Chamber and committees

Indicative targets set for the Energy Savings Trust were to achieve 75,000 individual contacts for the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10. Targets for the number of households were not specified.

The managing agent has indicated that 3,519 central heating systems and 1,132 Warm Deal installations have taken place between 1 April and the 31 August 2009.

The managing agent is responsible for delivery of the measures available under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package. The network of surveyors and installers appointed by the managing agent to deliver these, is appointed following an open tendering processes, consistent with EU procurement rules, based on both quality and price.

Under the Home Insulation Scheme procurement process, suppliers will be appointed on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender and the procurement process will assess a range of relevant factors in order to ensure this.

The managing agent has indicated that 173 central heating systems were installed under the Energy Assistance Package by the end of August.

Energy Saving Trust (EST) has developed and is managing a campaign to raise awareness of the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) among fuel poor households and their influencers. Since April 2009 a number of initiatives have been underway such as direct mailings, health centre promotions, PR, print advertising and radio. An integrated campaign based on customer insight will be launched in September and will go out via television advertising, partnerships and direct mail. Information about the package is also available online at www.energyassistancepackage.com and has been sent to all MSPs.

Sufficient resources are in place to meet the call volumes anticipated under the Energy Assistance Package with the Energy Saving Trust having recruited and trained many new advisors to work on the Package. One of the strengths of delivering EAP through the EST advice network is the availability of trained advisors who can handle the wide variety of energy advice calls to the network; this arrangement provides flexibility at times of high demand. Reflecting this combination of investment and flexibility the advice network has responded successfully to recent direct mail activity which resulted in a doubling of call volumes to the 0800 number for the package.

The managing agent is responsible for delivery of the measures available under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package. This is achieved through a network of surveyors and installers appointed by the managing agent following an open tendering processes, consistent with EU procurement rules, based on quality and price.

The Scottish Government continues to support the approach taken by the managing agent to secure a wide contractor base capable of meeting the requirements of the service according to the specification provided.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26896 on 10 September 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26896 on 10 September 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 information requested is not held centrally.

Contact details for each of the bodies subject to the Scottish Government''s Public Sector Pay Policy are as follows:

The Scottish Government and its associated departments: www.scotland.gov.uk;

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service: www.copfs.gov.uk, and

Executive Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and Public Corporations “ contact details for each body can be found on the Government''s Public Bodies website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/Links.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Contact details for each of the bodies subject to the Scottish Government''s Public Sector Pay Policy are as follows:

The Scottish Government and its associated departments: www.scotland.gov.uk;

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service: www.copfs.gov.uk, and

Executive Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and Public Corporations “ contact details for each body can be found on the Government''s Public Bodies website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/Links.