In our discussion document Firm Foundations: The future of Housing in Scotland, the Scottish Government sets out our vision to reform the housing system in Scotland to deliver more housing at a better value for public money.

This includes a commitment to promoting greater use of schemes which offer incentives to bring empty properties in disrepair back into use. This includes examining the effectiveness of the Rural Empty Properties Grant Scheme in helping meet wider housing need and whether there is scope to streamline grant appraisal procedures.

Our aim is to set out the broad direction of our policies by the end of June, with a series of announcements on the detail of particular policies being made thereafter.

The following table details how many properties have benefited from the Rural Empty Properties Grant (REPG) scheme since its inception, broken down by local authority area.

REPG Approvals from Start of Scheme

Year of Approval	Council Area	Units Approved
1998-99	Highland	7
1999-00	Aberdeenshire	3
	Highland	3
	Shetland	1
2000-01	Angus	3
	Fife	2
	Highland	2
	Perth and Kinross	1
	Shetland	2
2001-02	Highland	4
	Perth and Kinross	1
	Western Isles	6
2002-03	Aberdeenshire	1
	Highland	2
	Moray	1
	Perth and Kinross	1
2003-04	Argyll and Bute	1
	Angus	2
2004-05	Highland	1
2005-06	Orkney	1
	Aberdeenshire	1
2006-07	Aberdeenshire	2
	Angus	9
	Argyll and Bute	18
	Highland	4
	Perth and Kinross	1
2007-08	Angus	16
	Argyll and Bute	4
	Highland	1
	Total	101

 

My officials and I are engaged in on-going discussions with the Scottish industry and the commission regarding our concerns about the impact of the high price of fuel on the fishing industry.

I have commissioned a report on the trends in fuel prices and the implications this has for our fleets, material which I will share with the industry as I review the potential options available to mitigate the increased cost. Once we have a better understanding of these potential options, I have agreed with Commissioner Borg that our officials will meet to evaluate them against state aid rules.

In the meantime, I am encouraged that across the nephrops and whitefish fleets, elements of the Scottish conservation credits scheme provide opportunities for skippers to gain some immediate relief. The ability of these fleets to operate under hours at sea rather than days should allow them to save fuel by steaming more slowly to and from their fishing grounds. By doing so, fuel consumption while steaming can be reduced by up to 50%, according to a recent seafish report. The simplification of the twin-rig gear rules should also encourage vessels to use lighter, fuel efficient single twine gear.

Local authorities with island communities receive additional provision through the Special Islands Needs Allowance (SINA) within the local government funding distribution formula. Orkney Islands Council will receive an additional £5.8 million through SINA in each of the three years of the financial settlement for 2008-11.

I met a delegation from Orkney Islands Council on 28 February 2008. Among the matters discussed was the additional £1 million in funding which we have now included as part of the council''s overall grant, to support the costs of internal ferry services.

Orkney Islands Council will receive over £230 million in funding from the Scottish Government over the next three years. The core revenue funding to the Council for 2008-09 will increase by 7 per cent, the second-highest increase in Scotland. Local authorities, including Orkney Islands Council, are receiving record levels of investment from the Scottish Government along with more freedom and flexibility than ever before.

The distribution of funding to local authorities is through a needs-based formula, which is agreed with COSLA. This formula takes into account Orkney Islands Council''s need to provide services to its island communities which is recognised through the inclusion of the Special Islands Needs Allowance within the distribution formula.

Orkney Islands Council will receive a 7 per cent increase in core revenue funding in 2008-09, which is the second highest increase to any council in Scotland.

The road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot study focuses on routes subsidised by the Scottish Government. In developing proposals for the possible roll out of RET across the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks consideration will be given to ferry services provided by operators other than CalMac Ferries Limited.

To date the Scottish Government has had no discussions with the European Commission about the road equivalent tariff (RET) study. However, we will provide the European Commission with information on the pilot study once details have been finalised.

The examination and assessment of the impact of introduction of the road equivalent tariff approach is the principal reason why we are carrying out a pilot. While the desk-based study has been very informative only a live pilot can determine what the impact of a road equivalent tariff scheme will be, not just on the pilot routes but elsewhere in the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks. That assessment will be comprehensive and consider usage and revenue impacts as well as economic and social impacts.

The pilot scheme will be closely monitored to capture all the information required to inform future decisions on fare levels across the entire Scottish ferry network.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10914 on 25 March 2008. 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/wa.search.