Design work is currently underway to improve the A9 by dualling between Birnam and Luncarty. In addition, the current investment programme provides for improvements and reconstruction schemes at Kincraig, Loch Moy, Bankfoot, Carrbridge, Kincraig to Dalraddy, Slochd and Kindallachan as well as providing for a doubling of the length of the dual carriageway section at Crubenmore.

The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) provides a robust framework of prioritised schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in future spending reviews.

A timetable for undertaking the dualling programme will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.

The 2km separation distance applies to cities, towns and villages. Its purpose is to guide planning authorities in identifying broad areas of search in their development plans or supplementary planning guidance for wind farm proposals over 20 megawatts. SPP 6 also confirms that planning authorities should use broad criteria to ensure that proposals are not permitted if they would have a significant long-term detrimental impact on the amenity of people living nearby. This principle applies equally to all dwellings, whether within or outwith broad areas of search.

At 30 September 2008, 64.5% of people were registered with an NHS dentist in Tayside.

This does not represent the percentage of people in Tayside who are registered. Registration (numerator) are based on the postcode of the practice where the patient has registered with a general dental practitioner. The population (denominator) is based on where the patient resides, in this case Tayside.

This is a matter for Perth and Kinross Council. However, I am aware that since 2007, the council have carried out measures to road drainage in connection with the Milnathort Flood Prevention Scheme, installed a telemetry system in Perth to improve the operational response of the Perth Flood Prevention Scheme in a flood event and has installed a stand-by generator at the pumping station in Weem to improve operational reliability of that Scheme. I understand the council is developing further measures with a view to publishing a flood prevention scheme at Milnathort in the summer and is also developing proposals for flood prevention schemes at Almondbank, Bankfoot, Birnam and Greenloaning.

Development plans or supplementary planning guidance should use broad criteria to set out the issues to be addressed by developers. Planning application and, where appropriate, environmental impact assessment procedures should identify the impacts that are likely to arise as a result of development and how these are to be addressed. It is then for the decision-maker to judge on a case-by-case basis whether individual proposals will have a significant long-term detrimental impact.

The following table reports estimates on gas produced from Scottish fields in the North Sea, gas consumption in Scotland, and gas exports from Scotland.

GWh

	2005	2006	2007
Total UK production1	1,025,232	929,784	838,092
Sco % share of UK production2	58%	59%	60%
Scottish production	594,635	548,573	502,855

 

Scottish Consumption3		2005	2006	2007
	Domestic	35,329	34,342	34,469
	Industrial/Commercial	25,614	24,468	25,121
	Electricity Generation	9,367	10,309	11,182
	Scottish energy industry use4	49,972	47,242	44,648
Scottish Exports		474,352	432,211	387,435

Notes:

1. Data for UK Gas production are taken from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change publication, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2008.

2. The Scottish share of UK gas production is based on estimates from the Aberdeen University research paper by Professor Alex Kemp and Linda Stephen which shows a gradual increase from approximately 58% Scottish share in 2005 to just over 60% in 2007.

3. The Scottish consumption figures for Domestic, Commercial/Industrial and Electricity Generation are sourced from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change Energy Trends publication, annual December release.

4. Scottish energy industry use is estimated by applying the Scottish production percentage used for each year (see note 2) to the total UK energy industry use figure for that year. UK Energy Industry use data are sourced from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change publication, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2008.

NHS Tayside and its partner NHS boards are currently evaluating the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre project with a view to establishing future capacity requirements and developing options and recommendations for the way forward after the existing contract with Netcare (UK) Ltd ends in early 2010. The Scottish Government will consider future arrangements, including any investment requirements, in the light of this and of a final formal audit review which will take place during the summer in accordance with the terms of the contract.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22271 on 7 April 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The National Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Scheme has provided £3.2 million assistance to the food elements in malting projects.

Farmers can apply for funding to support the provision of storage facilities for cereals, including malting barley, from the food processing, marketing and co-operation grant scheme and through rural priorities.