3. Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): Thank you, old Etonian—I mean, Presiding Officer.
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve the Argyll and Bute road network. (S3O-10561)
The Presiding Officer: Yes, I too attended that school.
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson): Members may wish to know that I went to Bell Baxter high school, which was the local school in Cupar.
More than £3 million has already been invested by the Government in the trunk road network in Argyll and Bute in financial year 2009-10. That investment has resulted in a number of initiatives, including road resurfacing on the A83 and work to mitigate the risk of future landslides in the area. We also plan to invest a further £6 million in a range of trunk road structural maintenance and safety improvements that will support safety and economic objectives and aspirations for the area.
Jamie McGrigor: Despite that, the headline in today's edition of The Oban Times & West Highland Times states "Argyll and Bute has the worst roads in Scotland". The annual road conditions survey shows Argyll and Bute Council as 32nd out of the 32 councils and suggests that councils' road budgets would need to rise by £45 million just to keep the roads in their present condition. Argyll and Bute Council's transport spokesman Councillor Duncan MacIntyre said:
"The council needs £100 million ... just to get the roads up to an acceptable standard."
Quite apart from the discomfort and danger suffered by local people, the tourism industry is suffering, especially in areas such as the Isle of Mull where the local joke—
The Presiding Officer: A question, please.
Jamie McGrigor: Presiding Officer, my question is this. Will the Scottish Government accept that Argyll and Bute is a special case and do something about it?
Stewart Stevenson: Argyll and Bute is a very special place. Indeed, it is the only place in Scotland where, in 1956, I suffered sunstroke.
Apart from that, I draw the member's attention to the 1.9 per cent increase in funding that Argyll and Bute Council has received for the current year. Councillor Duncan MacIntyre is an extremely able and competent councillor who, as a member of Highlands and Islands transport partnership—HITRANS—will, I am sure, be able to discharge his local government responsibilities for improving the roads in Argyll and Bute. We have provided the resources; he must take the action.
Friday, 21 May 2010
Roads (Argyll and Bute) are discussed (?) in the Scottish Parliament
3. Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): Thank you, old Etonian—I mean, Presiding Officer.
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve the Argyll and Bute road network. (S3O-10561)
The Presiding Officer: Yes, I too attended that school.
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson): Members may wish to know that I went to Bell Baxter high school, which was the local school in Cupar.
More than £3 million has already been invested by the Government in the trunk road network in Argyll and Bute in financial year 2009-10. That investment has resulted in a number of initiatives, including road resurfacing on the A83 and work to mitigate the risk of future landslides in the area. We also plan to invest a further £6 million in a range of trunk road structural maintenance and safety improvements that will support safety and economic objectives and aspirations for the area.
Jamie McGrigor: Despite that, the headline in today's edition of The Oban Times & West Highland Times states "Argyll and Bute has the worst roads in Scotland". The annual road conditions survey shows Argyll and Bute Council as 32nd out of the 32 councils and suggests that councils' road budgets would need to rise by £45 million just to keep the roads in their present condition. Argyll and Bute Council's transport spokesman Councillor Duncan MacIntyre said:
"The council needs £100 million ... just to get the roads up to an acceptable standard."
Quite apart from the discomfort and danger suffered by local people, the tourism industry is suffering, especially in areas such as the Isle of Mull where the local joke—
The Presiding Officer: A question, please.
Jamie McGrigor: Presiding Officer, my question is this. Will the Scottish Government accept that Argyll and Bute is a special case and do something about it?
Stewart Stevenson: Argyll and Bute is a very special place. Indeed, it is the only place in Scotland where, in 1956, I suffered sunstroke.
Apart from that, I draw the member's attention to the 1.9 per cent increase in funding that Argyll and Bute Council has received for the current year. Councillor Duncan MacIntyre is an extremely able and competent councillor who, as a member of Highlands and Islands transport partnership—HITRANS—will, I am sure, be able to discharge his local government responsibilities for improving the roads in Argyll and Bute. We have provided the resources; he must take the action.
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve the Argyll and Bute road network. (S3O-10561)
The Presiding Officer: Yes, I too attended that school.
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson): Members may wish to know that I went to Bell Baxter high school, which was the local school in Cupar.
More than £3 million has already been invested by the Government in the trunk road network in Argyll and Bute in financial year 2009-10. That investment has resulted in a number of initiatives, including road resurfacing on the A83 and work to mitigate the risk of future landslides in the area. We also plan to invest a further £6 million in a range of trunk road structural maintenance and safety improvements that will support safety and economic objectives and aspirations for the area.
Jamie McGrigor: Despite that, the headline in today's edition of The Oban Times & West Highland Times states "Argyll and Bute has the worst roads in Scotland". The annual road conditions survey shows Argyll and Bute Council as 32nd out of the 32 councils and suggests that councils' road budgets would need to rise by £45 million just to keep the roads in their present condition. Argyll and Bute Council's transport spokesman Councillor Duncan MacIntyre said:
"The council needs £100 million ... just to get the roads up to an acceptable standard."
Quite apart from the discomfort and danger suffered by local people, the tourism industry is suffering, especially in areas such as the Isle of Mull where the local joke—
The Presiding Officer: A question, please.
Jamie McGrigor: Presiding Officer, my question is this. Will the Scottish Government accept that Argyll and Bute is a special case and do something about it?
Stewart Stevenson: Argyll and Bute is a very special place. Indeed, it is the only place in Scotland where, in 1956, I suffered sunstroke.
Apart from that, I draw the member's attention to the 1.9 per cent increase in funding that Argyll and Bute Council has received for the current year. Councillor Duncan MacIntyre is an extremely able and competent councillor who, as a member of Highlands and Islands transport partnership—HITRANS—will, I am sure, be able to discharge his local government responsibilities for improving the roads in Argyll and Bute. We have provided the resources; he must take the action.
CHARITY REGULATOR URGES AGRICULTURE BODIES TO UPDATE
Scotland’s charity regulator has issued directions to three agricultural charities to amend their constitutions. OSCR, The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, has determined that the wording used to describe their charitable purposes does not comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
The Society of Border Leicester Sheep Breeders, The Loudoun & Galston Agricultural Association, and The Highland Cattle Society, have each been given 12 months to amend their stated charitable purposes in order to meet the charity test. Charities must have exclusively charitable purposes and provide public benefit. The Regulator has decided that phrases such as ‘the advancement of agriculture’ or ‘maintenance of the purity of the breed’ are not charitable purposes as defined in the legislation.
OSCR is urging similar charities to review the wording of their constitutions and apply for changes to charitable purposes where required. The process is straightforward and guidance is available on the regulator’s website, www.org.uk .
The use of such phrases is estimated by OSCR to affect a small number of charities out of Scotland’s 23,500. In many cases, the charity’s current activities may allow it to adopt, subject to OSCR’s consent, one or more of the charitable purposes contained in the Act.
For example:
· A breeders’ society dedicated to maintaining a heritage breed could change its charitable purposes to relate to: ‘the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science’
· An agricultural society that operates community events could change its charitable purposes to relate to: ‘the advancement of citizenship or community development’.
OSCR’s Chief Executive, Jane Ryder, said that the ruling represented an opportunity for charities to review the wording of their constitutions. ‘We have consistently stressed the need for charity trustees to ensure that their constitutions remain fit for purpose, including compliance with the legislation,’ she said. ‘Charity trustees, where affected, should consider the charity’s current activities and how these could be expressed through the purposes contained in the Act.’
OSCR made its ruling as part of its Rolling Review of Charitable Status, the process by which it assesses groups of charities identified as priorities because they may not meet the charity test specified in the Act. Cattle societies and breeders’ societies were specifically noted in OSCR’s policy document along with care homes, universities, students’ unions and independent schools, among others.
In Phase 1a of the Rolling Review, the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust was judged to have failed to meet the charity test, as its stated charitable purpose was ‘the advancement of trade and industry’. Following OSCR’s direction, the charity applied to change its charitable purpose to adopt five of the purposes specified in the Act. OSCR granted its consent and the charity remains entered in the Scottish Charity Register.
Guidance on Meeting the Charity Test and application forms to apply for changes to charitable purposes, are available to download free of charge at www.oscr.org.uk
The Society of Border Leicester Sheep Breeders, The Loudoun & Galston Agricultural Association, and The Highland Cattle Society, have each been given 12 months to amend their stated charitable purposes in order to meet the charity test. Charities must have exclusively charitable purposes and provide public benefit. The Regulator has decided that phrases such as ‘the advancement of agriculture’ or ‘maintenance of the purity of the breed’ are not charitable purposes as defined in the legislation.
OSCR is urging similar charities to review the wording of their constitutions and apply for changes to charitable purposes where required. The process is straightforward and guidance is available on the regulator’s website, www.org.uk .
The use of such phrases is estimated by OSCR to affect a small number of charities out of Scotland’s 23,500. In many cases, the charity’s current activities may allow it to adopt, subject to OSCR’s consent, one or more of the charitable purposes contained in the Act.
For example:
· A breeders’ society dedicated to maintaining a heritage breed could change its charitable purposes to relate to: ‘the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science’
· An agricultural society that operates community events could change its charitable purposes to relate to: ‘the advancement of citizenship or community development’.
OSCR’s Chief Executive, Jane Ryder, said that the ruling represented an opportunity for charities to review the wording of their constitutions. ‘We have consistently stressed the need for charity trustees to ensure that their constitutions remain fit for purpose, including compliance with the legislation,’ she said. ‘Charity trustees, where affected, should consider the charity’s current activities and how these could be expressed through the purposes contained in the Act.’
OSCR made its ruling as part of its Rolling Review of Charitable Status, the process by which it assesses groups of charities identified as priorities because they may not meet the charity test specified in the Act. Cattle societies and breeders’ societies were specifically noted in OSCR’s policy document along with care homes, universities, students’ unions and independent schools, among others.
In Phase 1a of the Rolling Review, the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust was judged to have failed to meet the charity test, as its stated charitable purpose was ‘the advancement of trade and industry’. Following OSCR’s direction, the charity applied to change its charitable purpose to adopt five of the purposes specified in the Act. OSCR granted its consent and the charity remains entered in the Scottish Charity Register.
Guidance on Meeting the Charity Test and application forms to apply for changes to charitable purposes, are available to download free of charge at www.oscr.org.uk
Thursday, 20 May 2010
COUNCIL TAX FREEZE TO BE MAINTAINED says Mather
Jim Mather MSP Argyll & Bute, has welcomed the announcement from his
colleague Finance Secretary John Swinney, MSP, that the Scottish
Government intends to continue the Council Tax freeze into year
2011-2012 in spite of increasing pressure on public finances
Jim Mather said:
"I am pleased to hear confirmed the intention of continuing with the
Council Tax freeze. This is presently in its third year and has provided
welcome relief to hard-pressed households across Scotland. It has
reversed the previous trend of ever rising Council Taxes and yet we see
that the strongest opposition to this policy comes from the Labour Party
in Scotland. In the ten years before 2007, of which eight were under the
shared administration of Labour and the Liberal Democrats, Council Tax
in Scotland rose on average by 60% - in Argyll & Bute the rise was a
staggering 75%. Is this what Labour has in mind for hard working
families at a time of recession and severe restraint? I have no doubt
that the main beneficiaries of this policy are those who are most
vulnerable.
It is ironic that the opponents of this are also those who are most
willing to contest the introduction of a progressive Local Income Tax
based upon the ability to pay. The suggestion that the Scottish
Government is not responding fully to the additional pressures and
demands created by the recession has, in the light of a radically
reduced block grant, an element of selective amnesia.
Two months ago Iain Gray, MSP, the Labour Leader at Holyrood was
challenged to indicate what level of Council Tax rise he would consider
to be acceptable. It surprises nobody that he remained silent.
