Chamber and committees

State aids to agriculture are governed by the Community guidelines for state aid in the Agricultural Sector (2000/C 28/02). These guidelines indicated what aids to agriculture are permitted. As a general rule, the UK operates on the basis that what is not permitted is prohibited. The guidelines came into effect on 1 January 2000 and incorporated changes from previous guidelines. Member states were instructed to end or modify and re-notify state aids which did not comply with the new guidelines.

It will be apparent from the guidelines that they do not specifically provide for schemes operating in the way that the Bull Hire Scheme and the Ram Purchase Scheme operate. Nevertheless, it is possible to obtain approval for schemes which are not within the range of arrangements envisaged provided these are consistent with the general requirements governing what is permitted. However, in the case of the Livestock Improvement Schemes there are two requirements of the guidelines that the schemes cannot meet. Firstly the guidelines prohibit operating aids (paragraph 3.5 of the guidelines) and the Livestock Improvement Schemes which provide assistance without any requirement on the recipients to provide evidence of any outcome or output are bound to be seen as an operating aid which are simply intended to improve the financial situation of the producer. Secondly the guidelines are specific about the level of assistance which may be given (see paragraphs 3.10 and 4.1.1.8 of the guidelines). On the basis of that requirement the maximum level of assistance that would be eligible would be 50% of costs in the Less Favoured Area and 40% elsewhere.

The provisions of section 16 of the guidelines do not apply as the highlands and islands do not qualify as outermost regions for that purpose.

The Executive regard the instrumentlanding system as important and helped to fund it. The system will improve safetyand enhance the operational reliability of the airport.

The Executive would encourageyoung people with a strong family history of HCM and who would wish to be testedto consult their GP, who can then refer them to a cardiologist for specialist advice.

The Executive’s National AdvisoryCommittee on Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is also keeping in touch with currentwork on sudden cardiac death and screening which is being taken forward in Englandas part of the National Service Framework for CHD.

The total gypsy/traveller populationwas estimated in July 2003 to be 1,789 people (559 households), compared with anestimate of 1,353 people (410 households) in January 2003. 

Estimates of numbers of gypsies/travellersare based on a twice yearly count in summer and winter undertaken by councils onbehalf of the Executive. The aim is to provide estimates covering numbers on councilsites, privately owned sites and unauthorised locations. All users of sites andencampments are included, whether they would consider themselves to be gypsies,travellers or Romany. It is also important to note that the figures include estimates,particularly for numbers on private sitesand unauthorised locations.

Any funds allocated to decommissioningand not used for that purpose will be available for reallocation. Ministers willcollectively consider that reallocation in the light of present and future spendingpriorities. An announcement on the use of all 2003-04 under spend will be made indue course by the Minister for Finance and Public Services.