Tag Archives: The Scottish Government

The future of mountain weather forecasts in doubt

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Guarantees over the future of Scotland’s mountain weather forecasts were sought in the Scottish Parliament today (13 Sept) by Green MSP, Andy Wightman.

Reports emerged over the weekend suggesting that SportScotland is to end funding of the Mountain Weather Information Service.

In spite of repeatedly asking the Minister for Public Health and Sport if SportScotland had told the Mountain Weather Information Service at a meeting on July 2016 that its funding would end, Ms Campbell was unable to provide an answer.

Andy Wightman MSP, the Scottish Greens’ Housing & Land reform spokesperson, said:

“I’m glad that the Minister shares my view that the forecast service is an essential service for climber and walker safety in Scotland and that conversations with the government and its agencies are ongoing. However, the public will be looking for more transparency over what the current funding set up is and how that has been communicated to the MWIS. I’ll continue to seek updates from the minister to guarantee the long-term future of mountain weather-forecasting.

“This is a service that has provided trusted detailed forecasting for mountain users for 13 years and SportScotland has funded it since 2007. It’s a service that is trusted and relied upon by hundreds of thousands of users of Scotland’s mountains every year and safety and enjoyment of those who use our mountains is dependent upon accurate reliable, and above all trusted sources of weather forecasts.”

Energy Taskforce coming to Aberdeen this week

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The Taskforce established by the First Minister to support jobs in the energy sector will meet for the first time in Aberdeen next Wednesday.

The new Energy Jobs Taskforce, chaired by Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Lena Wilson, will report to the Scottish Energy Advisory Board and will focus on jobs across the entire industry, but with an initial emphasis on the oil and gas sector.

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Lena Wilson, chair of the Energy Taskforce, said:

“We’ve made quick progress in forming this Taskforce which represents a strong and united public and private sector partnership that is committed to working together to support this vital industry throughout these challenging times. While current circumstances are difficult, we also need to remember that this is a resilient industry – one which has weathered the storm before and will do so again.

“We have an urgent and immediate task at hand to retain the jobs, skills and talent which is the bedrock of Scotland’s internationally competitive energy sector. The depth of knowledge and expertise this newly formed Taskforce offers will undoubtedly make an invaluable contribution to that task and help shape support to meet the current and future need for our energy sector.”

Ahead of the group’s first meeting, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“I am acutely aware from the numerous meetings and discussions I have had with a range of companies, industry figures and unions, that the sector is currently facing extremely challenging times.

“This Taskforce, chaired by Lena Wilson, is an important step to ensure that energy jobs are sustained and supported through this difficult period, and is yet another demonstration from the Scottish Government that the industry has our full support.

“Since oil was discovered more than four decades ago, we have built a world class industrial cluster in the north sea and now export the skills and services required to support it around the world.

“There is a real risk that the current fall in the oil price will lead to the premature decommissioning of assets and the loss of highly skilled workers. Within this context, I think it is vital that the UK Government acts now.

“The North Sea has made an enormous contribution to the Scottish and UK economies over the last 40 years. It is now vital, in order to prolong the life of the industry beyond 2050 and maximise economic benefits, that the UK Government maintains the momentum for fiscal and regulatory change in the oil and gas sector.

“Chief among the action required is an immediate reversal of the 2011 hike in the Supplementary Charge and I made it clear that it is not sufficient for this change to wait until the March budget as Alistair Carmichael suggested last week.

“Last year, the UK Government announced a 2 per cent reduction of the Supplementary Charge rate – this reduction doesn’t go far enough. In boardrooms worldwide, oil companies are now making decisions which will impact on jobs in Scotland. Investors need a strong signal that the North Sea is open for business and that the UK Government understand the needs of the industry – and they need that signal now.”

Government calls for exploration support

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TER-Holyrood-from-Arthurs-Seat The Scottish Government is calling for change in taxes as a way of supporting the North Sea Oil industry at a point where oil prices dropped to $50 a barrel on Friday and petrol prices at the pump are heading constantly downwards.

