- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the findings of the inquiry, chaired by Lord Gill, into the explosion at the ICL Plastics factory in Glasgow in 2004.
Answer
The ICL Inquiry is an independent inquiry established jointly by the Scottish ministers and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under the Inquiries Act 2005. The act provides that the way in which the Inquiry is conducted, including the delivery of a report to ministers, is entirely a matter for the Inquiry chairman. We fully recognise the time commitment required to produce such a report and we look forward to receiving it in due course, and arranging for its publication thereafter.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 30 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities.
Answer
Both the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, along with other Cabinet colleagues, regularly discuss a wide range of issues including the safety of vulnerable communities.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-21692 and S3W-21693 and by Alex Neil on 1 and 3 April 2009 respectively, whether the funding for the Energy Assistance Package has been allocated to partner organisations on the basis of regional budgets or targets for the number of houses to be assisted in each region.
Answer
Energy Assistance Package funding has not been allocated on a regional basis.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21691 by Alex Neil on 27 March 2009, for what reasons it has decided not to include under-floor insulation for houses with basements as part of the draught proofing/insulation measures during the first year of Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer
Subsequent to the answer to S3W-21691 being tabled we have taken the decision to include under-floor insulation as one of the measures available at stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package, in circumstances where homes have a cellar that provides easy access for installation.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19941 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, what arrangements have been established to monitor the impacts of the Energy Assistance Package and to keep under review the range of measures provided.
Answer
Monthly information will be provided to the Scottish Government by the range of organisations delivering the different elements of the Package, and the Energy Saving Trust will publish summary information on its website. Ministers have also asked the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum to monitor the implementation of the package and report back to them on any amendments they consider are required in the light of experience, including to the range of measures on offer.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21691 by Alex Neil on 27 March 2009 and S3W-19942 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, which of the insulation and energy efficiency measures provided by the Energy Assistance Package at Stages 3 and 4 have been included to address fuel poverty issues specific to tenements and tower blocks.
Answer
Eligible householders in tenement flats and tower blocks can access the full range of measures available at stages 3 and 4 of the Energy Assistance Package where the property can take the measure, and there is agreement from neighbours around access to shared areas if required.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 3 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18204 by Stewart Maxwell on 3 December 2008, whether a decision has been made on whether it intends to set regional budgets or a target for the number of houses in each region assisted under the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21692 on 1 April 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.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 1 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19946 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, what progress has been made on finalising the allocation of resources for the different elements of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer
We held a stakeholder event for 120 delegates in Glasgow on 27 February 2009 to outline the new package and seek views on its shape and implementation. I addressed that event and outlined that the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) will be backed by a package of support worth over £60 million in 2009-10. The package will operate in a seamless manner for the consumer and provide us with the flexibility we need to meet fuel poverty and wider poverty, climate change and energy objectives.
An additional £3.6 million will be added to the current £3.9 million for running the Energy Savings Scotland Advice Centre (ESSac) network. The income maximisation checks will be funded from the £2.5 million tackling poverty budget. £2.5 million will be provided to local authorities and registered social landlords to fund social sector Stage 3 measures and private sector stage 3 measures will be funded through the energy companies'' CERT programmes. £3.5 million of funding for the Scottish Communities and Households Renewables Initiative will contribute towards air source heat pumps at stage 4, and a further £44.5 million will be available for delivering the remaining stage 4 measures, including completing those applied for under the central heating and warm deal programmes prior to 6 April 2009.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 27 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19941 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, whether it has finalised the measures to be included initially in the Energy Assistance Package and, if so, what those measures are.
Answer
The Energy Assistance Package provides a four stage approach to helping people vulnerable to fuel poverty. This includes measures to help maximise income and reduce fuel bills at Stage 2, and measures to improve the physical energy efficiency of the home at Stages 3 and 4.
The list of physical measures to be included during the first year of the Energy Assistance Package at Stage 4 are as follows:
Draught proofing / insulation measures: draught proofing and curtain linings; room thermostats, heating controls and reflective radiator panels; carbon monoxide detector (except where heating system is electric), mains-linked smoke detector and a cold alarm; hot and cold water tank and pipe insulation (where appropriate); loft insulation, loft top ups and cavity wall insulation (where not already provided at Stage 3); internal cladding, and external cladding.
Heating systems and advice on their use: boiler only replacements; gas central heating systems (for those with access to the gas grid); air source heat pumps; electric storage central heating systems; oil central heating systems (where replacing an existing oil system); solid fuel central heating systems (where replacing an existing solid fuel system); electric wet heating systems (where replacing an existing electric wet system); liquefied petroleum gas systems (where replacing an existing liquefied petroleum gas system), and district heating connections (where appropriate).
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent meetings it has had with the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0326-01.htm
