Committee
Environment and Rural Development Committee, 17 Jan 2007
17 Jan 2007 · S2 · Environment and Rural Development Committee
Item of business
Marine Environment Inquiry
Ian Pritchard:
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When we look at new industries, we will invest higher percentages of our revenue in research and development. For the offshore wind energy sector, for example, the Crown Estate has established a trust fund that is used to carry out generic research into offshore wind energy development. The fund is of far greater value than the income that we currently receive from wind power generation, but it is important that we give the sector a kick-start in its early years.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Maureen Macmillan):
Lab
Thank you very much, colleagues.This is the second session of oral evidence in the committee's inquiry into the marine environment, for which we had an extre...
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I shall kick off by addressing a couple of questions to Ian Pritchard, specifically about the Crown Estate. As I understand it, the Crown Estate suggests tha...
Ian Pritchard (Crown Estate):
It is important to say that the local authorities already have planning powers down as far as mean low-water springs. The issue is the planning powers beyond...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
Is there a need to simplify and consolidate the existing legislation that applies to the marine environment? From the evidence that we have heard so far, the...
Ian Pritchard:
The Crown Estate is supportive of a bill that is able to deliver a means of rationalising and improving existing legislation.
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
I am not quite sure whether that was a yes or a no.
Ian Pritchard:
Yes.
Mr Morrison:
Lab
To follow up Ted Brocklebank's question, do you believe that the Crown Estate Commission as constituted and in how it undertakes its responsibilities is fit ...
Ian Pritchard:
I believe that it is. The Crown Estate was constituted under the Crown Estate Act 1961, which is relatively recent legislation. That said, it is no longer th...
Mr Morrison:
Lab
In what way?
Ian Pritchard:
We have a much more open and public focus in what we are doing to meet the needs of our customers and stakeholders around the United Kingdom. We are doing ma...
Mr Morrison:
Lab
So, in the context of the bill, you are beyond reform. As an entity, you are fit for purpose. I think you said that you have moved on significantly since 196...
Ian Pritchard:
The Crown Estate is committed to moving with the times and to meeting customer expectations. If changes that offer those benefits can be made to the way in w...
Mr Morrison:
Lab
That is encouraging. Will you remind us what percentage of your income is spent on research and development and reinvested in communities?
Ian Pritchard:
We have a number of reinvestment streams. In the past year, approximately 10 per cent of our marine income in Scotland was reinvested in Scottish research an...
Mr Morrison:
Lab
In pounds and pence, that amounts to roughly—
Ian Pritchard:
About £0.5 million.
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
You will be aware that the Crown Estate review working group produced a report on behalf of several councils in the Highlands and Islands. I believe that you...
Ian Pritchard:
The review working group's report makes a number of recommendations, including the selling off over time of our urban and rural interests in Scotland, the tr...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
We are concentrating on the marine environment today. Your responsibility for the continental shelf, beyond the 12-mile limit, is coming into focus at the mo...
Ian Pritchard:
We have some say as the landowner, but we are not the regulator for development activity. We therefore rely on the bodies that are responsible for regulation...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
You told one of my colleagues that the amount that you pay back for research is about 10 per cent of your income, so it is clear that there is a large income...
Ian Pritchard:
When we look at new industries, we will invest higher percentages of our revenue in research and development. For the offshore wind energy sector, for exampl...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
You have disagreed without stating exactly why, but have given us some information about the Crown Estate review working group's approach and you are happy w...
Ian Pritchard:
One of the concerns that local authorities have expressed through the Crown Estate review working group's report is that they wish to have local control over...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
I have a question specifically for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and a more general question for all our witnesses. SEPA's written submission st...
Chris Spray (Scottish Environment Protection Agency):
The situation is as our submission states, as far as we are aware. We think that that practice is illegal, but it is an area that we would have to examine in...
Nora Radcliffe:
LD
I was slightly taken aback when I read that—given that we are considering carbon sequestration as a useful way forward.Our three witnesses represent organisa...
Paul Du Vivier (Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency):
The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency was set up about 15 years ago with the specific focused task of monitoring the industry's compliance with the raft o...
Chris Spray:
SEPA has about 100 dedicated marine staff working in scientific monitoring and on the regulatory side. They are working at local level, talking directly to t...