Chamber and committees

This is a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners and HIE to respond to.

The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the Crown Estate Commissioners regarding marine renewables development in these waters as part of our joint chairing of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Delivery Group.

My officials have visited a number of member states to examine their systems for delivering agricultural support and have hosted several reciprocal visits to look at our systems. Although each member state is unique in terms of their support schemes, computer systems and farming structures, nevertheless, these exchanges have been particularly helpful in informing best practice in the implementation of these measures. As I explained in answer to question S3W-36729, however, European legislation governs all member states and, amongst other things, defines what constitutes eligible land, and sets out in detail how penalties are to be applied. I expect any variation in these areas, in other words non-compliance with the regulations, would lead to the member state concerned being fined by the Commission''s auditors.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37906 on 13 December 2010. As I explained, European legislation on these issues governs all member states and any comparison exercise would not yield a conclusive result.

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.

It is the responsibility of those charged with delivering support measures to ensure that, whether in matters of interpretation or implementation, those benefiting from those measures are treated fairly and in accordance with the relevant legislation. To that end, there are contacts between officials from all UK administrations engaged in various aspects of support measures to ensure a harmonised approach to the implementation of EU legislation.

I agree that support measures need a more proportionate penalty regime but until that is delivered, the reality is that the Scottish Government''s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) does not have any discretion to vary the level of penalties since only the EC can alter the penalty regime through changes in the appropriate legislation. Therefore, SGRPID''s approach is to help farmers and crofters to claim only land that is eligible for support and, thus, avoid penalties. It has done this by setting out what constitute eligible land in guidance booklets supporting its subsidy schemes and by holding around 20 public meetings, in cooperation with the National Farmers Union of Scotland, that were attended by over 2,000 farmers to hear how they could safeguard their CAP payments. At a very personal level, prospective beneficiaries have been given a personal letter telling them how they could take advantage of provisions to amend applications forms to remove ineligible land and avoid penalties. If there is evidence that further, similar steps such as these outlined here need to be taken in future, these will be taken.

Although the Scottish Government is aware of some of the international activity taking place with regard to osmotic power generation, no specific consideration has been given to development in Scotland. The focus of the Scottish Government and its agencies has been on the commercial development of wave and tidal energy given Scotland''s unique resource and significant level of market interest in this sector.

Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise offer a range of research and development and investment support and this would potentially be available to businesses looking to develop osmotic power techniques or facilities in Scotland. These agencies would be willing to engage with any potential developers interested in taking forward activity in Scotland. Should this technology emerge as a commercial proposition the Scottish Government would consider options for eligibility through the Renewables Obligation.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific research on the potential advantages of deploying osmotic power generating facilities.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any work that has been undertaken to assess Scotland''s potential for osmotic power generation.

It is not possible to confirm a net decrease in woodland area in the last two years. Based on felling approvals and the area of replanting and new planting in the same reference period, there was an apparent decrease in woodland area of about 5,000 hectares but this takes no account of the time-lag between felling and replanting nor of any woodland expansion through unrecorded natural regeneration. We anticipate a net increase in woodland area in 2010-11 and succeeding years.