Fergus Ewing Energy Minister has said that urgent reform of the oil and gas taxation regime is necessary in order to support investment, encourage exploration and ensure that the North Sea is a competitive investment location. The new Scottish Government Oil and Gas Discussion Paper – Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Policy sets out clear proposals for fiscal change, including a call for the introduction of an exploration tax credit by the March 2015 Budget. The call comes ahead of a visit by the First Minister to Aberdeen this week to hold talks with industry figures. While all of the measures outlined in the Scottish Government paper, such as a reduction in the headline rate of tax and introduction of an investment allowance, will increase the attractiveness of North Sea exploration projects and enhance the competitiveness of the sector. The exploration tax credit has the potential to substantially and rapidly boost exploration activity. Speaking ahead of a trip to London to promote investment in Scotland’s energy sector Mr Ewing said: “Exploration rates in the North Sea are at historically low levels. If action is not taken, this will reduce the number of new discoveries, and in turn future production. While this is not simply a fiscal issue, urgent fiscal stimulus is required to improve the exploration outlook. “In 2013, Oil and Gas UK reported that around 25 per cent of exploration wells were drilled by small to medium sized companies. However, the tax arrangements currently in place do not provide support to new entrants or smaller companies who generally do not have sufficient taxable profits against which to offset their exploration expenditure and in many cases can face constraints in their access to finance. “The fiscal regime remains the single largest barrier that is holding back exploration activity. A cashable tax credit should be available for exploration activity, as it will encourage further activity by many exploration companies who are currently cannot access tax relief available to incumbent companies. “The measure has had a significant effect in Norway, which saw a substantial increase in exploration activity by both incumbent companies and new entrants. In Norway, exploration drilling was in a gradual decline before 2005, however following the introduction of the tax credit in 2005 the number of exploration wells increased fourfold over the next 3 years. As a result, in recent years Norway has seen major discoveries such as Johan Sverdrup field and the Johan Castberg field. “We will continue to call on the UK Government to maintain the momentum for fiscal and regulatory change in the oil and gas sector, both of which also were recognised by Sir Ian Wood as, critical to prolonging the life of the industry beyond 2050 and maximising the total value generated in the economy.”

Flybe reopening Aberdeen base next year

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Chief Commercial Officer of Flybe, Paul Simmons was at Bute House this morning to announce his good news along with the First Minister’s news about falling unemployment numbers in Scotland.

The airline which had to close down its operations has now found a way to increase routes from Scotland to London City and other regional airports in England. This means that four Bombardier Q400 aircraft will be based in Aberdeen to serve these routes.  The fourth aircraft will be used for a further shuttle route but they are keeping the details of that under wraps right now. It will be a UK route but the base allows the airline to connect to Scandinavia and other destinations.

Simmons was keen to point out that Flybe is now back in the black financially: “I am pleased to report that the success of the actions we were forced to take to return the airline to profitability and stimulate demand has brought us to the point where it now makes commercial sense to re-open our Aberdeen base. It is a testament to a year of recovery, turnaround and the ultimate re-birth of our airline.

“We are really delighted to be able to do this. It is good for the economy and good for Flybe. This is a long term venture for us and a strong new beginning. We are firmly wedded to Aberdeen and the rest of Scotland.”

The First Minister said: “I launched the new Flybe flight to London City last month with the Spirit of Aberdeen aircraft. These new aircraft have increased capacity as well as flying faster and the airline has already increased the number of flights from two to three. The reopening of Flybe’s Aberdeen base will mean 100 direct jobs for Aberdeen and it is extemely good news for Scottish connectivity to London. It establishes Flybe as Scotland’s main aviation partner. As a North Eastern MSP I welcome the news.”

As far as Air Passenger Duty is concerned the First Minister said that we want to have as much connectivity to London as possible, but that all of this would be assisted by devolution of APD which remains one of the Scottish Government’s main objectives.  The First Minister asserted that this would help relieve the congestion in the south east of England too.

Flybe reported strong results to the Stock Market this morning prior to the announcement.

Housing for NHS Staff

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Craiginches site is to be developed into homes for key workers.

Key public sector workers, including NHS staff, are set to benefit from new homes developed on the Craiginches site in Aberdeen, under new plans announced by Health Secretary Alex Neil announced today.

The proposals will see the site of the former prison sold to Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association who will transform it into houses with the help of Scottish Government funding.

This will include various forms of affordable housing targeted at key workers, in particular NHS workers, as part of a pilot scheme being developed that will ensure important public servants are provided with the opportunity to access the new homes.

Working in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association and NHS Grampian, the Scottish Government will now take forward detailed development of the plans.

Mr Neil said:

“There are record levels of staff working in our NHS – more nurses and doctors than ever before.

“But, while we have supported this unprecedented recruitment by boards across Scotland, we know that some local areas like the North East have experienced difficulties attracting staff.

“We need to think creatively and flexibly about helping where we can – which is exactly what today’s announcement is all about.

