Questions and answers

Question reference: S1O-04753

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 February 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to the agriculture industry in the Highlands and Islands.

Farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands benefit from the same support arrangements as farmers in all other parts of the country. This includes advice and information from SEERAD and its agencies as well as the main Common Agricultural Policy subsidies which pay some £100 million per annum to farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands.Highlands and Islands also benefits from measures which are unique to that area including:the Agricultural Business Development Scheme which will provide £17 million between 2001 and 2006;the Crofting Community Development Scheme worth around £1 million between 2001 and 2006;the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme which has a budget of £2.7 million for 2001-02; andthe Crofters' Building Grants and Loan Scheme with a budget of £2.9 million for 2001-02.Farmers and crofters in the area also benefit from the Livestock Improvement Scheme and the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme.

Question reference: S1W-22508

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2002
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 31 January 2002

To ask the Presiding Officer when it will publish the farm income figures for 2001.

The Scottish Executive is today publishing the Scottish farm income figures. The estimated figures show that Total Income from Farming (TIFF) rose by 11% in 2001 to £273 million.Compensation payments for animals culled due to foot-and-mouth disease do not count towards TIFF because they are payments for the loss of capital assets. These payments, which are estimated at around £165 million in Scotland, enter the accounts as capital transfers.Average Net Farm Income (NFI) is forecast to rise in 2001-02 by two-thirds to almost £9,600. Dairy and general cropping farms are forecast to show the greatest improvement in their financial position while the incomes of Less Favoured Area specialised sheep farms are expected to deteriorate with negative NFIs on average. Detailed estimates of the outputs, inputs and income of Scottish agriculture at both the aggregate level and by farm type will be published this morning and will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18811).

Question reference: S1O-04441

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2002
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 17 January 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is undertaking in order to improve children's services.

Securing better outcomes for children and young people in Scotland is one of our top priorities. We have established a new Cabinet Sub-Committee on children's services, chaired by the First Minister, to drive this forward. This met for the first time in December and agreed priority tasks for the next 12 months; including an integrated approach to assessment of needs and supporting joint working at local level. We are providing resources to back change through the Changing Children's Services Fund. We have also issued guidance on an integrated approach to planning for children's services.

Question reference: S1O-04304

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 13 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult crofters and farmers about the implementation of a new Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme.

The Scottish Executive consulted widely on support for farming in Scotland's less favoured areas when the scheme was initially introduced. It has also been working closely with the Industry Working Group in amending the scheme for 2002. Any future changes will be made in the light of advice from the Industry Working Group and will be based on the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture, on which there was a wide consultation. A decision on whether it is necessary to consult more widely on any new scheme will be taken in due course.

Question reference: S1W-19903

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what information it has received about (i) any fixed Sheep Annual Premium (SAP) to be agreed by the Agriculture Council of the European Union on 20 November 2001 and (ii) the year in which any such SAP would first be payable, and (b), should any such SAP not be payable in 2002, what plans it has to compensate crofters and farmers for hardship caused by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

I attended the Agriculture Council on 20 November in the expectation that changes would be agreed to the EU sheepmeat regime. Unfortunately, negotiations foundered but there were positive elements contained in the latest Presidency proposal which I have supported and which I hope can be agreed soon in order for changes to come into effect from next year.A very important element for Scottish producers was the proposed move to a flat rate premium payable from the year 2002. The rate proposed was 21 euros per eligible ewe, plus seven euros for LFA producers. A national envelope would also be established payable at one euro per ewe which might be targeted to suit particular Scottish needs. The move away from a deficiency based calculation will provide producers with more financial certainty about the level of income accruing from this particular source, and it is estimated that SAP payments will increase by around £24 million in respect of 2002 compared with 2001.

Question reference: S1W-18812

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 22 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses (a) have submitted applications and (b) have received funding under the (i) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, (ii) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, (iii) Beef Special Premium Scheme, (iv) Extensification Premium Scheme and (v) Arable Area Payment Scheme from April 1999 to date, broken down by each Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office in the Highlands and Islands area, and how many have applications currently under consideration.

The information you require for the 1999 and 2000 scheme year is shown. Information has not been supplied for the 2001 scheme year because the payment information is incomplete.

