- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 16 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it quantifies and communicates the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved as a result of the delivery of renewable energy targets.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not quantified the impact on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from delivery of the Scottish Government''s renewable energy targets. However, prospective developers are now required to estimate the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from specific projects as part of the consents process under s36 of the Electricity Act.
The annual publication of Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland provides a measure of the trend in overall Scottish emissions. www.naei.org.uk/reports.php.
The Scottish Government publishes a summary of this data on its website at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/sesoSubSearch/Q/SID/193.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 15 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3192 by John Swinney on 4 September 2007, when it will publish the results of the research project into the potential release of CO2 from peat as a consequence of major construction projects.
Answer
The research project is very near completion and the final report will be published on the Scottish Government website in June 2008.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12017 by Shona Robison on 30 April 2008, how the £130k allocated to the Partners in Orkney will be shared out between the partners; whether it will be ring-fenced to fund the joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and for how many years the funding been budgeted to be provided.
Answer
The funding for partnership spend on mental health will be allocated through NHS boards. It will be the responsibility of the local partners to work together and agree priorities for spend on local services. The expectation is that this funding will continue to support implementation of the Mental Health Act through a range of services, and where appropriate delivery of the HEAT targets for mental health in Scotland.
Funding has been confirmed for 2008-09 and will be allocated to NHS boards shortly. Funding for future years will be considered in due course.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how the restructuring of the enterprise network has impacted on the remit and operations of Scottish Development International.
Answer
In tandem with the restructuring of the enterprise networks, Scottish Development International (SDI) will be deploying a greater proportion of its Scottish headquarters-based staff to local offices to deliver more direct support to companies. While there have been no specific changes to SDI''s remit, its operations will be increasingly aligned with those of the refocused Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in pursuit of the Scottish Government''s purpose as outlined in The Government Economic Strategy.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what formal arrangements are in place for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
Scottish Development International''s (SDI) work is formally supervised by a management board made up of the Director-General Economy (chair) in the Scottish Government and the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Officials collaborate on areas of joint interest for SDI''s work with VisitScotland and EventScotland. There is potential for a stronger working relationship in the future as the Scottish Government''s international framework, published on 22 April 2008, makes clear that Scottish ministers wish to see closer co-ordination between the various bodies that promote Scotland''s interests overseas.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what role ministers had in the decision not to appoint any of the applicants for the post of chief executive of Scottish Development International.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12354 on 8 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning any changes to the remit and operations of Scottish Development International.
Answer
We are not planning any changes to the remit and operations of Scottish Development International (SDI) beyond the internal restructuring that is already underway.
We are, however, raising the level of ambition for what SDI can do for Scotland. The Government Economic Strategy sets out how we will focus government and public services, including SDI, on creating a more successful country through increasing sustainable economic growth.
Ministers also routinely join SDI professionals during parliamentary recess, and for example, in supporting events such as Scotland Week, to help promote Scotland and Scottish companies.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 8 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning any changes to the arrangements for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
There are no plans to alter Scottish Development International''s (SDI) joint venture status so SDI''s working relationship with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise remains unchanged.
SDI, VisitScotland and EventScotland already collaborate on areas of joint interest. There is potential for a stronger working relationship in the future, as the international framework, published on 22 April 2008, makes clear that Scottish ministers wish to see closer co-ordination between the various bodies that promote Scotland''s interests overseas.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 8 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase Scottish Development International’s overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries.
Answer
There are no current plans to increase Scottish Development International''s (SDI) overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries. SDI always seeks to align its staff resources with the extent of opportunity, and it regularly reviews this resource to ensure effective market coverage.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 8 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how much income Scottish Development International received from (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) the Executive and (c) any other sources in each of the last three years and what it will receive from these sources over each of the next three years.
Answer
The Scottish Government is the source of funding for Scottish Development International (SDI) irrespective of whether the funds flow through the Scottish Enterprise budget or the Government''s own budgets. However, the division between these two funding channels in relation to the income SDI received in each of the last three years and is receiving in the current financial year is shown in the following tables. The indicative allocation SDI has been given by Scottish Enterprise for 2009-10 and 2010-2011 is the same as for 2008-09.
| Operating Costs | 2005-06 (£000) | 2006-07 (£000) | 2007-08 (£000) | 2008-09 (£000) |
| Field Offices * | 5,437 | 5,724 | 6,853 | 6,910 |
| Scottish Operations +^># | 5,701 | 3,586 | 5,668 | 9,576 |
| International Marketing > | 2,322 | 4,846 | 5,518 | 5,100 |
| Enterprise Salaries < | 4,655 | 4,700 | 4,876 | 5,865 |
| Executive/Government Salaries | 1,672 | 1,683 | 1,682 | 1,680 |
| Totals | 18,115 | 18,856 | 22,915 | 27,451 |
| Funding Sources | 2005-06 (£000) | 2006-07 (£000) | 2007-08 (£000) | 2008-09 (£000) |
| Scottish Enterprise | 15,723 | 16,453 | 20,313 | 24,251 |
| Scottish Executive/Government +# | 2,392 | 2,403 | 2,602 | 3,200 |
| Totals | 18,115 | 18,856 | 22,915 | 27,451 |
Notes:
- Includes Scotland Europa.
+ - Includes Executive/Government contribution to Business Gateway International salaries of £720,000 per annum.
^ - Includes £3 million for regional activity from 2008-09.
> - In 2006-07, marketing spend moved from Scottish operations to international marketing.
< - Includes additional staff previously funded from LEC budgets, but transferred to SDI from 2008-09.
# - Includes £1 million (£200,000 in 2007-08 and £800,000 in 2008-09) from Government to support the higher education pilot.
