Chamber and committees

The energy assistance package (EAP) launched on the 6 April 2009 is a new, holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty which, unique to the UK, focuses not only upon households at risk of fuel poverty but also on homes with the poorest energy efficiency thus fuel poverty proofing the Scottish housing stock for the future.

To determine eligibility and measure improvements made through the scheme we use rdSAP; a calculation tool that provides an asset rating for an energy performance certificate using assumptions to allow dwellings to be compared in a consistent way. As part of our continuous monitoring of the new package we identified that applying the standard guidance on the rdSAP calculation would have meant applying the same rating for a heating system regardless of whether it was currently broken or working; as if a heating system is broken, rdSAP assumes it will be repaired.

For the purpose of the EAP, we wanted to ensure that those with broken systems would be eligible for assistance at Stage 4 of the package where appropriate, in line with the intention behind the Fuel Poverty Forum''s recommendations and the consequent Regulations. We therefore issued guidance to the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres and to the managing agent for Stage 4 on 23 April clarifying how broken heating systems should be treated under the EAP to ensure that broken systems should not be rated as if they were working, when calculating the rdSAP for the EAP.

Discussions were held with Building Research Establishment Limited, Energy Saving Trust and the managing agent for Stage 4 of the EAP, before the guidance was issued to those administering the package. Working guidance is a routine part of the administration of the EAP and is not published on our website nor more widely circulated, however, we intend to ask the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum to review from time-to-time the working guidance issued to those administering the package.

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0326-01.htm

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm

The information for Inverclyde Community Health Partnership and Local Council area from March 2007 to June 2008 is published on ISD''s website at:

http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=dent_reg_table2_june08.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

The information does not represent the percentage of people in the Inverclyde Community Health Partnership and local council area who are registered. Registrations (numerator) are based on the postcode of the practice where the patient has registered with a general dental practitioner. The population (denominator) is based on where the patient resides, in this case the community health partnership and local council area. In some cases, the number of registrations may exceed the actual number of people in the chosen population.

The current formula, which is arrived at and agreed between national and local government, is needs-based and reflects the most relevant and up-to-date information currently available for each area. As I have already advised Parliament, I intend to undertake a review of the local government finance funding formula jointly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in time for the next three-year settlement in 2011-12.

Those well women with a normalpregnancy, and where a normal labour and birth is anticipated are suitable to givebirth in a Community Maternity Unit.

The Framework for Maternity Servicesin Scotland (2001) sets out a tiered level approach tomaternity care and the criteria for admission to CMU’s were laid out in the reportof the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services in 2002. The EGAMS report givesa detailed description of the need to assess the risks for each individual womanbased on evidence available. NHS boards are expected to have local strategies inplace to assess risk.

The Scottish Government is committedto providing a quality maternity service to all women in Scotland responsiveto the needs of the mother, ensuring that women and their babies receive the rightcare, in the right setting, by the right professional.

The Planning etc(Scotland) Act 2006 made new provision which, whenimplemented, will see the transfer of responsibility for neighbour notificationof planning applications from the applicant to Planning Authorities. We willalso implement measures to extend neighbour notification to notify owners,occupiers and neighbours of new site specific proposals in local developmentplans.

On 31 October 2007 we published detailed proposals - including draftregulations – for implementing this change and others to the developmentplanning system. We intend to issue a consultation paper in the near future onnew development management procedures which will include detailed provisions onneighbour notification in relation to planning applications.

DraftRegulations on Development Planning: Consultation is available on the Scottish Government web pages at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/31093026/21.

It is ourintention to lay final regulations in respect of both development managementand development planning before parliament by the end of 2008.

We are currently developing,through the Community Council Working Group, a Model Community Council Scheme, GoodPractice Guidance for both local authorities and community councils and a Code ofConduct for Community Councillors. We are also consulting stakeholders, throughthe same working group and through a series of meetings with people who have a particularexpertise in empowering communities, on the potential for developing the role ofcommunity councils.

We will consider whetherthere is a case for bringing forward legislation to modify the structure and operationof community councils following the completion of this work.

The Scottish Governmentexpects to lay the Charities and Benevolent Fundraising Regulations next year.