Chamber and committees

There was a formal consultation period with the agricultural industry between 28 April 2004 and 21 June 2004. Subsequently, there have been regular meetings with relevant organisations in the form of the single farm payment implementation advisory group. There were also, road shows targeted at advisors, consultants and the relevant organisations in autumn 2004 and April 2005.

The EU Agricultural subsidies appeals procedure became operational in November 2000. The information requested is set out in the following tables. In stage 2 appeals the external panel make a recommendation to me with findings.

Number of Appeals Lodged

	Stage 1	Stage 2
2000	17	0
2001*	84	16
2002*	271	32
2003	252	45
2004	120	5
2005	116	0

 

The Number of Appeals Upheld By Panel

	Internal	External
2000	0	0
2001	12	1
2002	18	5
2003	15	0
2004	4	0

Note: *Coverage of Agri Environment Schemes was added in June 2001. Figures in 2001 were low due to foot-and-mouth disease. This resulted in an upsurge in 2002.

In addition some appeals were resolved outwith the panel setting.

Stage 3 (Scottish Land Court Hearings Lodged):

2003: 3

2004: 2

2005: 2.

Decisions not yet taken for these cases, with the exception of one case settled out of court.

There have been 4,230 applications to the single farm payment national reserve. The processing of the applications has started. Where possible, the aim is to inform farmers by 16 May 2005 of the result of their application, where that has an impact on their land holding. The target is to complete the processing of the applications by 31 July 2005. This completion date has been discussed with stakeholders.

The Scottish Executive consulted with the NFU Scotland and other organisations about whether to go for a historic or area-based system of awarding entitlements after the reforms to the CAP were announced in 2003. The historic system means that subsidy is based on historic claims rather than land held. There was a consensus in favour of the historic system, which allows farmers to adjust to decoupling and avoids redistributive effects. Since then there has been consultation on the operation of the National Reserve, with the result that arrangements have been made to enable new entrants to farming during the transitional period to apply for entitlements.

The EU Agricultural appeals procedure was set up to review decisions in relation to the refusal, recovery and reduction of a producer’s EU subsidy and ensure that my officials reached the correct decision. As with initial decision taking, the procedure is constrained to work within the regulatory framework and has no scope to waive or amend legislative requirements in individual cases.

The appeals secretariat continuously monitor how the procedure is operating. I am satisfied that the appeals panel operate within its remit and I have no plans to change it.

The programme to eliminatemixed-sex accommodation will be complete at the end of May when all wards inthe Royal Edinburgh Hospital comply with Scottish Executive guidance. Infuture, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s clinical governance reviews will checkthat local arrangements to safeguard the privacy and dignity of patients are inplace. Any evidence that the privacy and dignity of patients is beingcompromised will be followed up proactively.

The prevalence rate in Scotland in2003 was 1,631.9 per 100,000 population. Robust international comparisons arenot available, but more information on rates in Western Europe can be found onthe World Health Organization Health for All database:www.data.euro.who.int/hfadb.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

The technical specification for the central heating programme requires that all new oil-fired boilers installed on the programme have a Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) rating of at least 80%. This is comparable with the specification requirement that all new gas boiler have a SEDBUK seasonal efficiency rating of at least 78%. The oil boilers available on the Programme have a maximum SEDBUK rating of 85.7%, comparable with gas boilers that have a maximum SEDBUK rating of 82.1%.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

Eaga Partnership Ltd, which administers the central heating programme on behalf of the Executive, provides energy advice to all applicants on the programme before and after their new central heating systems are installed. This advice, provided by trained assessors, comprises: comparisons of the central heating systems available on the programme, advice on different fuel tariffs and suppliers, practical help for effective use of the system and energy saving tips to reduce fuel costs.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

Where available, applicants have the option of either gas, electric oil or solid fuel central heating. Therefore, in areas where gas supplies are not available, an applicant may have the option of a new electric, oil or solid fuel central heating system.

We would encourage any applicant with concerns about the central heating systems available to them to contact the Eaga Partnership or the Executive to discuss their options.