“Finding affordable housing in Aberdeen in particular has been noted as an issue that is causing difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff. We hope these new homes will help NHS staff and other key workers find a place to live, so they can make a vital contribution to our public services.

“We will now take forward the plans with partners and draw up a key workers policy to ensure these homes are targeted at the public service workers who really need them.

“This will go alongside our substantial affordable housing programme, which is providing new homes for people not just in Aberdeen, but across Scotland.

“Despite these considerable challenges to our budget, we plan to spend over £1.7 billion to deliver our target of 30,000 affordable homes during the lifetime of this Parliament, supporting an estimated 8,000 jobs each year.”

Dr Annie Ingram, Director of Workforce at NHS Grampian said:

“This is a very welcome initiative. Finding affordable housing in the Aberdeen area is a real challenge for our staff and can be a real disincentive to staff who want to work for NHS Grampian, but cannot afford to relocate to the area. We look forward to working with our partners to develop these plans.”

Aberdeen City Council leader Councillor Jenny Laing added:

“I recently met with Finance Secretary John Swinney and we agreed that the supply of affordable housing in Aberdeen was a key priority for the Council and the Scottish Government. We welcome the announcement, especially given it comes the day after the Council approved an early action investment programme to bring forward our own affordable housing plans.”

Report on policing shows decrease in youth crime

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A report on the work of police forces across Scotland before they joined together to form Police Scotland suggests that confidence and satisfaction in police is high, detection rates are up and crime continued to fall sharply in 2012-13.

The Scottish Policing Performance Framework Annual Report, 2012-13 covers all aspects of policing in Scotland over the year to 31 March 2013. While the government admit that comparisons over time depend on the data available, they say that main findings show:

 

  • Detected youth crime is down by 52 per cent since 2008-09
  • Confidence in police is high and public satisfaction levels are at 84 per cent
  • Detection rates are up 3 percentage points since the report began in 2007-08
  • Police complaints are down 8.3 per cent since 2009-10
  • The number of 999 calls answered within 10 seconds are up 5 percentage points since 2007-08

 

Commenting on the report, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:-“This report shows that police are continuing to exceed expectations while working hard to cut crime and keep our communities safe.

“Public confidence and satisfaction in police is high and the number of emergency calls answered promptly is continuing to rise, while detection rates are up and complaints are down. It is especially encouraging to see significant decreases in crimes which can have a negative impact on communities such as youth offending – down by over half since 2008-09.

“This is backed by the lowest rates of recorded crime in almost 40 years and over 1,000 extra officers in communities, coming at a time of the biggest changes to policing for a generation.

“I would like to thank the police service, including officers, staff and organisations for their continued dedication to keeping communities safe and for providing an even better service to our people while making efficiencies in the face of significant financial challenges we continue to face due to budget cuts imposed by Westminster. These are strong foundations for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to build on in the future.”

Vic Emery, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority, said:-“It was a top priority for the SPA to ensure that there was a smooth transition to the new police structures and this report adds to the weight of evidence that the public continued to receive a quality policing service through the merger. Our focus now is on the next phase of reforms. Scrutinising the results of how police time and resources are used is vital so that we can ensure that police priorities and performance are aligned, and that we continue to test the quality of policing outcomes against the necessary reductions in cost that must be made.”

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick of Police Scotland said: -“We want communities to gain the maximum level of service and benefit from effective and efficient policing. That’s why Police Scotland has a robust focus on strong performance – to keep people safe.

“Through consultation across the country, Police Scotland has identified national and local priorities which recognise the differing needs and issue of communities across Scotland and we are committed to delivering on those priorities through the 14 Local Divisions.

“The service is already performing well at a national level in its first year, with violent crime down, and robust action against organised crime groups. This strong performance can also be seen at a local level, with reductions in anti-social behaviour and disorder.

“The performance framework enables us to be confident that each individual division is making good progress against those all those priorities and to report back to communities at a local level. This is a year of changing processes and new ways of working against a backdrop of financial savings, so the performance to date is encouraging.”

Energy Minister raises renewables concern

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Minister raises grave concerns in letter to Ed Davey.

Scotland’s Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing, has warned that the UK Government’s Electricity Market Reform proposals could undermine Scotland’s renewables sector and supply chain, while threatening security of supply across the UK, and further price increases on consumers bills as a result.

