Chamber and committees

We are currently exploring the legislative implications of such a change.

We are currently considering with Scottish Environment Protection Agency the feasibility and the legislative implications of streamlining existing environmental regulation. We have no immediate plans to bring forward legislation to introduce such changes but do not rule out the possibility of doing so should the evidence suggest that this is the appropriate course of action.

There are currently no plans to release a national tender for interpreting services.

The application pack for the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme outlines that there is an aim to process applications within 15 working days.

In most cases applications are processed within these timescales. However, at times of exceptionally high demand, processing occasionally falls outwith 15 working days. In addition some applications once in process are found to be incomplete and therefore require further information from the applicant.

All eligible applications to the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme received on or prior to 24 February 2010 have been accepted and are being processed, including those which are for electricity generating renewables systems or for new build properties.

The Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme has been withdrawn for electricity generating technologies and new build properties because new initiatives will encourage significant uptake of these technologies and in these properties. Home renewables grants will therefore have a greater impact if focussed on heat generating technologies in existing buildings.

The forthcoming Feed-In Tariff will offer renewable electricity microgenerators a guaranteed payment for the electricity they generate for the next 20 years (25 for solar photovoltaic) and is expected to give an annual return on investment of 5-8%.

In terms of new build, the Scottish Government is committed to improving the energy performance of new build homes and the 2007 document, A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy For Scotland also known as The Sullivan Report produced by an expert panel for Scottish ministers, recommended staged standards leading towards zero carbon buildings by 2016-17, if practical.

As a first step, the 2010 change in energy standards for homes should deliver carbon dioxide savings of 30% more than 2007 standards and the use of low carbon equipment and renewables will become increasingly common to comply with this minimum standard.

The amount of new woodland created in Scotland in 2009 was 2,154 hectares.

The Scottish Government''s Rationale for Woodland Expansion was published last year. Around 45% of the new woodland created in Scotland over the past five years can be considered as productive forestry. The majority of the remaining area is native woodland which is a welcome contribution to the woodland expansion target, providing many public benefits including a source of supply for the emerging woodfuel sector. However, we do of course recognise the need for softwood timber for the main wood processing industry, and we have recently introduced improved grant rates to encourage greater uptake of conifer planting.

In response to high fuel prices and the recommendations of the Fuel Task Force the Scottish Government introduced safety payments, grants for the purchase of fuel flow meters, support for fuel efficiency measures through the European Fisheries Fund and commissioned the Profitable Futures Report. Recommendations from the latter are currently being considered by the Scottish Fisheries Council. I expect that some of the ideas will heavily influence actions that will be undertaken as part of the Four Pillar Action Plan.

The main focus of the SEARS Programme in the future will continue to be to improve customer experiences of accessing and using the services of SEARS partners. The staff time freed up by reducing inspections will continue to be re-deployed in improving service delivery.