Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government remains committed to the legislative target to abolish the distinction between homeless households currently assessed as having a priority need for accommodation and other homeless households by 2012. Removal of ring-fencing allows local authorities to use their total funding flexibly in order to move towards the target and has been widely welcomed by local authorities.

The national performance framework includes an indicator relating to the entitlement of homeless households to settled accommodation by 2012. The Scottish Government will monitor and publish national performance against all indicators in the framework. The HL1 homelessness statistics system provides information on performance against this indicator at national and local authority levels. The indicator is available for use within the single outcome agreements which are currently being developed by local authorities and the Scottish Government. Local authorities also continue to work towards the 2009 interim targets set out in the ministerial statement on the abolition of priority need published in December 2005.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the target as incorporated in the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Please refer to the Privy Council Office website for lists of Orders in Council proposed by the Scottish Government that have been approved by the Privy Council, date of approval and composition of the Council. The website is www.PrivyCouncil.org.uk.

The regulations to licence puppy and kitten dealers will be laid before the Parliament after the Easter recess.

We expect to consult on draft legislation which will require animal sanctuaries to be licensed during 2009.

The circus working group, which examined the welfare of wild animals in travelling circuses, concluded that there was no evidence to show that their welfare needs were not being met. As there are no circuses with wild animals based in Scotland and there is no evidence to indicate that there is a problem, we have not set a timescale on whether to legislate in this area.

We have issued a consultation paper seeking views on whether electric shock collars should be regulated and have received a substantial number of responses. These are being analysed and a decision on whether regulations are required and the need to issue a further consultation paper with specific proposals will be made later this year.

The Pet Animals Act 1951 will be replaced by new regulations which will include internet sales of pet animals. We expect to issue a consultation paper later this year.

A consultation on the licensing of livery yards will be issued during the first half 2009.

The Scottish Government set up a key stakeholder group, the Sustainable Seas Task Force (SSTF), with a view to taking forward the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy and making recommendations for new, streamlined legislation to protect Scotland''s marine and coastal environment. The need for clear Marine Ecosystem Objectives (MEOs), within and beyond 12nm, has been highlighted by the SSTF. Proposals for MEOs will be developed as part of the Scottish Marine Bill.

The appointments were made by the Scottish ministers. Members are appointed in their personal capacity and are not appointed to represent any particular organisation. Members will provide advice to the Scottish Government on how best to move forward towards zero waste. The Think Tank is not a non-departmental public body and is expected to have a relatively short life so the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland does not apply. During the forthcoming review of the National Waste Plan, I will consult widely, including with representative bodies.

An exercise was completed to collate the responses received on the consultation document issued by the previous administration but it was decided not to proceed with a formal analysis of the responses. Any identified issues requiring attention in relation to environmental law will be considered in the normal course of government business.

We intend to carry out a second public consultation exercise shortly and subject to issues arising during the consultation, introduce legislation with the aim of transposing the directive later this year.

We are already proposing a challenging target of 80% emissions reductions by 2050. The Scottish Climate Change Bill consultation seeks views on sectoral targets, including in relation to energy demand. The government is also considering the role for standards for existing non-domestic buildings and housing stock and it is the intention to consult separately on new policy proposals.

We will therefore consider the possible benefits of setting further targets for domestic energy efficiency improvements in this context and against the need for targets to have an impact on actual take-up.