Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce such measures. Fishing on a non-commercial basis does not require a fishing licence and the Executive has no plans to prohibit non-commercial fishing activity in the Forth Estuary.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce such measures in the Forth Estuary.

The Board of Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust met on 29 February to consider a revised business case for a CT scanner. The revised business case makes a substantial difference to the clinical and economic arguments for the scanner. I understand that, subject to confirmation of the charitable offers available from the North British Hotels and the George Livanos Trust, Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will proceed to procure and install the equipment.

Scottish farmers will receive £15 million in agrimonetary compensation later this year. I am giving careful consideration to the claims for further agrimonetary compensation in close consultation with the other UK Agriculture Ministers. Scotland could not go it alone on this issue.

The sale of the white meat of scallops is not generally prohibited unless it is from an area which has been closed to scallop fishing by a Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA) Order due to the detection of algal toxin levels above the statutory limit. No part of a scallop can be harvested from such an area.

Meat products are defined in EC law and the labelling requirements are largely harmonised at EC level. These requirements are implemented in Scotland by the Food Labelling Regulations 1996.The Scottish Executive issued a consultation paper on 27 October seeking views from interested parties on a proposal to amend the Guidance Notes on the Regulations. The consultation aims to clarify and strengthen the guidance on labelling to allow the true origin of foodstuffs to be traceable. Responses to the consultation exercise, which ended on 14 December, are now being considered.

I have on-going discussions with the UK Government on the difficulties facing Scottish farmers, as a result of which a number of substantial aid packages have been made available in recent months. I announced on 16 November that a further £1 million would be available for ABIS, over and above existing expenditure of £14.7 million. More generally, and given the severe problems currently faced by farmers in Scotland, I have had no option in drawing up assistance packages but to give priority to those farmers whose income levels are falling, rather than those who would like to invest in new capital projects.

There is no difference in the cost of testing the gonad compared to the whole animal for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in king scallops.

The testing regime in Scotland is directed to the gonad since research has shown that, of the most commonly eaten parts of the scallop, this tends to have the highest concentrations of toxins. The EU legislation requires that the whole body or any part edible separately is tested.The testing regime in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities.

The sale of scallop roe is not generally prohibited unless it is from an area which has been closed to scallop fishing by a Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA) Order due to the detection of algal toxin levels above the statutory limit as no part of a scallop can be harvested from such an area.

These payments are made under the Islay Voluntary Goose Management Scheme (IVGMS), which is entirely the responsibility of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).Under the IVGMS, SNH aims to compensate for additional impacts resulting from the protected status of the geese under the EC Birds Directive, rather than to compensate in full for all damage caused by geese. I understand that SNH have continued to increase the total funds disbursed through the IVGMS as goose populations have increased.