Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12263 on 30 April 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

We have signed an historic concordat with local government that provides record levels of funding of £34.9 billion over the spending review period. This represents an increase of 13.1%. In return, local government has agreed to reduce class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 as quickly as possible.

In the light of the reduction of prescription charges on 1 April 2008, we have introduced new arrangements for partial refunds of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PPCs). The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 sets out the conditions under which PPC holders may be entitled to claim for a partial refund, following the reductions in prescription charges. Partial refunds are available to certificate holders who bought a PPC before 1 April, and whose certificate remains valid for at least one complete month following that date.

The same regulations also set out the conditions under which a refund may be available on certain other grounds, for example if a certificate holder becomes entitled to free prescriptions on age or health grounds.

The regulations will require to be amended in 2011 when prescription charges are abolished.

The Scottish Government maintains a dialogue with the energy sector to ensure that opportunities for the development of clean coal technologies are maximised. For example, discussions with OFGEM and National Grid on transmission charging aim to reduce costs and improve the climate for investment in Scotland - not just in renewable energy but in clean coal electricity generation.

In relation to carbon capture and storage, the Scottish Government is part of a partnership with a range of industry members in a study looking at potential carbon storage sites. The study is being academically led by the University of Edinburgh and Heriot Watt University through their partnership, the Scottish Centre for Carbon Storage. The planned completion date for the study is late 2008 - early 2009.

In addition Scottish Power, in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy are undertaking a separate £2.5 million technical study to examine CO₂ storage sites close to coal fired power stations.

The Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme has three funding streams.

The Signature Events Programme has a £1.5 million budget to develop a small number of high profile flagship events spaced throughout the year.

The Themed Events Programme has a budget of just over £1 million to support a broad range of events across the country.

The rolling programme has a £500,000 budget which will be used to support relevant, largely exhibition-based, activity right through the year.

In addition to these funding streams, Partner Events are those that fit with the general Homecoming themes but are not directly funded by the Homecoming budget. They will however receive in-kind promotional support from the project team.

We are committed to the long-term future of Scottish coal production to support a balanced energy mix. I recently met with Scottish Resources Group and have made a commitment to them to convene a seminar of relevant industry stakeholders to discuss the coal sector.

The Scottish Government, along with industry representatives, also participates in the UK Government Coal Forum. Part of the remit of the UK Coal Forum is to ensure the long-term production of UK coal.

Scottish opencast coal output remains healthy – in the range of five to eight million tonnes per annum over the last 10 years. In 2006 there was almost 30 million tonnes of consented reserves at Scottish opencast sites.

Our policy for a balanced energy mix using a range of sources including coal, especially when combined with new and emerging technologies will ensure that opportunities to use Scotland''s coal resources continue to be maximised in future.

The Homecoming team is currently undertaking contractual negotiations with a range of event organisers from the community, public and commercial sectors. Details on the allocation of funding will be available in the week commencing 26 May when it is planned that the full Homecoming Programme will be launched.

The consultation process will begin with an initial scoping seminar to be held in Edinburgh on 13 May 2008, hosted by the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations. This will involve the Big Lottery Fund, national umbrella and intermediary bodies and the voluntary sector networks. The dates and venues for regional events across Scotland will be announced shortly.

The Homecoming team is pleased with the response it has had from event owners and organisers around the country who are keen to run events in support of the Homecoming programme for 2009. The team is now working to conclude contractual negotiations with events that have been selected for funding. Further information about successful events and the allocation of funding is planned to be available in the week commencing 26 May when the Homecoming Programme will be launched.