I note that the Finance Secretary has also identified that during the
previous administration the share of the total Scottish Budget going to
local authorities was declining and that the SNP government made a
manifesto commitment to reverse that trend. This has been accomplished
to date with an increased share going to local government from 33.4% in
year 2007-2008 to 34.1% in year 2010-2011
colleague Finance Secretary John Swinney, MSP, that the Scottish
Government intends to continue the Council Tax freeze into year
2011-2012 in spite of increasing pressure on public finances
Jim Mather said:
"I am pleased to hear confirmed the intention of continuing with the
Council Tax freeze. This is presently in its third year and has provided
welcome relief to hard-pressed households across Scotland. It has
reversed the previous trend of ever rising Council Taxes and yet we see
that the strongest opposition to this policy comes from the Labour Party
in Scotland. In the ten years before 2007, of which eight were under the
shared administration of Labour and the Liberal Democrats, Council Tax
in Scotland rose on average by 60% - in Argyll & Bute the rise was a
staggering 75%. Is this what Labour has in mind for hard working
families at a time of recession and severe restraint? I have no doubt
that the main beneficiaries of this policy are those who are most
vulnerable.
It is ironic that the opponents of this are also those who are most
willing to contest the introduction of a progressive Local Income Tax
based upon the ability to pay. The suggestion that the Scottish
Government is not responding fully to the additional pressures and
demands created by the recession has, in the light of a radically
reduced block grant, an element of selective amnesia.
Two months ago Iain Gray, MSP, the Labour Leader at Holyrood was
challenged to indicate what level of Council Tax rise he would consider
to be acceptable. It surprises nobody that he remained silent.
I note that the Finance Secretary has also identified that during the
previous administration the share of the total Scottish Budget going to
local authorities was declining and that the SNP government made a
manifesto commitment to reverse that trend. This has been accomplished
to date with an increased share going to local government from 33.4% in
year 2007-2008 to 34.1% in year 2010-2011
Mather on Biomass Awards Scheme
Jim Mather Argyll & Bute MSP and Energy Minister emphasised the importance of the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme Awards. Among businesses across Scotland that will boost the use of renewable heating is Argyll & Bute> '> s Isle of Eriska Hotel. Grants totalling 1.1 million pounds from the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme have been awarded to 16 projects to reduce energy costs, secure jobs in forestry and deliver annual savings of over 7,000 tonnes of carbon - equivalent to taking 3,000 cars off the roads. The Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme is Scotland-wide, with funding of 3.3 million pounds over 2 years from April 2009 to March 2011. The Scheme is managed in partnership between Scottish Government and Forestry Commission Scotland and is targeted at businesses, specifically small and medium sized enterprises. The scheme also encourages the development of district heating demonstrators from private developers. The maximum grant available is 100,000 pounds, although additional support for district heating projects may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Jim Mather said:
"> A viable renewable heat sector is vital to become a truly low carbon economy. We have the forestry resource and the skills in Scotland and there are many opportunities for businesses to use more biomass heating, especially in areas off the gas grid.
"> These Biomass Heat Scheme grants will help a range of different businesses reduce emissions and cut costs, while securing green jobs. The use of more woodfuel will build sustainability into our economy.
"> We are working with Forestry Commission Scotland to look at all aspects of supply to maximise the available resource and meet the rising demand for woodfuel. We announced earlier this year that 100 million trees would be planted in Scotland by 2015, providing more sustainable materials for biomass heating.> ">
Daniel Borisewitz, Policy Manager Bioenergy and Heat at Scottish Renewables, said: > "> Since 2008, the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme has been instrumental in the development of the renewable heating solutions throughout the country. This latest round of funding further demonstrates the Government's strong commitment to the sector and will provide the necessary upfront capital to develop viable projects in the interim period before the launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive.> ">
The successful schemes to benefit from funding are:
* Angus Biofuels - Hillcrest Head Office, Dundee - 100,000 pounds;
* Angus Biofuels - Lyon Crescent Student Housing, Bridge of Allan - 164,500 pounds;
* Black Isle Brewery - Black Isle Brewery, Munlochy - 54,470 pounds;
* County Fabrics - Wood Pellet Heating System, Crook of Devon, Kinross - 7,566 pounds;
* Coventry for Fencing - Auchterarder head office - 29,713 pounds;
* Coventry for Fencing - Carstairs showroom and warehouse - 34,306 pounds;
* Deeside Cuisine Ltd - The Cowshed Restaurant, Banchory - 22,613 pounds;
* Douglas and Angus Estates - Newmains District Heating Scheme, South Lanarkshire - 134,405 pounds;
* Eriska Enterprises Ltd - Eriska Hotel Biomass Project, Isle of Eriska - 37,612 pounds;
* John Gordon and Son Ltd - Biomass Boiler for Sawmill, Nairn - 182,473 pounds;
* John O'Groats Leisure Ltd - Caberfeidh House/Seaview Hotel Redevelopment, John O'Groats - 51,808 pounds;
* Highland Grain Ltd - Grain drying using low grade barley and barley dust fuel, Glaikmore, Inverness - 23,750 pounds;
* Highland Wood Energy Ltd (HWE) - HWE ESCO 1, Highland - 100,000 pounds;
* Highland Wood Energy Ltd (HWE) - HWE ESCO 2, Highland - 51,575 pounds;
* Oil Technics Ltd - Oil Technics 2010 Extension Build, Gourdon, Aberdeenshire - 18,537 pounds;
* R and R Construction - Barochan Estate District Heating Scheme, Houston, Renfrewshire - 100,000 pounds.>
Total - 1,113,328 pounds
Jim Mather said:
"> A viable renewable heat sector is vital to become a truly low carbon economy. We have the forestry resource and the skills in Scotland and there are many opportunities for businesses to use more biomass heating, especially in areas off the gas grid.
"> These Biomass Heat Scheme grants will help a range of different businesses reduce emissions and cut costs, while securing green jobs. The use of more woodfuel will build sustainability into our economy.
"> We are working with Forestry Commission Scotland to look at all aspects of supply to maximise the available resource and meet the rising demand for woodfuel. We announced earlier this year that 100 million trees would be planted in Scotland by 2015, providing more sustainable materials for biomass heating.> ">
Daniel Borisewitz, Policy Manager Bioenergy and Heat at Scottish Renewables, said: > "> Since 2008, the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme has been instrumental in the development of the renewable heating solutions throughout the country. This latest round of funding further demonstrates the Government's strong commitment to the sector and will provide the necessary upfront capital to develop viable projects in the interim period before the launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive.> ">
The successful schemes to benefit from funding are:
* Angus Biofuels - Hillcrest Head Office, Dundee - 100,000 pounds;
* Angus Biofuels - Lyon Crescent Student Housing, Bridge of Allan - 164,500 pounds;
* Black Isle Brewery - Black Isle Brewery, Munlochy - 54,470 pounds;
* County Fabrics - Wood Pellet Heating System, Crook of Devon, Kinross - 7,566 pounds;
* Coventry for Fencing - Auchterarder head office - 29,713 pounds;
* Coventry for Fencing - Carstairs showroom and warehouse - 34,306 pounds;
* Deeside Cuisine Ltd - The Cowshed Restaurant, Banchory - 22,613 pounds;
* Douglas and Angus Estates - Newmains District Heating Scheme, South Lanarkshire - 134,405 pounds;
* Eriska Enterprises Ltd - Eriska Hotel Biomass Project, Isle of Eriska - 37,612 pounds;
* John Gordon and Son Ltd - Biomass Boiler for Sawmill, Nairn - 182,473 pounds;
* John O'Groats Leisure Ltd - Caberfeidh House/Seaview Hotel Redevelopment, John O'Groats - 51,808 pounds;
* Highland Grain Ltd - Grain drying using low grade barley and barley dust fuel, Glaikmore, Inverness - 23,750 pounds;
* Highland Wood Energy Ltd (HWE) - HWE ESCO 1, Highland - 100,000 pounds;
* Highland Wood Energy Ltd (HWE) - HWE ESCO 2, Highland - 51,575 pounds;
* Oil Technics Ltd - Oil Technics 2010 Extension Build, Gourdon, Aberdeenshire - 18,537 pounds;
* R and R Construction - Barochan Estate District Heating Scheme, Houston, Renfrewshire - 100,000 pounds.>
Total - 1,113,328 pounds
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
VALUE OF OFFSHORE ENERGY CALCULATED
A new report has confirmed the value of Scotland's wind wave and tidal energy resource. Scotland's seas could supply domestic electricity needs many times over by 2050, according to a new report out today.
The Offshore Valuation Study - a UK-led report launched at All Energy in Aberdeen - finds the value of that electricity could be £14 billion by 2050.The study is the first comprehensive economic valuation of the UK's offshore renewable energy resources to 2050. Key findings of the report suggest:
* Scotland's total practical offshore resource is estimated at 206 Gigawatts (GW)
* By harnessing around a third of that resource, installed offshore renewables capacity could reach 68 GW in Scotland by 2050. This compares to Scotland's current installed renewable capacity of 3.7 GW and could generate many times annual domestic demand.
* Of the 68 GW capacity by 2050, 46 GW could come from fixed wind, 11 GW from floating wind, 4 GW from wave energy, 5 GW from tidal stream and 2 GW from tidal range;
* The net value of Scotland's 68 GW of offshore resource in terms of electricity sales is estimated at £14 billion by 2050. Equivalent to £2,700 per person, this is significantly higher than in England (£400 per person) or in Wales (£1,000 per person).
Energy Minister Jim Mather said:
"We have long known the huge scale of the low carbon opportunities in our seas. This independently produced report now validates our energy policy that favours our comparative advantage and further strengthens our view that Scotland should have better grid connections to continental Europe.
The report is an extremely useful contribution to quantifying the possible scale of the emerging green energy industry. It finds that offshore wind, wave and tidal energy have the potential to meet our electricity needs seven times over, creating a vast export surplus while making a significant contribution to meeting domestic and European renewable energy targets.
The report finds up to 145,000 jobs could be created, UK wide, in installation, operation and maintenance. With a high share of the UK's offshore green energy potential, I would expect a large number of the sustainable, low carbon jobs to come here.
The report may even underestimate the scale of wave and tidal activity. We know it is a young sector but through the Saltire Prize, our £12 million WATERS fund and the work of the marine energy group, we expect wave and tidal to mature much earlier than this report suggests.
These findings strengthen our arguments for developing our offshore renewable potential, for greater interconnection to the rest of the UK and Europe and for the development of offshore grids to connect and export offshore renewable energy from Scotland direct to continental Europe. We must seize these opportunities and we will continue to work to make the transition to a low carbon economy a reality."
Background
The Offshore Valuation Study is available at www.offshorevaluation.org
The Offshore Valuation Study is the first comprehensive economic valuation of the UK's offshore renewable energy resources to 2050. The study explores scenarios to develop the UK's offshore resources (wind, wave and tidal) to maturity in order to assess the long-term value from electricity exports, technology exports, jobs, returns to UK investors, and avoided imports. The Scottish Government has supported the study.
The study was led by the Offshore Valuation Group, a group drawn from across industry and government and chaired by the Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC), a not-for-profit charity. The Group includes the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments, the Crown Estate and eight companies across the energy sector.
The Offshore Valuation Study - a UK-led report launched at All Energy in Aberdeen - finds the value of that electricity could be £14 billion by 2050.The study is the first comprehensive economic valuation of the UK's offshore renewable energy resources to 2050. Key findings of the report suggest:
* Scotland's total practical offshore resource is estimated at 206 Gigawatts (GW)
* By harnessing around a third of that resource, installed offshore renewables capacity could reach 68 GW in Scotland by 2050. This compares to Scotland's current installed renewable capacity of 3.7 GW and could generate many times annual domestic demand.
* Of the 68 GW capacity by 2050, 46 GW could come from fixed wind, 11 GW from floating wind, 4 GW from wave energy, 5 GW from tidal stream and 2 GW from tidal range;
* The net value of Scotland's 68 GW of offshore resource in terms of electricity sales is estimated at £14 billion by 2050. Equivalent to £2,700 per person, this is significantly higher than in England (£400 per person) or in Wales (£1,000 per person).
