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Assuming that this reduction is spread evenly between revenue and capital expenditure it is estimated that it will threaten approximately 9,000 jobs at the national level during 2010-11. Breakdowns by parliamentary constituency and local authority area are not available.

The UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs responded to the Commission on behalf of the UK, and this included reference to particular concerns raised by clinicians and patient support groups that some medical conditions could be affected by phasing out incandescent lamps.

Further to this correspondence, the UK Health Protection Agency carried out work to characterise the output from low energy output bulbs and their impact on health, and their findings have been taken into account by the EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) in providing advice on Light Sensitivity. This SCENIHR opinion was published on 3 October 2008 and can be viewed on:

http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_019.pdf.

The committee found that the only potential risk factor for the aggravation of the light-sensitive symptoms associated with emissions from energy saving lamps was UV/blue light, and noted that the use of double envelope energy saving bulbs or similar technology would mitigate this risk.

The Scottish Government along with relevant UK Government Departments are continuing to work with HPA, the lighting industry and patient groups to improve standards further on ultraviolet emissions from low energy lamps.

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.

Table 1 summarises the estimated average impact of the VAT cut on the weekly income of different household types in Scotland during 2009-10. The results presented assume that the cut in VAT is passed on in full to consumers; if this does not occur, the average impact on households will be less.

The analysis was conducted using the Expenditure and Food Survey which does not provide data at the sub-Scotland level.

Table 1 “ Estimated Average Weekly Change in Net Income by Family Type (2009-10)

Note: Results have been rounded to the nearest 10p.

Under the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007, the commission is required to publish a report every year, as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year, reporting on the discharge of its functions in that year, and such action as the commission proposes to take in the following year. Scottish ministers lay these reports in Parliament.

Delivery of advice under the contracts as let is targeted as follows:

Customers expected to trade at less than the VAT threshold are referred to the Business Gateway website and the one to many tools and workshops available on line. This includes the opportunity for a one-to-one session at a meet the advisor workshop;

Customers expected to trade above the VAT threshold receive one-to-one advice to assist in their progression to a VAT+ trading position within 12 months of start-up, and

Customers expected to achieve or increase turnover of more than £400,000 within three years receive one-to-one advice in agreement with Scottish Enterprise as part of the growth pipeline. Additional one-to-one support in this customer group is in preparation for entry to the Scottish Enterprise Account Management portfolio within 12 months.

We are currently in discussions with COSLA and the Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development (SLAED) Group representatives regarding the Business Gateway process and delivery segmentation to ensure that it remains fit for purpose during this period of economic challenge.

Number of Times Each Weather Station has Triggered Each Year

Source: Department for Work and Pensions records of triggers and weather stations.

Notes:

N/A denotes not applicable: the weather station was not used in the Cold Weather Payment scheme in that year.

1. The list of weather stations covers all weather stations to which postcodes in Scotland are linked (whether or not they have triggered).

2. The admin area gives the location of each weather station, not the area which is linked to the weather station. For example, different parts of the Highland admin area are linked to different weather stations.

3. Weather stations described as Borders straddle the border between Scotland and England.

4. Over the years, there have been some changes to postcode to weather station linkages.

5. Triggers for 2008-09 are those notified up to 26 February.