Chamber and committees

With regard to support to Reid Kerr College, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31837 on 3 December 2002. 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/search_wa.Student enrolments at Reid Kerr were as follows.

1996-97	10,840
1997-98	12,536
1998-99	13,036
1999-2000	15,953
2000-01	17,367
2001-02	18,548

In 2001-02 Renfrewshire Council installed central heating in 121 dwellings under the Executive's central heating programme. In 2002-03 they should install central heating in another 121 dwellings and in 2003-04 in 395 dwellings. All council stock in Renfrewshire should then have central heating.Fourteen housing association dwellings which lack central heating will have it installed in 2003-04. All housing association stock in the area will then have central heating.The managing agents for the programme in the private sector, Eaga, organise data by main postcode area, not local authority area. There is therefore no estimate of the number of owner-occupiers and private renters in the Renfrewshire council area who are eligible for the programme. Neither is the information currently available to make any estimate of demand in the PA (Renfrewshire and Argyll) postcode area. However, 873 heating systems had been installed in the PA area as at 31 December 2002.

Eaga manage the central heating programme for owner-occupiers and private renters. The main criteria for inclusion in the programme as administered by Eaga are that the head of household or spouse must be aged 60 or over and that the dwelling must lack central heating. In late 2000 the Executive estimated that around 40,000 households in the private sector met these criteria. All eligible households in the private sector should have central heating by March 2006. There is no separate target for Renfrewshire.

The central heating programme provides grant to install central heating, insulation and safety alarms in (a) dwellings owned by local authorities and housing associations which currently lack any form of central heating, and (b) dwellings occupied by home owners or private renters where the head of household or spouse is aged 60 or over and the dwelling lacks central heating. In both categories (a) and (b) some householders will be pensioners, but others will not. Information on the number of pensioners and non-pensioners benefiting from the programme is not collected.Renfrewshire Council have estimated that they have around 640 dwellings without central heating. They will be given grant to install central heating in all those dwellings by March 2004. One housing association in the area is taking part in the programme. It estimates that it has 14 dwellings without any form of central heating and, on current plans, it will be given grant to install central heating in them all by March 2004.The managing agents for the programme in the private sector, Eaga, organise data by main postcode area, not local authority area. There is therefore no estimate of the number of owner-occupiers and private renters in the Renfrewshire council area who are eligible for the programme. Neither is the information currently available to make any estimate of demand in the PA (Renfrewshire and Argyll) postcode area. However, 873 heating systems had been installed in the PA area as at 31 December 2002. The managing agents will continue to make every effort to alert eligible households to the offer of free central heating and to encourage them to apply. Those who apply should receive central heating by March 2006.

Since 1997, Communities Scotland has provided new or refurbished accommodation for social rent or home ownership in the Paisley, Renfrew, Linwood and Johnstone areas of Renfrewshire. Within the Paisley area, investment has been targeted within social inclusion partnership (SIP) areas, Paisley town centre and areas where there has been identified housing need. In Renfrew, Linwood and Johnstone investment has been targeted in SIP areas or where there has been identified housing need for particular client groups.

Mortality Rates per 100,000 population from coronary heart disease in the Renfrewshire Council Area and Scotland, 1996-2001:

	Crude Rate per 100,000 Population
	Renfrewshire Council	Scotland
1996	282.8	285.7
1997	272.1	273.6
1998	257.0	262.1
1999	286.1	260.5
2000	254.6	245.4
2001	242.4	235.4

Source: General Register Office for Scotland.Notes:1. Rates are calculated using the Registrar General's annual mid-year estimates of population which are being revised following the 2001 Census results. The figures for 2000 and 2001 use provisional revisions that have already been made on this basis. Revisions covering 1982-2000 will be made by the end of February 2003, so the rates given here will be subject to revision after this time.2. The rates given here are not age-sex standardised and hence do not take into account the age-sex mix of the two populations.

The consultants' report on rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports is expected this month. I understand that an interim report from the Clyde Corridor Transportation study will be available shortly, and that the Braehead Fixed links study will report to the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority at its meeting of 7 February.

The Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland are funding various initiatives in Paisley to enhance community capacity building and self-sufficiency in order to make progress towards social inclusion among communities. For example, over the next two years the social inclusion partnership (SIP) has committed in excess of £650,000 to fund a range of projects that will engage with SIP residents, gather information and feedback.Under the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund Renfrewshire Council is running a number of projects aimed at enhancing capacity building and self-sufficiency in Paisley. These include the provision of additional computer-based learning packages, flexible learning sessions and computer-led and internet courses in the Community Learning Centre, Shortroods. Many of the activities funded by Communities Scotland through the Wider Role programme are also aimed at enhancing community capacity building and self-sufficiency.

The Scottish Executive has funded a study of rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports, and the Clyde Corridor Transportation Study, both of which examine the scope for a light rail link between Renfrew, Braehead retail centre and Glasgow city centre. The Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive has recently undertaken a Braehead Fixed Links study that will report shortly. As none of these studies have yet reported, it follows that, at this stage, there are no firm proposals for such a link.

I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Since 1997 Communities Scotland has invested £42.205 million to provide 1033 new homes within the Renfrewshire Council area. Over £20 million has been invested in Social Inclusion Partnership areas to provide 732 new or refurbished homes.Over the past 12 months Communities Scotland has been actively involved with Renfrewshire Council and members of local communities to develop Area Development Frameworks (ADFs) for a number of areas within Renfrewshire including Shortroods, Moorpark, Ferguslie Park and Foxbar. The ADFs will identify the need for funding resources from Communities Scotland.Communities Scotland has also been involved in appraising proposals for the NHP project in Johnstone which will see the development of both social rented housing and housing for sale in the Millar Street area of the town.In partnership with Renfrewshire Council and Williamsburgh Housing Association Communities Scotland is currently developing proposals for the regeneration of the Rankine Street area of Johnstone.