§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he plans to issue guidelines relating to the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; [28470]
(2) if local authorities in Scotland will be eligible for grants during 1996–97 under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 action scheme; and if he will make a statement. [28471]
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Visits since 1 January 1991 Date Place Reason Delegation 1991 25 March Brussels Agriculture Council Secretary of State. Private Secretary and official 17–18 June Brussels Meeting EC Commissioners Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official 10–13 September Munich Scottish Trade Mission Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official 13–21 November Japan Inward investment promotion Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official 1992 20–23 June Thessalonika Europartenariat Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official 12–19 September Japan Inward investment promotion Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official 12–19 September Boston Inward investment promotion Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official 1993 12 February Munich Trade Fair and tourism promotion Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and official 25–27 March Florida Inward investment promotion Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official 6–8 June Madrid Trade Mission Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official 17–18 June Lille Europartenariat Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official 17–23 September Jedda/Dubai Trade Mission Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official 20–21 September Brussels Agriculture Council Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official 5–15 October New York and Hong Kong Tourism promotion Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Private Secretary and one official per visit 2–9 October USA Inward investment promotion Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official 29 November-1 December Brussels Fisheries Council Lord Fraser, Private Secretary and 3 officials 1994 February Oslo Meet Norwegian Fisheries Minister and visit Winter Olympic Team Sir Hector Monro and 2 officials 18 March Holland Tourism promotion Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Private Secretary and official 11–12 April Luxembourg Fisheries Council Lord Fraser and Private Secretary 26–29 May Crete Criminal Justice Conference Lord Fraser, Private Secretary and official 2–5 June Corfu Informal meeting of Ministers Allan Stewart and official 9 June Luxembourg Fisheries Council Sir Hector Monro and Private Secretary 8–10 June Golansk Europartenariat Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 9 May 1996]: Guidance on the operation of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 will be issued to Scottish local authorities, following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, later this year. It is expected that the Act will be brought into force in Scotland in 1997.
While Scottish local authorities are eligible to apply for assistance under the Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Conservation Act demonstration project, if they meet the criteria for the scheme, it is more likely to be of interest to Scottish authorities in 1997–98.