Chamber and committees

Marketing of the Home Insulation Scheme is due to begin in late September 2009 to raise awareness within the participating areas. A publicity campaign will launch in early November and will last for the duration of the first phase, until 31 March 2010.

Seven criteria for area selection were agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) following a joint COSLA-Scottish Government workshop for local authorities on 28 April. Local authorities attending this joint session contributed to discussion which helped shape the agreed criteria. Local authorities were then asked to submit bids, providing information relating to their proposed areas against the following selection criteria:

Criteria A: Levels of carbon emissions in an area/neighbourhood

Criteria B: Levels of fuel poverty in an area/neighbourhood

Criteria C: Numbers of dwellings that can be treated with loft insulation and cavity fill

Criteria D: Potential for complementary funding from other sources

Criteria E: Appropriate mix of geographical areas

Criteria F: Ability to deliver within the prescribed timescale

Criteria G: Mechanisms for community engagement.

An assessment panel, consisting of Scottish Government officials and a representative from Energy Action Scotland, was then established to consider bids. To assist the panel, guidance was developed to underpin the seven overall assessment criteria. There then followed a three-stage process “ individual assessment by each panel member; followed by collective assessment of the stronger applications by the panel, and then further discussion with relevant council officers from short-listed councils at interview prior to decision and recommendation. The Energy Saving Trust also supplied expert advice in a non-voting capacity.

The Energy Saving Trust, as managing agent, is currently carrying out a procurement exercise to appoint the supplier offering the best deal for Home Insulation Scheme customers in a given area. This will be an open and competitive process in order to obtain value for money and to reflect EU procedures and regulations. It will be the responsibility of each supplier, when appointed, to enter into contracts as they see fit to ensure that the required skills are available to ensure installation of appropriate insulation measures in each area.

We recognise the need to make substantial progress in our existing housing stock to meet our climate change ambitions. Whilst resources are tight, we have made a significant start by identifying resources for the Home Insulation Scheme in the 2009-10 Budget, and, subject to parliamentary approval, in 2010-11. Again subject to parliamentary approval, we intend to continue in budgetary terms year by year towards the achievement of a step-change in energy efficiency and insulation by 2020. The first phase of investment and the associated evaluation will assist in determining the best way of taking this forward in future years.

The first insulation installations under the Home Insulation Scheme are expected to be carried out in early December 2009.

Our initial estimate of potential emission savings under the Home Insulation Scheme remains as stated in my answer to question S3W-23534 on 12 May 2009. The Scottish Government''s analytical framework for carbon assessment is under continuing development and this may affect the calculation of future estimates.

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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27384 on 24 September 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

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/sor0924-01.htm

The Scottish Government holds information only on those compulsory purchase orders submitted to Scottish ministers as the confirming authority. We do not hold information on those orders instigated by a local authority but not submitted for confirmation or on the outcome of the order following confirmation by ministers.

The table shows compulsory purchase orders submitted by local authorities to the Scottish Ministers and those confirmed by them within 2008. The following table also shows the purposes for which the orders were made.

Number of Local Authority Compulsory Purchase Orders Received and Confirmed in 2008

Council	Purpose	2008
		Received	Confirmed1
Aberdeen City	Schools	1	1
Aberdeenshire	Listed Building	0	1
Argyll and Bute	Housing	1	0
Clackmannanshire	Planning	1	1
Dundee City	Planning	1	1
East Ayrshire	Planning	1	0
East Renfrewshire	Housing	0	1
Falkirk	Planning	0	1
	Roads	1	1
Fife	Housing	1	0
Glasgow	Housing	3	0
	Planning	3	0
North Ayrshire	Housing	2	0
North Lanarkshire	Housing	1	0
Shetland Islands	Roads	1	1
South Lanarkshire	Housing	1	0
	Planning	0	1
Total		182	9

Notes:

1. There are circumstances where Orders have been confirmed in 2008 but were promoted in either 2006 or 2007 and are therefore not noted in the column marked Received.

2. Includes three Orders subsequently withdrawn.

The following information is based on those compulsory purchase orders confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in 2008.

Project	Number	Proportion (%)*
Road schemes	3	33
Other transport projects	1	11
Housing	2	22
Other private developments	0	0
Other projects	3	33
Total	9	100

Note: *For ease of reference, figures have been rounded to the nearest percentage.