Chamber and committees

The North and West Grampian Rural Labour Scheme is currently in receipt of funding from the Rural Challenge Fund (RCF). While we understand that the project is proceeding well, we will not be in a position to assess whether it has met the objectives set until it has completed its funding period, which will be at the end of the 2002-03 financial year.The purpose of the Rural Challenge Fund is to provide funding to not-for-profit organisations that are taking forward projects to support people who live and work in rural communities. For example, under the RCF a machinery ring co-operative would be eligible to apply for funding to establish a project that helps local people to take advantage of local employment opportunities. The department provides grant aid to the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd. (SAOS) which in turn provides advice and support to those machinery rings which are members of their organisation. In addition Lantra, the land based National Training Organisation, is currently in negotiations with SAOS with a view to organising a joint event to raise the profile of machinery rings, and encourage and promote co-operation with farmers.

Discharges from coronary care units at Ninewells Hospital, Stracathro Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary during the year ended 31 March 2001 were as follows:

Hospital	Number of Discharges
Ninewells Hospital	937
Stracathro Hospital	566
Perth Royal Infirmary	489

There are no plans to review current legislation in order to make it compulsory for local authorities to consult with community councils over the allocation of Common Good Funds.

No representations have been made as the Scottish Executive was involved in the decision to undertake a review of anticholinesterase compounds. The review was announced in May 1998. Approval holders were invited to submit data in support of their products by September 1999. They chose not to submit data on products containing carbofuran and chlorfenvinphos and consequently existing approvals were revoked with effect from late 1999. The phase out period for the revoked products expires on 31 December 2001. Carbosulfan was supported by the approval holders and is under evaluation.

As indicated in my reply to question S1W-20247, the Excellence Fund is currently under review. General account is being taken of the Standards Fund administered by the Department for Education and Skills.

The scope and operation of the Excellence Fund is currently under review by a working group comprising officials of the Scottish Executive Education Department and representatives of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland who are participating on behalf of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). I expect the group to report its conclusions to ministers and to COSLA within the next few weeks and an announcement will be made about the outcome of the review as soon as practicable thereafter.

Applications to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for permits under the various regulatory regimes that it operates must be advertised in at least one local newspaper. Applications are also placed on SEPA's public register. This allows interested individuals and any local community groups the opportunity to view an application and to make representations to SEPA within a specified period.In carrying out its natural heritage functions, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has a statutory duty to take appropriate account of the interests of owners and occupiers of land and local communities. The Executive's policy statement in March 2001 - the Nature of Scotland - proposes that, when new Sites of Special Scientific Interests are notified, SNH will consult the owners and occupiers of the site, local authorities, community councils and other specified stakeholders about the proposal.

Under current legislation, local authorities have stewardship of Common Good Funds and it is at their discretion as to how they consult on these funds.

The costs involved are likely to vary according to circumstances including, for example, the proposed method of decommissioning and the characteristics of the vessel involved.Scheme guidance material made clear that the owners of fishing vessels considering bidding for decommissioning grant should explore the costs involved in decommissioning their vessel, and we expect those costs to be reflected in grant bids.

Four hundred and sixty-three existing adult mandatory life prisoners are affected by the transitional provisions of the Convention Rights (Compliance) (Scotland) Act 2001, in as much as they will require to have a punishment part set at a hearing before the High Court of Justiciary. In addition, there are 24 such prisoners, who have the right under the Act, to waive their entitlement to a hearing, in which case their punishment parts will be deemed to have been fixed by other methods set out in the Act. The Scottish ministers are required to refer the cases of those affected to the High Court of Justiciary but arrangements for the hearings are the responsibility of the court. At this time the court is unable accurately to forecast when the hearings will be completed.