Seòmar agus comataidhean

<>The Scottish Government is aware of a recent pilot study by AgriMarine in Canada and will continue to monitor developments with interest. Marine closed containment does not come without its challenges as shown in recent press relating to this study, which can be found at http://www.fishfarmingxpert.com/index.php?page_id=76&article_id=94657.

The technology is still in the experimental phase and will need to be proven to be both practical and economically viable if it is to be adopted widely by industry.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06830 on 30 April 2012 and the proposals included in the recent Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill Consultation document. Good progress has also been made through the Improved Containment Working Group’s work with industry on containment best practice training and on developing technical standards for aquaculture equipment.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

This issue was included as part of the recent consultation on an Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill. The 1,400 responses received are now being analysed and we will bring forward proposals for a bill in due course.

The independent Committee on Climate Change noted in its first Scottish progress report (published 31 January 2012) that good progress has been made in Scotland, highlighting investment in renewables, the outperformance of the Government’s targets on renewable heat, moves to improve the efficiency of buildings and electric vehicle markets, smarter choices programmes and cycling programmes.

The Scottish Government is determined to continue this progress. Despite real terms cuts imposed by the UK Government to the Scottish Government’s budget of 8.3% Resource and 32.9% Capital between 2010-11 and 2014-15, the Scottish Spending Review 2011 set out plans for more than £700 million to help to deliver emissions cuts, with around £1 billion of support each year for public transport and other sustainable travel options.

The Scottish Spending Review 2011 is available. Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53222).

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/04153155/0.

The answer to S4W-06582 on 24 April 2012 contains details about the emissions mitigation measures that the Scottish Government has brought forward since the publication of the first climate change report on proposals and policies in March 2011.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The second report on proposals and policies made under section 35(1) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 will focus on ways in which the second batch of annual emissions reduction targets, for 2023-27, can be met.

As required by section 35(11) of the act, the second report will also contain an assessment of the progress towards implementing the proposals and policies set out in the first report, which focussed on 2010-22. Ministers may make adjustments to those measures if they consider it appropriate to do so.

The preparation of the second report on proposals and policies to meet statutory emissions reduction targets is being overseen by the Scottish Government’s Emissions Reduction Programme Board. This board, chaired by the Director General for Enterprise, Environment and Digital, comprises senior civil servants with responsibility for policies affecting greenhouse gas emissions from key sectors across the Scottish economy. The members of the board are responsible for ensuring that their teams of officials and analysts consider all reasonable options for achieving potential emissions reductions and, in so doing, contribute towards the Scottish Government’s strategic priority of facilitating the transition to a low carbon economy.

Work on the second report on proposals and policies builds on that already carried out for the first report and advice received from the independent Committee on Climate Change, it also draws on relevant research, analysis and experience of how emissions reduction measures have worked in practice.

The Scottish Spending Review 2011 detailed significant government funding for measures that will make a direct contribution to reducing emissions, including:

Over £300 million spend on energy over the next three years, including over
£200 million on renewables.

An overall budget of £328 million for Supporting Sustainability, including investment of more than £200 million via the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty and domestic energy efficiency programmes. This will further leverage investment from energy companies to fulfil their legal obligations.

Reducing the impact of transport with further targeted improvements totalling nearly £100 million.

Using the Scottish Futures Fund to provide support for emissions reduction measures with £50 million for Warmer Homes over the course of this Parliament

Expanding Scotland’s woodland – building to a planting rate of 10,000 hectares per year, with a budget of over £48 million for this purpose, supplemented by European funding.

Investing over £70 million in our Zero Waste Scotland programme to help Scottish families and businesses unlock savings and reduce their emissions by cutting waste.

We will seek to secure additional money for climate change purposes whenever there are opportunities to do so, such as the additional £13 million for sustainable transport from the budget consequentials announced on 8 February 2012.

Funding for measures that will reduce Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions will come from all sectors. This is not just about central government money but also action throughout the wider public sector, investment from the private sector and steps taken by households and individuals.

The Scottish Spending Review 2011 is available online. Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53222).

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/04153155/0.

Emissions reduction measures typically require further consultation and development in partnership with stakeholders before implementation will be possible. It is often only at this stage that precise delivery responsibilities can be resolved.

The financial costs of the measures that will be set out in the second report on proposals and policies for meeting the statutory emissions targets will fall across government, business and consumers. In light of the fact that the report will focus on the period 2023 to 2027, it is probable that many of the measures will contain flexibility regarding precisely how they might be delivered and by whom. Because of this, it will not always be possible to give the precise distribution of costs until decisions are taken on specific approaches to delivery in every case.

The Scottish Government will continue to work to ensure that, in so far as is reasonably practicable, information about the funding of measures intended to help the achievement of greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets is available to assist scrutiny of the second report on proposals and policies and future draft budgets.

The preparation of the second report on proposals and policies to meet statutory emissions reduction targets is overseen by the Scottish Government’s Emissions Reduction Programme Board chaired by the Director-General Enterprise, Environment and Digital. Membership comprises directors from the key areas within the Scottish Government involved with delivering emissions reductions:

Director for Energy

Director for Environment and Forestry

Director for Housing, Regeneration and Commonwealth Games

Director for Business

Director for Agriculture, Food and Rural Payments

Chief Executive Transport Scotland.

Co-ordination of the work on the second report is carried out on a day to day basis by a team of four staff within the Scottish Government’s Directorate for Energy and Climate Change. In addition, policy and analytical staff from across the Scottish Government are contributing, as part of their wider responsibilities, to the development of content with regard to specific areas of emissions reduction.

The second report on proposals and policies (RPP2) was a substantive agenda item at Emissions Reduction Programme Board meetings in January and March 2012. In addition, RPP2 development was the focus of a special session for members of the Emissions Reduction Programme Board in February 2012.

There has been ongoing development of RPP2 following these meetings. Notes of these meetings will be published on the Scottish Government website in due course.