Chamber and committees

The Energy Saving Trust, which is the managing agent for the Home Insulation Scheme, the Energy Assistance Package and the Energy Saving Scotland advice network will play a key role in working with local partners to maximise partnership and joint working.

The number of households eligible to receive reduced cost insulation measures under the Home Insulation Scheme in the areas selected in 2009-10 will depend on a range of factors including the eligibility criteria agreed and the characteristics of each area.

We intend to publish the Identity Management and Privacy Draft Principles consultation very soon after summer recess.

The proportion of households within each area that will be entitled to free insulation measures will depend on a range of factors including the eligibility criteria agreed and the characteristics of that area.

The carbon emission reductions arising from the operation of the Home Insulation Scheme will depend on the nature of the future roll-out of the scheme. The implementation of the first phase of the Home Insulation Scheme will be evaluated with a view to informing its development in subsequent years. The emission savings achieved will be calculated within the framework for standard carbon assessment being developed by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government is committing £15 million of investment to the Home Insulation Scheme in 2009-10 and is seeking £15 million of complementary investment from other sources. These sources could, for example, include local councils and housing associations. Private householders and energy companies are also expected to contribute through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. On 1 May 2009, we wrote to councils seeking proposals for areas to be selected under the scheme and anticipated contributions from them, and their local partners, for the scheme. It is therefore too early to say how the contributions from the various partners will breakdown.

In delivery of the Home Insulation Scheme, we will aim to ensure that best practice procurement is followed to achieve value for money, balancing specification for the work with its cost effective delivery. The provision of advice to householders will be delivered from a local base within each area.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23524 on 11 May 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23543 on 12 May 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.

We estimate that the Home Insulation Scheme will create or sustain up to 900 jobs in this sector. These estimates have been calculated using the Scottish Government''s Input-Output model and include direct, indirect and induced jobs.