Chamber and committees

Under the current Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (No 46) 1998, hill shepherds are paid at a weekly rate for all hours worked on the "customary" duties related to tending sheep. This rate includes a notional allowance for overtime. Actual overtime is paid only when a hill shepherd undertakes additional duties unrelated to sheep.

From 1 January 2000, hill shepherds will be paid a basic rate for the first 39 hours worked each week and an overtime rate for any additional hours regardless of the nature of the work undertaken. The reference to "customary" duties will disappear from the new Wages Order, but hill shepherds will have the same level of protection of pay and conditions of service as all other agricultural workers.The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is responsible for making Wages Orders.

We have no plans to expand the membership of the Water Authorities beyond that currently allowed under the Act.

The present Victim Notification Scheme would not prevent the victims of crime being notified of the release of a person from custody in these circumstances. The age of a person at the time of committing a crime would not in itself prevent the victim or, in the case of homicide, next of kin, being notified of that person's release from custody under the Victim Notification Scheme.

We have no plans to do so. A Policy and Financial Management Review of the STB undertaken in 1998 found that all of the Board's current functions are necessary. These functions can be summarised as consumer and trade marketing, the development of the Area Tourist Board network and increasing the competitiveness of the industry. They are carried out in support of the objective that has been set for the Board, which is to help maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland. Currently, over 60% of the Board's programme expenditure is incurred on consumer and trade marketing.

The Opportunity Scotland consultation paper of September 1998, the "Skills for Scotland" paper of March 1999 and the SUfI Development Plan of October 1998 all invited comment on our plans to establish the Scottish University for Industry by autumn 2000. Respondents overwhelmingly supported the establishment of the Scottish UfI.The Scottish UfI will be required to develop a number of success criteria which will be monitored and published. These will include targets such as the number of enquiries to the Scottish UfI helpline, the numbers taking up learning, the numbers progressing to further learning and the numbers completing learning. The Scottish UfI will be expected to publish an annual report and will be required to meet tough targets under a contractual agreement with the Scottish Executive for its funding.

The Chief Executive post was advertised at circa £80,000, and the 4 Executive Directors at circa £50,000. Non Executive Directors of the Scottish UfI will not be paid. The question of an honorarium for the Chairman has yet to be decided.

£5 million a year has been identified for the development and operating costs of the Scottish UfI for the period to 31 March 2002.

£16.3m over 3 years has been allocated for the development of the Scottish UfI. £445,000 was allocated from the Windfall tax. The remainder was allocated from the Industry, Enterprise and Training budget of the Scottish Block. Funding for the development phase has been included in the Scottish Enterprise Grant in Aid allocation for 1999-2000.

The Scottish University for Industry's branding and communications strategy will be central to stimulating the demand for learning. The Scottish UfI will develop an extensive communications strategy, targeted at a number of sectors including SMEs. The Scottish UfI will work closely with local enterprise companies, and with representative bodies, to ensure that small firms are aware of, and can benefit from, the Scottish University for Industry.

The circumstances surrounding those who may have contracted Hepatitis C through treatment with blood products are tragic. I have met the Haemophilia Society to hear their concerns at first hand and officials within my Department are making enquiries into the circumstances surrounding this issue. I will be better placed to consider whether any further action on the part of the Scottish Executive is indicated when these enquiries are completed.