Chamber and committees

It is our intention that when the bridge has been paid for that the tolls will cease. In the meantime we have delivered our commitment to freeze the tolls at 1999 levels for the remainder of the concession.

We intend to consult with local authorities, the taxi trade and other interested parties on the content of the proposed taxi regulations resulting from the 1995 Act during the course of this year.

Local authorities will continue to be responsible for funding local women's aid groups under existing arrangements.However, the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund makes provision for extending those arrangements.

I have no information on which to base an assessment of public perceptions of this matter.

No. The letter dated 6 November 1995 contained more than just instructions given by Crown Counsel (including a former Lord Advocate) to a Procurator Fiscal about legal issues arising in this class of case. The Procurator Fiscal was also instructed to undertake further detailed work before seeking instructions from Crown Counsel on whether to take proceedings. The instruction has already been placed in the public domain, Official Report, 2 February, Column 589 and I have similarly arranged for this information to be provided to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

The draft Census Order in Council was laid before the Parliament on 10 January.

We are still considering the way forward on this matter and others in the light of the consultation and I will make an announcement in due course.

Interested agencies and individuals have had the opportunity to comment on the UK Government proposals for the 2001 Census, issued in March 1999, in a White Paper (Cm 4253 The 2001 Census of Population). Scottish Ministers have taken account of the proposals set out in the White Paper and comments received since its publication in deciding what topics to propose in the draft Census Order in Council, which has laid before the Scottish Parliament on 10 January.Parts of the draft Order are subject to affirmative resolution and the remainder is subject to negative resolution procedures. Paragraphs 1 to 5 of the Schedule to the Census Act 1920 list certain matters about which particulars may be required and which are subject to negative resolution. However, where the draft Order relates to particulars which fall within paragraph 6 of the Schedule to the Census Act 1920, that is, "Any other matters with respect to which it is desirable to obtain statistical information with a view to ascertaining the social or civil condition of the population" then those particulars are subject to affirmative resolution.The Census Act 1920 contains provision allowing for those parts of the draft Order subject to affirmative resolution to be modified with the agreement of the Parliament.The draft Order will be considered by the Subordinate Legislation Committee and by the lead committee designated by the Parliament. The Subordinate Legislation Committee will report to the lead committee within 20 days of the draft Order being laid. The lead committee is required to report to Parliament no later than 40 days after the draft Order has been laid. The lead committee will set out its recommendations in its report, taking into account any recommendations made by any other committee. If the lead committee recommends that the draft Order be approved with or without modifications, the Parliamentary Bureau shall by motion propose that the Parliament so approve the draft Order.

Registration details are required for all bovine animals born in Scotland since July 1996. These details are held by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) at Workington, together with information on registrations and movements of animals born since 28 September 1998. The computerised database at BCMS does not as yet contain registration details for older animals. The beef labelling elements of the Regulation are currently operating in Scotland.

Meat products are defined in EC law and the current labelling requirements are largely harmonised at EC level. These requirements are implemented in Scotland by the Food Labelling Regulations 1996. While it is not compulsory to provide the particulars of country of origin or provenance of the food, this information is required if failure to give it might mislead the purchaser to a material degree as to the true origin or provenance of the food. Catering establishments are, however, exempt from this requirement.The Scottish Executive issued a consultation paper on 27 October seeking views from interested parties on a proposal to amend the Guidance Notes on the Food Labelling Regulations. The consultation aims to clarify and strengthen the guidance on labelling to allow the true origin of foodstuffs to be traceable. No change to the Regulations themselves is proposed. Responses to the consultation exercise, which ended on 14 December, are now being considered.