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The Scottish Governmenthas expressed its full support for the EU’s renewable energy target and will ensurethat Scotland makes a significant contribution towards achievingit.

For example, we haveannounced our target to generate 50% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020 and are currently workingwith stakeholders towards a strategy for the promotion of renewable heat.

We are monitoringthe impact of recent awards and funding and assessing the demand and need forfurther support, taking into account other support mechanisms which are or willbe available. Decisions about further grant funding will be taken in the lightof this over the coming months.

We are in regularcontact with the department on this issue. We have asked specifically for clarityregarding the availability and levels of grant funding for wave and tidal developmentin the light of BERR’s proposals for a banded Renewables Obligation.

Our discussions withthe sector on this subject indicate that the Marine Renewables Development Fund(MRDF’s) grant levels are viewed as insufficient and in need of review. There arealso calls for the eligibility criteria to be reviewed. We are in touch with theDepartment of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on these issues.

We plan to place thisoverview on the Scottish Government website within the next two months.

The Forum of RenewableEnergy Development in Scotland (FREDS) established a Renewable Heat Sub Group inNovember 2006, to make recommendations to government on the key components of aRenewable Heat Strategy. Good progress has been made. The group has met on fouroccasions and will publish its report early in the new year. This will inform thegovernment’s approach to renewable heat.

The majority ofcare for people with long-term conditions is provided through primary careteams, with access to specialist care when needed. NHS boards and their communityhealth partnerships (CHP) are responsible for providing services for theirresident populations according to need. CHPs are expected to complete the long-termconditions toolkit issued in February 2007 in order to ensure that servicesprovided for people with long-term conditions are integrated, both withinhealth and with social care, responsive and of high quality.

There is also aclear role for the voluntary sector in providing information and support,whether for specific long-term conditions or more generally through the LongTerm Conditions Alliance in Scotland.

The ScottishGovernment understands that provision of educational materials and reliableinformation is particularly important for people with long-term conditions, andfor their families and carers. Developing a co-ordinated approach to theavailability of such materials will be an important aspect of the long-termconditions action plan which we are developing in partnership with the LongTerm Conditions Alliance Scotland.

Grants areavailable under Section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 to voluntary organisations which operateon a Scotland-wide basis and which are engaged in health initiatives thatcomplement those required by statute.

Our approach tothe management of long-term conditions will be set out in our Action Planfor Health and Wellbeing, following the consultation on Better Health,Better Care.

We are alsoworking in partnership with the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland on along-term conditions action plan which will set out our approach to themanagement of long-term conditions, with a particular emphasis onself-management.