The Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) is a partnership of Scotland''s universities dedicated to collaborative research across the energy field. The partnership''s members currently employ 250 academics and 650 researchers across several higher education institutions, the largest power and energy grouping of its kind in Europe.

The ETP continues to seek and attract new funding that is creating additional research and development posts including; winning over £25 million of new funding over the past two years, receiving significant funds from the UK Energy Technologies Institute to recruit new staff and a £6 million grant for a Doctoral Training Centre in Wind Energy that will recruit 10 PhD students every year for five years “ 50 PhDs at minimum with potential for augmented numbers. The ETP is also developing a proposal, in discussion with the SFC and a range of energy sector industrial partners, for a Scottish Energy Research Academy with, prospectively, 100 PhD students working across different ETP universities and engaging closely with industry.

For the Scottish European Green Energy Centre I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23077 on 5 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.

The Scottish Government is working with Scottish Enterprise and key industry stakeholders to provide range estimates by sector for the number of jobs associated with harnessing the potential of Scotland''s renewable energy resource.

The action plan will reflect this analysis, which is proving to be subject to constant change as industry responds to wider market conditions and continues to develop new technology.

Proposals for low interest loans, interest-free loans or equity release schemes for a range of purposes, including investing in homes energy efficiency measures, will come forward later in the year.

The Scottish Government Travel Plan includes a commitment to increase the percentage of staff commuting to work by walking, cycling and public transport. In March 2009 we implemented a salary sacrifice for the purchase of bicycles for the commute to work for Scottish Government staff. Work is on-going to investigate the possibility of using a salary sacrifice scheme for annual season tickets for bus.

In actively supporting such schemes, we would hope other employers also consider salary sacrifice schemes for all forms of travel to work including bus passes. The Scottish Government has also issued guidance providing advice to employers about developing a bus salary sacrifice scheme.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23136 on 29 April 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.

Part 7 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 (the 2004 Act) provides that a local authority can issue an Antisocial Behaviour Notice (ABN) on the landlord of a relevant house where the tenant or occupant is engaging in antisocial behaviour. We consider that a house occupied under a holiday let would be included in the definition of a relevant house for the purposes of the 2004 act.

Local authority officials, at a meeting of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group and in direct contact, have informed the Scottish Government of concerns, based on their experience, that some landlords may be evading the requirements for licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) by claiming that properties are let on a short-term basis and that tenants have principal residences elsewhere. This was identified as a particular concern in relation to the accommodation of migrant workers.

As previously stated, we will be considering the options for implementing new HMO provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 later this year. The issue of short-term lets, and what types of accommodation require to be licensed under those provisions, will be part of our discussions with stakeholders.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22157 on 1 April 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.

Legislation on the energy performance of buildings was introduced under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 as a result of an EU Directive. This legislation came into force for existing buildings on 4 January 2009. I refer the member to my answer S3W-22032 that notes no new leasing arrangements or renewals were entered into by Core Scottish Executive over 2007 and 2008. Energy performance certificates are therefore not required.

The Scottish Government, however, recognises its leadership role for the wider public sector and we will be working to produce Energy Performance Certificates for the main buildings on our core estate during 2009. This approach will mean that the Scottish Government has gone beyond the minimum statutory requirements, underlying its commitment to leading by example.

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.

Within the context of the licensing of houses in multiple occupation, if there were to be any changes to the definition of a licensable property, a legal definition of a holiday let would be drafted if that proved necessary to distinguish such a property from licensable properties. If such a definition proved to be necessary, we expect that it would reflect the distinction between properties occupied by tenants who are living and working in an area and those occupied by people who are visiting an area for a short period for the purposes of a holiday.