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The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the public bodies landscape is simpler, more focused and easier to navigate, by bringing together organisations with similar skills, expertise and processes. As part of this approach, we are examining the scope to rationalise historic archival, recording and scheduling functions and for streamlining the activities of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Historic Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland. Work is currently in progress with these organisations to determine the most effective structure for delivering the public services that they provide.

We currently provide no funding to The Lighthouse for a Six Cities Festival.

Funding provided for the Six Cities Festival 2007 was for specific projects. The Lighthouse acted as the co-ordinator for this work and the festival was not core funded. The centre received no project funding beyond that needed to enable the festival to be held in 2007.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18356 on 11 December 2008. It is not our intention to fund a second Six Cities Festival. We have, therefore, committed no project funding to The Lighthouse for this purpose.

We are not convinced that there is sufficient evidence of long term impact or legacy to justify the level of government investment required and will explore alternative ways of supporting the architecture, design and creative industries.

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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18198 on 3 December 2008. 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.

In its report, the Fuel Poverty Forum noted that further research and development are needed to trial alternative measures which could be added to the package of measures offered at Stage 4 at some later date. The Scottish Government is working with stakeholders to identify the measures to be included in the Energy Assistance Package initially, and will review the effectiveness of these measures for different types of dwelling.

In its report, the Fuel Poverty Forum noted that there was a concern that some people with acute or pre-existing health conditions that may be affected by cold or damp housing would not be included in the eligible groups benefitting from Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package, but that further work was needed to define who these are. In the light of this, the Scottish Government does not intend to include a separate category for this group in the Energy Assistance Package initially, but we will ask the forum to monitor and review the package and its impact. However, we have extended support through the new package to include help for low income families with a child aged under 5 or a disabled child under 16. This will mean that from April 2009, for the first time, these households can receive help beyond basic insulation measures through stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package.

This is in the process of being finalised. We are currently discussing with the various partners who will help us deliver the Energy Assistance Package the details of implementation and the most appropriate allocation of resources to achieve this.

In its report, the Fuel Poverty Forum proposed that regional budgets or regional targets should be set for Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package based on the proportion of Scotland''s fuel poor in each region according to the latest Scottish House Condition Survey. We are currently discussing with the various partners who will help us deliver the Energy Assistance Package the details of implementation and the most appropriate allocation of resources to achieve this, including this issue.

The Fuel Poverty Forum recommended that funding for the Energy Assistance Package could be further augmented through top-up funding or low-interest loans, or equity release. The Scottish Government is intending to consult on a number of issues related to the energy efficiency of housing in the next few months, and we are considering whether this issue should be included as part of that consultation.

No. Those who apply under the existing programmes up to 31 March 2009 will continue to have their applications progressed as now.