Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL)

The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, today announced the appointment of Grenville Johnston as Chair of Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).

Commenting on Mr Johnston's appointment, Mr Stevenson said:

"This is a key role, and I am delighted to appoint Grenville as the new Chair of HIAL. His strong commitment and dedication to the company; knowledge of the Highlands and Islands and proven leadership skills demonstrated during his term as interim Chair will be invaluable to the company going forward.

"The challenges facing us all in the public sector and also in the aviation sector are many and HIAL will need strong and determined leadership to maintain and develop the business for the benefit of the communities it serves. Grenville's proven track record in the private and public sectors show he is the right person to lead the company to face the challenges ahead and to provide the direction it needs to move forward."

Mr Johnston, who lives in Elgin, served as a non-executive Director of HIAL from 2001-2008 and as interim Chair from February 1 2009. He was formerly senior partner/consultant with Johnston Carmichael; Chartered Accountants based in Elgin and was President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in 2000-01. Mr Johnston is currently Chair of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and of Cairngorm Mountain Ltd. As Chair of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, he receives a daily fee rate of £337 for a minimum time commitment of three days per month. As Chair of Cairngorm Mountain Ltd, he receives a daily fee rate of £400 for an expected three days per month. He is also Lord-Lieutenant of Moray.

Mr Johnston said: "HIAL has many challenges to face in the next few years as the airport industry has not been immune from the recent downturn. But I believe that we can use these challenges to improve our service and commitment to passengers and the airlines that carry them. I am delighted to be able to help HIAL as Chairman."

Mr Johnston's interim appointment began on February 1 2009 and was initially for eight months. The Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland approved the extension of the interim appointment for a further six months, from October 1 2009 to March 31 2010.

This appointment will be for three years and will run from April 1 2010 to March 31 2013. This post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £21,880 per annum for a minimum time commitment of 6 days per month.

Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is a public corporation and is wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers. The Company operates and manages 10 airports in the Highlands and Islands at Barra, Benbecula, Stornoway, Campbeltown, Islay, Tiree, Inverness, Wick, Kirkwall and Sumburgh and facilitates access to, from and around the region for a range of people in pursuit of business, health, welfare, leisure and social objectives.

In addition, HIAL took over the operation and management of Dundee Airport at the end of 2007. All of HIAL's airports are vital to the social and economic welfare of the areas which they serve, are loss making and are supported by subsidies from the Scottish Government.

Issues considered by the Board include security, safety and operational matters, commercial and route development, financial management, risk management, regional priorities, pay and pensions. The Company also administers the Air Discount Scheme (ADS) on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. The purpose of the ADS is to give remote communities in the Highlands and Islands the air services that they need to support economic development, accessibility and social inclusion, at an affordable price for residents.

This Ministerial public appointment is made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Mr Johnston has not been involved in any political activity in the last five years.

Lights out for WWF’S Earth Hour

The Scottish Government will join millions across the world in switching off lights for one hour from 8.30pm on Saturday night to mark WWF's Earth Hour in a gesture of support for action on climate change.

Lights will be turned off in main government buildings, although essential lighting will remain on across the estate for health and safety reasons.

Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

"The Scottish Government is delighted to back WWF's Earth Hour once again. In a year when many are still dwelling on the disappointing outcome of the climate change talks in Copenhagen, it is important that we demonstrate our continued level of commitment on reducing carbon with an initiative which has a truly global impact.

"Our world-leading Climate Change Act with its target to cut emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 is challenging but achievable and in doing so we will create a cleaner, greener Scotland with a thriving low carbon economy. We are committed to leading by example and to encouraging others in the public sector to do the same.

"This year, under the terms of the Act, we are required to identify actions people in Scotland can take to personally contribute to achieving Scotland's climate change targets. We will be making an announcement on this later in the year but, in the meantime, each person in Scotland typically contributes twice the global average in terms of greenhouse gas emissions produced as a result of our everyday behaviour. Small changes in our daily lives will not only help reduce emissions but can contribute towards a healthier lifestyle, improve our environment and offer real financial savings.

"WWF's Earth Hour provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to tackling climate change in a simple yet effective way. And I will be taking part personally by switching my lights off for an hour tomorrow night."

Permanent Secretary Sir John Elvidge said:

"I am delighted to support WWF's Earth Hour for the second year in a row. It is particularly pleasing to see more and more organisations across Scotland following suit this year.

"The Scottish Government is playing its part in creating a Greener Scotland. Across the estate we are doing a number of things to improve our own performance - such as implementing our Carbon Management Plan and promoting sustainable business travel. Whilst the Scottish Government aims to lead by example, we are aware that we must all take individual action to reduce our impact on the environment.

"Once again, WWF's Earth Hour is giving us an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and raise awareness of climate change."

Director of WWF Scotland Dr Richard Dixon welcomed the Scottish Government's support for Earth Hour. He said:

"It is great news that the Scottish Government is again supporting WWF's Earth Hour. This year's event has really captured the public's imagination with a record number of sign-ups, including 27 local authorities which have agreed to switch off non-essential lighting in Council owned buildings and on prominent monuments.

"Those taking part will join hundreds of millions across the world in over 200 cities in over 100 countries in sending a message to world leaders and decision makers that they care about people and wildlife affected by climate change."

First milestone of £1 billion rail scheme underway

Work on the £1 billion Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP), Scotland’s single largest rail improvement programme ever, is making good progress as preparatory work for the electrification of the railway nears completion.

A pilot piling programme to test the foundations for the overhead electrification wires has been trialled at 95 sites along the length of the route between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The £950,000 contract was awarded earlier this year to Carillion plc and is expected to conclude at the end of this week.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

“The Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvements Programme will revolutionise the rail network in Central Scotland and I’m delighted that early work on this exciting programme of rail improvements is already well under way.

“The completion of the pilot programme which finishes this week will determine where the major electrical infrastructure will be best located as part of the electrification of the railway across central Scotland. Although the complete programme of works is not due to finish until 2016, this is an important milestone which will bring a cleaner, more efficient railway.

“Through Transport Scotland, we have tasked the rail industry in Scotland with making the improvements necessary to encourage people to make the switch away from the private car to rail which will provide cuts in carbon emissions - underlining our commitment to both the climate and the commuter.”

The complete programme will see services between Scotland’s two largest cities transformed, with today’s five or six services per hour with a fastest journey time of 50 minutes increased to 13 services per hour with a fastest journey time of around 35 minutes – the fastest scheduled service between the two cities in the history of the railway.