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Ministers have expressed their concern over the recent price increases announced by Scottish Power and its impact on fuel poverty. Our estimate is that up to an additional 170,000 households could be placed into fuel poverty if the increase is replicated across all suppliers.

Based on the returns made to date by the 27 local authorities who participated in the UHIS programme in 2010-11, the estimates for the amount of reduction in carbon emissions are as follows:

12,989.843 kilotonnes (on an annual basis)

519,071.200 kilotonnes (over the lifetime of the measures, assumed to be 40 years).

These figure will be subject to being adjusted upwards, as the final installations taking place under the programme are completed.

Invitations to local authorities to bid for funding for UHIS in 2011-12 were issued on 1 July 2011, with a submission deadline of 12 August 2011.

For 2011-12, the level of reductions in carbon emissions will be determined by the proposals put forward by local authorities and the grant awards made to them through the UHIS bidding and assessment process, currently underway. It is not possible to estimate for subsequent years, as funding beyond 2011-12 will be a matter for the Spending Review, and subsequent reviews.

The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those areas worse affected by fuel poverty. The operational details, including the criteria for consideration for funding, are being worked on and will be announced in due course.

The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those communities worse affected by fuel poverty. We expect to publish more details on the fund in the spending review.

The Energy Assistance Package started in April 2009. The following table is provided by the Managing Agent (Scottish Gas). Figures for 2010-11 are not yet available.

We estimate that up to 200,000 households will be offered the opportunity to benefit from UHIS in 2011-12. It is not possible to estimate for subsequent years as funding beyond 2011-12 will be a matter for the Spending Review, and subsequent reviews.

Invitations to local authorities to bid for funding for UHIS in 2011-12 were issued on 1 July 2011, with a submission deadline of 12 August 2011.

The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those areas worse affected by fuel poverty. The operational details, including the criteria and the application process, are being worked on and will be announced in due course.

Scottish ministers have expressed their concern over the recent price increases announced by Scottish power and its impact on fuel poverty. In meetings with Scottish Power up to £10 million has been secured for energy efficiency programmes in Scotland. This government’s fuel poverty programmes continue to deliver assistance to vulnerable households. The Energy Assistance Package has grant funded over 20,000 heating installations since April 2009 and improved the annual income of pensioners and families by over £4.2 million. The Home Insulation Scheme and universal Home Insulation Scheme have helped over 500,000 people since November 2009.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance has also issued a letter to Ofgem voicing concern over this alarming trend in utility pricing, especially the impact on vulnerable customers.

Applications under the Energy Assistance Package are normally prioritised by date order, with the exception of vulnerable groups or people who are terminally ill and in possession of a DS1500 certificate. Priority is given to applicants with a supporting letter from a medical consultant or a social worker. Where someone is terminally ill and holds a DS1500 certificate they are automatically fast tracked.

The Scottish Government has clearly stated its commitment to the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence, which includes working towards two hours per week of physical education (PE) in primary schools and at least two periods of PE in secondary schools for pupils in S1 to S4. Ministers will continue discussions with stakeholders on how we can ensure the delivery of those important commitments by 2014.