In a letter to Secretary of State Ed Davey, Mr Ewing has highlighted the threat which the current proposals pose to Scotland and the UK’s shared renewables ambitions. This warning extends to concerns – also raised by Ofgem and the National Grid – about the ever tightening gap between maximum generating capacity and peak electricity demand across the UK, and the need to preserve thermal generation in Scotland to help keep the UK’s lights on.

Mr Ewing has also challenged Mr Davey to explain a last minute amendment to the UK Energy Bill that will remove the Scottish Government’s existing powers and discretion over support for renewable technologies across Scotland. The UK Government’s amendment is to be debated by the House of Lords on Monday November 4, 2013.

Mr Ewing said:

“We have examined the UK Government’s proposals carefully, discussing them in detail with the industry and other stakeholders. I believe beyond doubt that the current proposals risk failing Scotland and the UK in a number of vital areas, and present a huge risk to UK security of supply as well as to investor confidence and our low carbon ambitions.

“The Scottish Government will not support an outcome which sacrifices our renewable ambitions in preference to discredited, expensive and imported nuclear technology.

“Nor should thermal generation in Scotland – vital to maintaining grid stability here, and to providing security of supply across the UK – be placed at risk through a failure to take Scottish issues properly into account.

“Both Ofgem and National Grid have expressed deep concern regarding the risks that the UK faces both this winter and in the years ahead due to tightening capacity margins. It would be extremely unwise to ignore the vital and combined contribution of Scotland’s renewable and thermal generation to keeping the lights on across the UK.

“Unless serious and considered steps are taken to address these matters, and which supports investment in thermal generation across the whole of the UK, then the threat of blackouts will crystallise rapidly. The failure to secure a proper margin of capacity over peak demand will inevitably see further price rises on energy bills – resultant from UK energy policy failure over the past decade, as a result of the laws of supply and demand.

“We now know that the UK Government has also proposed a last ditch amendment to the Energy Bill, which will allow UK ministers to close the Renewables Obligation in Scotland. I find it extraordinary that the UK Government has chosen to act in this way, and to strip Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament of their powers and discretion in an area of such vital importance.

“The UK Government has produced this amendment with no consultation or explanation. We are deeply concerned about this summary removal of the Scottish Government’s discretion in an area of such vital importance to our people and economy.

“As a matter of urgency the UK Government must provide a detailed justification for its action.”

First Minister arrives in China

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First Minister Alex Salmond will arrive in Beijing today  to convene a 30 company trade delegation focused on increasing trade in the oil and gas and construction sectors and deepening the friendship between Scotland and China.

The First Minister will begin talks in the Chinese capital on Monday, meeting State Councillor Yang Jie Chi, the Chinese Government’s principal foreign minister, before undertaking a Scotland innovation showcase that will demonstrate Scotland’s expertise in a range of industry sectors.

On Tuesday, Mr Salmond will carry out education talks with Hanban, the body responsible for promotion of Chinese learning and language teaching across the globe, before undertaking a keynote economic speech at Tsinghua University. During the Beijing leg of the visit, the First Minister and trade delegation will also hold senior-level industry talks with Chinese companies.

The First Minister will then transfer to Hong Kong, undertaking a full day of business in the region on Wednesday that will include education research and development talks focused on life sciences and energy and meetings with energy industry representatives.

The visit will conclude on Thursday with a keynote speech to the Financial Times International Financial Centers Forum, focused on financial services and Scotland’s place in the global economy.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the First Minister said:

“It is hugely important that, in an increasingly global economy, Scotland is able to engage with international economic giants such as China, identifying further opportunities for our innovative companies to export their expertise and high-quality products and drive sustainable economic growth at home.

“The trade mission I will convene in China this weekend will focus on two crucial industry sectors, with high-level government, education and trade talks examining opportunities for Scotland in the oil and gas and constructions sectors as well as wider opportunities around strengthening education links that are already bringing great benefits to both countries.

“During the visit I will also promote the excellent food and drink produce that China already adores, with notable successes for Scottish salmon and Scotch whisky contributing to a hugely encouraging rise in overall exports to China from £265m to £498m, between 2007 and 2012.

“And I will deliver two keynote economic speeches, examining Scotland’s place in the world and the challenges nations in the east and west face in building a sustainable and balanced economic recovery.”

Port of Ardersier to become offshore wind hub

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The Port of Ardersier on Scotland’s Moray Firth, once the centre of the early oil industry, has today moved centre stage as one of the key manufacturing and port facilities for the UK’s fast-growing offshore wind sector.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond today announced a memorandum of understanding between Highland and Islands Enterprise and the Port of Ardersier which recognises the port’s capacity to become a major UK manufacturing, construction and installation hub.

