Scottish Executive

Benefits

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26630 by Shona Robison on 21 August 2009, what organisations it is consulting in formulating a response to the UK green paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together.

Shona Robison: A high level, policy-based response to the UK Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together, is being drafted by the Health and Community Care Delivery Group. The membership of this group includes the following organisations: COSLA, Association of Directors of Social Work, City of Edinburgh Council, Perth and Kinross Council, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Lothian, NHS Health Scotland and the Care Commission. The draft response will be signed off jointly by Scottish ministers and COSLA.

The UK Department of Health has an extensive interactive consultation running on a dedicated website. Any individual or interest group in the UK can post comments and responses to the consultation up until it closes on the 13 November. I understand that Scottish voluntary organisations are fully aware of the paper and that some of them may be responding to the consultation.

Central Heating

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many contractors involved with the Energy Assistance Package operate in Dumfries and Galloway.

Alex Neil: There are seven contractors involved with Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package who operate in Dumfries and Galloway.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems, excluding legacy central heating programme installations, were installed as part of the Energy Assistance Package by the end of September 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package is a holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty that addresses both the home and householder and includes services to maximise income, reduce fuel bills and improve energy efficiency. Stage 4 of the package offers a menu of enhanced physical measures to groups most likely to be fuel poor including central heating.

Applications referred to Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package are considered for heating installations, but it may be appropriate to undertake other measures. Heating systems installed through Stage 4 are given in the following table.

Heating Installations Undertaken under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package at 30 September, by Local Authority

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed as part of the central heating programme in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: This information is not available because reporting of the central heating programme was analysed by postcode area, not by local authority. For the years in question, please see this web page
http://www.chwdp-scottishexecutive.co.uk/statistics/chp_prevyear.php.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason there is a four to six-month wait in Dumfries and Galloway for a boiler to be installed in a household that has qualified for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: The majority of eligible applicants in Dumfries and Galloway have been waiting for no more than three months, although some have been waiting longer. There may be several reasons for a delay in installation, other than simple pressures of demand, such as the need for improvements to the existing infrastructure, particularly where customers request a change in fuel.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce the waiting period for central heating system installation for applicants who have qualified for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package (EAP) is a holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty that addresses both the home and householder and includes services to maximise income, reduce fuel bills and improve energy efficiency. Stage 4 of the package offers a menu of enhanced physical measures to groups most likely to be fuel poor including central heating.

In 2008-09 the managing agent reduced the average waiting time from application to installation on the central heating programme, from six months to five months, with particular priority given to those households who have waited longest. The Scottish Government continues to press the to do all it can to ensure waiting times are kept to a minimum on the EAP.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to increase the number of central heating systems installed as part of the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package is a holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty that addresses both the home and householder and includes services to maximise income, reduce fuel bills and improve energy efficiency. Stage 4 of the package offers a menu of enhanced physical measures to groups most likely to be fuel poor including central heating.

As a new package, it would be premature to expect many Stage 4 installations to have been completed by this point in the year. However, work is on-going to stimulate demand. Recent marketing activities have already increased the rate of enquiries, including applications from households who have then been referred to Stage 4 of the Package.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for central heating system installation for applicants who qualify for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package is a holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty that addresses both the home and householder and includes services to maximise income, reduce fuel bills and improve energy efficiency. Stage 4 of the package offers a menu of enhanced physical measures to groups most likely to be fuel poor including central heating.

For those where Stage 4 measures have already been undertaken, the average waiting time from application to installation under the Energy Assistance Package was 77 days. This information is not broken down on a local authority basis.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason 43 times fewer central heating systems have been installed as part of the Energy Assistance Package compared with the central heating programme.

Alex Neil: Unlike the central heating programme, the Energy Assistance Package is a holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty that addresses both the home and householder and includes services to maximise income, reduce fuel bills and improve energy efficiency. Stage 4 of the package offers a menu of enhanced physical measures to groups most likely to be fuel poor including central heating.

The programme of installations under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package is progressing, but work is also continuing to complete the installations that are a legacy of the central heating programme. The total number of installations for the year up to 30 September is 4,225. Any comparison of total annual figures should await the end of the first year of the programme.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have received the Stage Three package of standard insulation measures under the Energy Assistance Programme, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The measures that can be provided under Stage 3 comprise cavity wall insulation and loft insulation if there is less than 60mm present. The following table provides the numbers of households who have chosen to receive cavity wall insulation and / or loft insulation under Stage 3, up to 30 September, by local authority.

