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Local authorities are responsible for selecting areas and designing schemes supported through the Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS). They do so with reference to their existing local housing, energy efficiency and fuel poverty strategies. A key criterion for the award of funding under the Scheme was that bids should provide evidence of levels of fuel poverty within the area chosen.

The approach to encouraging take-up varies between schemes. However most involve direct mailing to all households within the chosen area, and many follow this up by sending out teams of trained Home Energy Assessors, who carry out door-to-door visits to offer Home Energy Checks, and explain what is offered under the Scheme. Callers to the Home Energy Scotland Hotline will also be advised of the support offered if they live in a UHIS area.

Local authorities were required in their bids to confirm that arrangements would be put in place to ensure close integration between UHIS and the Energy Assistance Package (EAP), which is specifically aimed at assisting the most vulnerable households. Following the awards of funding, guidance was issued to local authorities to encourage and assist them in linking their schemes with the EAP, in order that qualifying UHIS customers most in need of support are identified and directed to the measures available. The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has announced that an extra £5 million will be invested into the Energy Assistance Package this year, taking the overall spending to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in 2011-12 to £53 million.

It is estimated that for every 10 socially rented houses constructed per annum (whether by a council or a registered social landlord) approximately 18 full-time equivalent jobs are supported, directly and indirectly, across the Scottish economy during that year.

As announced on 5 October, I set out the action this government is taking to tackle fuel poverty. We have increased funding for fuel poverty in the Spending Review and also boosted this year’s budget by an additional £5 million. Funding for Fuel poverty and Energy Efficiency programmes will be £65 million in 2012-13 and in 2013-14 – rising to £66.25 million in 2014-15. That is a 35% increase on the £48 million being provided in 2011-12 and illustrates very clearly the importance given to supporting households affected by fuel poverty. Energy prices are a reserved issue but ministers will continue to act. The Scottish Government has committed to holding a fuel summit in partnership with Consumer Focus Scotland and other consumer interests which will address the actions which can be taken to minimise the impact of the recent price rises on consumers.

The Scottish Government does not hold a central comprehensive record of the number of homes supplied by district renewable heating schemes. However, from the information available to us, there are at least 1,876 homes connected to a renewable district heating system in Scotland. This includes some systems which have a low carbon element.

The Scottish Government will assist housing associations finance renewable heating schemes through a number of programmes. The district heating and Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) loan schemes both provide housing associations with the opportunity to access funding to develop renewable heating schemes. Our £50 million Warm Homes Fund will also deliver renewable energy and energy efficient homes in those communities worst affected by fuel poverty. The Scottish Government also encourages housing associations to access funding through the UK Government’s Renewable Heat Premium Payment Scheme. £3 million of the £15 million programme has been set aside for registered social landlords to improve their housing stock.

The Scottish Government has established a task group on renewable heat to advise on priority issues in order to increase development of renewable heat. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) is represented on the group. We will also shortly establish an Expert Commission to advise on the delivery of district heating in Scotland. Housing associations can also get free independent help by contacting the Energy Saving Trust and will benefit from heat mapping as the roll out of the pilot exercise in the Highland Council area continues.

Housing associations are eligible to apply to the Scottish Government district heating and Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) loan schemes and both schemes will continue as a result of future funding confirmed in the recent Spending Review. We are also encouraging housing associations to access the UK Government’s Renewable Heat Premium Payment Scheme which has £3 million set aside for registered social landlords.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. However, our £2.5 million district heating loan scheme will enable connection of 305 households to renewable district heating networks within the next two years. This funding will also enable project network expansion at a future date to more than double the number of households – to over 600. A further £5 million has been allocated to continue the scheme over the next three years, allowing the potential to at least double these figures again over the next five years.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-00370 on 9 June 2011. 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/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx.

The Scottish Government is working with all local authorities and their partners to develop approaches to identifying housing options. This approach is initially focused on preventing homelessness, but will also be extended to looking at the provision of housing health checks.

An independent evaluation of the housing options approach has been commissioned which will influence development of housing health checks. The report is due in early 2012.

Individual social rented landlords are best placed to take housing health checks forward for their tenants. The Scottish Government will work with landlords to enable development of this activity, but will not impose central targets over the next five years.

The Scottish Government is working with all local authorities and their partners to help develop approaches to identifying housing options. This approach is initially focused on preventing homelessness, but will also be extended to looking at the provision of housing health checks.

An independent evaluation of the housing options approach has been commissioned which will influence development of housing health checks. The report is due in early 2012.

Individual social rented landlords are best placed to take housing health checks forward for their tenants. The Scottish Government will work with landlords to enable development of this activity, but will not impose timescales for implementation.