ERAD Area Office	AAPS			AAPS
	Scheme year 1999			Scheme year 2000
	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration
Oban	80	80	0	80	80	0
Elgin	157	157	0	150	150	0
Ayr	40	40	0	37	37	0
Inverness	447	447	0	478	478	0
Portree	0	0	0	0	0	0
Benbecula	271	271	0	276	276	0
Kirkwall	417	417	0	430	430	0
Stornoway	0	0	0	1	1	0
Lairg	53	53	0	42	42	0
Thurso	302	302	0	288	288	0
Lerwick	20	20	0	21	21	0

ERAD Area Office	SAPS			SAPS
	Scheme year 1999			Scheme year 2000
	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration
Oban	784	761	15	768	753	6
Elgin	114	114	0	114	111	0
Ayr	97	95	1	95	94	0
Inverness	993	965	15	966	934	13
Portree	491	485	3	482	474	7
Benbecula	614	602	8	600	584	4
Kirkwall	447	439	2	427	419	5
Stornoway	1398	1330	23	1228	1268	19
Lairg	435	422	9	437	429	3
Thurso	662	649	8	646	636	7
Lerwick	1162	1139	16	1126	1105	12

ERAD Area Office	SCPS			SCPS
	Scheme year 1999			Scheme year 2000
	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration
Oban	547	539	7	520	511	3
Elgin	152	152	0	146	146	0
Ayr	63	62	0	59	59	0
Inverness	753	738	10	708	688	12
Portree	249	242	4	234	222	9
Benbecula	216	214	0	204	198	3
Kirkwall	596	593	2	562	557	3
Stornoway	91	90	0	92	89	0
Lairg	178	176	1	165	159	6
Thurso	485	479	3	457	449	1
Lerwick	148	146	2	142	137	4

ERAD Area Office	BSPS			BSPS
	Scheme year 1999			Scheme year 2000
	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration
Oban	1,446	436	22	1,374	448	13
Elgin	563	148	4	543	135	13
Ayr	317	71	2	294	68	0
Inverness	2,115	563	22	2,090	558	2
Portree	118	74	1	126	71	2
Benbecula	92	51	0	92	50	0
Kirkwall	2,366	640	10	2,440	609	6
Stornoway	122	75	3	141	82	0
Lairg	222	94	0	227	119	1
Thurso	1,108	375	2	1,173	379	5
Lerwick	222	111	1	213	103	0

ERAD Area Office	EPS			EPS
	Scheme year 1999			Scheme year 2000
	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration	applications received	payments issued	applications under consideration
Oban	Not applicable			743	422	Not available
Elgin	Not applicable			165	123	Not available
Ayr	Not applicable			99	60	Not available
Inverness	Not applicable			884	412	Not available
Portree	Not applicable			267	71	Not available
Benbecula	Not applicable			282	45	Not available
Kirkwall	Not applicable			669	576	Not available
Stornoway	Not applicable			140	72	Not available
Lairg	Not applicable			202	96	Not available
Thurso	Not applicable			576	364	Not available
Lerwick	Not applicable			179	98	Not available

Notes:The applications received include applications withdrawn/rejected; this explains the difference between the number of applications received and the combined payments issued and applications under consideration figures.BSPS applications received figures reflect the fact that producers can submit more than one application per year. However, payments are consolidated and paid per producer rather than per claim.No figures are given for EPS 1999 because applications and payments were combined with the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme and the Beef Special Premium Scheme.The 2000 EPS applications under consideration figures will not be available until significant program changes are made. We have no plans to introduce these changes.

Question reference: S1W-19466

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive why the current year's Less Favoured Area Support Scheme budget of #63.4 million is projected to underspend by #2.8 million.

The underspend arose for two reasons. 2001 was the first year of the new scheme and certain assumptions had to be made about the correct split of improved pasture and rough grazing. These were subsequently adjusted. The second reason was that the 2001 scheme limited gains to sparsely stocked farms by imposing minimum stocking densities. In 2001 this latter change reduced the area of eligible rough grazing by 24% and improved pasture by 2%.

Question reference: S1W-19467

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the #2.8 million saved from the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme 2001 will be allocated to the 2002 budget for the scheme and whether specific consideration will be given to addressing any geographic disadvantage in the disbursement of the funds.

