Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive is very conscious of the particular employment problems of areas such as Wigtownshire and Upper Nithsdale. We will work with the local authority, local enterprise company and other local agencies to provide new employment opportunities in the area.

A review of EU Directive 91/630 is already underway. As the first stage of this review, the Commission's Scientific Veterinary Committee has submitted a report which highlights the welfare disadvantages of tethers and close confinement stalls and which recommends group housing for sows in which they can turn round easily.We are continuing to press the Commission to bring forward early proposals and have made it clear that we expect them to at least match the standards which already apply in this country.

There was no discontinuance of funding to Rural Forum. Funding commitments to Rural Forum continued up until the Scottish Office was notified that the organisation had been put into liquidation by the Board.

Monitoring of Rural Forum's overall financial position was a matter for that organisation's Board.

Potato brown rot has never been found in the Scottish potato crop and a number of measures are already in place to prevent this. Scottish grown potatoes and material entering Scotland from both within and outwith the European Community are inspected for symptoms of brown rot. Additional measures have been taken by the Government in relation to potato imports from The Netherlands where brown rot outbreaks have occurred in recent years. Directive 98/57/EC of 20 July 1998, when implemented on 21 August 1999, will subsume on a Community-wide basis national measures with regard to intra-community trade.Periodic surveys are carried out to confirm Scotland's freedom from brown rot and these will continue to ensure that the high health status of Scottish potatoes is safeguarded.

Steps are being taken to find other means to take forward work relating to the management of the EU Objective 5b Programme in Rural Stirling and Upland Tayside, and by the Scottish Churches Housing Agency in respect of the Rural Housing Service. I and my officials are also in discussions with various interest groups who are exploring whether there is a need for a new body which would meet the needs of rural communities.

I will use whatever opportunities arise to impress upon both retailers and consumers the high quality of Scottish pigmeat products, as well as the very high standards applying to their production, with the aim of encouraging the consumption of high quality Scottish produce.

My Department maintains regular contact with representatives of the Scottish pig industry and has done so since serious financial difficulties first beset this sector.