Chamber and committees

Officials of the Scottish Executive provide support for and attend meetings of the Gaelic Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Donald Meek. I attended the first meeting of the Group on 21 March 2001.

I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to Parliament on 5 April 2001 where relaxation of movement controls were announced.

I recognise the difficulties which movement restrictions have given rise to for farmers, including those who have away-wintered animals. These restrictions are being reviewed in the light of experience and the disease situation locality.An assessment is being made of the financial impact of these restrictions on farming and other businesses.

The pre-emptive cull is being carried out to control and eradicate the disease as quickly and as effectively as possible. In view of the importance and urgency of this exercise blood sampling is not being carried out at present.

No. It is not the Executive's policy to terminate the contract.

I am fully aware of the effect that the outbreak of foot and mouth is having on the tourism industry. I have arranged to get regular reports about the position in every part of Scotland and I have met with individual businesses to find out the problems at first hand.I have asked visitscotland to prepare a recovery plan for the tourism industry. This will include launching the postponed £2 million spring campaign as soon as it is sensible to do so. Once the outbreak is over, the British Tourist Authority will pull out all the stops to promote Britain abroad.In addition, Ross Finnie is chairing a group with representatives from the Enterprise Networks, visitscotland and local authorities to examine the impact these problems are having on the wider rural economy, in which, of course, the tourism industry figures largely.This is, of course, a UK problem and I am in regular contact with ministerial colleagues to ensure that action is co-ordinated. I will be hosting a tourism summit in the near future.

The Scottish Executive has had a series of discussions with sportscotland about levels of funding for shinty.

The new operating companies must consider and consult with the emergency services and other interested parties on the arrangements for winter maintenance operations at the boundaries of the unit with other road authorities and other operating companies. The companies shall set out their procedures in the Winter Maintenance plan. The Winter Maintenance plan must be submitted to the Scottish Executive for approval and copies provided to the emergency services and adjacent road authorities.

The Scottish Executive like the UK Government has announced that any farmer who has animals slaughtered to control disease will be compensated at full market value.The Scottish Executive has agreed with the UK Government that representation should be made to the EU to draw down additional, optional agrimoney payments worth approximately £24 million to the industry in Scotland. This has been taken forward.

I recognise and sympathise with your concerns about the livelihoods of hauliers. Their situation will have eased with the introduction on Saturday 3 March of a scheme of licensed movements of pigs, cattle and sheep outside infected areas direct to slaughter.