- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 16 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of European Commission proposals to abolish quotas for certain key fish stocks and to replace them with an annual allowance of days at sea.
Answer
The proposal to replace quotas for certain fish stocks and replace them with an annual allowance of days at sea was first raised in the European Commission''s green paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Commissioner Borg again raised the proposal in a recent address to the European Parliament Fisheries Committee.
The proposal would mean a radical shift in the way that fisheries are managed. An effort-only system might help to reduce discarding of fish, but would also require supporting technical conservation measures.
In formulating its response to the European Commission''s green paper on CFP reform the Scottish Government will consider the relative merits of different forms of fisheries management, including their likely impact on the operations of the fishing fleet and on the conservation of fish stocks.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 16 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with the (a) UK Government and (b) European Commission about any proposals to abolish quotas for certain key fish stocks and to replace them with an annual allowance of days at sea.
Answer
The proposal for an effort only system is part of a wide range of changes to fisheries policies within the European Commission''s Green Paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. We are discussing these matters with stakeholders in a series of bilateral meetings and wider stakeholder workshops. These discussions will help us develop a Scottish Government response to the European Commission''s consultation on CFP reform, including the proposal for an effort-only system. The consultation closes at the end of 2009.
We are working closely with the UK Government to develop a UK position. Officials have also met counterparts from the Commission and other member states to explore Green Paper proposals for the future management of EU fisheries.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 11 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are in place for people to opt out of the electricity grid system and be entirely energy self-sufficient.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting and accelerating uptake of renewable energy technologies to allow people to tap into Scotland''s abundant local sources of renewable heat and power thereby helping them be more energy self-sufficient.
We have tripled support for community and microgeneration to £13.5 million per year and through our Energy Saving Scotland Home Renewables and Community And Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) grant programmes, provide funding and free independent advice to householders and not-for-profit community-based organisations to help them install renewable energy technologies.
We also offer financial help and free expert advice to small businesses who wish to be more energy self-sufficient through our Energy Saving Scotland small business loans scheme.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the principal requirements that remain to be satisfied by the UHI Millennium Institute to achieve university status and what these requirements are.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26879 on 10 September 2009. 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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the UHI Millennium Institute to satisfy the criteria for achieving university status.
Answer
The Scottish Government, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council are actively working with UHI Millennium Institute to assist it with its preparations for an application for university title. The QAA has in particular been working with UHI to discuss the criteria, documentation and scrutiny process that will be involved. However, the timing of an application to the Privy Council is ultimately a matter for UHI in light of its assessment of its ability to fulfil the quality and standards that university title in Scotland carries with it. UHI was granted taught degree awarding powers on 1 August 2008.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what the start and finish dates were of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot for which its news release of 3 August 2009 reported a 14% increase in passenger numbers and 23% increase in car traffic on the CalMac Ferries Ltd operated services to the Western Isles and what the percentage increase or decrease in (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) freight was for the same time period on each of the ferry routes operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd or NorthLink Ferries not covered by the RET pilot.
Answer
The period over which the early results of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) were reported and monitored was 1 October 2008 to 30 June 2009. The comparison was with the period 1 October 2007 to 30 June 2008. The pilot commenced on 19 October 2008.
On the RET routes the change in the number of commercial vehicle ranged from 0.9% to 9% with an average increase of 2%. The following tables set out the percentage increases/decreases for the non-RET routes on the ferry services operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd.
CalMac Ferries LTD
| Route | Passengers | Cars | Commercial Vehicles* |
| Wemyss Bay - Rothesay | +1% | +1% | -14% |
| Ardrossan - Brodick | -3% | -1% | -14% |
| Claonaig - Lochranza | 0% | -3% | -16% |
| Largs - Cumbrae Slip | -3% | -8% | -13% |
| Colintraive - Rhubodach | -4% | -4% | -11% |
| Tarbert Loch Fyne - Portavadie | +5% | -4% | +18% |
| Mallaig - Armadale | +9% | +13% | -7% |
| Mallaig - Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna | +4% | -14% | -7% |
| Tobermory - Chilchoan | +3% | +10% | -25% |
| Sconser - Raasay | +7% | +8% | 1% |
| Berneray - Leverburgh | +3% | +7% | -16% |
| Ardmhor(Barra) - Eriskay | +23% | +14% | 6% |
| Kennacraig - Islay | +4% | +3% | -4% |
| Oban - Craignure | +1% | +3% | -3% |
| Fishnish - Lochaline | 0% | +1% | -24% |
| Kennacraig - Islay/Colonsay/Oban | -11% | -14% | -34% |
| Oban - Colonsay | -6% | -7% | 0% |
| Oban - Lismore | +18% | +17% | -3% |
| Fionnphort - Iona | +1% | +5% | 7% |
| Tayinloan - Gigha | +3% | +1% | -13% |
Note: *Freight recorded as commercial vehicle numbers.
Northlink Ferries LTD
| Route | Passengers | Cars | Freight** |
| Stromness - Scrabster | +2.6% | -2.2% | +28.4% |
| Aberdeen - Kirkwall | -1.4% | -11% | -0.8% |
| Kirkwall - Lerwick | -1.6% | -14.5% | -3.2% |
| Aberdeen - Lerwick | +5.7% | -1.5% | -2.6% |
Note: **Freight recorded as lane metres.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that EU assistance should be provided for the use of genetically modified organisms as energy crops.
Answer
No. The Scottish Government does not support the cultivation of genetically modified crops in Scotland. In addition, the recent Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy abolished the Energy Crop Scheme (ECS) since the rapid growth in the bio-energy market means that there is no longer sufficient reason to continue to grant specific support for energy crops.
However, various forms of support are available, for example under the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP), to encourage the development of new farming ventures which could include renewable energy initiatives.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UHI Millennium Institute management regarding the Institute’s progress towards achieving university status.
Answer
Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with the UHI Millennium Institute management regarding UHI''s progress towards achieving university status. The most recent of these was during a meeting with the Director of Lifelong Learning in Inverness in May 2009. Officials are continuing to work closely with UHI, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the Scottish Funding Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in respect of UHI moving towards title.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the percentage of non-domestic buildings being built, or built within the last 36 months, that fall into each energy performance certificate rating.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold sufficient information on which to base an accurate estimate.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the number of non-domestic properties that fall into each energy performance certificate rating, broken down by region.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold sufficient information on which to base an accurate estimate. The feasibility of establishing a database to hold information from non-domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) is under consideration.
