Chamber and committees

The contract signed in 1991, properly separates discounting and inflation. It provides that toll revenue collected each year is adjusted to 1991 prices using the actual change in the Retail Price Index and is discounted at 6% in real terms. Discounting is necessary so that the costs and benefits of a project are assessed on a constant basis. Six per cent is the Government's standard rate of discount (serving as both a cost of capital and a rate of time preference for expenditure).The concession will end when the sum of £23.64 million (in 1991 prices, discounted as detailed above) has been collected in tolls, or after 27 years, whichever is sooner. Based on current usage the concession is expected to end between 2009 and 2013. The actual end date depends on income generated by future traffic levels.

I refer you to my answer to your previous question, and my statement of 7 December. Guidance had not previously been issued because final details of the various schemes had not been provided by the European Commission. However, outline details of the new beef schemes are now being distributed to all beef producers in Scotland, and final details of all new measures will be issued as soon as they are available.

As outlined in my statement of 7 December, my officials are now in the process of writing to every cattle producer in Scotland with outline details of the new beef schemes introduced under Agenda 2000. Full details of all new schemes will be provided as soon as they are made available by the European Union. My Department is about to go to consultation on the introduction of the Rural Development Regulation.

The negotiation of International Trade Agreements, including World Trade Organisation talks, is a reserved matter and consultations with interest groups are a matter for the UK Parliament.The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with DTI on trade issues and any future WTO talks and how these may impact on the Executive's responsibilities.

Proposals will be announced when the draft Census Order in Council is laid before the Scottish Parliament shortly.

Decisions must depend on the merits of individual proposals. In reaching decisions, education authorities should take account of all relevant considerations, including educational, financial and community issues.

The Executive have submitted scheme proposals to the European Commission for technical scrutiny. These will need to be adapted to take account of the EC Rural Development Regulation prior to formal submission as part of the Rural Development Plans required by the Regulation. I will be happy to make details available at this stage. A copy of the formal proposals will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICE) and will be sent to all who were involved in the consultation process, as well as to any person or organisation who wishes a copy.

It is for Scottish Executive Ministers to approve such proposals and I did so on 7 July after a wide-ranging consultation exercise involving around 120 organisations and individuals. Following consideration of 63 written submissions, including those from Scottish Natural Heritage, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Historic Scotland, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, River Authorities, Deer Commission, Crofters Commission, Forestry Commission, National Trust, Rural Forum, Scottish Consumers Council, National Farmers Union of Scotland, Scottish Landowners Federation, Scottish Crofters Union, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Environmental Link, Scottish Wildlife Trust, World Wide Fund for Nature, Organic Sector bodies, Scottish Agricultural College, and Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, a series of bi-lateral meetings was held with key players to discuss the scope and structure of the scheme. The process was rounded off with a seminar attended by key environmental, farming and land-owning interests to discuss the detail of the proposed management prescriptions.I am confident that the proposals will command a broad measure of support.

The Scottish Executive has put together the best package possible given the availability of finance.

Bids will be expected to offer a high degree of sustainability to carry them beyond the initial funding package.