Question reference: S1W-18816

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) cattle and (b) sheep and how much arable ground were claimed for under the (i) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, (ii) Beef Special Premium Scheme, (iii) Extensification Premium Scheme, (iv) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme and (v) Arable Area Payment Scheme in 2000-01 and 2001-02 to date and how many (a) cattle and (b) sheep and how much arable land were claimed for under each scheme by small producers, broken down by each Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office in the Highlands and Islands area.

The livestock numbers and arable land area in scheme years 2000 and 2001, for all Scottish producers, are given in tables 1 & 2. The 2001 figures are partial, as they include only information on the IACS applications processed so far. Table 3 shows "small producers" for scheme year 2000. These were assumed to be producers who earned a total of €1,250 or less in subsidy payments. Figures have not been provided for 2001 as processing is on-going. Table 1: 2000 scheme year

ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office	Sheep	Suckler cows	Beef cows	Arable land (ha) ¹
Oban	329,557	21,978	10,319	1,363.33
Elgin	43,881	10,371	5,809	4,812.07
Ayr	35,986	3,441	2,559	523.17
Inverness	276,663	28,853	17,046	25,122.56
Portree	94,927	2,662	383	0
Benbecula	43,862	2,026	352	691.92
Kirkwall	66,350	30,596	22,281	4,040.90
Stornoway	91,116	460	287	0.90
Lairg	86,034	2,827	1,349	975.70
Thurso	149,065	21,179	10,230	5,901.04
Lerwick	191,554	1,893	780	84.29
Total	1,408,995	126,286	71,395	43,515.88

Table 2: 2001 scheme year

ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office	Sheep	Suckler cows	Beef cows	Arable land (ha) ¹
Oban	325,116	5,799	7,299	1,294.50
Elgin	42,159	2,523	3,160	2,282.40
Ayr	34,364	1,431	1,877	514.95
Inverness	266,534	9,509	9,534	12,200.00
Portree	95,854	407	287	0
Benbecula	42,099	577	222	656.12
Kirkwall	65,724	15,429	11,824	3,808.90
Stornoway	88,389	73	244	0
Lairg	84,102	541	903	789.42
Thurso	142,236	6,467	7,338	5,366.90
Lerwick	189,611	659	475	67.97
Total	1,376,188	43,415	46,163	26,981.16

Notes:1. The above hectarage figures cover all land entered on Scottish Area Aid Applications and will include land farmed in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.Table 3: 2000 scheme year (small producers)

ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office	Sheep	Suckler cows	Beef cows	Arable land (ha)
Oban	3,086	120	81	3.70
Elgin	175	11	12	13.21
Ayr	211	3	7	0.00
Inverness	6,503	244	107	32.61
Portree	4,751	101	14	0.00
Benbecula	8,846	90	9	101.17
Kirkwall	1,901	39	66	16.63
Stornoway	26,898	48	39	0.90
Lairg	4,207	41	13	4.00
Thurso	4,526	57	35	24.19
Lerwick	13,203	14	4	0.00
Total	74,307	768	387	196.41

Question reference: S1W-18814

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what total (a) forage and (b) arable area was covered by claims for area aid under the Integrated Administration and Control System in (i) 2000-01 and (ii) 2001-02 to date, broken down by each Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office in the Highlands and Islands area.

The total hectarage declared on area aid applications in scheme years 2000 and 2001 is given in the table.

ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office	2000 forage (ha)	2000 arable (ha)	2001 forage (ha)	2001 arable (ha)
Oban	400,281.75	1,363.33	371,333.70	1,294.50
Elgin	41,393.92	4,812.07	37,417.80	2,282.40
Ayr	36,024.72	523.17	34,201.11	514.95
Inverness	597,135.39	25,122.56	552,353.40	12,200.00
Portree	106,633.52	0	52,461.15	0
Benbecula	52,086.50	691.92	31,081.87	656.12
Kirkwall	73,624.21	4,040.90	73,340.77	3,808.90
Stornoway	99,165.52	0.90	41,766.66	0
Lairg	175,140.56	975.70	124,054.90	789.42
Thurso	187,504.85	5,901.04	149,908.70	5,366.90
Lerwick	119,666.49	84.29	75,468.83	67.97
Total	1,888,657.43	43,515.88	1,543,388.89	26,981.16

The 2001 figures are only partial. They include only information on the IACS applications processed so far.

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