Energy Minister Jim Mather said:
"We have long known the huge scale of the low carbon opportunities in our seas. This independently produced report now validates our energy policy that favours our comparative advantage and further strengthens our view that Scotland should have better grid connections to continental Europe.
The report is an extremely useful contribution to quantifying the possible scale of the emerging green energy industry. It finds that offshore wind, wave and tidal energy have the potential to meet our electricity needs seven times over, creating a vast export surplus while making a significant contribution to meeting domestic and European renewable energy targets.
The report finds up to 145,000 jobs could be created, UK wide, in installation, operation and maintenance. With a high share of the UK's offshore green energy potential, I would expect a large number of the sustainable, low carbon jobs to come here.
The report may even underestimate the scale of wave and tidal activity. We know it is a young sector but through the Saltire Prize, our £12 million WATERS fund and the work of the marine energy group, we expect wave and tidal to mature much earlier than this report suggests.
These findings strengthen our arguments for developing our offshore renewable potential, for greater interconnection to the rest of the UK and Europe and for the development of offshore grids to connect and export offshore renewable energy from Scotland direct to continental Europe. We must seize these opportunities and we will continue to work to make the transition to a low carbon economy a reality."
Background
The Offshore Valuation Study is available at www.offshorevaluation.org
The Offshore Valuation Study is the first comprehensive economic valuation of the UK's offshore renewable energy resources to 2050. The study explores scenarios to develop the UK's offshore resources (wind, wave and tidal) to maturity in order to assess the long-term value from electricity exports, technology exports, jobs, returns to UK investors, and avoided imports. The Scottish Government has supported the study.
The study was led by the Offshore Valuation Group, a group drawn from across industry and government and chaired by the Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC), a not-for-profit charity. The Group includes the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments, the Crown Estate and eight companies across the energy sector.
DIAGEO LAUNCH THE FOURTH AND FINAL BATCH OF THEIR SINGLE-CASK COLLECTION OF MALT SCOTCH WHISKIES
19 May 2010
Following the first batch launched in September, and a second collection
released in January, Diageo are now launching the fourth and final batch of
their single-cask collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.
Following earlier batches launched in September, January and April, Diageo
are now launching the fourth and final set of their highly exclusive
single-cask collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.
Among the seven expressions that feature in this fourth release are some
single malts familiar to many malt whisky drinkers - notably Clynelish™,
Knockando™, and the iconic award-winning Islay malt, Lagavulin™.
But Auchroisk™, Benrinnes™, Blair Athol™ and Linkwood™ normally
enjoy only very limited availability.
Each of the whiskies is drawn from one single oak cask, picked after a
careful examination of distillery stocks, and bottled at its natural cask
strength. The number of bottles obtained from the chosen casks can vary
between approximately 640 and as little as 200.
So these are rare and distinctive whiskies. Aimed at collectors and
connoisseurs, prices range from £200 to £300 per bo
Following the first batch launched in September, and a second collection
released in January, Diageo are now launching the fourth and final batch of
their single-cask collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.
Following earlier batches launched in September, January and April, Diageo
are now launching the fourth and final set of their highly exclusive
single-cask collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.
Among the seven expressions that feature in this fourth release are some
single malts familiar to many malt whisky drinkers - notably Clynelish™,
Knockando™, and the iconic award-winning Islay malt, Lagavulin™.
But Auchroisk™, Benrinnes™, Blair Athol™ and Linkwood™ normally
enjoy only very limited availability.
Each of the whiskies is drawn from one single oak cask, picked after a
careful examination of distillery stocks, and bottled at its natural cask
strength. The number of bottles obtained from the chosen casks can vary
between approximately 640 and as little as 200.
So these are rare and distinctive whiskies. Aimed at collectors and
connoisseurs, prices range from £200 to £300 per bo
Whale and dolphin watchers wanted
The marine research charity Sea Watch is seeking nature lovers and local yachtsmen and women who will be willing to spend time watching out from the coast of south west Scotland and in coastal waters during this summer’s National Whale and Dolphin Watch (NWDW).
Common dolphins and harbour porpoise are regularly seen around the area and fin whales and bottlenose dolphins are also seen occasionally.
But last year, a northern bottlenose whale was spotted around Portpatrick in June and another around Wigtown Sands in August.
Observers can carry out watches from land or, if they have access to a boat, from sea and no experience is necessary. Key watch locations include Corsewall Point, Black Head, Ardwell Point, Mull of Galloway, Burrow Head and Southerness Point.
All volunteers will be sent information about what to look for and how to record their sightings. If enough people apply there may be opportunities to ‘buddy up’ with other local enthusiasts.
National Whale and Dolphin Watch is being held from August 7 - 15. Information gathered creates a snapshot of the distribution of dolphins, whales and porpoises – cetaceans - around the coast, feeding into scientific discussions on abundance and distribution. Thirteen different species are known to live in or regularly visit UK waters.
Sea Watch Sightings Officer Gemma Veneruso said: “We are hoping to recruit people who are willing to commit to spend some time during the watch looking out at locations near where they live. Any time that they can spare would be appreciated. We have some observers who do watches all day every day and others who do one two-hour watch and it is all beneficial.
“They will need binoculars. A compass is useful, but not essential, as is a camera. I will be sending out detailed information to all volunteers about the species they can expect to see locally, how to identify them and the sort of information we need recording.
“Volunteers’ sightings will be in addition to public watches which will be held at various points along the coast and will supplement our existing observers and co-ordinators. We are hoping to build as comprehensive picture as possible of what species are around our coast during that period.
“We would also like to ask any local environmental organisations/centres or commercial boat operators to be involved in the event by doing their own watches.”
Sea Watch collects sightings data all year round which helps to feed into discussions to help shape marine conservation policies aimed at protecting the whales, dolphins and porpoises around our coast.
To become an observer, or for more information on Sea Watch’s sightings network and other research projects, see www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk.
Anyone interested should contact Gemma at Sea Watch on 01545 561227 or email her at HYPERLINK "mailto:sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk" sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
If you wish to support the work of Sea Watch but unable to commit to time during National Whale and Dolphin Watch you can support their research through HYPERLINK "http://www.adoptadolphin.org.uk"www.adoptadolphin.org.uk . All monies raised through the campaign help fund Sea Watch’s research.
Common dolphins and harbour porpoise are regularly seen around the area and fin whales and bottlenose dolphins are also seen occasionally.
But last year, a northern bottlenose whale was spotted around Portpatrick in June and another around Wigtown Sands in August.
Observers can carry out watches from land or, if they have access to a boat, from sea and no experience is necessary. Key watch locations include Corsewall Point, Black Head, Ardwell Point, Mull of Galloway, Burrow Head and Southerness Point.
All volunteers will be sent information about what to look for and how to record their sightings. If enough people apply there may be opportunities to ‘buddy up’ with other local enthusiasts.
National Whale and Dolphin Watch is being held from August 7 - 15. Information gathered creates a snapshot of the distribution of dolphins, whales and porpoises – cetaceans - around the coast, feeding into scientific discussions on abundance and distribution. Thirteen different species are known to live in or regularly visit UK waters.
Sea Watch Sightings Officer Gemma Veneruso said: “We are hoping to recruit people who are willing to commit to spend some time during the watch looking out at locations near where they live. Any time that they can spare would be appreciated. We have some observers who do watches all day every day and others who do one two-hour watch and it is all beneficial.
“They will need binoculars. A compass is useful, but not essential, as is a camera. I will be sending out detailed information to all volunteers about the species they can expect to see locally, how to identify them and the sort of information we need recording.
“Volunteers’ sightings will be in addition to public watches which will be held at various points along the coast and will supplement our existing observers and co-ordinators. We are hoping to build as comprehensive picture as possible of what species are around our coast during that period.
“We would also like to ask any local environmental organisations/centres or commercial boat operators to be involved in the event by doing their own watches.”
Sea Watch collects sightings data all year round which helps to feed into discussions to help shape marine conservation policies aimed at protecting the whales, dolphins and porpoises around our coast.
To become an observer, or for more information on Sea Watch’s sightings network and other research projects, see www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk.
Anyone interested should contact Gemma at Sea Watch on 01545 561227 or email her at HYPERLINK "mailto:sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk" sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
If you wish to support the work of Sea Watch but unable to commit to time during National Whale and Dolphin Watch you can support their research through HYPERLINK "http://www.adoptadolphin.org.uk"www.adoptadolphin.org.uk . All monies raised through the campaign help fund Sea Watch’s research.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCOTTISH FARMING FROM HUNG VOTE - says NFUS
NFU Scotland believes that a hung parliament presents genuine opportunities for organisations to successfully influence a minority or coalition UK government, for the good of the food and farming industries and consumers
Since Scottish devolution in 1999 and the creation of the Scottish Parliament, there have been three successive “hung parliaments” in Scotland resulting in two coalitions involving Labour and Liberal Democrats and, most recently, an SNP minority Government.
The opportunities that a hung parliament presents to a sector such as agriculture and to an organisation such as NFUS must be neither underestimated nor missed.
NFU Scotland’s President, Jim McLaren said:
“With agriculture as a devolved issue and as one of Scotland’s leading membership organisations, NFUS has enjoyed close working relationships with all political parties in Scotland, and used that relationship to win a better working environment for Scottish farmers.
“Despite the current economic crisis and the need for stable government, the experience of the political arrangements in Scotland over the last decade is such that there is good reason to believe that any minority Government or coalition relying on political consensus can successfully deliver the stability that is necessary for our industry.
“The prospect of a hung Parliament holds little fear for Scottish agriculture. Since Devolution, agriculture has been governed in Scotland by a mixture of coalitions and minority administrations, arguably with a fair deal of success. The current minority administration has performed well for farmers and the rural community as a whole, with consensus politics ensuring that decisions are for the most part, sensible. Indeed, our relationship with the Scottish Government has fared well since the Scottish Parliament came into existence 11 years ago.
“Despite the devolution of agriculture, the UK Parliament still has a large amount of control over the future for Scotland’s farmers. Not least because the UK is the Member State in Europe through which official CAP negotiations must take place. This does not stop Scotland holding discussions in Brussels ourselves, which we do almost constantly, but does present challenges when the UK default position of late has been to scrap the CAP.
“Whatever arrangements emerge from the negotiations over who will run Britain, the priorities for Scotland remain the same. We need a strong defence of the CAP and its budget; devolution of the Animal Health budget to sit in Scotland beside the policy; delivery of the supermarket ombudsman to oversee the running of the strengthened Grocery Supply Chain Code; policies on climate change which are backed by sound science and true partnership in any discussions surrounding cost sharing which recognise that costs must first be slashed before any of them are passed on to industry.”
Since Scottish devolution in 1999 and the creation of the Scottish Parliament, there have been three successive “hung parliaments” in Scotland resulting in two coalitions involving Labour and Liberal Democrats and, most recently, an SNP minority Government.
The opportunities that a hung parliament presents to a sector such as agriculture and to an organisation such as NFUS must be neither underestimated nor missed.
NFU Scotland’s President, Jim McLaren said:
“With agriculture as a devolved issue and as one of Scotland’s leading membership organisations, NFUS has enjoyed close working relationships with all political parties in Scotland, and used that relationship to win a better working environment for Scottish farmers.
“Despite the current economic crisis and the need for stable government, the experience of the political arrangements in Scotland over the last decade is such that there is good reason to believe that any minority Government or coalition relying on political consensus can successfully deliver the stability that is necessary for our industry.
“The prospect of a hung Parliament holds little fear for Scottish agriculture. Since Devolution, agriculture has been governed in Scotland by a mixture of coalitions and minority administrations, arguably with a fair deal of success. The current minority administration has performed well for farmers and the rural community as a whole, with consensus politics ensuring that decisions are for the most part, sensible. Indeed, our relationship with the Scottish Government has fared well since the Scottish Parliament came into existence 11 years ago.
