- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will create a sustainable balance between the use of forestry products for biomass against the need for availability of forestry products in the wood panel industry.
Answer
We believe that the forecast supplies of wood from the forest sector, and the commercial and industrial waste streams highlighted in the Woodfuel Task Force report are sufficient to allow the panel industry and the biomass energy sector to continue to grow and develop alongside each other. The key issue is to ensure that the right material goes to the right market at the right time, and we will monitor the usage of biomass as the sector develops to help achieve this.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts are being made to ensure that all waste forestry products are fully utilised as biomass in the production of energy.
Answer
I launched the Woodfuel Task Force in the summer of last year with the aim of increasing the supply of wood for renewable energy production. The utilisation of forestry residues was considered by the task force, and it features among the recommendations in their report. Our response to the report will be announced shortly, and a working group will be set up to monitor the implementation of the recommendations.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 12 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish anaerobic digestion plants as a way to reduce methane emissions, treat organic waste and contribute towards Scotland’s renewable energy targets.
Answer
The Scottish Government is keen to encourage the development of anaerobic digestion projects in Scotland.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) will run a capital grant scheme in Scotland worth £6 million over the next three years for infrastructure to recycle organic waste, including anaerobic digestion plants. In addition, WRAP provides support to companies involved in recycling and composting (including companies planning to install anaerobic digestion plants) through their business support service. More information on WRAP''s work can be found at:
http://www.wrap.org.uk/nations_and_english_regions/scotland/index.html.
We also intend to allocate over £100 million from our three-year £150 million zero waste fund to support recycling and composting infrastructure and other infrastructure to divert waste from landfill, including anaerobic digestion plants. We are establishing a working group with COSLA to discuss how best to use these resources.
For renewable energy, support is available in the form of renewables obligation certificates for the biomass fraction of electricity output from energy from waste plants using anaerobic digestion. In addition, the new Scotland rural development programme will make available options that will provide support towards the purchase and installation of equipment with small scale renewable energy capacity, which will include anaerobic digestion.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 6 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop sustainable and successful economic growth in the south of Scotland.
Answer
We place great importance on supporting and encouraging economic development throughout Scotland, including the South of Scotland.
The Government Economic Strategy sets out how we will focus on creating a more successful country through increasing sustainable economic growth. The strategy sets out an approach to growth which is cohesive across Scotland's regions.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive for how many months on-farm slurry storage capacity will be required in order to comply with the extended closed period for farms located in nitrate vulnerable zones.
Answer
In general, the capacity of slurry storage facilities on a farm will need to be sufficient to comply with the relevant provisions of the planned revised regulations and to avoid pollution of the water environment. The proposed requirements are that a farmer in a nitrate vulnerable zone will need to calculate the specific requirements according to a manure and fertiliser management plan “ for which guidance will be provided “ and take into account the following standard requirements:
22 weeks minimum storage capacity for cattle slurry, and
26 weeks minimum storage capacity for pig slurry and poultry manure.
These standard requirements will not apply to farm yard manure because it is not such a high risk to the water environment.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue guidance to farmers on the number of months that on-farm slurry storage capacity will be required in order to comply with the extended closed period for farms located in nitrate vulnerable zones.
Answer
It is planned that guidance will be issued to farmers in the nitrate vulnerable zones 3 months before the proposed regulations are to come into force. However, for certain provisions, such as the provision of adequate on-farm slurry storage capacity, the intention is to stage the effective dates to give farmers more time to attain the standards.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 31 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support the marketing and processing of Scottish food produce.
Answer
We will shortly introducenew schemes under the Scottish Rural Development Programme and the European FisheriesFund which will support the marketing and processing of Scottish food produce.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it will give to local authorities to help them to achieve their contribution towards the national target of 40% energy generation from wind power.
Answer
There are no targetsfor individual local authorities. The national target is to generate 50% of Scottishelectricity demand from renewable sources by 2020.
However, the ScottishGovernment will provide advice and support to planning authorities on implementingScottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6. In regards to onshore windfarms, we will issueguidance on the preparation of supplementary planning guidance. We have also recentlyappointed a team of consultants to provide expert advice to authorities on the tasksof reviewing and if necessary amending existing policies.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set individual targets for local authorities to help them to achieve their contribution towards the national target of 40% energy generation from wind power and, if so, what those targets will be, broken down by local authority.
Answer
The target for theamount of electricity generated from renewables in Scotland is 50% of whole Scottish demand by 2020. There are no targets for individualtechnologies and the 50% target will be met from a wide range of renewable sources.
There are no plansto set targets for individual local authorities.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 December 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 17 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the confirmed case of bluetongue virus in a cow imported to England from Germany, what representations it will make urgently to the European Commission for stricter adherence to export rules to prevent infected livestock being imported into bluetongue virus-free zones.
Answer
The Scottish Government fullysupports the strong representations being made to the Commission by the UK and othermember states regarding the urgent need to tighten up, and enforce, the rules onmovements out of restricted zones. I wrote to Hilary Benn on this subject in Decemberand the matter was discussed at a meeting of The Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) on the 10 January 2008.We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
