8. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on implementing the home energy efficiency programmes for Scotland. (S4O-02409)

The HEEPS were launched on 1 April this year. To date, we have issued offers of grant for area-based schemes totalling just under £46 million, which will result in 25,000 to 30,000 households receiving around 40,000 measures to improve the energy efficiency of their home and help to tackle fuel poverty.

We have also signed memoranda of understanding with three energy suppliers to deliver the affordable warmth scheme. From April to the end of August 2013, a total of around 3,500 referrals were made.

Finally, from April to the end of August 2013, around 2,100 referrals were made to the energy assistance scheme, with more than 700 completed installations reported.

How many households have been helped by the scheme so far? Could the minister arrange for those figures to be collated?

Yes, we will collect those figures and we will certainly keep the member up to date. However, I can tell her that £2.2 million has been allocated to South Lanarkshire Council.