(a) The Scottish Government does not hold figures for the amount of electricity generated by Combined Heat and Power plants which supply district heating schemes.

(b) The Energy Saving Trust in Scotland estimate that, in 2012, district heating schemes provided 103 GWh of heat. This is estimated on a different basis to total heat consumption in Scotland so it is not possible to provide an accurate percentage. We are consulting with a wide range of key data providers and stakeholders, including DECC, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the Energy Saving Trust, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Scotia Gas Networks, to establish a robust method of annually monitoring heat demand in Scotland.

This approach will ensure that a wide evidence base is being considered and that the expertise and views of the entire sector are being utilised. Scottish Government will provide an update on this work in the Heat Generation Policy Statement which will be published before the end of 2013.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13322 on 13 March 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13327 on 13 March 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

http://sh45inta/Publications/2012/12/4995/4.

District heating schemes provide the infrastructure to supply heat from a range of sources. The source can be heat only or can be a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant which also generates electricity.

There is also a wide variety of district heating models, with the largest number being small-scale networks in rural areas, mainly heat only networks using woodfuel. A small number of large systems supply much larger numbers of properties, typically using heat from produced by gas-fired CHP plants.

I would therefore suggest it is more helpful to refer to typical examples of the different models:

typical examples of smaller-scale district heating supply a few buildings up to a few hundred properties with heat. Many are woodfuelled heat only systems such as on farms and estates (case studies are available from the Usewoodfuel website www.usewoodfuel.co.uk/using-woodfuel/case-studies/woodfuel-in-practice-farms-and-estates.aspx) or social housing schemes such as Albyn Housing’s Aviemore North scheme (www.usewoodfuel.co.uk/using-woodfuel/case-studies/starnewstar-albyn-housing-society-district-heating.aspx).

typical examples of large-scale district heating are networks supplied by gas-fired CHP such as Aberdeen Heat & Power’s district heating scheme (www.aberdeenheatandpower.co.uk) and the University of Edinburgh’s campus networks, or by Energy from Waste CHP in Shetland (www.sheap-ltd.co.uk).

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13067 on 8 March 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13067 on 8 March 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

A financial memorandum is being developed in collaboration with stakeholders, including Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities and will include estimated costs of implementing legislative proposals on early learning and childcare. It will be introduced along with the Children and Young People Bill, at which point funding and the impact on spending review plans can be fully considered.

National Renewables Infrastructure Fund is one of the linchpins to the Scottish Government’s effort to develop an offshore wind sector in Scotland. Initial economic assessment indicates that a cumulative gross value added of £7.1 billion would be achievable if wind farm development proceeds and Scotland secures supply chain opportunities.

The call for Expressions of Interest had an initial deadline of 10 December 2010, but there remains a continuing open call.