Chamber and committees

The one-off grant scheme is managed and administered by Eco-Schools Scotland and funded through the core grant from the Scottish Government.

A one-off grant has been awarded by Eco-Schools Scotland to all schools which have attained their first Eco-Schools Scotland Award, irrespective of level (Bronze, Silver or Green Flag) and applied for the award. Schools are asked to provide an overview to Eco-Schools Scotland of how they plan to spend the grant. The number of applications for the grant is the same as the number awarded.

Information on the number of one-off grants awarded by Eco-Schools Scotland in each financial year since the first grant in 2003-04 is provided in the following table:

Financial Year	Number of one-off grants awarded by Eco-Schools Scotland
2003-04	204
2004-05	232
2005-06	309
2006-07	203
2007-08	461
2008-09	280
2009-10	271
2010 “ 1 March 2011	128
Total	2,088

 

A further 129 one-off grants are expected to be made before the end of March 2011.

The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874). It highlighted good performance in the areas of waste reduction and recycling but weaker performance in reducing emissions from energy use.

Carbon dioxide emissions arising from energy use in the then 18 target Scottish Government buildings decreased by 0.3% between 1999-2000 and 2008-09.

The local investigation teams are part of a broader Scottish Government/Young Scot project that is aimed at inspiring young people and encouraging them to consider the issues and opportunities that arise from tackling climate change.

Each team will conduct an investigation into different aspects of low carbon living. The findings of each investigation will be published.

Approximately £4,000 will be allocated to the work of each of the teams.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39970 on 11 March 2011. 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.

Section 64 (6) (a) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires Scottish ministers to publish a report setting out the measures that they intend to take to reduce emissions from living accommodation. This requirement has already been fulfilled by the publication in October 2010 of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan and in November 2010 of the draft Report on Proposals and Policies. Both reports include information on current and planned policies to reduce emissions from living accommodation and to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and communities.

Section 64 (6) (b) of this act requires Scottish ministers to set out when they intend to make provision in respect of certain aspects of the use of regulation making powers under section 64, within 12 months of their commencement. This report will be published by the end of March 2011.

The Scottish Government attaches a high priority to Gaelic teacher education. I have written to the Scottish Funding Council outlining that I wish to see the council continue to promote provision in this area, continue to pursue new avenues to increase the numbers of Gaelic teachers and to give consideration to initiatives which could improve effectiveness.

In addition, the Scottish Government has provided financial support for the retention of a Gaelic Teacher Recruitment Officer who is based at B²rd na G idhlig and is responsible for promoting the recruitment and education of Gaelic teachers.

Decisions on the future of Gaelic medium education in Edinburgh are for the City of Edinburgh Council. The Scottish Government recognises that there is strong support for a Gaelic school in Edinburgh from parents, from B²rd na G idhlig, from other Gaelic interests and in an independent study commissioned by the council.

The Scottish Government has supported Gaelic medium education in Edinburgh for many years with additional running cost support. In the course of this financial year the Scottish Government indicated that we would be keen to support the City of Edinburgh with capital support towards a Gaelic school and a specific offer was made in November and December 2010. This offer was limited to 2010-11. There will be a Gaelic Schools Capital Budget in 2011-12 and if required consideration can be given to support for the establishment of a Gaelic school in Edinburgh at that time.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39643 on 4 March 2011. 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 evaluation of the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pathfinder scheme was published in December 2010. It is based on interviews and data analysis and therefore provides useful information a number of aspects of the scheme including:

The customer''s decision making process;

The mix of customers and what measures they are likely to install;

The cost effectiveness of loans;

The difference a loan makes; and

Recommendations for refinements to the scheme.

It fulfils the Scottish Government''s aim to determine the receptiveness of domestic consumers to government-backed interest-free loans and gives strong evidence which will be used to inform future development of policy for domestic energy efficiency and micro-renewables.

The information requested is not held centrally.