Chamber and committees

On 4 October 1999, an audit of staff, commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, at Barmac's Nigg and Ardersier yards showed that there were 4,254 staff on site of whom approximately 2,400 were employed by sub-contractors. Employment at Lewis Offshore has averaged about 250 over the last three years.Barmac has announced that it plans to retain around 400 staff for the time being. Lewis Offshore, which is currently in receivership, will be operated on a care and maintenance basis with a small number of staff. The audit estimates that these reductions will lead to the loss of approximately 770 jobs in supply businesses.

As the funding and performance monitoring of Scotland the Brand is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I have asked the Chairman to write to the Member providing the information requested in his earlier question (S1W-2636). A copy of that reply will be placed in the Library. In terms of future requests for information pertaining to the enterprise networks, Ministers are happy to take questions. However, where these relate to operational matters it is more appropriate for the detailed information to be provided directly by Scottish Enterprise and/or Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The First Minister last visited the Highlands and Islands on 17 September, when he attended an engagement on Iona. His next scheduled official visit to the Highlands and Islands will take place in March when he is due to visit Orkney.The Highland Council has made representations to Scottish Executive Ministers on a number of issues related to employment matters in the Highlands and Islands in the wake of the Barmac redundancies. Our response has indicated the desire of the Executive and its agencies to work closely with the Council, including through the Oil Industry Response Team, in framing measures which respond effectively to the job losses. Ministers last met the Convener of the Council on Thursday 9 December during their joint visit to the Barmac facility at Ardersier, and will consider sympathetically any further request by the Council for a meeting.

The fabrication yards at Nigg and Ardersier were visited by Alasdair Morrison and myself, along with Brian Wilson of The Scotland Office, on Thursday 9 December, in recognition of the concern of the whole Executive about the difficulties currently facing the fabrication sector, and which are being faced by Barmac in particular. The First Minister takes a close interest in issues affecting the sector and, while he has yet to visit the Barmac yards, I have briefed him fully on developments there.

The UK Government has indicated its commitment to maintaining a network of post offices which can meet its customer requirements throughout the country. The Scottish Executive will continue to ensure that the UK Government is aware of the particular needs of communities in Scotland.

I refer to the answer given to question S1W-2377.

I refer to the answer given to question S1W-2377.

This information is not held centrally. I have noted the question however and the points also raised in S1W-2379 and S1W-2380, and these will be taken into account in the Department's enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the safety of blood products from Hepatitis C. I will keep you informed of the outcome of my enquiries as soon as they are completed.

The issue of rate relief for small businesses was covered in my Statement to Parliament on 8 December.

I made a Statement about this in Parliament on 8 December. I announced a rates discount scheme for small businesses in 2000-01 and that consultation on a transitional relief scheme will follow in January. I intend to examine the case for a rate relief scheme for small businesses over the next 12 months, continuing the useful dialogue already established with representative business organisations, such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business. Henry McLeish and other appropriate Ministers will look at support for small businesses and we expect the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Local Government Committees to contribute to this review.