Chamber and committees

The LIFT initiative– our Low-cost Initiative for First-Time buyers – is a key part of the package ofmeasures to revitalise Scotland’s housing set out in the Firm Foundationsdiscussion document published on 31 October 2007.

LIFT currently includesa mix of government grants to private developers, Registered Social Landlords andindividuals to support a range of low cost home ownership schemes, particularlyshared equity. However, through the Firm Foundations consultation process,we are seeking views on other potential measures which could be incorporated withinLIFT. The number of households in both West and East Dunbartonshire who will beeligible to apply for support through LIFT will therefore depend on LIFT’s futurecomposition. At this stage it would be difficult to estimate how many applicationswill be successful. However, under existing LIFT schemes, we aim to assist at least1,800 households in to home ownership this year.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-4254 on 21 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Government Car Service (GCS) was responsible for 6.8% (195 tonnesof CO₂) of the emissions attributed to business travel by the Scottish Government in 2006-07. The majority of this was for ministerial travelbut others are also entitled to use the service. We expect the 2007-08 figureto be not dissimilar although travel patterns are yet to fully stabilise.

There is nospecific target for the carbon emissions of the GCS in isolation, as theservice is included within overall travel targets. The present targets were publishedin the 2005-06 Scottish Government environmental report and updated targets willbe published when the 2006-07 report is published in December.

We act to reducethe carbon footprint of the service wherever practicable. As a consequence, wehave introduced four hybrid cars to the fleet and the diesel Volvos recentlypurchased for GCS emit 12% less CO₂ per kilometre than the dual fuel(petrol/LPG) models they are replacing.

The Scottish Governmenthas issued guidance to the wider Scottish public sector on how, and under what circumstances,social and environmental criteria can be specified in public contracts. All guidanceon green procurement can be found on the Scottish Procurement Directorate’s website:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Procurement/PublicProcurement/ProcurementPolicy/coporate-responsibility.

The public local inquiryis expected to take place early in 2008. We are currently working in preparationfor this. Arrangements are currently in hand and the next step will be to hold apre-inquiry meeting to which all statutory objectors will be invited. That willset the timescale for the inquiry.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6404 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-4254 on 21 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I have asked Dr PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

Targets and timescalesfor reducing the carbon footprint of new buildings are currently under consideration.We appointed an Expert Panel to advise on a “Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland”.The report of the panel will be published before the end of the year.

The role of the planningsystem in tackling climate change is already addressed in several Scottish PlanningPolicies including those on flooding, renewable energy and housing. It will alsobe addressed in the second National Planning Framework. The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 requires that work on the second National PlanningFramework and local authority development plans be undertaken with the objectiveof contributing to sustainable development. The Scottish Government is also consideringamendments to The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland)Order 1992 to allow more microrenewable equipment to be installed on existing residentialbuildings without the need to apply for planning permission. We intend to consultin the new year.

The Scottish Governmentcurrently only records the CO₂ emissions relating to the energy use atthe buildings on it’s core estate. The emissions during 2006-07 in respect of thosebuildings in which over 100 people are employed are as follows:

Building	CO2 Relative to Energy Use1 (Tonnes)
Victoria Quay	2,256.51
Saughton House	2,106.68
St Andrew’s House	1,142.69
Pentland House	621.82
Meridian Court	590.78
Europa Building	397.18
Total	7,115.66

Note: 1. Figures calculatedusing total kWh consumption of electricity, gas and fuel oil.

The Scottish Governmentcontinues to demonstrate its support of renewable technologies by procuring 100%of the electricity required to run its buildings from renewable sources. From theabove buildings this was equivalent to around 5,400 tonnes of CO₂.

The information regardingthe environmental performance of agencies is not held centrally. The Scottish Government’sGreener Scotland Directorate is working to ensure that all parts of the public sector,including agencies, establish appropriate environmental management policies, proceduresand targets and provide annual performance reports, which will be published, whenit is available, on the Scottish Government internet.