“Despite the devolution of agriculture, the UK Parliament still has a large amount of control over the future for Scotland’s farmers. Not least because the UK is the Member State in Europe through which official CAP negotiations must take place. This does not stop Scotland holding discussions in Brussels ourselves, which we do almost constantly, but does present challenges when the UK default position of late has been to scrap the CAP.
“Whatever arrangements emerge from the negotiations over who will run Britain, the priorities for Scotland remain the same. We need a strong defence of the CAP and its budget; devolution of the Animal Health budget to sit in Scotland beside the policy; delivery of the supermarket ombudsman to oversee the running of the strengthened Grocery Supply Chain Code; policies on climate change which are backed by sound science and true partnership in any discussions surrounding cost sharing which recognise that costs must first be slashed before any of them are passed on to industry.”
ARGYLL & BUTE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP FORUM ELECTIONS
Members of the Argyll & Bute Public Partnership Forum (PPF) are seeking candidates to stand for election to be Chair and Deputy Chair of the organisation. The positions are elected by the membership of the PPF and those individuals who are successfully elected will also become full members of the Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP) Committee.
Argyll & Bute PPF is made up of patients, focus groups, community groups, voluntary organisations and individual members of the public and is open to anyone within the community. It is a two-way communication organisation that helps ensure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to speak to decision makers about how local healthcare is provided.
Argyll & Bute CHP recognises and values the role that PPF members have in the delivery and development of services in the area and as full members of the CHP Committee the Chair and Deputy Chair of the PPF significantly contribute to and influence the work of the CHP.
To be eligible for election, the individual should live or have a substantial interest in Argyll and Bute (for example working or having parents living there) and must be a registered member of the Argyll and Bute PPF. This registration can be done by a simple registration process. Appointment will be for either 2 or 3 years, and candidates can be re-elected up to a maximum of 6 years.
The deadline for receipt of your self nominations is 12 noon on Monday 31st May 2010. Ballot papers will be sent out on Monday 14th June and the ballot closes at 12 noon on Monday 12th July. Please also note that candidates standing for election will have their contact details made public so that the electorate can make contact directly if they so wish.
The successful candidates will be offered all the support they need to contribute and participate according to their individual needs, including an induction session.
Please contact Caroline Champion, Planning and Public Involvement Manager, caroline.champion@nhs.net or telephone 01546 605680 or 605681 for the necessary information and registration form.
Argyll & Bute PPF is made up of patients, focus groups, community groups, voluntary organisations and individual members of the public and is open to anyone within the community. It is a two-way communication organisation that helps ensure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to speak to decision makers about how local healthcare is provided.
Argyll & Bute CHP recognises and values the role that PPF members have in the delivery and development of services in the area and as full members of the CHP Committee the Chair and Deputy Chair of the PPF significantly contribute to and influence the work of the CHP.
To be eligible for election, the individual should live or have a substantial interest in Argyll and Bute (for example working or having parents living there) and must be a registered member of the Argyll and Bute PPF. This registration can be done by a simple registration process. Appointment will be for either 2 or 3 years, and candidates can be re-elected up to a maximum of 6 years.
The deadline for receipt of your self nominations is 12 noon on Monday 31st May 2010. Ballot papers will be sent out on Monday 14th June and the ballot closes at 12 noon on Monday 12th July. Please also note that candidates standing for election will have their contact details made public so that the electorate can make contact directly if they so wish.
The successful candidates will be offered all the support they need to contribute and participate according to their individual needs, including an induction session.
Please contact Caroline Champion, Planning and Public Involvement Manager, caroline.champion@nhs.net or telephone 01546 605680 or 605681 for the necessary information and registration form.
BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday 29 May – Friday 4 June 2010
Title: Dolly Parton live at the O2
Recorded live at the O2 Arena in London, BBC ALBA brings you a concert of Dolly Parton’s greatest hits.
Transmitted: Saturday 29th May 2010
Time: 21:00
Title: Trusadh/Compelling Stories - Sgrios/Food Waste
Food waste is a huge problem in Britain with 8.3 million tonnes of food thrown out annually. In Scotland alone 570,000 tonnes of food is thrown out. Dealing with this costs the Scottish Government £85 million a year, and this practice is costing each household £430 annually.
However there are many ways that everyone could help tackle this issue, and 'Trusadh' meets some of the individuals and groups who are on a mission to help drive these changes.
Transmitted: Monday 31st May 2010
Time: 21:00
Title: Cuide ri Cathy – Jack McConnell
Cathy MacDonald spends a day in the company of former First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell.
Transmitted: Monday 31st May 2010
Time: 22:00
Title: Turus a Bhradain/The Salmon's Journey
Neen Mackay's angling odyssey continues with a look at the Scottish salmon rivers of the far north.
Transmitted: Tuesday 1st June 2010
Time: 20:30
Title: Thuige Seo / Talk Show
In the latest programme in a series of interviews with notable Gaels, Donald Morrison catches up with teacher, artist and language expert Colin Spencer.
Transmitted: Thursday 3rd June 2010
Time: 20:30
Title: Dolly Parton live at the O2
Recorded live at the O2 Arena in London, BBC ALBA brings you a concert of Dolly Parton’s greatest hits.
Transmitted: Saturday 29th May 2010
Time: 21:00
Title: Trusadh/Compelling Stories - Sgrios/Food Waste
Food waste is a huge problem in Britain with 8.3 million tonnes of food thrown out annually. In Scotland alone 570,000 tonnes of food is thrown out. Dealing with this costs the Scottish Government £85 million a year, and this practice is costing each household £430 annually.
However there are many ways that everyone could help tackle this issue, and 'Trusadh' meets some of the individuals and groups who are on a mission to help drive these changes.
Transmitted: Monday 31st May 2010
Time: 21:00
Title: Cuide ri Cathy – Jack McConnell
Cathy MacDonald spends a day in the company of former First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell.
Transmitted: Monday 31st May 2010
Time: 22:00
Title: Turus a Bhradain/The Salmon's Journey
Neen Mackay's angling odyssey continues with a look at the Scottish salmon rivers of the far north.
Transmitted: Tuesday 1st June 2010
Time: 20:30
Title: Thuige Seo / Talk Show
In the latest programme in a series of interviews with notable Gaels, Donald Morrison catches up with teacher, artist and language expert Colin Spencer.
Transmitted: Thursday 3rd June 2010
Time: 20:30
Creative Scotland CEO announces £500k boost for Highland arts programme
Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive Designate of Creative Scotland, has today announced that music, dance, literature and drama are among six creative disciplines to benefit from £500,000 funding this year for their development in the Highlands. Crafts and visual arts are also in line for a share of the support recommended by the Highland Cultural Strategic Board.
Supporting this recommendation, Creative Scotland, which will be the new national development body for the arts, culture and creative industries will invest £300,000 from its £5m Innovation Fund, with an additional £100,000 coming each from The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Andrew Dixon, CEO Designate of Creative Scotland, made the announcement while attending the 6th Ullapool Book Festival in the Highlands, “I am delighted to announce this investment in the Highlands and our partnership with The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Highland Arts Programme is geared towards partnership working among creative organisations throughout the region to support and invest in the creativity of artists in the Highlands.”
Culture Minister, Fiona Hyslop, welcomed the initiative, saying: “This investment for the Highlands is an excellent example of how Creative Scotland can bring support to the sector through working collaboratively with partners and through an innovative and inclusive approach. The Highland Arts Programme will support a range of art forms and the overall programme will contribute to promoting the Highlands’ vibrant cultural talent both at home and abroad.”
The Highland Council’s Convenor and Chair of the Highland Culture Strategic Board, Sandy Park, said: “Building on previous successful partnerships between local and national agencies, the work of the Highland Culture Strategic Board seeks to maximise on its collective investment into cultural activity in the Highlands. I am delighted that by working with Creative Scotland and HIE, this new fund will enable targeted investment in our shared cultural priorities for the region.”
A strong creative industries sector is fundamentally important to a successful economy according to Charlotte Wright, HIE's regional director for the Highland area: "The Highlands' wealth of creative talent plays an important part in supporting numerous threads of its economy. HIE is looking forward to working with its partners to further support and promote the work of those involved in the sector through this programme."
The seven strand programme, which includes a marketing and evaluation element, will be known as the Highland Arts Programme – Prògram Ealain na Gàidhealtachd.
Specifically the Highland Arts Programme will support
Theatre: Eden Court in partnership with Scottish Theatre Consortium will commission a touring theatre production that originates in the Highlands (£85,000).
Literature: Will give opportunities for Highland based writers, readers, publishers and promoters to create new initiatives that contribute to an exciting programme of Literature and Literacy Visual Arts: Alongside the creation of a Highland public arts strategy, The Highland Council Exhibitions Unit, in partnership with Inverness Old Town Art, will offer six new commissions presenting art in new locations and developing new audiences (£75,000).
Crafts: HI-Arts will devise a mentoring programme for craft makers, establish relationships with craft retailers throughout the UK and develop a unified brand for the industry in the Highlands (£50,000).
Music: Fèisean nan Gàidheal, HIE and Go Events will offer bursaries to showcase Highland bands and individual musicians nationally and internationally. The partnership will strive to attract audiences and promoters to the Highlands through showcasing the successful traditional and contemporary music scenes of the region (£75,000).
Dance: Building on the existing BodyCurrents project, Eden Court Theatre and The Highland Council will finalise and present a dance strategy for the Highlands (£85,000).
Marketing and Evaluation: the Highland Culture Project Team will co-ordinate a marketing and communications strategy to support the work undertaken throughout the cultural sector in the Highlands (£80,000).
For more information on the Highland Arts Programme contact:
Fiona Hampton, The Highland Council, 01463 702046 or email fiona.hampton@highland.gov.uk
For more information about each theme contact:
Music – Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, 01478 613355 or e-mail arthur@feisean.org.
Visual Arts – Cathy Shankland, The Highland Council, 01463 710978 or email cathy.shankland@highland.gov.uk.
Crafts – Pamela Conacher, HI-Arts, 01463 717091 or email Pamela@hi-arts.co.uk.
Literature - Fiona Hampton, The Highland Council, 01463 702046 or email fiona.hampton@highland.gov.uk
Theatre and Dance – Colin Marr, Eden Court Theatre, 01463 239841 or email cmarr@eden-court.co.uk.
For more information about Creative Scotland contact:
Amy Fairbairn, Communications Manager, Scottish Screen, 0141 302 1749 or email amy.fairbairn@scottishscreen.com.
Supporting this recommendation, Creative Scotland, which will be the new national development body for the arts, culture and creative industries will invest £300,000 from its £5m Innovation Fund, with an additional £100,000 coming each from The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Andrew Dixon, CEO Designate of Creative Scotland, made the announcement while attending the 6th Ullapool Book Festival in the Highlands, “I am delighted to announce this investment in the Highlands and our partnership with The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Highland Arts Programme is geared towards partnership working among creative organisations throughout the region to support and invest in the creativity of artists in the Highlands.”
Culture Minister, Fiona Hyslop, welcomed the initiative, saying: “This investment for the Highlands is an excellent example of how Creative Scotland can bring support to the sector through working collaboratively with partners and through an innovative and inclusive approach. The Highland Arts Programme will support a range of art forms and the overall programme will contribute to promoting the Highlands’ vibrant cultural talent both at home and abroad.”
The Highland Council’s Convenor and Chair of the Highland Culture Strategic Board, Sandy Park, said: “Building on previous successful partnerships between local and national agencies, the work of the Highland Culture Strategic Board seeks to maximise on its collective investment into cultural activity in the Highlands. I am delighted that by working with Creative Scotland and HIE, this new fund will enable targeted investment in our shared cultural priorities for the region.”
A strong creative industries sector is fundamentally important to a successful economy according to Charlotte Wright, HIE's regional director for the Highland area: "The Highlands' wealth of creative talent plays an important part in supporting numerous threads of its economy. HIE is looking forward to working with its partners to further support and promote the work of those involved in the sector through this programme."
