- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 22 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Scottish Renewables and marine renewables developers concerning the potential impact of the Crown Estate’s decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not received any formal representations from Scottish Renewables and marine renewables developers concerning the potential impact of the Crown Estate Commissioners approach to new leases for wave and tidal energy in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters strategic area. However, it is aware of the fact that Scottish Renewables has covered this issue in the recommendations set out in its recent Driving the Low Carbon Economy “ Wave and Tidal Energy paper.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 22 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the economic development implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it has received.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not sought any such advice.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 22 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it or its officials have had with the Crown Estate concerning the basis for its concerns regarding minimum spacing between marine energy developments.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37939 on 22 December 2010. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 22 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has undertaken of the rationale for the Crown Estate’s decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37930 on 22 December 2010. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 22 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Renewables and marine renewables developers concerning the potential impact of the Crown Estate’s decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.
Answer
The Scottish Government has had some informal discussion with marine renewables developers concerning the Crown Estate Commissioners approach to new leases for wave and tidal energy in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters strategic area. We discussed this issue with Scottish Renewables prior to the publication of their paper on Driving the Low Carbon Economy “ Wave and Tidal Energy.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 22 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought the advice of Marine Scotland on the environmental implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it has received.
Answer
Marine Scotland is part of the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36729 by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2010, how often it liaises with other European administrations to ensure that the EC rules in relation to agricultural support scheme land eligibility regulations and penalty systems are interpreted and implemented fairly; what form that liaison takes, and whether it considers that it is achieving this objective.
Answer
It is the responsibility of those charged with delivering support measures to ensure that, whether in matters of interpretation or implementation, those benefiting from those measures are treated fairly and in accordance with the relevant legislation. To that end, there are contacts between officials from all UK administrations engaged in various aspects of support measures to ensure a harmonised approach to the implementation of EU legislation.
I agree that support measures need a more proportionate penalty regime but until that is delivered, the reality is that the Scottish Government''s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) does not have any discretion to vary the level of penalties since only the EC can alter the penalty regime through changes in the appropriate legislation. Therefore, SGRPID''s approach is to help farmers and crofters to claim only land that is eligible for support and, thus, avoid penalties. It has done this by setting out what constitute eligible land in guidance booklets supporting its subsidy schemes and by holding around 20 public meetings, in cooperation with the National Farmers Union of Scotland, that were attended by over 2,000 farmers to hear how they could safeguard their CAP payments. At a very personal level, prospective beneficiaries have been given a personal letter telling them how they could take advantage of provisions to amend applications forms to remove ineligible land and avoid penalties. If there is evidence that further, similar steps such as these outlined here need to be taken in future, these will be taken.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36729 by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2010, whether it considers that variations exist in approaches taken by different EU member states concerning agricultural support scheme land eligibility regulations and penalty systems.
Answer
My officials have visited a number of member states to examine their systems for delivering agricultural support and have hosted several reciprocal visits to look at our systems. Although each member state is unique in terms of their support schemes, computer systems and farming structures, nevertheless, these exchanges have been particularly helpful in informing best practice in the implementation of these measures. As I explained in answer to question S3W-36729, however, European legislation governs all member states and, amongst other things, defines what constitutes eligible land, and sets out in detail how penalties are to be applied. I expect any variation in these areas, in other words non-compliance with the regulations, would lead to the member state concerned being fined by the Commission''s auditors.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36729 by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2010, whether it has contacted any other EU member states in the last 12 months to discuss and compare approaches to agricultural support scheme land eligibility regulations and penalty systems and, if so, (a) which member states officials contacted and (b) when any discussions took place.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37906 on 13 December 2010. As I explained, European legislation on these issues governs all member states and any comparison exercise would not yield a conclusive result.
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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 9 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken research into the potential advantages and disadvantages of deploying osmotic power generating facilities and, if so, with what result.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific research on the potential advantages of deploying osmotic power generating facilities.