Communities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Etisal, the Government sponsored event being organised by the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, was postponed from November 2009 to March 2010.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision to postpone Etisal, the Scottish Government sponsored event being organised by the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, was taken.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government provided funding to support the initial development of the Etisal event. The delivery of Etisal is a matter for the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding, including publicity costs, it is providing to Etisal, the Scottish Government sponsored event being organised by the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government provided funding to support the initial development of the Etisal event and the series of events that will make up Salaam Scotland. A total of £72,000, from an initial grant of £200,000, has been spent on the development of both initiatives. The remaining £128,000 has been returned to the Scottish Government.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on any contribution being made by sources in the (a) Organisation of Islamic Conference and (b) Gulf Cooperation Council countries to Etisal, the Scottish Government-sponsored event being organised by the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26626, on 16 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Scottish Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with sources in the (a) Organisation of Islamic Conference and (b) Gulf Cooperation Council countries and whether such discussions have been facilitated by Osama Saeed or the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Alex Neil: No member of the Scottish Islamic Foundation has facilitated discussions between the Scottish Government and the Organisation of Islamic Conference, or the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Community Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue the planned guidance note on the procurement of community care services.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government intends to publish draft guidance on social care procurement for consultation in November 2009. We intend to publish the final guidance in February 2010.

Culture

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it plans to have with the National Galleries of Scotland regarding the number of proposed venues across Scotland and their availability and accessibility to ensure that Titian’s Diana and Actaeon can be viewed by as large an audience as possible.

Michael Russell: Titian’s Diana and Actaeon will be returning to Scotland from the National Gallery in London in spring 2010. We understand that the National Galleries of Scotland has plans to show the work in several venues across the country as well as in its usual home in Edinburgh. The National Galleries of Scotland expects to be able to confirm details of this by the end of this year.

Education

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address regional disparities in educational attainment.

Keith Brown: We are implementing Curriculum for Excellence together with local authorities and our other partners in education. Local authorities, schools, colleges and other partners will work together to help learners develop the range of skills and attributes set out in Curriculum for Excellence. By doing so, we will raise standards and equip children and young people across Scotland with the skills and knowledge that they need for learning, life and work.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the GM and novel foods section of the Food Standards Agency should be managed by a former employee of the GM seed multinational, Syngenta.

Roseanna Cunningham: Recruitment and employment of staff is an internal matter for the Food Standards Agency, and is carried out in accordance with the Civil Service Code.

Local Government Finance

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the accumulated capital debt is of local authorities for capital works undertaken by traditional borrowing.

John Swinney: Borrowing undertaken by each local authority in support of its capital works is reflected by that authority in a separate statutory fund - the loans fund. The level of debt recorded by the loans fund is the value that must be charged to services over a number of years. The total loans fund debt outstanding for all Scottish local authorities as at 31 March 2008 (the most recent date for which information provided by authorities is available centrally) was just over £9.5 billion.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average debt repayment period is for capital spending financed by borrowing by local authorities for capital works other than roadworks.

John Swinney: Local authorities are able to determine the repayment periods for borrowing undertaken to support capital expenditure within maximum limits set by ministers. The maximum period over which the repayments of advances from the loans fund are made is determined by the type of expenditure supported by the borrowing undertaken. The current maximum periods are:

If existing buildings are purchased, the maximum period for the building must not exceed the District Valuer’s estimate of their useful life.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated spend per annum is on maintenance of properties built by local authorities and financed by borrowing.

John Swinney: This is a matter for individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the value to be of risk to properties built for and in the ownership of local authorities from damage and from buildings not performing to standard.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not make such estimates. As independent corporate bodies it is for local authorities to manage their assets.

Pre-School Education

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation local authorities are required to undertake among local communities before closing nursery and primary schools.

Keith Brown: Currently local authorities are required to follow a range of statutory procedures set out in the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc.) (Scotland) Regulations, 1981 as amended. If proposing to close a school, they must engage in a formal consultation process, lasting a minimum of 28 days.

This government is legislating through the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill to update and strengthen consultation practices, in order to improve their coherence, openness and transparency, to extend the consultation period and range of required consultees and to improve public confidence and trust in the whole consultation and decision making processes.

Public Sector Pay

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to review its (a) Public Sector Pay Policy for Senior Appointments and (b) Public Sector Pay Policy.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s public sector pay policies for staff pay remits and for senior appointments are revised annually. The 2009-10 pay policies were published in May 2009. The staff policy applies to pay settlements with effective dates from 1 May 2009 to 30 April 2010 inclusive and the senior appointments applies from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 inclusive.

