Chamber and committees

The First Minister is writing today to the Convenor of Dumfries and Galloway Council, setting out the Executive's interim response to the recovery plan. This interim response reiterates the Executive's commitment to doing what it can to assist Dumfries and Galloway recover from the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak. It confirms that the special needs of Dumfries and Galloway will be recognised in the delivery of policy and in the allocation of resources.The Dumfries and Galloway recovery plan includes short, medium and long-term recovery measures. It is important that the recovery in Dumfries and Galloway is taken forward in the context of national recovery strategies. The Executive has already begun to plan for medium- and longer-term recovery across Scotland, and our approach at the local and national levels will be driven by our commitment to the development of thriving rural communities and a competitive rural economy.However, we recognise that there remains a need for further short-term relief measures to help those in Dumfries and Galloway worst affected by the outbreak. The interim response therefore acknowledges Dumfries and Galloway's special needs, and sets out a further package of measures offering both short-term hardship relief and assistance to help businesses begin to move towards recovery, which will benefit Dumfries and Galloway:

• A payment to Dumfries and Galloway Council of £2 million "on account" to pay for costs incurred in controlling the disease;
• Additional funds of £5 million, out of Scottish Enterprise's existing budget, to be allocated to Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway to assist economic restructuring;
• A commitment from visitscotland to meet the ATB and other industry representatives in Dumfries today, in advance of their formal board meeting. They will discuss additional support requirements;
• Develop with the farming community small-scale capital investment measures designed to provide environmental and landscape benefits, which also offer work to farm employees and local contractors;
• Sympathetic consideration of applications from Dumfries and Galloway under European Structural Funds and other schemes; and

• Appointment of a Woodland Development Adviser in South West Scotland to advise on how woodland development might assist farmers and other land managers recover from the effects of foot-and-mouth disease.

In addition to these short-term measures, the Executive is also already engaged in dialogue with Dumfries and Galloway to develop many of the medium- and longer-term measures contained in the recovery plan, with a view to providing a fuller response in the coming months.

As at 2 May 2001, the number of cattle disposed of by rendering amounted to 12,506. All sheep have been buried.

There is no evidence of transmission of foot-and-mouth disease into the wild deer population in the south of Scotland.

The liquid is pre-treated on site in sealed containers to minimise any potential risk of spreading the FMD virus. It is then transported in sealed tankers for disposal at licensed waste management facilities.

The Scottish Executive provides funding for Scottish Screen. Scottish Screen, together with local film commissions, promotes Scottish film locations and talent. Scottish Screen, as the National Lottery distributor for film production in Scotland, can also assist with film finance. In co-operation with Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, it has agreed additional finance to enable "Magdalene" to be filmed in Dumfries this summer. Other feature films being produced in Scotland this year include "Morvern Callar".

Steps taken include:Scottish Dental Access Initiative grants to encourage practitioners to set up or expand NHS practices in areas of unmet patient demand or high oral health need, including rural areas and the most deprived areas where dental health is generally poor; approval of salaried dentist posts in areas where island health boards or Primary Care NHS Trusts have indicated that there are difficulties with NHS dental provision or oral health needs; a scheme whereby fees may be paid to dentists travelling to rural areas for loss of remunerative time spent on travel and to compensate the dentist where visits are cancelled at short notice; andthe early years enhanced capitation scheme to encourage dentists to register and provide preventive advice and treatment to 0-2- and 3- to 5-year-olds, with payment on a sliding scale depending on the level of deprivation.My officials are also developing a scheme in collaboration with the British Dental Association for dentists to register and fissure seal the molars of those 6- to 8-year-old patients most at risk of decay and problems of NHS dental access are being examined by the Implementation Support Group for the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive is working with Health and Environmental Health officials of Dumfries and Galloway Council as well as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure that public and environmental health considerations are taken fully into account in the operation of the site at Birkshaw.

The guidance issued by the Scottish Executive on 25 April, entitled Measures to Minimise Risk to Public Health from Slaughter and Disposal of Animals, addressed this issue and was drawn up in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer. A copy of the guidance is in the Parliament Reference centre.

The measures taken to communicate promptly with residents in the vicinity of disposal sites include a leaflet drop before any site becomes operational and where necessary more detailed information to those nearest the site. Discussions are held with local councillors, community councils and residents, as appropriate. Finally information is available through the FMD helpline operated by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

I refer to the Ministerial Statement I gave to Parliament on 26 April 2001 where policy on the position of rare breeds of sheep and hefted sheep was clarified.