Written Answers
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Friday 6 July 2012 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE Enterprise and Environment Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a study on the carbon footprint of biomass plants that use materials such as draff. Holding answer issued: 28 March 2012 (S4W-06182) Richard Lochhead: Over the past months the Scottish Government has facilitated meetings between the Scotch Whisky Association and farming bodies to discuss concerns regarding the use of distillery co-products for renewables generation. In these stakeholder meetings it was decided to commission research into a wide range of aspects which are relevant in the context of distillery co-product use. The research includes the nutritional value, pricing, production of and demand for distillery co-products as livestock feed in Scotland. It also looks into the carbon implications on farm of using distillery co-products compared with other alternative feed rations. On completion the report will be discussed with stakeholders and the need for further research will be explored. Such research may include, but would not necessarily be limited to, carbon footprinting. The design would need to take account of any issues of commercial sensitivity around the data on which it is based. Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to community radio in each of the last five years. (S4W-8179) Richard Lochhead: Community radio is important to the Scottish Government in reaching micro- local communities with public information messages. For each government campaign we assess the relevance to the audience in order to compile a media schedule, which often includes community radio. The Scottish Government provides between 8-10% of radio advertising expenditure to community radio, as follows (overall advertising expenditure varies from year to year, affected by, for example, the need for public information in specific localities due to the severe winter weather in 2009- 10 and 2010-11): 2008-09 - £83,612 2009-10 - £128,968 2010-11 - £133,962 2011-12 - £67,116. Community radio stations that have received advertising funding are listed in the following table. Community Stations Used 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Argyll FM Argyll FM Argyll FM Caithness FM Awaz FM Awaz FM Cuillin FM Caithness FM Caithness FM Heartland FM Cuillin FM Cuillin FM Isles FM Isles FM Isles FM Heartland FM Heartland FM L107 Isles FM Isles FM Leith FM L107 L107 Lochbroom FM Lochbroom FM Lochbroom FM Leith FM Leith FM NECR Lochbroom FM Lochbroom FM Nevis Radio Nevis Radio Nevis Radio NECR Oban FM Oban FM Oban FM Nevis Radio Nevis Radio Perth FM Perth FM Oban FM Oban FM SIBC SIBC SIBC Perth FM Sunny Govan Sunny Govan SIBC SIBC Community Stations Used 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Radio Radio Superstation Superstation Sunny Govan Sunny Govan Orkney Orkney Radio Radio Two Lochs Radio Two Lochs Radio Superstation Superstation Orkney Orkney Waves Radio Waves Radio Two Lochs Radio Two Lochs Radio YOURradio YOURradio Waves Radio Waves Radio YOURradio YOURradio In addition, from time to time, community radio stations have been successful in securing grants through various Scottish Government policy streams. However, no central record is retained of these grants. Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to (a) promote and (b) preserve the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park. (S4W-8224) Stewart Stevenson: The Memorial Park’s management agreement, which was drawn up in 1996, is being reviewed and updated with the assistance of Forestry Commission Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority. The area will, however, remain dedicated as a living landscape for quiet recreation and contemplation in memory of those who have fallen in conflict. The partners to the new management agreement will look at appropriate ways to promote the memorial both locally and through websites and leaflets. Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with the European Commission on the reform of the common agricultural policy and what the Scottish Government's position is on coupled payments. (S4W-8269) Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is involved in ongoing discussions with the European Commission on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) indeed I met with Commissioner Ciolos recently at the Royal Welsh Show. In addition, Scottish Government officials have had discussions with various EC officials on the subject. Coupled support is vital for Scotland’s livestock sector and the Scottish Government welcome the provision in the draft CAP regulations that allow it to continue. However, we want to have the option to go beyond the 5% limit being proposed by the Commission. Our position is guided by the independent Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture in Scotland, chaired by Brian Pack, which recommended that Scotland be able to use 15% of its direct payments ceiling for coupled payments. Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Executive what payments have been made under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme in each of the last three payment years, broken down by Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area office. (S4W-8271) Richard Lochhead: The following table shows payments made under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, broken down by Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division Area Office. Area Office 2009 2010 2011* Ayr 7,146,694 7,010,799 7,195,732 Area Office 2009 2010 2011* Benbecula 819,768 857,434 828,742 Dumfries 6,692,285 6,409,367 6,692,512 Elgin 2,257,189 2,573,974 2,466,667 Galashiels 7,464,747 7,132,858 7,645,105 Golspie 1,201,928 1,181,065 1,305,371 Hamilton 2,730,965 2,669,525 2,801,231 Inverness 5,040,012 5,018,480 5,134,773 Inverurie 4,028,032 3,903,318 4,090,831 Kirkwall 3,829,882 4,358,026 4,265,122 Lerwick 2,495,001 2,758,819 2,575,853 Oban 6,651,215 6,957,076 6,869,147 Perth 6,654,872 6,033,959 7,168,634 Portree 1,616,186 1,769,262 1,749,120 Stornoway 1,046,294 971,748 981,346 Thurso 3,331,492 3,591,321 3,609,205 Total 63,006,562 63,197,034 65,379,393 Note: *2011 payments correct as at 29 June 2012. Governance and Communities Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to deal with owners of derelict buildings who do not secure their premises against vandals and fire-raisers. (S4W-8218) Derek Mackay: The existing legislation enables local authorities to deal with defective or dangerous buildings. They can serve notice on the owner to carry out emergency work to secure the premises, where there is a danger to the public. If the owner does not carry out the work they are guilty of an offence under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. The local authority can then do work in default of the owner. Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many notices each local authority has issued in each year to owners of defective or derelict buildings under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. (S4W-8220) Derek Mackay: This is a matter for local authorities. Limited information on defective buildings notices issued by individual local authorities since 2005 should be available on their online Building Standards Register. The only data held centrally is the Building Standards Annual Return for 2010-11. This recorded 96 notices served on owners of defective buildings. A breakdown by local authority is found in the following table: No. of Defective Local Authority Notices Issued Aberdeen City 4 Aberdeenshire 0 Angus 0 Argyll and Bute 0 City of Edinburgh 0 Clackmannanshire 0 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 0 Dumfries and Galloway 0 Dundee City 0 No. of Defective Local Authority Notices Issued East Ayrshire 0 East Dunbartonshire 0 East Lothian 0 East Renfrewshire 0 Falkirk 0 Fife 0 Glasgow City 0 Highland 13 Inverclyde 2 Midlothian 7 Moray 0 North Ayrshire 0 North Lanarkshire 24 Orkney 0 Perth and Kinross 3 Renfrewshire 25 Scottish Borders 17 Shetland Islands 0 South Ayrshire 0 South Lanarkshire 0 Stirling 0 West Dunbartonshire 0 West Lothian 1 Scotland 96 Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask local authorities to review the council tax liabilities of terminally ill people who are hospitalised and who have unoccupied second homes. (S4W-8370) John Swinney: Under the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which governs council tax, it is for each local authority to interpret and apply the provisions set out in legislation. Depending on individual circumstances, a number of exemptions and discounts may be awarded. This can include exemption where an individual is away from home to receive care and council tax discount for second or unoccupied properties. However, local authorities do not have powers to provide discretionary exemptions based on health or other issues. This type of support for individuals is provided through the social security system, which is reserved to the UK Parliament. Health and Social Care Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bariatric surgery operations were carried out by NHS Forth Valley in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011- 12. Holding answer issued: 28 June 2012 (S4W-7940) Nicola Sturgeon: ISD central records do not include any bariatric surgery procedures carried out by NHS Forth Valley hospitals in the financial year ending 31 March 2011.