Chamber and committees

The Executive is currently finalising the details of the tender documents for its subsidised air routes prior to forwarding to the European Commission. Under EC Regulation 2408/92 air services can be tendered for a period of up to three years.

The Phoenix Fund comprises a number of strands, only one of which is available in Scotland. The loan guarantees element, to help co-finance commercial lending to Community Finance Initiatives, is applicable across the UK. Organisations based in Scotland are free to submit bids for this strand of funding on the same basis as any other UK Community Finance Initiatives.The Enterprise Networks are the main vehicle used in Scotland to support enterprise in disadvantaged areas.

VisitScotland have provided the information requested in the following tables:Table 1: Sweden

	Trips(000)	Spend(£ million)	Method of Entry (%)		Most Popular Port of Entry		Trip Purpose (%)
			Air	Sea	Air	Sea	Holiday	Business	VFR	Other
1997	42	20	78	22	Edinburgh	Harwich	60	29	3	8
1998	66	31	61	39	Edinburgh	NE Eng	57	22	13	8
1999	34	11	77	23	Heathrow	Harwich	55	29	14	2
2000	24	10	87	13	Heathrow	Harwich	39	41	15	5
2001	23	9	n/a	n/a	Stansted	-	21	46	24	9

Table 2: Denmark

	Trips(000)	Spend (£ million)	Method of Entry (%)		Most Popular Port of Entry		Trip Purpose (%)
			Air	Sea	Air	Sea	Holiday	Business	VFR	Other
1997	27	10	79	21	Glasgow	Harwich	47	30	12	11
1998	40	21	69	31	Heathrow	NE Eng	75	15	10	-
1999	32	13	82	18	Glasgow	Harwich	36	43	14	7
2000	19	8	87	13	Edinburgh	Harwich	44	39	17	-
2001	20	7	86	14	Stansted	Harwich	84	10	6	-

Table 3: Norway

	Trips(000)	Spend(£ million)	Method of Entry (%)		Most Popular Port of Entry		Trip Purpose (%)
			Air	Sea	Air	Sea	Holiday	Business	VFR	Other
1997	29	13	84	16	Newcastle	NE Eng	43	34	20	3
1998	40	22	90	10	Edinburgh	NE Eng	28	38	24	10
1999	35	41	69	31	Newcastle	NE Eng	38	49	11	2
2000	28	12	n/a	n/a	Luton	NE Eng	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
2001	19	8	81	19	Glasgow	NE Eng	29	29	31	11

Table 4: Finland

	Trips(000)	Spend(£ million)	Method of Entry (%)		Most Popular Port of Entry		Trip Purpose (%)
			Air	Sea	Air	Sea	Holiday	Business	VFR	Other
1997	15	6	72	28	Heathrow	NE Eng	40	47	1	12
1998	12	5	79	21	Heathrow	NE Eng	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1999	12	5	90	10	Heathrow	NE Eng	51	37	16	6
2000	5	3	88	12	Edinburgh	NE Eng	20	40	20	20
2001	3	4	100	-	Heathrow	-	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

The Animal Health and Welfare Division of my department are responsible for the administration of the Pets Passport Scheme (PETS) policy in Scotland.Officials are currently in discussion with representatives of Superfast Ferries regarding the introduction of PETS on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry route. Depending on the progress of these discussions, it should be possible to have an authorised PETS route in Scotland before the end of the year.

The subject matter of section 25 of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended by the Transport Act 2000) is reserved under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998.

As Iain Gray announced on 29 July, City of Edinburgh Council has been awarded £5 million from the Integrated Transport Fund for a STAG stage 2 appraisal of the West Edinburgh Light Rail scheme, promotion of a parliamentary order or orders allowing the construction and operation of the scheme, and associated staff costs. This supersedes the figures quoted in the answer given to question S1W-26693.The study is being funded over three financial years, beginning in 2002-03.The other issues raised are a matter for City of Edinburgh Council.

Scottish Enterprise commissioned the Direct Air Services Action Plan at a cost of £50,000. The plan, which was completed in January 2000, was developed to analyse the viability of, and identify opportunities for, new routes to/from Scotland. The information was made available to airlines and airport operators. It is for the Executive's agencies (Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland) to decide how best any available funding can be deployed for the greatest benefit of the Scottish economy and tourism.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27410.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK government on a wide range of issues, including the proposed EU Directive on Market Access to Port Services. Since the proposal was published in February 2001, the Executive has considered the implications closely with the Department for Transport in consultation with the ports sector throughout the UK. A number of significant UK amendments reflecting concerns raised have been successfully negotiated and included in the latest draft text agreed as a common position at the Transport Council of Ministers of 17 June 2002. These amendments cover specific Scottish interests, in particular for arrangements to ensure that the directive does not prejudice the management of services at ports serving lifeline ferry routes throughout the Highlands and Islands. The Executive will continue to liaise with the UK government on the draft directive as it passes to the European Parliament for second reading, and throughout its subsequent stages.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27410.