Chamber and committees

Weare committed to bring all social rented houses up to the Scottish Housing QualityStandard (SHQS) by 2015. The Standard includes the achievement of an energy efficiencyrating of National Home Energy Rating (NHER) 5 or Standard Assessment Procedure50 (SAP). All social landlords will be expected to show that they have adequateinsulation and efficient central heating systems in their stock by this date.

Ourfuel poverty programmes are also having a positive effect on the energy efficiencyof Scottish homes. We estimate that in 2004-05 the central heating and warmdeal programmes achieved a combined reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 48,020tonnes. The introduction of Energy Performance Certificates alongside the SingleSurvey will rate the energy performance of homes and include practical tips forsimple cost-effective home improvement measures. We are working closely with theUK Government in relation to the Energy Efficiency Commitment which requires energysupply companies to meet targets for assisting householders to take up energy efficiencymeasures. The Executive also provides direct funding of around £5 million to theEnergy Saving Trust to promote energy efficiency in homes.

Local authorities are requiredunder the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) to devise strategies and targets toachieve significant improvements in the energy efficiency of their housing stockacross all tenures. All local authorities are required to produce progress reportscovering improvements in energy efficiency and CO₂ reductions. In 2007,the Executive will review and assess progress being made by local authorities towardsmeeting these targets.

Revised building regulationsthat will come into effect in May 2007 include enhanced requirements for energyefficiency that will reduce carbon emissions from new dwellings by at least 40%,compared with 2002. Along with other significant measures, there will be a returnto the highest levels of thermal insulation and the introduction of the best low-energylighting in the UK. The SBSA is starting a review of the standards for 2009.We share the ambition of zero carbon and are commissioning research concerning furtherprogress towards zero carbon dwellings.

In 2006, the fingerprint evidenceprovided by SCRO in the Sinclair case was passed to the Police Service of NorthernIreland for further consideration, and that process is on-going.

I am not aware of any similarenquiries either on-going or having been carried out in the past 20 years in relationto any crime in the Kilmarnock area.

Source: Universities and CollegesAdmissions Service (UCAS).

Table 1 sets out annual localauthority gross capital expenditure on schools for the financial years 1996-97 to2005-06, compiled from local authority capital payment returns. In addition therehas been significant capital investment in schools incurred by the private sectorin the context of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. The capital value of the projects agreed in 1998 was some £520 million. The value of projects under thecurrent PPP round is some £2.3 billion.

Tables 2 and 3 set out detailsof the Executive’s capital allocations to the Scottish Further and Higher EducationFunding Council for those sectors.

The Executive does not hold detailsof estimated local authority capital expenditure for future years. Tables 2 and3 include budgeted expenditure for 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Table 1 – Schools – Total GrossCapital Expenditure on Schools by Local Authorities (Including Payments Funded fromRevenue)

Source: As reported by authoritieson Capital Payment Returns (CPR5).

Notes

1. Includes nursery, primary,secondary and special schools.

2. Figures do not include expenditureon Public Private Partnership (PPP) schemes, where the capital expenditure is incurredby the private sector partner, not the local authority. Authorities make annualpayments to their PPP partners over the contract period in respect of capital works,services and on-going maintenance.

Table 2 – Capital Allocationsfor Higher Education

Note: *Budgeted figure.

Table 3 – Capital Allocationsfor Further Education

Note: *Budgeted figure.

The position of Chair of the Scottish Enterprise Board will next be advertised in time to appoint a replacementfor Sir John Ward when his term ends in February 2009.