- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage the development of appropriate expertise in the marine energy sector in (a) technology development, (b) manufacture and supply of components and devices, (c) operation and maintenance of devices and (d) planning and management of projects.
Answer
The Scottish Government is encouraging the development of expertise in the marine energy sector in a number of ways.
We continue to support activities at and improvements to the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, including work to develop internationally recognised standards and certification for marine devices.
In addition to the Scottish Government''s £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme, Scottish Enterprise''s Proof of Concept programme supports development activities at Scotland''s universities and research institutes. This includes recent support for a pioneering tidal turbine technology being developed at the University of Strathclyde. Support for marine developers is also available through Scottish Enterprise''s Marine Collaboration Fund, which aims to reduce development costs and improve device performance by accessing advice from other relevant sectors.
Through Scottish Enterprise we are undertaking mapping and analysis of the marine energy sector, including databases for research and development activity and manufacturing, and supply chain mapping to highlight the current strengths and weaknesses in the supply chain.
The Marine Energy Policy Group will lead on producing strategic locational guidance to identify the most appropriate areas for early developments.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the extension of the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme following the final allocation of money in 2008.
Answer
We continue to issue grant payments to projects supported by the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme. We will monitor closely the progress made by these projects before making a decision on the provision of further direct grant support.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 1 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that potential developers and other stakeholders have sufficient information on the possible marine environment sensitivities of the development of marine energy.
Answer
The data and information provided in our marine energy strategic environmental assessment (SEA) provides a solid foundation for potential developers regarding the environmental sensitivities which their projects ought to take into account.
The marine energy policy group will take forward the recommendations set out in the SEA, including the need to provide strategic locational guidance for developers and further environmental research. The group will be chaired by the Scottish Government and include key industry, environmental and regulatory stakeholders.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 30 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been taken on the future funding of joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, specifically whether such funding will continue to be allocated through local authorities and NHS boards and whether it will be ring-fenced.
Answer
Agencies were advised by letter last week of the allocations to be made, which have been maintained at previous values continuing our support for and our additional contribution to partnership spend on mental health in Scotland.
The arrangements for allocation and spend are unaltered.
The partners in Orkney will receive £130,000 toward local mental health services and support.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 30 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been taken on the funding, in the current financial year, of joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer
Agencies were advised by letter last week of the allocations to be made, which have been maintained at previous values continuing our support for and our additional contribution to partnership spend on mental health in Scotland. The partners in Orkney will receive £130,000 toward local mental health services and support.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 30 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to develop the marine energy sector.
Answer
The Scottish Government is taking action in a number of areas to develop Scotland''s marine renewables sector.
Our £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme is helping a number of wave and tidal energy projects make the transition from research and development to commercialisation.
Under the Renewables Obligation mechanism the Scottish Government provides higher levels of support for electricity output from marine energy in Scottish waters than elsewhere in the UK. We are currently consulting on proposals for banding the Obligation to maintain the right levels of support for marine energy.
The unique testing facilities at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney have received public sector investment totalling £16 million, and provide a world class location for testing and proving these technologies.
The Scottish Government has set out its plans to establish a Marine Energy Policy Group, which will lead on actions relating to further environmental research, monitoring and the production of locational guidance for the marine renewables sector.
We are also lobbying hard on grid and regulatory matters, including pressing OFGEM and National Grid for a fundamental reform of the transmission charging regime.
- 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:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Development International’s annual budget has been for each of the last three years and what it will be for each of the next three years, broken down by funding stream.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to announce the outcome of its consideration of the responses to the consultation into the future of the small organisation water services charges exemption scheme, which was included in its consultation on the principles of charging for water services.
Answer
An announcement will be made shortly.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 23 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it has given to urban regeneration companies (URCs) in each year from 2002-03 to 2008-09, broken down by URC.
Answer
The Scottish Government provided the following funding to Pathfinder Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) over the period 2002-03 to 2007-08. The amounts included for 2008-09 are the Scottish Government''s budgeted contribution to the respective URCs. No funding requests beyond 2007-08 were received from PARC Craigmillar or Raploch.
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
(Millions) |
PARC Craigmillar | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.8 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 9.4 | 0.0 |
Raploch | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 0.0 |
Clydebank Rebuilt | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.1 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 5.0 |
Riverside Inverclyde | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 5.0* |
Irvine Bay | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 |
Clyde Gateway | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 14.0* |
Note: *The amounts quoted are part of a three-year funding award and may be subject to change.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10696 by Stewart Stevenson on 19 March 2008, whether it made use of the significant legal advice at its disposal when considering the legality of its decision to favour a select group of islands when introducing road equivalent tariff fares on ferry routes.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not normally indicate if legal advice has been taken on decisions.