Chamber and committees

Two gritter vehicles fitted with snow ploughs were in continuous operation on the A76 trunk road in East Ayrshire on 22, 23 and 24 December. This service was complemented by two further vehicles fitted with snow ploughs which were deployed on the A76 and A77 trunk roads as necessary on these dates. Information about individual deployments on the route are not recorded.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30331 on 15 January 2010. 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 requirements for clearing snow and gritting pavements and footpaths on the A76 trunk road is set out in paragraph 8.1.5 and appendix 8 of Amey''s Winter Service Plan which is available on the Transport Scotland website at:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/roads/SW_Winter_Plan_2009_-_2010.pdf.

Specific footpaths adjacent to the A76 trunk road in New Cumnock and Mauchline should be cleared within two hours of snowfall ceasing during the period 06.00 hours and 18.00 hours.

In New Cumnock and Mauchline between midnight on 21 December and midnight on 24 December snow continued to fall and as such no clearing of snow from pavements and footpaths was undertaken.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30323 on 15 January 2010. 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.aspxI.

The impact of advice on improving energy efficiency is generally difficult to assess. Where households who use LPG or oil are referred for insulation measures under Stages 3 or 4 of the Energy Assistance Package, the improvement to the SAP rating is recorded which reflects the potential impact of the package of measures delivered.

I refer the member to the question S3W-30067, answered on 14 January 2010. 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.

One hundred and forty-two callers who used LPG as their main fuel for heating were referred to stage 4 by the end of November. Of these, 29 had been installed and 76 further jobs were being progressed. Nineteen were rejected as not being eligible; of these 14 were rejected because the applicant was unable to provide satisfactory documentation of eligibility to support the application, two were not in receipt of qualifying benefits, one had stayed for less than one year at the property and two houses were not energy inefficient dwellings. Eighteen applications were cancelled for reasons including the applicant not wanting the upheaval, being no longer interested and moving home. Please note that LPG was not available under the Central Heating Programme, but replacement systems are allowed under the Energy Assistance Package.

Of the households taking up offers of help under the Energy Assistance Package, 1.7% identified their main heating fuel as either bulk liquid petroleum gas or bottled gas and 6.1% use oil. Of the households helped, 7.3% did not identify their main heating fuel and it is possible that some use LPG or oil.

The following table shows the numbers of people enquiring about the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) and those helped under the EAP, analysed by fuel type, up to 16 December 2009.

Main Heating Fuel		Number of Households
		Enquiring About EAP	Taking up Offers of Help
Mains gas		18,545	18,143
Electricity		8,154	7,999
Oil		1,989	1,934
LPG	Bulk LPG	505	477
	Bottled gas (cylinders)	54	52
Solid fuel	Wood	133	131
	Smokeless fuel	109	103
	House coal	568	559
	Anthracite nuts/grains	62	59
No Value		4,175	2,302
Grand Total		34,294	31,759

 

The Fuel Poverty Forum will consider the options offered under stage 4 as part of its review of the first year in operation of the Energy Assistance Package.

Where appropriate, applicants to the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) are offered a referral to their energy supply company, which will discuss access to a social tariff and cost-effective payment methods with eligible households. Tariffs and payment methods are a matter for each energy supply companies and, as yet, EAP cannot offer this type of advice to households who rely on LPG or oil. However, many such applicants will be eligible for other measures available under the EAP, including checks that they are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.