[PDF] Meeting Scotlands Future Energy Needs eBook

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 16 pages
File Size : 17,31 MB
Release : 2006-03-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780215028136

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This report is a brief description of a visit to Westfield Development Centre, where Fife Energy Limited has developed an advanced fuel technology and gasification plant. It is able to convert any carbon-containing material into a synthetic gas, composed primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be used in place of natural gas, for example to generate electricity. The Committee was impressed by the plant, and by a number of other energy projects in the Fife area - wave generation, off-shore wind demonstrators, battery research - and recommends that the Minister for Energy either visits the site or receives a presentation from the Westfield Centre in the course of the consultation period for the energy review (which ends on 14 April 2006).

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : Stationery Office Books (TSO)
Page : 85 pages
File Size : 13,65 MB
Release : 2005-01-01
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215024138

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Meeting Scotland's Future Energy Needs : Second Report of Session 2004-05

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher :
Page : 7 pages
File Size : 46,71 MB
Release : 2005
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780215026002

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The Scottish Affairs Committee published its report on Scotland's future energy needs in March. This reply from the Scottish Office, received on 10 October, responds to each of the twelve recommendations.

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 88 pages
File Size : 18,84 MB
Release : 2006-06-19
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215029249

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The Sewel Convention seeks to ensure that the UK Parliament legislates on devolved matters only with the express agreement of the Scottish Parliament, and consent is also required for legislation on reserved matters if it alters the powers of the Scottish Parliament or Scottish Ministers. Following on from a report by the Scottish Parliament Procedures Committee on the operation of the Convention (SP paper 428, 7th report, session 2 (2005) (ISBN 1406113220) published in October 2005), the Committee's report focuses on ways of improving the communications procedure between the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments, and how MPs could be better alerted that a particular Bill before Parliament had been subject to a Sewel motion in the Scottish Parliament. Recommendations made include: the introduction of a formal process whereby the Scottish Parliament notifies Westminster when a Sewel motion has been passed and the 'tagging' of all relevant public Bills; and the need for an explicit statement on explanatory notes to Bills as to which parts of the UK the provisions will affect. The report also recommends the further consideration of the need to establish a 'Super' Scottish Grand Committee, composed of Scottish MPs, MSPs and Scottish MEPs, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Author : Great Britain: House of Commons
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 344 pages
File Size : 47,18 MB
Release : 2005-06-23
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215025227

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With corrigendum slip dated June 2005 (1 sheet).

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 24 pages
File Size : 42,91 MB
Release : 2006-01-24
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215027139

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Work of the Committee In 2005 : First report of session 2005-06, report, together with formal Minutes

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 164 pages
File Size : 17,76 MB
Release : 2008
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215521170

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Defence and aerospace industries in Scotland generate nearly £2.31 billion in sales and together with the MoD support almost 50,000 jobs and a record number of apprentices. As well as a recognised expertise in naval ship building, Scotland also has a strong defence electronics industry and a strong aerospace industry based around Prestwick. This report examines the delay in the signing of the contract for two new aircraft carriers: the Committee is concerned that similar delays during the construction phase could lead to job losses and damage the ship-building skills base the UK needs to support if it wishes to retain sovereign capability in key areas. The Committee also comments on the Government's decision to treat the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) vessels as commercial rather than naval vessels, making them subject to EU competition law. There is confusion over the status of these vessels. The report also looks at the supply of skilled, semi-skilled and graduate workers, the Modern Apprenticeship programme, and the funding for adult apprentices. It is vital for Scottish industry to look at upskilling throughout the workforce, including mature workers who were not able to access apprenticeships as school leavers. The issue of constitutional change also affects the future sustainability of the Scottish defence industry. In the long term it is unclear what naval requirement an independent Scotland would have and whether this would make up for the potential loss of UK MoD orders. Government and industry need to work effectively together to ensure that Scotland's engineering and manufacturing base continues to be world class.

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 136 pages
File Size : 45,32 MB
Release : 2008
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215520463

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On 3 May 2007, combined elections were held in Scotland, electing members to the Scottish Parliament and all 32 of Scotland's local councils. The number of spoilt ballots cast in these elections was unusually high, and difficulties with the electronic counting machines led to the count being suspended in some constituencies. The Electoral Commission engaged Ron Gould CM to conduct an independent assessment of the elections. This report examines the findings of the Gould Report and its recommendations, some of which have already been accepted in principle by the Scotland Office and by the Scottish Executive, including holding the Scottish Parliament and local government elections at different times and producing separate regional and constituency ballot papers for the Scottish Parliament elections. Evidence strongly suggests that there are deep problems with the way elections are administered, both in Scotland and across the UK, which, if left unaddressed, could again create difficulties in the future. Any changes to the way in which elections are carried out must be accompanied by rigorous research and testing; the absence of such research and testing was a major failing that led to the problems of 3 May. There were failings on the part of the Scotland Office, where lengthy delays disrupted election planning and led to weak contingency arrangements. The Electoral Commission did not do enough to warn of potential problems with the ballot. The use of e-counting has been subject to particular criticism. Although electronic counting may have the potential to produce results more quickly, in these elections it did not operate efficiently or transparently. Any future proposals must place the needs of the voter and the interests of transparency far above the limitations of any given technology.

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 76 pages
File Size : 22,4 MB
Release : 2010-03-11
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215544575

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This report examines the recommendations of the Commission on Scottish Devolution ('the Calman Commission'), specifically the parts which relate to relations between the two parliaments. The Scottish Affairs Committee concludes that closer cooperation between the UK and Scottish parliaments and governments is only possible if backed up by political will. Removing procedural barriers is only one part of improving communication and cooperation; structural changes alone will not make the difference. The Committee's key findings are: the Government should make time for a regular 'State of Scotland' debate, to include devolved matters; The UK and Scottish governments have given a positive response to the idea of appearing before committees of either Parliament; the idea of a 'Scottish Super Grand Committee' composed of Scottish MPs, MSPs and Scottish MEPs should be revisited; changes should be made to allow UK and Scottish parliamentary committees to work together; positive consideration should be given to whether Scottish ministers can give evidence to UK Parliament committees examining Scotland Act Orders; arrangements should be made to remove any unnecessary barriers to access for MSPs visiting Westminster; a programme of exchanges and secondments with the Scottish Parliament should be funded and encouraged by the House.

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 130 pages
File Size : 11,84 MB
Release : 2010
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215553287

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This report examines the arrangements in place for communication between the UK Government and Scottish Executive, particularly when the UK Government formulates international policy which will specifically affect Scottish interests and devolved matters. Generally there are effective channels of communication at both ministerial and official level between the two governments. Whitehall tends to overlook the Scottish angle of policy and legislation more often in those departments which are unfamiliar with devolved matters. We recommend that the Government ensures that each department has a devolution champion to ensure that there is a good level of awareness of devolution issues. The revival of the Joint Ministerial Committee should provide an important forum for discussion between Ministers of the UK Government and devolved administrations. However, there is little opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny of the outcomes and effectiveness of the Committee's meetings. The report welcomes the publication of the new Protocol for Avoidance and Resolution of Disputes as the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding did not provide adequate guidance on how disputes between the UK and Scotland should be resolved. This was demonstrated during the communications between the governments on the UK's negotiations with Libya on the Prisoner Transfer Agreement. Both Governments should display the necessary political will to ensure that both understand each other's point of view and demonstrate the mutual respect which should characterise all their dealings.