Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government welcomes industry-led initiatives where these can help boost sustainable growth and encourage visitors to specific areas of the country. The recently launched North East 250 is an example of such a private sector development which aims to boost tourism in Moray and Aberdeenshire.

Neither Transport Scotland nor any other Scottish Government bodies were involved in the North East 250 development, and the majority of the route uses the local road network, as such responsibility for any improvement lies with the respective local authorities.

The Scottish Government is making significant investment in Aberdeen City and Shire by delivering improvements on the A90 through the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the Balmedie to Tipperty upgrade. The Scottish Government is also committed to delivering improvements to the A90/A96 Haudagain Roundabout, delivering a grade separated junction at Laurencekirk and also the dualling of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness by 2030.

The recently launched North East 250 is a privately led initiative which aims to boost tourism in Moray and Aberdeenshire, and we would expect that the organisation behind it will actively monitor the impact that the development may bring to businesses and communities along the route.

While neither the Scottish Government nor its bodies were involved in its development, we would encourage engagement to ensure that public sector expertise can help ensure that the maximum economic opportunities are obtained for the area.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12557 on 21 November 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Key public sector support is already being given to the North East to encourage sustainable tourism growth. Both Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise work with tourism bodies, such as the local destination management organisations (DMOs) Moray Speyside and VisitAberdeenshire as well as with local businesses to develop the tourism product that the area has to offer. While an approach has not been made to either organisation by those behind the route, both would be willing to engage.

As well as already promoting the area more widely, VisitScotland will be able to support the North East 250 route from a marketing perspective through its online and social media marketing channels as well as ensuring awareness through its press, Public Relations and travel trade engagement.

Scottish Enterprise and the Cairngorm National Park Authority had also separately been working with VisitAberdeenshire to explore a touring route opportunity in the North East. Scottish Enterprise have also awarded the Cairngorms Business Partnership DMO up to £245,000 funding from its Tourism Destination Development Fund to develop the National Park’s existing Snow Roads route into a leading visitor destination.

During the first half of this year we published a suite of consultations under the Draft Energy Strategy, seeking views on the policies we have committed to, propose to undertake and are developing, in order to make sure we have a smooth transition to a low carbon future, with warmer homes and affordable energy for all.

Today, the Scottish Government has published the consultation responses relating to the Draft Energy Strategy and the analysis reports of five of the consultations undertaken earlier this year – namely:

• A Draft Scottish Energy Strategy: The future of Energy in Scotland

• Onshore Wind Policy Statement

• Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme

• Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Regulation of District Heating

• Energy efficiency and condition standards in private rented housing: A Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme Consultation

As announced in the Programme for Government, the final Energy Strategy will be published by the end of 2017, and will set the vision for our energy future to 2050, taking into consideration the consultation feedback. We will also publish our final Onshore Wind Policy Statement by the end of 2017.

The responses and analysis report today, along with input from the Scottish Energy Advisory Board and Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee, are being considered in the development of the final Energy Strategy.

On Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme, the outputs from the consultation will be used to inform the further development of this cornerstone initiative. As confirmed in the Programme for Government we will publish a Route Map for SEEP in 2018 setting out our long term ambition for the programme and the steps we will take to achieve it. We will develop, if appropriate, a wider SEEP Bill for later in this Parliament, also as stated in the Programme for Government.

The outputs from the consultation on energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector will be used to inform detailed thinking on the introduction of energy efficiency standards, also an important part of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme. The Scottish Government is committed to introducing energy efficiency standards in private rented housing, and this will be set out as part of the SEEP Routemap

To further our work in developing our approach under the Energy Strategy and Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme – and in line with our commitment to developing Smart, Local Energy Systems, today, we have published a further consultation on Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies and Regulation of District Heating.

This second consultation document has been informed by responses to the consultation that closed earlier this year and looks further at more detailed proposals. The outputs from both consultations will also be used to inform policy development for the Scottish Energy Efficiency Programme.

The health and safety of oil and gas workers and the marine environment in the North Sea is of paramount importance. The Scottish Government engages closely with all parts of the industry including the trade unions to monitor health and safety and will continue to work with all stakeholders to encourage effective stewardship of the marine environment and North Sea oil and gas reserves.

As health and safety is a reserved matter, and the responsibility lies with UK Ministers, the matter was dealt with directly between the Health and Safety Executive and BP. However, the Scottish Government takes seriously the reporting of any concerns around health, safety and the environment in relation to the offshore workforce and industry, and we will continue to use our influence to ensure that good practise is captured and disseminated and to support the work of regulatory bodies to protect the health and safety of the brave men and women in the sector, who help meet our energy needs.

Since 2010, the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which we support, has been instrumental in bringing over 2,400 empty homes back into use.

We provide grant assistance to the Partnership to support empty homes officers and local authorities as it is widely recognised that in the majority of cases the most effective way of bringing an empty home back into use is to provide time-consuming support and advice to the owner – and provide access to best practice that the network of Empty Homes Officers provide. And as committed to in our Programme for Government, we will double our funding, with the intention of further helping local authorities to provide and sustain Empty Homes Officer support in every part of Scotland.

Direct financial support is in place to bring empty buildings back into use from sources such as the Town Centre Empty Homes Fund and the Rural Housing Fund.

Marine Scotland if contacted would advise an enquirer to stop all works, do not disturb the item, leave the location and notify the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Health and Safety Executive and/or Police Scotland depending on the nature and location of the find. If the unexploded ordnance (UXO) is detected during marine works which fall within the jurisdiction of the Scottish Ministers then Marine Scotland would expect the persons who found the UXO to seek advice on the best way to handle the potential threat. If the decision is taken to remove and/or detonate the UXO then a marine licence may be required from Marine Scotland.