- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 22 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive who will chair its marine energy policy group.
Answer
The group will be chaired by officials from the Scottish Government''s marine directorate.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the contribution that the planned development of the Ravenscraig site will make to the Scottish Government's stated strategic objectives.
Answer
The redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site supports all the Scottish Government''s strategic objectives, economic and social. For example, it is expected to create a range of flexible accommodation for a diverse range of local businesses, generate 12,000 new jobs and attract some £1.2 billion of private sector investment over the life of the project. The project should also deliver a £70 million state of the art campus for Motherwell College, with conference facilities and a public learning centre. It is expected to provide 446 training places and some 400 vocational qualifications as well as a £30 million regional sports facility, cycle routes and adventure playgrounds, and retail and leisure space.
The project is also expected to create some 3,500 new homes and become home to a new urban community of around 10,000 people. It will also embrace the principles of sustainable development in the creation of new natural habitats, renewable energy and good public transport links.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 18 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the costs and benefits of the recommendations of the Sullivan Report, A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland.
Answer
Cost benefit analyses are undertaken as workstreams are progressed. In order to consider the low carbon Energy standards proposed for introduction in 2010, an assessment has been commissioned of the impact of higher standards on new housing and non-domestic buildings, including life cycle analyses. The Sullivan report refers to the other sustainability measures proposed for the building regulations in 2010 and assessments have already been completed of the cost impact of proposals for more demanding Noise and Fire standards that also would contribute to sustainable development.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it will set for domestic energy efficiency improvements in (a) new and (b) existing buildings.
Answer
A review of energy standards in Scottish building regulations commenced in February this year. The building standards advisory committee energy working party has been convened with the remit to consider the energy standards and guidance that should apply to new dwellings and when building owners elect to do work on dwellings they own (extensions, conversions and alterations).
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve energy efficiency standards for existing non-domestic buildings and housing stock.
Answer
A review of the energy standards in Scottish building regulations commenced in February this year. The building standards advisory committee energy working party has been convened with the remit to consider the energy standards and guidance that should apply when building owners elect to do work on the buildings they own.
A consultation paper is currently being drafted on proposals for reducing the carbon emissions associated with existing buildings. Legislative changes will be dependant on the outcome of this consultation.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of public funding area are available to public/private partnerships involved in urban regeneration projects.
Answer
Support to public/private partnerships is generally provided by local authorities, the enterprise networks and other public bodies. This can take the form of direct funding or the transfer of land and property assets. The Scottish Government also provides direct funding support to pathfinder urban regeneration companies.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ravenscraig partnership regarding the opportunity to include renewable energy, microgeneration and combined heat and power in the plans for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site.
Answer
I understand that the Ravenscraig partnership is keen to advance renewable energy options at the site. I am due to meet with Ravenscraig Limited and North Lanarkshire Council next month, and this is amongst the issues we will be discussing.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it intends to make available to urban regeneration companies in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.
Answer
The Scottish Government has indicated the following support for urban regeneration companies over the period 2008-11:
| | 2008-09 (£ million) | 2009-10 (£ million) | 2010-11 (£ million) |
| Clyde Gateway | 14 | 32 | 11 |
| Riverside Inverclyde | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Clydebank Rebuilt | 5 | | |
| Irvine Bay | 2 | | |
Note: The profiling of these allocations across the three-year period is subject to change.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive by what criteria it judges applications for funding from urban regeneration companies.
Answer
The funding allocated to the six pathfinder urban regeneration companies (URCs) by the Scottish Government was determined following a rigorous appraisal of the business plans and early action proposals submitted by the respective URCs.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 16 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the financial impact on rural and island NHS boards of the need for NHS dental practices to comply with the recommendations of the Glennie report on decontamination; what the outcome was of any such assessment, and what additional funding it plans to provide to assist boards to pay for the work required to comply with the report’s recommendations.
Answer
The Glennie Report, which was commissioned by the previous administration, highlighted a number of issues facing the dental profession as a whole.
NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services and are funded to do so. Good decontamination practice is a key consideration in the delivery of safe dental care. The Scottish Government provides financial support for NHS dental Services including those provided by independent dental contractors providing service to the NHS.
