Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25584 on 27 July 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.

Energy companies are expected to contribute to the Home Insulation Scheme through activity under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. The estimated cost of this activity will be included within the match funding sought for the scheme.

No targets for waiting times have been set. The Energy Assistance Package is a collaborative approach to tackling fuel poverty, and a range of partners with differing delivery timescales provide advice and intervention at each of the four stages. It is a demand-led programme and as such waiting times are dependent upon the number of applicants, available resources (including installer capacity) and the individual circumstances of each installation which may include technical issues such as the suitability of the fuel supply or the need for a building warrant, or personal issues such as agreeing a convenient installation date with the applicant. Delivery partners are working hard to keep waiting times to a minimum at each stage of the package.

I refer the member to the answers to question S3W-25585 on 27 July 2009 and question S3W-21691 on 27 March 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.

It is important that carers know what support is available to them and that they can easily access that support through good signposting. Carers'' assessments are vital in identifying carers'' needs for support and in helping to access this support. The provision of information to support carers in their caring role is being taken forward through the Carer Information Strategies in all area health boards and by the Scottish Ambulance Service. To support this initiative we have invested £9 million over three years. Carers'' centres can help identify and support carers, including the harder-to-reach carers, and provide them with information on available services. There are also some local helplines for carers and the planned one-stop-shop Care Information Scotland, for users to access information about care for older people.

The Carers'' Strategy Steering Group, with representation from key interests, will be considering the issue of easy access to support through good signposting. The Carers'' Strategy for Scotland will be published in 2010.

Support to local carers'' projects is a matter for local authorities and health boards to determine on the basis of their local priorities. The Scottish Government supports national carers'' organisations through grants made under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Over the next three years we are committed to awards totalling £972,602 to five organisations. We recognise the importance of providing clarity over funding timescales and decisions so that organisations are able to plan effectively. We therefore work to ensure that notice about grant renewal arrangements is given at the earliest opportunity. Applications are now open for a new round of section 10 grants to be awarded as from 1 April 2010.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25515 on 27 March 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.

The Scottish Natural Heritage Species Action Framework sets out a framework for clear targeted action against six invasive non-native species (American mink, grey squirrel (with regard to red squirrel conservation), North American signal crayfish, New Zealand pygmyweed, Rhododendron ponticum and its hybrids, and Sargassum muticum (wireweed)).

The Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain provides a framework focusing on prevention, early detection, and mitigation measures (where appropriate). Prevention is given the highest priority as it is recognised this is the most effective, cheapest and least environmentally damaging intervention.

The Scottish Government sits on the GB Rapid Response Working Group which is drafting a protocol to establish a clear process for implementing rapid responses against invasive non-native species in Great Britain.

There is money available to applicants through the Scottish Rural Development Programme to control a number of invasive non-native species including Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Rhododendron ponticum and grey squirrels. Further details of this funding can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/RuralPriorities.

Money has also been made available through the Scottish Natural Heritage Species Action Framework for clear targeted action against six invasive non-native species (American mink, grey squirrel (with regard to red squirrel conservation), North American signal crayfish, New Zealand pygmyweed, Rhododendron ponticum and its hybrids, and Sargassum muticum (wireweed)).

There is no information held centrally on how many jobs this funding directly supports.

The Scottish Government is providing one-off grant funding to support research into the feasibility of control methods for North American signal crayfish in large water bodies.

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/sor0618-01.htm