The seven strand programme, which includes a marketing and evaluation element, will be known as the Highland Arts Programme – Prògram Ealain na Gàidhealtachd.
Specifically the Highland Arts Programme will support
Theatre: Eden Court in partnership with Scottish Theatre Consortium will commission a touring theatre production that originates in the Highlands (£85,000).
Literature: Will give opportunities for Highland based writers, readers, publishers and promoters to create new initiatives that contribute to an exciting programme of Literature and Literacy Visual Arts: Alongside the creation of a Highland public arts strategy, The Highland Council Exhibitions Unit, in partnership with Inverness Old Town Art, will offer six new commissions presenting art in new locations and developing new audiences (£75,000).
Crafts: HI-Arts will devise a mentoring programme for craft makers, establish relationships with craft retailers throughout the UK and develop a unified brand for the industry in the Highlands (£50,000).
Music: Fèisean nan Gàidheal, HIE and Go Events will offer bursaries to showcase Highland bands and individual musicians nationally and internationally. The partnership will strive to attract audiences and promoters to the Highlands through showcasing the successful traditional and contemporary music scenes of the region (£75,000).
Dance: Building on the existing BodyCurrents project, Eden Court Theatre and The Highland Council will finalise and present a dance strategy for the Highlands (£85,000).
Marketing and Evaluation: the Highland Culture Project Team will co-ordinate a marketing and communications strategy to support the work undertaken throughout the cultural sector in the Highlands (£80,000).
For more information on the Highland Arts Programme contact:
Fiona Hampton, The Highland Council, 01463 702046 or email fiona.hampton@highland.gov.uk
For more information about each theme contact:
Music – Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, 01478 613355 or e-mail arthur@feisean.org.
Visual Arts – Cathy Shankland, The Highland Council, 01463 710978 or email cathy.shankland@highland.gov.uk.
Crafts – Pamela Conacher, HI-Arts, 01463 717091 or email Pamela@hi-arts.co.uk.
Literature - Fiona Hampton, The Highland Council, 01463 702046 or email fiona.hampton@highland.gov.uk
Theatre and Dance – Colin Marr, Eden Court Theatre, 01463 239841 or email cmarr@eden-court.co.uk.
For more information about Creative Scotland contact:
Amy Fairbairn, Communications Manager, Scottish Screen, 0141 302 1749 or email amy.fairbairn@scottishscreen.com.
NEW MUSIC CENTRES TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ARGYLL AND BUTE
Argyll and Bute Council is to set up five new music centres as part of a reorganisation of the provision of musical instrument provision in schools.
After school music centres will be established in Campbeltown, Lochgilphead, Oban and Dunoon, and a Saturday centre will open up in Helensburgh.
In addition, individual solutions will be devised for the area’s island communities.
The move comes following the conclusion of a Best Value Review of the Council’s arrangements for formal tuition in a range of musical instruments, which was initiated in March 2009.
That Review included a comprehensive consultation process which involved interviews with pupils and music instructors and the distribution of questionnaires to head teachers, principal teachers with responsibility for music and parents.
The process revealed significant inequality in access to tuition across Argyll and Bute and, where tuition is available, restriction in the range of tuition on offer.
It also highlighted the fact that music instructors currently spend a considerable amount of time each week travelling between schools, resulting in a reduction in the amount of tuition time available.
Councillor Isobel Strong, spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning, said the new music centres would address many of the concerns.
“The increase in efficiency, accessibility and inclusivity offered by these centres, coupled with the improved opportunities to form effective tuition groups and ensembles, will offer a significant enhancement to the service currently available,” she added.
At present, musical instruments are available on loan from the Council for up to two years. However, this is only accessible to 30% of pupils currently receiving tuition due to the number of instruments available.
The Council has also now agreed to charge a nominal rent for the use of its instruments. This will create additional resources to repair, replace and increase the current stock.
In addition, in order to allow for sufficient flexibility in instructor timetables, the minimum number of instrumental lessons available to pupils per year is to reduce from 30 to 26.
Councillor Strong said: “These changes will result in greater equality of access to instrumental tuition, efficiency improvements in the management and administration of the service and a sustainable solution to the continuing provision and maintenance of our stock of instruments.
“We have so many talented young people in Argyll and Bute, and these measures will ensure that as many as possible of them will be able to take up formal music tuition in the years ahead. ”
It is anticipated that the new music centres will hold open days in August 2010, and begin tuition sessions in September.
After school music centres will be established in Campbeltown, Lochgilphead, Oban and Dunoon, and a Saturday centre will open up in Helensburgh.
In addition, individual solutions will be devised for the area’s island communities.
The move comes following the conclusion of a Best Value Review of the Council’s arrangements for formal tuition in a range of musical instruments, which was initiated in March 2009.
That Review included a comprehensive consultation process which involved interviews with pupils and music instructors and the distribution of questionnaires to head teachers, principal teachers with responsibility for music and parents.
The process revealed significant inequality in access to tuition across Argyll and Bute and, where tuition is available, restriction in the range of tuition on offer.
It also highlighted the fact that music instructors currently spend a considerable amount of time each week travelling between schools, resulting in a reduction in the amount of tuition time available.
Councillor Isobel Strong, spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning, said the new music centres would address many of the concerns.
“The increase in efficiency, accessibility and inclusivity offered by these centres, coupled with the improved opportunities to form effective tuition groups and ensembles, will offer a significant enhancement to the service currently available,” she added.
At present, musical instruments are available on loan from the Council for up to two years. However, this is only accessible to 30% of pupils currently receiving tuition due to the number of instruments available.
The Council has also now agreed to charge a nominal rent for the use of its instruments. This will create additional resources to repair, replace and increase the current stock.
In addition, in order to allow for sufficient flexibility in instructor timetables, the minimum number of instrumental lessons available to pupils per year is to reduce from 30 to 26.
Councillor Strong said: “These changes will result in greater equality of access to instrumental tuition, efficiency improvements in the management and administration of the service and a sustainable solution to the continuing provision and maintenance of our stock of instruments.
“We have so many talented young people in Argyll and Bute, and these measures will ensure that as many as possible of them will be able to take up formal music tuition in the years ahead. ”
It is anticipated that the new music centres will hold open days in August 2010, and begin tuition sessions in September.
MENTAL HEALTH IN ARGYLL & BUTE 2012: EVERYONE’S BUSINESS
Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP) held a series of briefing events during March and invited staff, service users and members of the public to attend to find out more on the progress of the redesign of mental health services in Argyll and Bute. There were 22 meetings and over 270 people attended the events.
Below are the most frequently asked questions and the response from the CHP.
Will the new service model provide sufficient in-patient beds?
We have designed the new model based on an increased number and composition of community mental health teams. The range of professionals and support staff will focus on managing care at home, which we know people would prefer, managing crisis and where appropriate help people leave hospital quickly and avoid some preventable admissions. We are confident that this will work and we will monitor the changes very carefully when they are implemented.
If people are admitted to the locality hospital, does this increase risk to other patients?
One clear message people have given us is that we should make more use of the locality hospital when someone is unwell. This view was so strong that we amended our proposals to include this. In future, it is planned that a person can be admitted to a locality hospital, if it is thought to be clinically appropriate, for a period of up to 48 hours. In reality, this is already happening in some localities. Many individuals and their families appreciate this because it allows them to maintain contact with their existing support and friends closer to home. ‘Clinically appropriate’ is based on a professional judgement and in consultation with the person concerned. If someone is psychotic, at risk or in need of specialist treatment then they will receive it in the Argyll and Bute Hospital.
There is a need to improve transport in Argyll & Bute, there are particular concerns about ambulance service provision.
We know local people have concerns about all forms of transport. We have previous experience of this in relation to other projects and we will apply this knowledge to this redesign. We have involved the Scottish Ambulance Service in our planning, particularly around developing community services and crisis response, and we will continue to work closely with them.
Will the new service model provide the right number of staff?
We have agreed the new service model and are now working on the associated staffing. We have already mentioned increases in staffing of the new community mental health teams and the increase in specialist roles. In the hospital, we plan to increase the staff to patient ratio to provide a high level of care. One of the difficulties for us in deciding on the correct staffing levels is that there is very limited national guidance in this area. Where it exists we are applying it and where is doesn’t, we are using our staff’s professional experience and judgement, based on what is known to be best practice.
Derek Leslie, General Manager of Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership, said:
“Last year Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership carried out a formal public consultation on proposals for change to mental health services in Argyll and Bute and the preferred option was approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in the summer.
“Since then we have been implementing our project plan and we are keen to regularly update staff, service users and members of the public to keep them informed.
“I was also delighted that so many people took the opportunity to come along, meet with local health professionals and ask any questions that they may have.”
Below are the most frequently asked questions and the response from the CHP.
Will the new service model provide sufficient in-patient beds?
We have designed the new model based on an increased number and composition of community mental health teams. The range of professionals and support staff will focus on managing care at home, which we know people would prefer, managing crisis and where appropriate help people leave hospital quickly and avoid some preventable admissions. We are confident that this will work and we will monitor the changes very carefully when they are implemented.
If people are admitted to the locality hospital, does this increase risk to other patients?
One clear message people have given us is that we should make more use of the locality hospital when someone is unwell. This view was so strong that we amended our proposals to include this. In future, it is planned that a person can be admitted to a locality hospital, if it is thought to be clinically appropriate, for a period of up to 48 hours. In reality, this is already happening in some localities. Many individuals and their families appreciate this because it allows them to maintain contact with their existing support and friends closer to home. ‘Clinically appropriate’ is based on a professional judgement and in consultation with the person concerned. If someone is psychotic, at risk or in need of specialist treatment then they will receive it in the Argyll and Bute Hospital.
There is a need to improve transport in Argyll & Bute, there are particular concerns about ambulance service provision.
We know local people have concerns about all forms of transport. We have previous experience of this in relation to other projects and we will apply this knowledge to this redesign. We have involved the Scottish Ambulance Service in our planning, particularly around developing community services and crisis response, and we will continue to work closely with them.
Will the new service model provide the right number of staff?
We have agreed the new service model and are now working on the associated staffing. We have already mentioned increases in staffing of the new community mental health teams and the increase in specialist roles. In the hospital, we plan to increase the staff to patient ratio to provide a high level of care. One of the difficulties for us in deciding on the correct staffing levels is that there is very limited national guidance in this area. Where it exists we are applying it and where is doesn’t, we are using our staff’s professional experience and judgement, based on what is known to be best practice.
Derek Leslie, General Manager of Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership, said:
“Last year Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership carried out a formal public consultation on proposals for change to mental health services in Argyll and Bute and the preferred option was approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in the summer.
“Since then we have been implementing our project plan and we are keen to regularly update staff, service users and members of the public to keep them informed.
“I was also delighted that so many people took the opportunity to come along, meet with local health professionals and ask any questions that they may have.”
VISITSCOTLAND AND CALMAC JOIN FORCES TO CREATE NEW INFORMATION CENTRE AND TICKET OFFICE IN ARGYLL
The VisitScotland Information Centre (VIC) in Tarbert, Loch Fyne has re-opened with a fresh new look, following a major investment by VisitScotland and ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac.)
The aim is to improve the visitor experience and inspire both locals and visitors to discover more of the surrounding area and the rest of Scotland.
Tarbert is among a handful of Information Centres across the country to benefit from a refurbishment as part of the national tourism organisation’s ongoing programme to update, rebrand and improve facilities throughout its entire Information Centre network.
VisitScotland are working in partnership with CalMac who will operate a ticket office from within the new Centre, the co-location arrangement compliments the existing information service and provides customers with the opportunity to gather information on what to see and do and purchase ferry tickets under one roof. The move follows a similar agreement in Mull where CalMac’s premises in Tobermory have been equipped to provide information for tourists.