Consideration of the public sector pay policies for 2010-11 will be undertaken in time to enable publication in spring 2010.

The Scottish Government has regard to a wide range of factors when reviewing its public sector pay policies, including, for example, the prevailing economic and financial climate, the UK Government’s pay policies and proposals, feedback from questionnaires and seminars with stakeholders, the views of the main unions, and comments from the Public Sector Pay Implementation Working Group.

In 2010-11 we face the tightest financial settlement provided to any Scottish Administration and this is likely to be the first of several years of severely constrained resources. It is more vital than ever to ensure that limited resources are used prudently and effectively. We will continue to ensure that public sector pay policy is right for public bodies and right for Scotland, and works towards our Purpose of increasing sustainable growth.

Regeneration

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive from which lines in the 2010-11 budget the £60 million brought forward for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund in 2009-10 has been taken.

Alex Neil: The £60 million funding in 2009-10 for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund did not come from any individual budget line in 2010-11. The 2010-11 budget as a whole was re-prioritised to pay for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund in 2009-10.

Renewable Energy

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the electricity generation capacity is of commercial wind farms, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Mather: The information requested is shown in the table below:

All other local authorities have no wind farms under the Town and Country Planning Act or Section 36 of the Electricity Act, installed, consented or under construction.

Notes:

1. The Whitelee wind farm straddles three local authorities - East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The MW capacity of the Whitelee wind farm has been included in the East Renfrewshire total as it has the largest number of turbines in its area.

2. The Black Law wind farm straddles three local authorities - South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and West Lothian. The MW capacity of the Black Law wind farm has been included in the South Lanarkshire total as it has the largest number of turbines in its area.

3. The Crystal Rig Extension 2 wind farm straddles two local authorities - East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. The MW capacity of the Crystal Rig Extension 2 wind farm has been included in the East Lothian total as it has the largest number of turbines in its area.

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the increase in electricity generation capacity as a result of new commercial wind farms was in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Mather: Data on the consent dates of local authority wind farm planning applications is not collated by Scottish ministers. However, the data for Electricity Act Section 36 cases, which are consented by Scottish ministers, is detailed in the following table:

Notes:

1. The Crystal Rig Extension 2 wind farm straddles two local authorities - East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. The MW capacity of the Crystal Rig Extension 2 wind farm has been included in the East Lothian total as it has the largest number of turbines in its area.

2. The Whitelee wind farm straddles three local authorities - East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The MW capacity of the Whitelee wind farm has been included in the East Renfrewshire total as it has the largest number of turbines in its area.

Schools

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its criteria are for classifying a school as refurbished or rebuilt.

Keith Brown: Each authority provides information to the Scottish Government on which of their schools have been refurbished or rebuilt for the School Estate Statistics. A school is recorded as having been substantially refurbished where total expenditure exceeds £500,000 for a primary school and £1,000,000 for a secondary or special school.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on which of the criteria outlined by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in her letter of 28 September 2009 to the Convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee announcing the first phase of secondary schools in the Scottish Government’s new School Estate Strategy, Building Better Schools: Investing in Scotland’s Future, Barrhead High School did not qualify for funding.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-8148 on 8 October 2009 which is available on the Parliament’s website:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-02.htm#Col20427.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define what it means by substantially refurbished in the context of the school estate.

Keith Brown: As set out in the footnote to table 4 of the School Estate Statistics 2009 publication (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/08104324/0), a school is recorded as having been substantially refurbished where total expenditure exceeds £500,000 for a primary school and £1,000,000 for a secondary or special school.

Scots Language

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the Scots language alongside Gaelic in the summary of responsibilities of the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution on its website.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government website does provide a short list of distinct areas which are within my portfolio. While this is not a complete list of portfolio responsibilities, I would be very happy to include Scots within this brief list of examples.

Scottish Government

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) conferences and (b) award events it has (i) wholly and (ii) partly supported or sponsored since May 2007, broken down by (A) conference or award event and (B) cost.

John Swinney: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Scottish Ministerial Code

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27403 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 September 2009, whether the Scottish Ministerial Code precludes ministers from detailing the cost of any legal advice sought since May 2007 and, if not, whether it will provide that information.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Ministerial Code does not preclude ministers from detailing the cost of any legal advice sought since May 2007. Since that date the Scottish Government and its agencies have spent the following sums on legal representation and advice: