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The Scottish Government does not provide direct financial support to the Scottish Energy Laboratory. The laboratory does however receive some financial support from Scotland’s enterprise agencies.

Information on progress toward reducing carbon emissions arising from operations on the Scottish Government estate is detailed in the Scottish Government’s Environmental Performance Annual Report for 2008-09; copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874).

Information in respect of progress during 2009-10 is currently being collated for publication later this year.

Scottish ministers set out their policies and proposals for meeting annual emissions reduction targets for 2010-22, including the interim target of 42% by 2020, in the Report on Proposals and Policies, a statutory requirement of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-2022 was laid in draft in Parliament on 17 November 2010, and laid in its final form in Parliament on 14 March 2011.

We do not hold this information. The Energy Assistance Package is a demand led scheme. The volume and location of installations depends on the receipt of eligible applications, along with the available budget. Future funding for EAP will be a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

I am happy to confirm that Professor David Sigsworth has agreed to take up the post of Chair of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum. He will be ably assisted by Norman Kerr, who has agreed to become Vice Chair.

Applications under the Energy Assistance Package are normally prioritised by date order, with the exception of vulnerable groups or people who are terminally ill and in possession of a DS1500 certificate. Priority is given to applicants with a supporting letter from a medical consultant or a social worker. Where someone is terminally ill and holds a DS1500 certificate they are automatically fast tracked.

Scottish ministers have expressed their concern over the recent price increases announced by Scottish power and its impact on fuel poverty. In meetings with Scottish Power up to £10 million has been secured for energy efficiency programmes in Scotland. This government’s fuel poverty programmes continue to deliver assistance to vulnerable households. The Energy Assistance Package has grant funded over 20,000 heating installations since April 2009 and improved the annual income of pensioners and families by over £4.2 million. The Home Insulation Scheme and universal Home Insulation Scheme have helped over 500,000 people since November 2009.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance has also issued a letter to Ofgem voicing concern over this alarming trend in utility pricing, especially the impact on vulnerable customers.

We estimate that up to 200,000 households will be offered the opportunity to benefit from UHIS in 2011-12. It is not possible to estimate for subsequent years as funding beyond 2011-12 will be a matter for the Spending Review, and subsequent reviews.

Invitations to local authorities to bid for funding for UHIS in 2011-12 were issued on 1 July 2011, with a submission deadline of 12 August 2011.

The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those areas worse affected by fuel poverty. The operational details, including the criteria and the application process, are being worked on and will be announced in due course.

The Energy Assistance Package started in April 2009. The following table is provided by the Managing Agent (Scottish Gas). Figures for 2010-11 are not yet available.