under the Small Units Initiative.

Scottish Natural Heritage have commissioned two research studies:

An assessment of the status of the native greylag goose population and an analysis of future population trends based on simple modelling, and

The population size of native breeding greylag geese in Scotland.

The outputs of the modelling will predict future population trends of native greylag geese within a location over a 25 year period. The potential impact of various management scenarios will also be assessed. The final report for this research is due at the end of this year.

Work to assess the population of native greylag geese is underway and an interim report is due in autumn 2008. Further survey work will be carried out during 2009 and a final report including a population estimate is due at the end of 2009.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) provides support and assistance to crofters and farmers in the Uists to manage the impact of greylag geese on their land and livelihoods. The Uist Greylag Goose Management Scheme is managed by the Uist Local Goose Management Group which includes local stakeholder representatives.

The scheme has been approved for the next three year period with a budget of £63,189 per annum. This budget includes funding to contract lethal scarers to protect key machair crops from the geese and to respond to any scaring requests or complaints. In addition, this funding also provides free scaring devices for crofters and farmers, available from the local SNH Area Office and support from SNH and Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate staff.

As part of the Scottish Fisheries Council, a commercial strategy group for the Scottish scallop sector was convened on 8 May 2008. This group will consider issues such as regulation, stock levels and the impact of scallop fishing practices on the marine environment as well as enhancing the reputation and competitiveness of Scottish scallops in a global market which will be reflected in the resultant strategy. In order to assist the group, Seafood Scotland have been commissioned to undertake a SWOT analysis of the Scottish scallop sector.

The work of the group is being taken forward through thematic sub-groups working on specific issues. This includes a marketing and promotion sub group which will aim to develop the marketing and promotion of Scottish scallops within the UK and overseas.

The fuel poverty programmes we inherited from the previous administration do not allow measures to tackle such homes effectively. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing re-established the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum on 22 May 2008 to advise on the future shape of these programmes and has specifically asked them to consider the needs of fuel poor households in rural areas. The forum is expected to report in September 2008.

As part of the stock transfer arrangements Hebridean Housing Partnership received £175,000 in 2006-07, £325,000 in 2007-08 and will receive £275,000 in 2008-09 to ensure that their stock meets the Scottish housing quality standard. This funding allocation takes into account the types of dwelling in the Western Isles.

Funding is allocated to councils for investment in private sector housing through the Private Sector Housing Grant. The level of annual baseline funding has increased since its inception in 2003-04 and currently stands at £67.3 million. Additional funding above baseline has also been made available with an additional £40 million being awarded over the last two years alone. Allocations to Western Isles Council have averaged over 5% of national expenditure, the fifth highest allocation of any council.

Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders granted in each local authority area between April 1999 and March 2006 can be found in the report Use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in Scotland, laid before Parliament on 20 September 2007. Copies are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43671).

Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders granted in each local authority area between April 2006 and March 2008 can be found on our website at www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com.