VisitScotland and CalMac have made a substantial investment in the redevelopment of the Information Centre which includes a new interior design and improved layout and zoning, based on detailed consumer research, in order to improve the visitor experience. The aim is to educate, inform and inspire visitors and to help them get more out of their visit and to return bringing valuable economic impact to the local economy.
David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland’s Regional Director, said: “I am delighted with the new VisitScotland Information Centre in Tarbert, which offer locals and visitors an impressive new look and feel designed to inspire them to explore the surrounding area and beyond.
”Our professional and knowledgeable VisitScotland staff will continue to deliver excellent and friendly help and advice from this state of the art facility and we are especially pleased to be able to re-open in time for the start of the Spring-Summer season.”
Fay Harris, Caledonian MacBrayne’s Regional Manager for Islay and Kintyre, said: “Many visitors to the west coast of Scotland inevitably find themselves, at some time during their stay, in a CalMac office or ferry terminal, and often require general information about accommodation and places to visit in addition to ferry fares and times. It therefore makes perfect sense to work with VisitScotland to provide a “one-stop shop” that can meet a wide range of their needs, and I am sure this new facility will prove a valuable addition to the facilities for visitors to this part of Argyll.”
VistScotland has conducted extensive consumer research which concludes that visitors want to see Information Centres as dynamic and inspirational providers of information and advice. Findings confirmed that visitors value the ‘personal touch’ and that they do more and spend more as a result of the information and ideas they get from visiting a VisitScotland Information Centre.
The research identified that almost half of all visitors to Information Centres are Scots who do not identify with the word ‘tourist’, so the name change to ‘VisitScotland Information Centre’ contributes to a valuable opportunity to reach many more locals as well as visitors to the area, informing them of the great attractions, accommodation and facilities in the region. The staff will continue to provide an excellent service offering inspiration and practical help to anyone planning a day trip or short break anywhere in Scotland.
VisitScotland’s network of Information Centres welcomes approximately 5.5 million visitors each year with Tarbert, which is open seasonally, attracting around 37,000 visitors annually. Footfall is expected to increase following the upgrading of the Centre.
The aim is to improve the visitor experience and inspire both locals and visitors to discover more of the surrounding area and the rest of Scotland.
Tarbert is among a handful of Information Centres across the country to benefit from a refurbishment as part of the national tourism organisation’s ongoing programme to update, rebrand and improve facilities throughout its entire Information Centre network.
VisitScotland are working in partnership with CalMac who will operate a ticket office from within the new Centre, the co-location arrangement compliments the existing information service and provides customers with the opportunity to gather information on what to see and do and purchase ferry tickets under one roof. The move follows a similar agreement in Mull where CalMac’s premises in Tobermory have been equipped to provide information for tourists.
VisitScotland and CalMac have made a substantial investment in the redevelopment of the Information Centre which includes a new interior design and improved layout and zoning, based on detailed consumer research, in order to improve the visitor experience. The aim is to educate, inform and inspire visitors and to help them get more out of their visit and to return bringing valuable economic impact to the local economy.
David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland’s Regional Director, said: “I am delighted with the new VisitScotland Information Centre in Tarbert, which offer locals and visitors an impressive new look and feel designed to inspire them to explore the surrounding area and beyond.
”Our professional and knowledgeable VisitScotland staff will continue to deliver excellent and friendly help and advice from this state of the art facility and we are especially pleased to be able to re-open in time for the start of the Spring-Summer season.”
Fay Harris, Caledonian MacBrayne’s Regional Manager for Islay and Kintyre, said: “Many visitors to the west coast of Scotland inevitably find themselves, at some time during their stay, in a CalMac office or ferry terminal, and often require general information about accommodation and places to visit in addition to ferry fares and times. It therefore makes perfect sense to work with VisitScotland to provide a “one-stop shop” that can meet a wide range of their needs, and I am sure this new facility will prove a valuable addition to the facilities for visitors to this part of Argyll.”
VistScotland has conducted extensive consumer research which concludes that visitors want to see Information Centres as dynamic and inspirational providers of information and advice. Findings confirmed that visitors value the ‘personal touch’ and that they do more and spend more as a result of the information and ideas they get from visiting a VisitScotland Information Centre.
The research identified that almost half of all visitors to Information Centres are Scots who do not identify with the word ‘tourist’, so the name change to ‘VisitScotland Information Centre’ contributes to a valuable opportunity to reach many more locals as well as visitors to the area, informing them of the great attractions, accommodation and facilities in the region. The staff will continue to provide an excellent service offering inspiration and practical help to anyone planning a day trip or short break anywhere in Scotland.
VisitScotland’s network of Information Centres welcomes approximately 5.5 million visitors each year with Tarbert, which is open seasonally, attracting around 37,000 visitors annually. Footfall is expected to increase following the upgrading of the Centre.
Monday, 17 May 2010
DAVID MACBRAYNE LTD APPOINT NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
David MacBrayne Ltd, the parent company of ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) and NorthLink Ferries Ltd (NFL) has announced the appointment of Mr Archie Robertson OBE as its new Chief Executive.
Mr Robertson, (56), is a former Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, which is responsible for England’s vital trunk road arteries. Prior to that he was Operations Director at the Environment Agency of England and Wales.
These posts followed a 20-year-career with BP across the world including Singapore, New Zealand, Rotterdam and Brussels.
He spent his early years on Skye, and still has strong family connections there.
He will take over from David MacBrayne’s Chief Executive Lawrie Sinclair, who is retiring after 10 years at the end of June. Mr Robertson is due to start on June 1st, to allow a short handover period.
David MacBrayne Chairman Peter Timms said: “The Board is delighted to have Archie on board. He brings a wealth of highly relevant expertise from one of the the biggest jobs in transportation in the UK where he managed a budget of £6 billion, and has transport experience ranging from oil shipping, and rail projects such as London’s Crossrail, as well as national roads. In the Highways Agency his drive to make it a customer focused organisation received many plaudits, and this ties in well with CalMac and NorthLink’s desire to put customers first and provide the best ferry services possible.
“In addition, he has local roots, and a strong empathy for the challenges facing rural communities and an understanding of the importance of lifeline ferry services.”
Mr Robertson said: “David MacBrayne is a name I grew up with on Skye, and I am really excited to be joining an organisation with such a rich community heritage stretching back more than 150 years. I am greatly looking forward to playing a part in the next important chapter of its development with NorthLink’s Northern Isles contract due for re-tender soon and the CalMac contract for the Clyde and Hebrides services up for grabs the following year.”
Stewart Stevenson, Transport Minister, said:"David MacBrayne Ltd plays a crucial role in providing lifeline ferry services to island and remote mainland communities in the Clyde and Hebrides and the Northern Isles. This post requires an understanding of the issues which affect the social and economic life of the Highlands and Islands.
“Lawrie Sinclair has been a dedicated chief executive over the past 10 years and Archie Robertson’s wide experience of transport issues and his Highlands connections will ensure this good work continues bringing to the post the skills and knowledge which will benefit both passengers and business.”
Mr Robertson, (56), is a former Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, which is responsible for England’s vital trunk road arteries. Prior to that he was Operations Director at the Environment Agency of England and Wales.
These posts followed a 20-year-career with BP across the world including Singapore, New Zealand, Rotterdam and Brussels.
He spent his early years on Skye, and still has strong family connections there.
He will take over from David MacBrayne’s Chief Executive Lawrie Sinclair, who is retiring after 10 years at the end of June. Mr Robertson is due to start on June 1st, to allow a short handover period.
David MacBrayne Chairman Peter Timms said: “The Board is delighted to have Archie on board. He brings a wealth of highly relevant expertise from one of the the biggest jobs in transportation in the UK where he managed a budget of £6 billion, and has transport experience ranging from oil shipping, and rail projects such as London’s Crossrail, as well as national roads. In the Highways Agency his drive to make it a customer focused organisation received many plaudits, and this ties in well with CalMac and NorthLink’s desire to put customers first and provide the best ferry services possible.
“In addition, he has local roots, and a strong empathy for the challenges facing rural communities and an understanding of the importance of lifeline ferry services.”
Mr Robertson said: “David MacBrayne is a name I grew up with on Skye, and I am really excited to be joining an organisation with such a rich community heritage stretching back more than 150 years. I am greatly looking forward to playing a part in the next important chapter of its development with NorthLink’s Northern Isles contract due for re-tender soon and the CalMac contract for the Clyde and Hebrides services up for grabs the following year.”
Stewart Stevenson, Transport Minister, said:"David MacBrayne Ltd plays a crucial role in providing lifeline ferry services to island and remote mainland communities in the Clyde and Hebrides and the Northern Isles. This post requires an understanding of the issues which affect the social and economic life of the Highlands and Islands.
“Lawrie Sinclair has been a dedicated chief executive over the past 10 years and Archie Robertson’s wide experience of transport issues and his Highlands connections will ensure this good work continues bringing to the post the skills and knowledge which will benefit both passengers and business.”
Jamie McGrigor MSP (Highlands and Islands) (Con) on The Crofting Bill
Speech in yesterday's Parliamentary debate on the Crofting Bill.:
I refer members to my farming interests in the register of members' interests and inform them that I am a member and vice-convener of the cross-party group on crofting.
I thank Rural Affairs and Environment Committee members, including my friend John Scott, and the committee's clerking team for producing a thorough, balanced and useful stage 1 report. In recent weeks, I have spoken to many crofters on visits to Shetland, the Western Isles and Caithness and Sutherland. Many of their concerns are—rightly—highlighted in the committee's report. Views on the bill are varied and strongly held, and major anxieties remain. This week, a crofter from Kinlochbervie wrote to me to appeal for the bill to be withdrawn. The crofters rights emergency action group shares that view, but it is not the position of the Scottish Crofting Federation or the committee. Others have asked me where the need for crofting legislation came from. I believe that it might have emanated from one line in a long-forgotten Lib Dem manifesto. However, we are where we are, and we must use the rare opportunity in Parliament to make it easier for crofters to run their crofts.
Like the SCF, I am particularly pleased that the committee's report makes it clear that regulation alone will not ensure crofting's survival, as the minister said. Crofters want practical measures that are designed to aid their good work, which is why I have fought hard over the years to retain measures such as the bull hire scheme, to ensure the high quality of crofters' breeding stock, and proper support for croft housing—inflation has eroded that support in recent years. As my friends Norman Leask and Patrick Krause of the Scottish Crofting Federation have argued for many years, crofters need carrots as well as sticks. That is very true.
Many crofters and farmers are concerned about predation by sea eagles on their lambs, which are their livelihood. The Government must listen to their concerns—they would not say that they were suffering predation if it were not happening.
If the SNP Government really wants crofting to continue, it should listen to the practical points that crofters make. I have looked at the list of land managers options, hardly any of which seem relevant or helpful to a crofter's basic needs. LMOs are available to everyone who has an agricultural holding. Unlike other agri-environmental schemes, LMOs are not competitive, so surely it would be just and fair to have priorities in the menu of LMOs that would serve crofters well in practical terms. Crofters might be able to use the options on vernacular buildings and rush management, but not many options are relevant to them.
As we have heard, the crofting register has been a difficult issue. Crofters are right to fear the extra cost that they might incur and the further bureaucracy that will be involved. The estimated costs have been revised downwards, but £130 per
registration is still a significant expense for many crofters—that is the profit on anywhere between six and 10 lambs gone. The SCF says that it is pleased with the broad agreement on its voluntary community-led mapping initiative, which it believes is a positive initiative, in contrast to the Government's suggested compulsory trigger-point mapping. I would be interested to hear more in the minister's closing remarks about the Government's response to the initiative; I was encouraged by her opening remarks.
The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association has said that it is "not convinced" that a new register is justified in terms of costs and benefits. It has made a sensible suggestion that crofting communities should be able to get together to map their areas on the register and that that activity should be free of charge for a period of 10 years from the implementation of the bill. In a previous speech, I suggested that integrated administration and control system maps could be used for registration purposes, but that was before I learned that only between 5,000 and 6,000 IACS forms have been completed by crofters. A new mapping system might encourage more IACS applications, leading to better downloading of subsidies for crofters in the future. That is one positive aspect of the system.
