- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 8 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the average household’s annual fuel bill has been in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The average fuel bill for the last 10 years has to be derived from two sources, the Scottish House Condition Survey and the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. Combining these sources and making an adjustment for higher fuel bills in Scotland, we estimate that the average domestic fuel bill in Scotland was:
| Period Covered (October to September) | Annual Average Fuel Bill in Scotland (£) |
| April 1998 | 870 |
| April 1999 | 830 |
| April 2000 | 810 |
| April 2001 | 860 |
| April 2002 | 860 |
| April 2003 | 860 |
| April 2004 | 870 |
| April 2005 | 920 |
| April 2006 | 1,000 |
Sources: 1998-2003 “ estimated based on data from BERR. 2004-2006 “ Scottish Household Condition Survey.
Figures for 2007 are still currently unavailable.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 5 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the success of the Scottish Rural Development Plan.
Answer
The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) was approved in February 2008. Resultant proposals for funding from programme resources have only been made on projects and proposals since then. It is therefore too early to provide an evidence based assessment of the impact of the programme.
The success of the programme will be judged through a combination of the work of the SRDP''s statutory programme monitoring committee, on-going evaluation activities, an annual programme implementation report to the European Commission and annual review meetings with the Commission. The performance of the SRDP will also be assessed in a mid-term evaluation in 2010 and an ex-post evaluation to be completed by 2015.
In addition, the Scottish Government expects to be reviewing the SRDP early next year. This will ensure the programme continues to meet the needs of rural Scotland especially given recent economic developments and taking into account the experience gained in the first year of the programme''s operation.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its review of the Rural Priorities scheme following the first round of awards will examine the possibility of shifting funding into alternative agricultural support schemes.
Answer
When reviewing the Rural Priorities and other parts of the Scottish Rural Development Plan, the Scottish Government has the option to look at the balance of funding across the different measures as well as other issues such as application procedures. We intend to carry out the review in early 2009 once the 2008 round of Regional Proposal Assessment Committees has been completed and are currently considering the remit and scope of the review.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that adequate support is being received by the agricultural industry through the Scottish Rural Development Plan.
Answer
With £1.6 billion available over the programme period 2007-13, the Scottish Rural Development Plan offers a substantial level of resources to land managers, including those engaging in agricultural activities, to meet the demands placed on it. The case for adding to the level of support offered would need to be considered in the context of overall funding pressures within the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what practical steps it will take to promote investment in, and the creation of, high-value and highly-skilled jobs in aquaculture.
Answer
The Scottish Government is supporting the sustainable economic growth of the Scottish aquaculture industry through developing a renewed strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture. That framework has identified the issues to be tackled and proposes a flexible approach to delivery.
In addition, as part of our economic recovery plan, we have recently challenged the industry to bring forward applications for European Fisheries Funding (EFF) grants by the end of 2008 that can incur expenditure and claim reimbursement by 31 March 2009. Grants available through EFF support investment in Scottish aquaculture (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Fisheries/grants-subsidies).
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the uptake of SVQs in aquaculture.
Answer
The Scottish Qualifications Authority Accreditation Unit is responsible for promoting SVQs generally to encourage their uptake. A number of colleges in Scotland offer SVQs in aquaculture, including by distance learning, thus increasing access to accredited vocational training.
Lantra, the Sector Skills Council which covers the aquaculture sector, receives additional funding of approximately £400,000 per annum from the Scottish Government to take forward work in Scotland, including on aquaculture. Lantra has already developed an aquaculture industry action plan which addresses the issue of recruitment and workforce-ready recruits. Lantra also works with schools to promote aquaculture as an industry and to encourage young people to enter the industry.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase and improve vocational training in the aquaculture industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government''s consultation document
A Fresh Start, a Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture highlighted the importance to the aquaculture industry of attracting, retaining and developing people for a long term career in aquaculture and ensuring appropriately trained and skilled industry employees. The new framework will be delivered in conjunction with industry, which has the primary responsibility for training their staff.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/06103512/0.
Vocational training for the aquaculture industry is provided directly by employers and also by a number of colleges in Scotland delivering SVQ levels II and III in aquaculture, including online and by distance learning, a Scottish Progression Award and the modern apprenticeship scheme.
The Scottish Government has supported the development of best practice in aquaculture training through funding for Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for this sector, which has recognised employer-based training excellence through its annual National Training Award, as does the annual Crown Estate Commission Scottish Marine Aquaculture Award for Training and Education.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on which fuel poverty schemes will be funded under the UK Government’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme and which will be funded by the Scottish Government.
Answer
As the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing set out in her statement on 19 November 2008, the Scottish Government has decided to implement the Energy Assistance Package as recommended by the Fuel Poverty Forum from April 2009. This integrated new package will have four stages, and be part funded through CERT and part funded through the Scottish Government.
At stage 1 all callers to a freephone number will be given advice on energy savings and a free energy audit. At stage 2 all low-income households that are at risk of fuel poverty will be offered an energy tariff check and a benefits and tax credits check. Stages 1 and 2 will be funded by the Scottish Government. At stage 3 households who receive income-related benefits or who are aged 70 or over will be offered free insulation measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation, funded by energy companies under the carbon emissions reduction target. At stage 4 enhanced energy efficiency measures, including central heating, will be provided to households that are most vulnerable to fuel poverty and who live in homes with very poor energy efficiency, funded by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s report, published on Monday 10 November, calling for the European Union to change its approach to vaccination procedures across Europe in order to reduce the spread of viral pathogens and what discussions the Scottish Government has had, or intends to have, with the UK Government in relation to raising the proposals with the European Commission and with other member states.
Answer
This report is highly relevant to the current situation in Europe, and now Scotland, regarding bluetongue vaccination.
The Scottish Government has long understood that the best way to secure Scotland''s long-term protection against bluetongue is to secure the ability to vaccinate without being forced to accept potentially infected imports. I wrote to Commissioner Vassillou in September 2008 to urge consideration of an amendment to the rules that would allow the use of vaccine as a tool for disease prevention rather than disease control and my officials have been working with UK and European colleagues towards this end. A draft amendment to the EU bluetongue regulation that would achieve this aim is currently under discussion.
The work by the Royal Society of Edinburgh has provided a welcome and constructive scientific assessment of the issues, which supports the stance taken by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the Scottish Rural Development Plan provides adequate and effective support for the agricultural industry.
Answer
The Scotland Rural Development Programme was designed in consultation with stakeholders and is monitored continuously by a programme monitoring committee. The Scottish Government has already in 2008 submitted to the European Commission modifications to the programme to improve its effectiveness. We will have the opportunity in 2009 to submit further modifications, for which we will take account of a review of the programme which we expect to undertake early next year.
