The Scottish Forestry Grant Schemeand the Woodland Grant Scheme continue to provide support for replanting but onlywhere the funding commitment was made prior to 31 December 2007 when the previousScotland Rural Development Plan (SRDP) closed.

At the present time there areno grants schemes open to new applications which provide support for the replantingof felled woodlands. When the Rural Development Contracts – Regional Prioritiesopens to applicants, in the spring of 2008, it will include options which will supportthe replanting and restructuring of woodlands. It is a matter of concern for the Scottish Government that the process of SRDP approval by the EC has taken so longand that this has, so far, prevented the introduction of any new grant scheme whichcan support replanting and restructuring.

The use of Regional Project Assessment Committees is nota new process, having been successfully used to administer the Farm Business DiversificationScheme previously operated by the Scottish Executive. Other significant changesbeing implemented to deliver the new elements of the Scottish Rural Development Fund will also offer opportunities for further streamliningof administration both for applicants and government officials.

In particular, bringing togetherin excess of ten funding streams into one integrated application process under theRural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities, will cut down much duplication forapplicants, both in terms of the application and claims processes and reduce inspectionvisits.

Rural Priorities will also allowapplicants to seek information and guidance, and submit applications to any officeof the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate, Forestry Commission Scotlandand Scottish Natural Heritage. The three bodies will be jointly responsible foroperating Rural Priorities, and applicants will receive the same service from whicheveroffice they choose to visit. This “one stop shop” approach will offer applicantsgreater flexibility and efficiency savings when accessing funding from the ScottishGovernment to support their rural development proposals.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act2003 establishes the right of responsible access by members of the public. Representativesof rural businesses and land managers, including livestock farmers, were involvedin the development of the legislation and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. They continue to be fully involved in the implementationof access rights through the National Access Forum which is able to consider anyrelevant issues highlighted by land managers, recreational users or others. TheNational Farmers Union has distributed a Public Access to Farmland brochure to provide a brief introduction for farmers, crofters and growerson their rights and responsibilities.

As part of the local governmentsettlement for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11, we have removed the ring fencing ona number of funding streams, including piers and harbours grant, to allow localauthorities greater flexibility in determining their own local spending priorities.Recipient councils will be expected to fund their own local harbours projects fromthe resources that are made available to them under the local government settlement,and any other funding that is available to them from their own or other sources.

As at present, it will be forlocal authorities to consider whether they should provide any financial supporttowards the development of piers and harbours in their areas that are owned by independentharbour trusts or other bodies.

The Scottish Government willcontinue to fund the development of berthing facilities used by lifeline ferry servicesthat are owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, independent harbour trusts andother bodies. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd will from 1 April 2008 be responsiblefor the administration of new grant arrangements to ensure that those berthing facilitiesremain fit for purpose. It will invite grant applications to enhance or developfacilities to support lifeline ferry services from independent harbour authoritiesand others and will consider those applications alongside the need for investmentin the infrastructure that it owns. We shall be taking a number of detailed stepsto ensure that the company does not favour unduly its own projects to the detrimentof independent harbour authorities and others that may be seeking grant fundingunder the new arrangements.

I refer the member to the questionS3W-8377 on 21 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the questionS3W-8377 on 21 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Government has madeno assessment of the use of colloidal silver as an antibiotic, particularly itsuse in tackling MRSA.

Licensing of medicines is reservedand is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency(MHRA). Before a medicine can be placed on the UK market it must have marketingauthorisation from either the MHRA or the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). TheMHRA has advised that they have not assessed the suitability of colloidal silverin the treatment of MRSA or any systemic form of colloidal silver for any indication.Such an assessment would only be made if a manufacturer submits an application fora marketing authorisation for that product.

Licensing of medicines is reservedand is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency(MHRA). The MHRA has advised that colloidal silver is not licensed for use in theUKas an antibiotic for the treatment of MRSA.

Medicines legislation allowsfor the use of unlicensed medicines if it is considered to be an appropriate treatmentfor an individual patient. In these circumstances the prescriber bears a greaterdegree of responsibility for the use of the medicine.

Hydrocolloid foam containingsilver is licensed as a medicinal device under the name Contrafleet-F antibacterialdressing for exuding wounds e.g. leg ulcers to control the microbial populationof exudating wounds.

Forall 11 Regional Proposal Assessment Committee areas there is an on-goingprocess of consultation on the development of the list of Regional Prioritiesinvolving the full range of stakeholder interests represented in rural Scotland. Representatives coveringforestry interests are engaged in this process. Regional Priorities are beingderived from existing priorities contained in a wide range of strategiesrelating to rural Scotland including the ScottishForestry Strategy. Once completed, these Regional Priorities will be used, byRegional Proposal Assessment Committees, which includes Forestry CommissionScotland in the assessment of proposals for funding. The process of updatingand refining Regional Priorities will continue throughout the Scottish Rural Development Plan funding period.

There are no plans currentlyto amend the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Scottish Natural Heritage is responsiblefor monitoring the operation of the code and for ensuring that all issues whichrequire consideration will be considered as and when a formal review of thecode takes place.