I agree with the committee's acceptance that the commission should continue as the main body with responsibility for regulating crofting. We believe that only crofters should have a vote in elections to the commission and that, at the moment, first past the post is the simplest system of election. Further work needs to be done on the contentious issues that are connected with absenteeism, such as the limit within which a crofter is deemed to be ordinarily resident. The committee is right to say that we need to have a clear strategic plan to address neglect, based on the factors that would determine why an apparent case of neglect would not be tackled.
I emphasise that the Scottish Conservatives remain wholly supportive of crofters and the crofting sector. We want the sector to thrive and to continue to produce environmental benefits for all our people, while helping to sustain local communities in some of our most remote and fragile rural and island areas. I know that in Stornoway, for example, crofting filters through the whole urban environment and makes people who live there aware of the importance of being self-sufficient in foodstuffs.
I point out that the Scottish Conservatives have a proud record of legislating in the interests of our crofters, from the Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Acts of 1886 and 1887 to the Transfer of Crofting Estates (Scotland) Act 1997. If the SNP is able in the bill to produce anything as useful as those acts, it will be doing well. All of us are praying that the bill is nothing like the chaotic Crofting Reform etc Bill of 2007, which was a prime example of bad legislation.
I refer members to my farming interests in the register of members' interests and inform them that I am a member and vice-convener of the cross-party group on crofting.
I thank Rural Affairs and Environment Committee members, including my friend John Scott, and the committee's clerking team for producing a thorough, balanced and useful stage 1 report. In recent weeks, I have spoken to many crofters on visits to Shetland, the Western Isles and Caithness and Sutherland. Many of their concerns are—rightly—highlighted in the committee's report. Views on the bill are varied and strongly held, and major anxieties remain. This week, a crofter from Kinlochbervie wrote to me to appeal for the bill to be withdrawn. The crofters rights emergency action group shares that view, but it is not the position of the Scottish Crofting Federation or the committee. Others have asked me where the need for crofting legislation came from. I believe that it might have emanated from one line in a long-forgotten Lib Dem manifesto. However, we are where we are, and we must use the rare opportunity in Parliament to make it easier for crofters to run their crofts.
Like the SCF, I am particularly pleased that the committee's report makes it clear that regulation alone will not ensure crofting's survival, as the minister said. Crofters want practical measures that are designed to aid their good work, which is why I have fought hard over the years to retain measures such as the bull hire scheme, to ensure the high quality of crofters' breeding stock, and proper support for croft housing—inflation has eroded that support in recent years. As my friends Norman Leask and Patrick Krause of the Scottish Crofting Federation have argued for many years, crofters need carrots as well as sticks. That is very true.
Many crofters and farmers are concerned about predation by sea eagles on their lambs, which are their livelihood. The Government must listen to their concerns—they would not say that they were suffering predation if it were not happening.
If the SNP Government really wants crofting to continue, it should listen to the practical points that crofters make. I have looked at the list of land managers options, hardly any of which seem relevant or helpful to a crofter's basic needs. LMOs are available to everyone who has an agricultural holding. Unlike other agri-environmental schemes, LMOs are not competitive, so surely it would be just and fair to have priorities in the menu of LMOs that would serve crofters well in practical terms. Crofters might be able to use the options on vernacular buildings and rush management, but not many options are relevant to them.
As we have heard, the crofting register has been a difficult issue. Crofters are right to fear the extra cost that they might incur and the further bureaucracy that will be involved. The estimated costs have been revised downwards, but £130 per
registration is still a significant expense for many crofters—that is the profit on anywhere between six and 10 lambs gone. The SCF says that it is pleased with the broad agreement on its voluntary community-led mapping initiative, which it believes is a positive initiative, in contrast to the Government's suggested compulsory trigger-point mapping. I would be interested to hear more in the minister's closing remarks about the Government's response to the initiative; I was encouraged by her opening remarks.
The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association has said that it is "not convinced" that a new register is justified in terms of costs and benefits. It has made a sensible suggestion that crofting communities should be able to get together to map their areas on the register and that that activity should be free of charge for a period of 10 years from the implementation of the bill. In a previous speech, I suggested that integrated administration and control system maps could be used for registration purposes, but that was before I learned that only between 5,000 and 6,000 IACS forms have been completed by crofters. A new mapping system might encourage more IACS applications, leading to better downloading of subsidies for crofters in the future. That is one positive aspect of the system.
I agree with the committee's acceptance that the commission should continue as the main body with responsibility for regulating crofting. We believe that only crofters should have a vote in elections to the commission and that, at the moment, first past the post is the simplest system of election. Further work needs to be done on the contentious issues that are connected with absenteeism, such as the limit within which a crofter is deemed to be ordinarily resident. The committee is right to say that we need to have a clear strategic plan to address neglect, based on the factors that would determine why an apparent case of neglect would not be tackled.
I emphasise that the Scottish Conservatives remain wholly supportive of crofters and the crofting sector. We want the sector to thrive and to continue to produce environmental benefits for all our people, while helping to sustain local communities in some of our most remote and fragile rural and island areas. I know that in Stornoway, for example, crofting filters through the whole urban environment and makes people who live there aware of the importance of being self-sufficient in foodstuffs.
I point out that the Scottish Conservatives have a proud record of legislating in the interests of our crofters, from the Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Acts of 1886 and 1887 to the Transfer of Crofting Estates (Scotland) Act 1997. If the SNP is able in the bill to produce anything as useful as those acts, it will be doing well. All of us are praying that the bill is nothing like the chaotic Crofting Reform etc Bill of 2007, which was a prime example of bad legislation.
Thèid co-labhairt shònraichte air òrain na Gàidhlig
Thèid co-labhairt shònraichte air òrain na Gàidhlig agus na Beurla Gallda a chumail airson a’ chiad uair ann an Alba le Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ceòl is Dràma na h-Alba aig a’ cholaiste san Eilean Sgitheanach bhon 1-4 den Ògmhios 2010.
Bidh Òran 2010 Sang a’ sgrùdadh nan cànan ann an dualchas ceòl na h-Alba, òrain na Beurla Gallda is na Gàidhlig san latha an-diugh is ciamar a bu chòir dhuinn òrain ar dùthcha a thoirt dha na ginealaichean ri teachd.
Bidh eòlaichean air leth an làthair is cuid dhen luchd-ciùil is na seinneadairean as fheàrr an Alba. Nam measg bidh an Dr Katherine Chaimbeul bho Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, an Dr Iain Mac an Sporain, sàr eòlaiche ciùil, agus Mòrag NicLeòid, tè de na h-eòlaichean as cliùitiche air òrain is beul-aithris na Gàidhlig a tha ann.
Bidh consairt ann le Cairistiona Primrose agus Gordena McCulloch agus thig a’ cho-labhairt gu crìch le cèilidh leis a’ chòmhlan-chiùil Deoch ‘n Dorus.
£25 airson an latha no £250 airson trì latha agus fuireach aig a' Cholaiste, le prìsean nas saoire do dh'oileanaich.
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh bhon phrògram an cois seo no bhon làraich-lìn aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig www.smo.uhi.ac.uk
Cuiribh fòn gu Anna Deplano air 01471 8882000 airson àite a bhucadh aig a' cho-labhairt. Feumar clàradh ron 21mh den Chèitean 2010.
Bidh Òran 2010 Sang a’ sgrùdadh nan cànan ann an dualchas ceòl na h-Alba, òrain na Beurla Gallda is na Gàidhlig san latha an-diugh is ciamar a bu chòir dhuinn òrain ar dùthcha a thoirt dha na ginealaichean ri teachd.
Bidh eòlaichean air leth an làthair is cuid dhen luchd-ciùil is na seinneadairean as fheàrr an Alba. Nam measg bidh an Dr Katherine Chaimbeul bho Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, an Dr Iain Mac an Sporain, sàr eòlaiche ciùil, agus Mòrag NicLeòid, tè de na h-eòlaichean as cliùitiche air òrain is beul-aithris na Gàidhlig a tha ann.
Bidh consairt ann le Cairistiona Primrose agus Gordena McCulloch agus thig a’ cho-labhairt gu crìch le cèilidh leis a’ chòmhlan-chiùil Deoch ‘n Dorus.
£25 airson an latha no £250 airson trì latha agus fuireach aig a' Cholaiste, le prìsean nas saoire do dh'oileanaich.
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh bhon phrògram an cois seo no bhon làraich-lìn aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig www.smo.uhi.ac.uk
Cuiribh fòn gu Anna Deplano air 01471 8882000 airson àite a bhucadh aig a' cho-labhairt. Feumar clàradh ron 21mh den Chèitean 2010.
WAGES BOARD VOTE OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY says NFUS
NFU Scotland is disappointed that once again the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) has voted for an increase in the minimum agricultural wage above that which has been agreed for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) that operates in all other sectors of industry across the UK.
After a vote, the SAWB agreed to propose a 2.8% increase in the minimum wage rate for those in their first 26 weeks of employment (£5.96 per hour). This compares with a proposed increase in the NMW of 2.2% (£5.93 per hour). A 3% increase is being proposed by SAWB for those employed in agriculture for more than 26 weeks (£6.51 per hour), substantially above what is being agreed elsewhere in the economy for wage settlements.
The SAWB proposals will now go out to consultation with a view to their introduction in October this year.
NFU Scotland’s Policy Director, Scott Walker said:
“As the economy seeks to recover from its deep recession, pay settlements elsewhere in industry hover between a wage freeze or possible cuts. With these proposals, the SAWB has shown itself, not for the first time, to be out of touch with reality.
“In keeping with recent SAWB awards, employers within the Scottish agricultural sector could find themselves paying a higher minimum wage than that which has been agreed for every other industry. The widening of the gap between the Agricultural Minimum Wage and the National Minimum Wage is simply not justifiable.
“We are especially disappointed that the SAWB has decided to break the link between the first 26 weeks of employment rate and the national minimum wage. For a few years the SAWB had recognised the competitive pressures faced by the Scottish soft fruit industry but now they seem to be of the belief that this sector can afford wage rates above the national minimum.
“These proposals now enter a period of consultation and we will be encouraging employers to contact the SAWB direct if they have concerns over these suggested rates.
“In the meantime, employers should bear in mind that these proposals only increase the minimum rates of pay. Most farm staff are paid above the minimum rates and, in these cases, businesses will be able to decide on wage increases based on the value of their staff and what their business can afford to pay. Farmers already recognise that they need to pay a competitive wage rate to attract staff and to keep them. That is why the setting of minimum rates is largely irrelevant for skilled employees as they will earn substantially more than these minimum rates.”
After a vote, the SAWB agreed to propose a 2.8% increase in the minimum wage rate for those in their first 26 weeks of employment (£5.96 per hour). This compares with a proposed increase in the NMW of 2.2% (£5.93 per hour). A 3% increase is being proposed by SAWB for those employed in agriculture for more than 26 weeks (£6.51 per hour), substantially above what is being agreed elsewhere in the economy for wage settlements.
The SAWB proposals will now go out to consultation with a view to their introduction in October this year.
NFU Scotland’s Policy Director, Scott Walker said:
“As the economy seeks to recover from its deep recession, pay settlements elsewhere in industry hover between a wage freeze or possible cuts. With these proposals, the SAWB has shown itself, not for the first time, to be out of touch with reality.
“In keeping with recent SAWB awards, employers within the Scottish agricultural sector could find themselves paying a higher minimum wage than that which has been agreed for every other industry. The widening of the gap between the Agricultural Minimum Wage and the National Minimum Wage is simply not justifiable.
“We are especially disappointed that the SAWB has decided to break the link between the first 26 weeks of employment rate and the national minimum wage. For a few years the SAWB had recognised the competitive pressures faced by the Scottish soft fruit industry but now they seem to be of the belief that this sector can afford wage rates above the national minimum.
