- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 1 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the Ofgem proposal to use the money raised through a windfall tax on energy companies to introduce measures targeted at addressing the problems of fuel poverty; if so, how it would envisage any such measures being taken forward in Scotland and, if not, what alternative proposals it has for the use in Scotland of the funds raised.
Answer
We think that this proposal from Ofgem merits consideration. We will want to discuss with the UK government their response to it. Were this proposal to be implemented, we would expect Scotland to receive an agreed share of any resources which were raised by this proposal.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 31 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with (a) Ofgem and (b) Her Majesty’s Government regarding proposals from Ofgem for a possible windfall tax on energy companies benefiting from the free allocation of tradable emissions permits and; if so, what the outcome has been and, if not, whether it will consider initiating such discussions as a matter of urgency.
Answer
The Scottish Governmenthas not had discussions with Ofgem on this proposal, although we do hold regulardiscussions with both Ofgem and the UK Government regarding relevant issues aroundthe regulation of electricity and gas markets.
We understand thatsome initial discussions have taken place on this issue at a UK level and we will ensure that we are kept informed onprogress.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 30 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the implications for Scottish farmers and crofters of the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and, if so, what the conclusion is of any assessment made.
Answer
Previous trials havehighlighted that the introduction of electronic identification (EID) across allsectors of the Scottish sheep industry will be challenging due to the unique stratifiednature of our industry. Results of these trials were given to the Commission ina joint UK Evidence Report and the Commission also undertook trials in the UK in 2006-07. We will continue to work with all sectorsof the industry to help better understand the various potential issues surroundingEID of sheep within the Scottish context. We will use the information from thisto help inform Industry, the Scottish and UK Governments and the Commission policydecisions in establishing a workable and affordable EID system.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3672 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2007, what progress has been made on the study into the use of road equivalent tariff to set ferry fares on services to the northern and western isles; which stakeholders (a) have met or (b) are still to meet the consultants undertaking the study; what stage has been reached in the choice of ferry route or routes to be used for the road equivalent tariff pilot and when the choice will be announced, and when it is expected that the overall study will be completed and its conclusions and recommendations announced.
Answer
It is anticipatedthat the first phase of the RET study will be concluded in February. The conclusionof the first phase of the study will provide details of the planned pilot. An announcementon the way forward for RET will be made shortly.
The consultants havemet with representatives from the following organisations-
Argyll and Bute Council
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd
CalMac Ferries Ltd
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Highland Council
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
HITRANS
North Ayrshire Council
Northlink
Orkney Islands Council
Shetland Islands Council
Strathclyde Partnershipfor Transport
ZETRANS.
The consultants alsomet with representatives drawn from the local community, business and the haulageindustry in the Western Isles. The consultants are currently organising a furthermeeting with stakeholders to discuss the emerging findings from the first phaseof the study.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 30 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from agricultural industry stakeholders concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.
Answer
The Scottish Governmentcontinues to work with all agricultural industry stakeholders through the jointGovernment/industry working group on electronic identification (EID). The industrystakeholders provided their time and resource to earlier trials which formed partof the UK Evidence Report. We urged the Commission to take account of the reportin seeking a delay for the introduction of EID on 1 January 2008 as laid out inEU Council Regulation 21/2004. The Commission recommended that the introductionof EID be delayed until 31 December 2009 and we believe that wasbecause of the extensive lobbying and representations by both the Scottish Governmentand industry stakeholders. The Scottish Government will continue to work with industrystakeholders and the Commission to find a workable and affordable EID system forthe industry taking account of the unique stratified nature of the Scottish sheepmovement system.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 December 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations Scottish Ministers made to Her Majesty’s Government in advance of its announcement of more than £100 million of funding to the Energy Saving Trust to build the existing energy advice service to become a proactive green homes service and what proportion of such funding will be spent in Scotland.
Answer
This announcement refers to fundingfrom the Department for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and, as such,is for England only.
At the time of the announcementin November 2007, the Scottish Governmentwas already progressing its own plans to fund the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to launchan Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre (ESSAC) network from April 2008. The servicesdelivered through the new network will include provision for a service similar toGreen Homes.
As part of the development of the EST workplan for Scotland for 2008-09, discussions are currently underway on thefunding arrangements for EST activities, including the ESSAC network. A decisionon funding is due to be made within the next few weeks.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations
Answer
The Scottish Governmentcontinues to work with Her Majesty’s Government and indeed the rest of the UK asregards the introduction of electronic identification (EID). Part of that workwas the submission of the UK Evidence Report which highlighted the findings oftrials within the UK and urged the Commission to take account of thesefindings in seeking a delay to the introduction of EID on 1 January 2008 (aslaid out in EU Council Regulation 21/2004). It is believed that the extensivelobbying by the Scottish Government, Her Majesty’s Government and industrystakeholders resulted in the Commission recommending that the introduction ofEID be delayed until 31 December 2009. A qualified majority vote on the implementationdate of 31 December 2009 was secured by the Portuguese Presidency at ECAgriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 December 2007. The Scottish Government will continue to work with Her Majesty’sGovernment other UK Departments to make representations at EU Working Groupsand to try find a workable and affordable EID system for the UK industrytaking account of the unique stratified nature of the sheep movement system inthe UK.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the manufacturers and suppliers of electronic identification systems for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.
Answer
No. Representations have beenreceived by the Scottish Government from manufacturers and suppliers of electronicidentification systems.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.
Answer
The Scottish Governmentprovided submissions to the Commission as part of the UK Evidence Report whichhighlighted the findings of trials within the UK and urged the Commission totake account of these findings in seeking a delay to the introduction ofelectronic identification (EID) on 1 January 2008as laid out in EU Council Regulation 21/2004. We believe that followingextensive lobbying by both the Scottish Government and industry stakeholdersthe Commission recommended that the introduction of EID be delayed until 31 December 2009. Aqualified majority vote on the implementation date of 31 December 2009was secured by the Portuguese Presidency at EC Agriculture and FisheriesCouncil on 17 December 2007. A UK delegation, headed by the Chief Veterinary Officerfor Scotland, visited the Commission in July 2007 to seekapproval to continue to work with them in order to find a workable andaffordable EID system for the Scottish industry taking account of the uniquestratified nature of the Scottish sheep movement system.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-101 by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2007, what progress has been made on the review of the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure; what the membership is of the group undertaking the review; what bodies or individuals have been consulted by those undertaking the review; whether the remit of the review includes consideration of the scale of the penalties applied, and when the outcome of the review is expected to be announced.
Answer
I have now set up an independentpanel to review the current EU agricultural subsidies appeals process. It held itsfirst meeting at the end of November 2007.
The panel is chaired by JohnKinnaird, a past President of NFU Scotland. The other members are Sheriff RoddyMacLeod from the Scottish Land Court, Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Executiveof the Moredun Foundation and Mrs Isobel McCallum, vice president of the Black IsleFarmers Society.
The review will be wide rangingand cover all aspects of the current process including the legislative framework(which sets out the level of penalties) within which panels have to operate.
As part of its considerationthe panel has also invited the industry to provide its views and opinions on thecurrent procedure.
I expect to receive the findingsin May.
