SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

Parliament is in recess.

SECTION 2 – NEWS

Glasgow-Dubai air route takes off
Direct air services between Glasgow and the United Arab Emirates have taken off, launching Scotland's first scheduled flights outside Europe and North America.

The new Emirates Airlines' service has attracted the largest ever investment from the Scottish Executive's Route Development Fund.

The Route Development Fund supports new air links where airlines can demonstrate the services will have a direct economic benefit to Scotland. The flights must involve regularly scheduled services and must not undermine existing flights.  It has offered assistance to 19 new routes from Scotland and is operated in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, which administers the fund on the Executive's behalf.

This is the first time a Middle Eastern route has been supported.

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Planning for the digital age
Proposals which could make life simpler and cheaper for the thousands of Scots who wish to use satellite and broadband technology have been announced.

Deputy Communities Minister, Mary Mulligan, has launched a consultation to consider deregulation of the planning controls for satellite dishes, which could allow households to install dishes without planning permission.

Houses in the 21st century may need more than one satellite dish or antenna for different purposes – such as digital TV and broadband.  Currently, if people need more than one dish, they must apply for separate planning permission, which costs £110.

The consultation presents options for change for four separate categories: households in designated areas; households not in designated areas; other buildings in designated areas; and other buildings. (Designated areas include, for example, conservation areas and National Scenic Areas.)  It also seeks views on size and siting restrictions, such as the maximum height and width of a dish and where it can be placed on a building

The remit of the consultation paper is limited to planning arrangements for satellite dishes and other antennas. It is not a document which aims to address the wider issues regarding switchover to digital TV or the rollout of broadband.

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

Parliament is in recess.

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