“These proposals now enter a period of consultation and we will be encouraging employers to contact the SAWB direct if they have concerns over these suggested rates.
“In the meantime, employers should bear in mind that these proposals only increase the minimum rates of pay. Most farm staff are paid above the minimum rates and, in these cases, businesses will be able to decide on wage increases based on the value of their staff and what their business can afford to pay. Farmers already recognise that they need to pay a competitive wage rate to attract staff and to keep them. That is why the setting of minimum rates is largely irrelevant for skilled employees as they will earn substantially more than these minimum rates.”
COUNCIL CONSIDERS PREMATURE RETIREMENT SCHEME FOR TEACHERS
Argyll and Bute councillors are to consider setting up a voluntary premature retirement scheme for teachers.
The council’s Executive will discuss a report next week which recommends the scheme be established for teachers aged 55 or over, if they can be released without affecting the capacity of the council to meet its statutory responsibilities as an education authority.
The aim is to assist individual schools in meeting their changing staffing number requirements. In some cases, the premature retiral of post holders will also create vacancies for newly-qualified teachers.
Councillor Isobel Strong, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning, said the proposed scheme, if agreed, would only apply to teachers who are aged 55 or over, are members of the teachers’ superannuation scheme and have completed at least five years’ pensionable service.
“Under these proposals, teachers in existing posts would be able to formally express and interest in voluntary premature retiral,” she added.
“Individual teachers would only be permitted to leave subject to full consideration of the best interests of the school and the efficiency of the education service.
“If the Executive agrees the plan, I anticipate that we would be particularly interested in hearing from teaching staff who are surplus to their school’s staffing complement or who are employed in a subject area in which there are surplus teachers.”
The other important issue which may have a bearing in relation to this issue is cost to the council.
The number of teachers able to be released, should councillors approve the scheme, will ultimately be determined by the funding available.
The final decision as to which teachers are made a formal offer of voluntary premature retirement or not would rest with the Executive Director. There is no entitlement to premature retirement.
In addition, given that the scheme would be voluntary and that there would be no redundancy, redundancy payments would not be made.
The Executive will consider the report on Monday, May 17
The council’s Executive will discuss a report next week which recommends the scheme be established for teachers aged 55 or over, if they can be released without affecting the capacity of the council to meet its statutory responsibilities as an education authority.
The aim is to assist individual schools in meeting their changing staffing number requirements. In some cases, the premature retiral of post holders will also create vacancies for newly-qualified teachers.
Councillor Isobel Strong, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning, said the proposed scheme, if agreed, would only apply to teachers who are aged 55 or over, are members of the teachers’ superannuation scheme and have completed at least five years’ pensionable service.
“Under these proposals, teachers in existing posts would be able to formally express and interest in voluntary premature retiral,” she added.
“Individual teachers would only be permitted to leave subject to full consideration of the best interests of the school and the efficiency of the education service.
“If the Executive agrees the plan, I anticipate that we would be particularly interested in hearing from teaching staff who are surplus to their school’s staffing complement or who are employed in a subject area in which there are surplus teachers.”
The other important issue which may have a bearing in relation to this issue is cost to the council.
The number of teachers able to be released, should councillors approve the scheme, will ultimately be determined by the funding available.
The final decision as to which teachers are made a formal offer of voluntary premature retirement or not would rest with the Executive Director. There is no entitlement to premature retirement.
In addition, given that the scheme would be voluntary and that there would be no redundancy, redundancy payments would not be made.
The Executive will consider the report on Monday, May 17
HILL FARMING’S FUTURE NEEDS POSITIVE POLICIES says NFUS
NFU Scotland has told a Scottish Parliament committee that the future of hill farming and crofting in Scotland is at a crossroads and that positive policy decisions are needed now if livestock production is to remain the backbone of local economies and communities across Scotland.
The Union was giving oral evidence today (Wednesday, 12 May) to a Rural Affairs and Environment Committee inquiry. The purpose of the inquiry is to consider the issues arising from the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s 2008 report Scotland’s Hills and Islands.
The Union used the opportunity to highlight the importance of extensive livestock farming in the hills and uplands and pointed out that policy developments, particularly around existing support schemes, are key. These will have a major influence in the future, particularly if the rapid decline in the number of livestock being kept in some parts is to be reversed.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, NFU Scotland’s head of Rural Policy, Jonnie Hall said:
“Hill farming and crofting in Scotland is at a crossroads with livestock producers questioning their future. This poses a quandary for policy-makers and the industry itself. Do we simply accept this decline in agricultural activity as an inescapable consequence of poor market returns? Or do we recognise the massive social, environmental and economic benefits delivered by the industry and seek innovative solutions to secure its future? We believe that the potential harm to the rural economy and countryside of a continued downturn in hill farming demands action to secure its future.
“The ongoing decline in livestock numbers has significant ramifications for local economies, communities, the environment and the red meat supply chain. The harsh reality is that making a viable living from hill livestock production is likely to remain a huge challenge and the majority of farms can not survive without the support payments they receive, primarily through the Single Farm Payment (SFP) and the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS). The spiralling costs for feed, fuel, fertiliser and labour are more than offsetting any recent improvements in market prices for cattle and sheep and the financial vulnerability of hill farms and crofts is unlikely to change in near future.
“The Union believes that it is both vital and urgent that more deliberate steps are taken to halt the decline in cattle and sheep production and prevent the loss of many facets of rural Scotland by using the policy tools that are currently available to Scotland. The SFP scheme that delivers the bulk of support to farmers in Scotland is scheduled for reform from 2013 onwards. To preserve all the benefits delivered by livestock production in the hills and uplands, it is vital that any new scheme is focussed on productivity and that those actively engaged in farming are the major beneficiaries of the public support available.
“Another absolute priority for NFU Scotland going forward is to ensure that support delivered through the LFASS is similarly targeted at active units in general and the most vulnerable hill units in particular, regardless of their location in Scotland.
“NFUS has openly welcomed the recent increases in LFA rates for those in fragile and very fragile areas. However, the Union has prioritised work to ensure that the LFASS in 2011 clearly reflects activity on all LFA hill farms and crofts, including those in the Standard area, and rewards those who are delivering the benefits derived from keeping cattle and sheep in these disadvantaged areas. Our proposals to achieve this are currently with the Scottish Government for consideration.”
The Union was giving oral evidence today (Wednesday, 12 May) to a Rural Affairs and Environment Committee inquiry. The purpose of the inquiry is to consider the issues arising from the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s 2008 report Scotland’s Hills and Islands.
The Union used the opportunity to highlight the importance of extensive livestock farming in the hills and uplands and pointed out that policy developments, particularly around existing support schemes, are key. These will have a major influence in the future, particularly if the rapid decline in the number of livestock being kept in some parts is to be reversed.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, NFU Scotland’s head of Rural Policy, Jonnie Hall said:
“Hill farming and crofting in Scotland is at a crossroads with livestock producers questioning their future. This poses a quandary for policy-makers and the industry itself. Do we simply accept this decline in agricultural activity as an inescapable consequence of poor market returns? Or do we recognise the massive social, environmental and economic benefits delivered by the industry and seek innovative solutions to secure its future? We believe that the potential harm to the rural economy and countryside of a continued downturn in hill farming demands action to secure its future.
“The ongoing decline in livestock numbers has significant ramifications for local economies, communities, the environment and the red meat supply chain. The harsh reality is that making a viable living from hill livestock production is likely to remain a huge challenge and the majority of farms can not survive without the support payments they receive, primarily through the Single Farm Payment (SFP) and the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS). The spiralling costs for feed, fuel, fertiliser and labour are more than offsetting any recent improvements in market prices for cattle and sheep and the financial vulnerability of hill farms and crofts is unlikely to change in near future.
“The Union believes that it is both vital and urgent that more deliberate steps are taken to halt the decline in cattle and sheep production and prevent the loss of many facets of rural Scotland by using the policy tools that are currently available to Scotland. The SFP scheme that delivers the bulk of support to farmers in Scotland is scheduled for reform from 2013 onwards. To preserve all the benefits delivered by livestock production in the hills and uplands, it is vital that any new scheme is focussed on productivity and that those actively engaged in farming are the major beneficiaries of the public support available.
“Another absolute priority for NFU Scotland going forward is to ensure that support delivered through the LFASS is similarly targeted at active units in general and the most vulnerable hill units in particular, regardless of their location in Scotland.
“NFUS has openly welcomed the recent increases in LFA rates for those in fragile and very fragile areas. However, the Union has prioritised work to ensure that the LFASS in 2011 clearly reflects activity on all LFA hill farms and crofts, including those in the Standard area, and rewards those who are delivering the benefits derived from keeping cattle and sheep in these disadvantaged areas. Our proposals to achieve this are currently with the Scottish Government for consideration.”
BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, 22 May – Friday, 28 May, 2010
Title: Spors: Emirates Scottish Junior Cup Final
The Emirates Junior Cup Final between Largs Thistle V Linlithgow Rose LIVE from Rugby Park, Kilmarnock.
Transmitted: Sunday 23rd May 2010
Time: 15:55
Title: Colin and Cumberland
Enter the world of Aberant and help Colin overcome various obstacles by learning Gaelic. Ideal for complete beginners to the Gaelic language.
Transmitted: Monday 24th May 2010 – Thursday 27th May 2010
Time: 19:50
Title: Cuide ri Cathy – Bill Paterson
Cathy MacDonald goes to London for a fun packed day with top Scottish actor, Bill Paterson.
Transmitted: Monday 24th May 2010
Time: 22:00
Title: Turus a Bhradain/The Salmon's Journey
Neen Mackay's Scottish angling odyssey continues with a look at the salmon rivers of Wester Ross during summer.
Transmitted: Tuesday 25th May 2010
Time: 20:30
Title: Soillse - Jamie climbing against all the odds
On January 26th, 1999, the rescue team of Chamonix in the French Alps could only save one of the two Scottish mountaineers stuck at the edge of a glacier in the Mont Blanc. After a six day ordeal, one climber was frozen to death, the other suffered very severe frost bites.
As a result, the medical team of the Chamonix hospital sees no other solution but to amputate Jamie Andrew of both hands and feet.
Equipped with feet prosthesis, Jamie learns to walk again, to run, to use his arm stumps like hands, with only one idea in mind: climb back on the Mont Blanc in memory of his friend and to defeat destiny.
The Emirates Junior Cup Final between Largs Thistle V Linlithgow Rose LIVE from Rugby Park, Kilmarnock.
Transmitted: Sunday 23rd May 2010
Time: 15:55
Title: Colin and Cumberland
Enter the world of Aberant and help Colin overcome various obstacles by learning Gaelic. Ideal for complete beginners to the Gaelic language.
Transmitted: Monday 24th May 2010 – Thursday 27th May 2010
Time: 19:50
Title: Cuide ri Cathy – Bill Paterson
Cathy MacDonald goes to London for a fun packed day with top Scottish actor, Bill Paterson.
Transmitted: Monday 24th May 2010
Time: 22:00
Title: Turus a Bhradain/The Salmon's Journey
Neen Mackay's Scottish angling odyssey continues with a look at the salmon rivers of Wester Ross during summer.
Transmitted: Tuesday 25th May 2010
Time: 20:30
Title: Soillse - Jamie climbing against all the odds
On January 26th, 1999, the rescue team of Chamonix in the French Alps could only save one of the two Scottish mountaineers stuck at the edge of a glacier in the Mont Blanc. After a six day ordeal, one climber was frozen to death, the other suffered very severe frost bites.
As a result, the medical team of the Chamonix hospital sees no other solution but to amputate Jamie Andrew of both hands and feet.
Equipped with feet prosthesis, Jamie learns to walk again, to run, to use his arm stumps like hands, with only one idea in mind: climb back on the Mont Blanc in memory of his friend and to defeat destiny.
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