Chamber and committees

The UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory includes estimates of greenhouse gas emissions due to commercial peat extraction. These relate to peat extracted for horticultural use, which is the main reason for commercial extraction in Scotland. Annual emissions due to peat extracted in Scotland were estimated to be between 69 and 151 gigagrammes (Gg) CO₂  (2003-07).

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are also funding research to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint) associated with the extraction production, processing, transport and use of peat and will report this in summer 2009.

The methodology used in compiling the UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory complies with the requirements of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and will therefore continue to show emissions associated with peat extraction. A disaggregated version is also produced which shows specific emissions data for Scotland. Emissions and removals data will be taken from this for reporting the net Scottish emissions account in connection with the targets in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.

Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, on behalf of Scottish ministers, monitor the condition of all protected sites in Scotland. This monitoring would provide an early indication of any adverse affects on sites, should they arise and ministers would look to Scottish Natural Heritage to advise on the courses of action available in order to ensure that we continue to fulfil our obligations under the relevant European directives or to deliver national priorities. For devolved activities in Scotland it is the responsibility of Scottish ministers to determine whether compensatory measures are required under the habitats directive.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting the use of bus services in Scotland and over the last 10 years there has been an increase in bus patronage of 14%. We are taking forward a number of initiatives with local government partners and bus operators to enable this growth to continue.

Scottish Government funding for bus services is considerable, amounting to over £220 million of direct support in 2007-08 including concessionary fares and Bus Service Operators Grant. Latest figures show that from the record levels of funding local authorities receive from the Scottish Government they have spent £51 million supporting local bus services. This substantial outlay is intended to help the industry drive down fare costs, encourage more routes and enable more older and disabled people to use these important services. Latest data shows that Scotland provides £23 / 77% per head of population more subsidy than in England (excluding London, which is not deregulated).

We have recently appointed a Senior Bus Development Advisor in a seconded post with the specific remit to help local transport authorities deliver the policy improvements set out in our Bus Action Plan. These include promoting Quality Partnerships (QPs) and Punctuality Improvement Partnerships (PIPs). We have published guidance for local authorities on a range of issues to assist them in improving bus networks in their areas thereby encouraging people to use buses. This includes guidance on PIPs and promoting Bus Route Development Grant schemes. We expect to publish guidance on QPs and a Park and Ride Framework later in the year.

The Energy Saving Trust are currently finalising a pilot through one of the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres to integrate water advice with the existing advice on energy efficiency, microgeneration and low carbon personal transport. This project, which is part of a wider scheme operating in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London, is the first of its kind in the EU and it is being co-funded by the Scottish Government, EU LIFE+ programme and the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The intention is that during the course of the pilot, information and tools will be developed to enable water efficiency advice to be rolled our across the Energy Saving Scotland advice network.

Scottish Water was awarded £1 million of funding through the Central Energy Efficiency Fund to implement energy saving improvements to their plant, processes and buildings. Scottish Water has made good use of this revolving loan fund and continues to develop innovative project to achieve additional carbon savings.

In addition, the Energy Saving Trust manages the Energy Saving Scotland Small Business Loans on behalf of the Scottish Government. Water efficiency projects which also resulted in carbon savings are eligible for support through this programme providing the application met the energy saving and other criteria associated with the scheme.

The Energy Saving Trust are currently finalising a pilot through one of the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres to integrate water advice with the existing advice on energy efficiency, microgeneration and low carbon personal transport. This project, which is part of a wider scheme operating in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London, is the first of its kind in the EU and it is being co-funded by the Scottish Government, EU LIFE+ programme and the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The intention is that during the course of the pilot, information and tools will be developed to enable water efficiency advice to be rolled our across the Energy Saving Scotland advice network.

Scottish Water was awarded £1 million of funding through the Central Energy Efficiency Fund to implement energy saving improvements to their plant, processes and buildings. Scottish Water has made good use of this revolving loan fund and continues to develop innovative project to achieve additional carbon savings.

In addition, the Energy Saving Trust manages the Energy Saving Scotland Small Business Loans on behalf of the Scottish Government. Water efficiency projects which also resulted in carbon savings are eligible for support through this programme providing the application met the energy saving and other criteria associated with the scheme.

Water saving measures for the purpose of reducing carbon emissions will be considered in the development of the Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the response will be available from Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48199).

I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the response will be available from Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48199).

The Energy Efficiency Action Plan is due to be published before the end of 2009. A number of actions which will be included in the plan are already in operation, or due for launch during the course of this year. These actions are expected to contribute to the annual targets set by the Bill from 2010 and beyond.

The Energy Efficiency Action Plan is due to be published before the end of 2009. A number of actions which will be included in the plan are already in operation, or due for launch during the course of this year. These actions are expected to contribute to the annual targets set by the Bill from 2010 and beyond.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23072 on 6 May 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.