- 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 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 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 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 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.
- 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 Stewart Maxwell on 2 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether people on low incomes and pensioners are entitled to receive loft and cavity wall insulation and energy-saving devices free of charge and, if not, whether such entitlements are planned and when they will be introduced.
Answer
As part of the Energy Assistance Package, due to begin in April 2009, energy companies have agreed to provide people on income-related benefits and pensioners aged 70 or over with loft insulation (where there is currently less than 60mm of insulation) and cavity wall insulation. These measures will be provided free of charge. We understand that the Department for Energy and Climate Change intends to consult soon on additional measures that could become eligible for funding under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target in future, and this may include energy-saving devices.
- 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 Stevenson on 1 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on implementing the recommendations of the Sullivan report, A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland.
Answer
The Sullivan Report work programme being taken forward by the Scottish Government''s Building Standards Division covers the 56 recommendations, some of which require public consultation and others which do not require formal consultation.
A consultation on proposals for improving the energy performance of existing non-domestic buildings was launched on 2 September and is about to conclude. In 2009, there will be further consultations on proposals for the revision of energy standards and compliance with the standards.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 27 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can offer to groups trying to strengthen partnerships between communities in Scotland and Malawi by bringing small groups of Malawians to Scotland or vice versa.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor1127-01.htm
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 26 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the (a) number and (b) total value of grants made under the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme to Orkney farmers, smallholders and crofters in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by grants made to (i) registered crofters and (ii) others.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally. The Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme is administered on behalf of Scottish ministers by the Crofters Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission to respond to you directly with the information you have requested.
