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The uptake of CHP depends upon the availability of markets for heat. The Scottish Government is working with local authorities to help them identify suitable locations and support planning for CHP and district heating through its Heat Mapping Programme. The heat maps help identify, plan for and maximise opportunities for local heat use and to support investment decisions on strategic heat infrastructure. The maps will not only benefit local authorities, but can also support feasibility work of developers or local communities.

Highland, Fife and Perth and Kinross completed maps through the Scottish Government pilot. A two year programme began in April 2012 to roll out this methodology to all Scotland’s Local Authorities by March 2014. Eight local authorities are beginning work to collect the information for their heat maps. These are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.

Communities and public sector institutions can access funding for feasibility studies through the Warm Homes Fund and District Heating Loan Fund, which can also help finance the capital costs of CHP projects. Feasibility support for the development of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facilities by communities, industrial sites and the NHS is also available from Zero Waste Scotland. Zero Waste Scotland is also planning to offer financial support for AD development in remote and island communities in 2013-14.

Applications to the fund are in the form of Expressions of Interest. To date Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have received 42 Expressions of Interest, with the call remaining open.

To date, Scottish Enterprise (SE) has spent £2,567,935 to support the development of a range of N-RIF projects at various Scottish locations, namely Port of Dundee, Port of Leith, Rosyth, Methil, Hunterston, Inchgreen and Westway.

To date Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has spent £6,255,652 to support the development of a range of N-RIP projects at various HIE locations, namely, Kishorn, Arnish, Machrihanish, Nigg, Wick, Stornoway, Scrabster and Mallaig.

SE and HIE continue to work with owners at these various locations in developing proposals to meet current market opportunities.

In terms of private funding projects, again SE and HIE are working closely with site owners to progress consent applications and funding packages. Funding packages are in place for a number of other ports with differing public/private funding splits.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12930 on 5 March 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The most recent data published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) shows that in 2011 Scottish Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes generated 2,864 GWh of electricity (up 3.1% from 2010) and 6,813 GWh of heat (up 1.7% from 2010).

We do not currently have projections for the energy production from CHP plants in 2020. As set out in the Draft outline, Heat Vision published on 29 January 2013, the Scottish Government is developing a longer term strategy that looks at heat in the wider context of available energy resources, and demand. We will publish a Heat Generation Policy Statement (HGPS) later this year. The HGPS will look to replicate and build upon the success of the Electricity Generation Policy Statement in providing clarity on the Scottish Government’s views on the generation of heat within Scotland. Work is underway to gather data and identify where further information is required.

The most recent data published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) shows that between 2009 and 2011, the number of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants in Scotland increased by 31, to 116. This includes both renewable and fossil fuel systems.

We do not currently have projections for the number of CHP plants that will be operational in 2020. As set out in the Draft outline Heat Vision published on 29 January 2013, the Scottish Government is developing a longer term strategy that looks at heat in the wider context of available energy resources, and demand. We will publish a Heat Generation Policy Statement (HGPS) later this year. The HGPS will look to replicate and build upon the success of the Electricity Generation Policy Statement in providing clarity on the Scottish Government’s views on the generation of heat within Scotland. Work is underway to gather data and identify where further information is required.

Support is available for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) from a number of sources. The main direct support mechanisms for renewable Combined Heat and Power (CHP) are the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) and the UK Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive.

The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) gives two Renewables Obligation Certificates (SROCs) for every megawatt hour of electricity generated by biomass electricity generating plants with CHP. Following its recent consultation on changes to the Renewables Obligation (Scotland), the Scottish Government proposes to go further by setting an eligibility requirement for plants over 15 MW to meet good quality CHP standards to further drive uptake of CHP. There is no specific budget allocation for CHP under the Renewable Obligation (Scotland) but Ofgem, who administer the schemes, provides an annual report on the number of accredited biomass plants with CHP and the number of SROCs issued in the previous year.

In the current Parliamentary session, finance for renewable CHP plants is also available through the £103 million Renewable Energy Investment Fund and the £50 million Warm Homes Fund. Finance for both renewable and non-renewable CHP is available through the £5 million District Heating Loan Fund. These schemes fund a range of renewable heat-only, CHP and district heating projects and there is no specific budget allocation for CHP.

Monitoring levels of apprentices with a disability relies on self declaration by individuals to employers or training providers, either when applying for apprenticeship opportunities, or when they start training.

Skills Development Scotland advise that 0.4% of apprentices in training as at 28-12-2012 declared a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010. This figure of course does not include those apprentices who chose not to declare a disability.

Skills Development Scotland do not routinely collect information on whether apprentices have been in care. However, an Employer Recruitment Incentive which is available to support disadvantaged young people, including care leavers, was introduced at the start of 2012-13 and the total numbers of individuals supported will be available at the end of the financial year.

No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers.

The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have any learning difficulties or disabilities. The latest APS data covers the period from October 2011 to September 2012.

In Scotland it is estimated that there are 15,000 people aged 16 and over with learning difficulties or disabilities who are in employment, education or training. It is estimated that they account for approximately 0.6% of all those aged 16+ in employment, education or training.

The APS is a population survey and so there is an amount of variability in this estimate.

Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Level rounded to nearest thousand, percentage based on unrounded figures.

2. The sub-group of interest here is relatively small therefore this estimate is not as reliable as those for the total population aged 16+.

3. Learning difficulties and disabilities includes conditions such as dyslexia or dyscalculia; mental impairments or mental handicap.

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council support a number of programmes which meet the cost of learning support and other reasonable adjustments required to accommodate students with additional support needs. Working with Buttle UK, the Scottish Funding Council is also supporting institutions to develop systems of support that are relevant to care leavers.

Where admission is concerned, this is a matter for the relevant university or college and all students are considered for entry alongside their peers. So long as the student is judged to have the potential to successfully complete a course, a university or college is able to make allowances with respect to their background or circumstances.