Chamber and committees

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6201 on 12 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:

No. The panel wasappointed by Scottish ministers to produce an independent report on a Low CarbonBuildings Standards Strategy for Scotland. The panel metin September 2007. The report is likely to set out a number of workstreams on awide range of energy efficiency and performance measures specific to buildings,including the use of low carbon equipment. The panel’s report is due before theend of the year.

The ScottishGovernment has already published the individual responses to the strategyconsultation from those organisations and individuals that gave theirpermission to do so. These can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/09110426/0.

A summary reportfrom the consultation will be published before the end of the year.

I recognise the considerabledistress that can be caused to residents by their neighbours’ high hedges. The ScottishGovernment is giving active consideration to how it can best support the provisionof effective means of resolving disputes.

In determining thebest way forward, we will bear in mind consultation on the issue by the previousadministration, the provisions in place in England and Wales and the Members’ Billlodged on 14 November 2006 by former Member of the Scottish Parliament, Scott Barrie,which fell because it did not complete its parliamentary passage before dissolutionof the second session of Parliament.

On 9 October 2007 I announced that, subject to no deterioration in thedisease situation, the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions in Scotland would be lifted on 17 October. This timing is linkedto the ending of the Protection Zone established in Surrey and the confidence that this step gives us that live virus is no longercirculating within Great Britain.

The Housing SupplyTask Force includes representatives from local authorities in its membership andlocal authorities have been invited to be represented at task force meetings; mostrecently at the task force meeting on 23 October 2007. Further meetings and events are planned, to which localauthorities and other organisations with an interest in housing supply issues willbe invited. The task force is keen to engage with a wide range of interests to explorehow the supply of housing of all types can be increased in all areas of Scotland.

I am aware of theinitiative by Scottish Borders Council to establish a local Housing Task Force andI am aware that officials from Communities Scotland are involved in task force meetings.I recognise the severe affordable housing pressures that exist in the Borders, asin many other parts of Scotland and I would be interested in seeing whetherany outputs emerge from the council’s initiative that could have wider applicability.

Historic Scotland is currently developing a policy to manage andpromote battlefields within its Scottish historic environment policy series.This will include a proposal to create a non-statutory Inventory of nationallyimportant sites intended to encourage more effective protection for themthrough the land-use planning process. The policy paper and Inventory will besubject to public consultation in due course.

This will be an operationalmatter for the enterprise networks.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4728 on 17 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

My officials consideredwith stakeholders very carefully the most appropriate composition of the new RegionalPriority Assessment Committees (RPACs). From those discussions, including farmersand the farming industry, it was made clear by stakeholders their strong preferencefor the RPACs to comprise Scottish Government officials. I understand stakeholdersfelt this approach would ensure the objective assessment of proposals for fundingunder Rural Development Contracts Rural Priorities.

Once funding decisionsare made, we shall be publishing the names of beneficiaries and providing feedbackthrough our website on resource allocation and spending trends. This should providesufficient information for stakeholders to determine whether we are delivering onthe Strategic Plan for Rural Development without involving them in individual projectassessments.

Furthermore, in theprocess of setting the regional priorities that will guide this spending we intendto consult with stakeholders and seek agreement to the proposed priorities througha series of regional meetings.