Chamber and committees

Various studies fromthe Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Greenpeace and the World Alliance forDecentralised Energy (WADE) have assessed the feasibility, cost and benefits ofdecentralised energy systems. These studies suggest that local generation of electricityreduces transmission losses and combined heat and power (CHP) systems can operateat significantly higher efficiencies by reusing waste heat from electricity generation.

The Scottish Governmentis currently considering conducting studies into the feasibility, costs and benefitsof implementing combined heat and power (CHP) systems in parts of Scotland.

We are currently reviewingScottish government funding for the bus industry, including the Bus Route DevelopmentGrant scheme, with bus operators and transport authorities to ensure that it isdirected at improving the quality and reliability of services and at enhancing businfrastructure.

Following a slightdelay to their timetable, the NHSScotland Resource AllocationCommittee (NRAC) have advised that they intend to submit their report to me in August2007.

The key areas forgrowth in the tourism sector are greater productivity and increased investment forexpansion. As with most business models, a number of different drivers are requiredto influence that growth. These include: better capacity utilisation; greater cross-selling;market positioning; effective marketing by the public and private sectors, and capitalinvestment.

We are determinedto do all we can to increase the effectiveness of Scotland’s tourism effort. To do that, we will consider all aspects of Scotland’stourism industry, including funding for tourism services.

Our intention,subject to the outcome of the 2007 Strategic Spending Review, is that theinitial budget for the Enhanced Demand Responsive Transport Initiative will beat least the combined present budgets of the three current funding streams, increasedto allow for inflation.

Scotland’s tourism strategy – the Tourism Frameworkfor Change – sets out an action plan for growing Scotland’s tourism revenues in a sustainable way, and this government is committedto working with the industry to ensure that this is delivered. A Sustainable TourismPartnership has been established, with membership from the industry and all thepublic sector organisations which work alongside Scottish tourism, including the Scottish Executive. This partnership will work together to ensure that Scottishtourism grows in a way which is sustainable – economically, socially and environmentally.

The Scottish Governmentis currently assessing a broad range of housing issues across the country and recognisesthe acute shortage of affordable homes whether in urban, rural or island communities.Our approach includes improving the supply and affordability of housing throughtargeted investment and by removing barriers to provision. We are also pursuinga new Housing Supply Task Force, and implementing the manifestoproposal for a new Scottish Housing Support Fund.

In 2007-08, the AffordableHousing Investment Programme is £142 million in rural areas and £6 million in Orkney.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-1172 on 28 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.