With 138 hectares (340 acres) of vacant land and a deep water quay, the former oil rig fabrication yard is ideally placed to capture a slice of the estimated £70-80 billion UK offshore wind construction market.

Welcoming the memorandum of understanding, Port of Ardersier CEO Capt. Stephen Gobbi said:

“There are few other locations in the UK, or indeed Europe, which can offer this quality and quantity of vacant land, a 1000 meter deep water quay and proximity to major offshore wind development zones.

“It complements other sites in Scotland and offers offshore wind developers and manufacturers the opportunity to site their operations close to the first-generation deep water sites at Beatrice and Moray Firth.

“This memorandum recognises this potential, and commits the Port of Ardersier and Highlands and Island Enterprise to work together to develop the port and bring new jobs and economic activity to this corner of
Scotland.”

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HIE, said:

“Port of Ardersier offers significant potential to offshore wind developers. Given the scale of offshore renewables activity, the sheer size of the site means it is ideally placed to meet the range of needs for manufacturing and assembly. HIE is delighted to work with Port of Ardersier to bring the site back into commercial use and help it secure new tenants.”

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“We are working hard with our enterprise agencies both to secure overseas investment into our world-leading renewable energy industry and to support Scottish businesses to seize the huge opportunities available, working in partnership with inward investors and the rest of the supply chain to create jobs and help re-industrialise communities right across Scotland.

“These ports are ideally-positioned to become key hubs for the deployment of offshore wind, wave and tidal energy – across manufacturing, assembly, operations and maintenance – and the new Memorandums of Understanding with Highlands and Islands Enterprise underpin the importance that we attach to ensuring that all of Scotland wins from the renewables revolution.”

This would be a second lease of life for the specialist port. Formerly the McDermott Fabrication Yard, it was built on land reclaimed from the
foreshore in the 1970s for the fabrication and construction of North Sea oil and gas platforms. At its height, the yard employed 4500 people. It has lain dormant since 2001.

The port’s next step is to submit planning applications to Transport Scotland, Highlands Council and Marine Scotland to secure full consent as an offshore wind manufacturing port, with the goal of securing permission by the Autumn. The site’s current consent relates to oil and gas only.

The Port of Ardersier was identified within Stage 1 of the Scottish Government’s National Renewables Infrastructure Plan as a key integrated
manufacturing facility. The plan’s goal is to enable Scotland to accelerate the development of offshore wind and capture a major slice of the supply chain and jobs potential.

Stage 2 of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan involves the development of detailed investment plans for identified sites. The
memorandum of understanding forms part of stage 2 for the Port of Ardersier and commits the two parties to work together to secure planning consent and maximise the economic and social potential of the port.

£122.5m to be invested in NHS Grampian

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The funding is enabling patients in the Grampian area to benefit from a £110 million emergency care centre and a £12.5 million energy centre at Foresterhill Health Campus.

The area is also benefitting from £25.7m investment in projects identified for delivery through revenue funding via the hub initiative.

These include Aberdeen Health Village (£15.5m), Woodside Health Centre (£4.7m) and Forres Health Centre (£5.5m).

The investment has been revealed to coincide with a visit by Public Health Minister Michael Matheson to the Foresterhill Health Campus and the Aberdeen Health Village.

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said:

“Having the right facilities, in the right place is important to people across Scotland and that is why we are determined to ensure both staff and patients the length and breadth of the country can work and be treated in the best possible surroundings.

“This significant investment in health building projects clearly sets out the strength of our commitment to the NHS in Scotland, and will mean that we can provide more sustainable, high quality and continually improving health care services close to home in Grampian and across the country.”

Graeme Smith, Director of Modernisation NHS Grampian, said:

“We’re delighted with this investment – the result of a great deal of hard work by many people in NHS Grampian and of our good working relationship with the Scottish Government. It will play a major part in modernising patient care and the facilities used to support patient care.”

The new Energy Centre will ensure that the energy needed for current and future developments on the Foresterhill Campus is available.

It is estimated that it will deliver a 17 per cent reduction in present CO2 emissions, equating to some 4500 tonnes per year and it will also return expected energy savings of around £1 million per year.

Work is underway on the new Emergency Care Centre at Foresterhill in Aberdeen, which will bring together emergency and urgent care services into one building on the Foresterhill site.

The new facility is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.

Aberdeen Health Village will house a range of community health services, such as dentistry, radiology and sexual health services in one location and is due to open in December 2013.