Chamber and committees

The question of compensation from Strathclyde Police is a matter for Ms McKie and her legal representatives on the one hand and Strathclyde Police on the other.

The Executive does not provide such budgeting advice to local authorities.

The first case of foot-and-mouth disease in Dumfries and Galloway was confirmed on 1 March on the farm run by C M Kirkpatrick, Nether Place, Dryfesdale, Lockerbie. The infection has been traced to animals brought on to his premises from Longtown market. Information about all foot-and-mouth disease cases is recorded on the DEFRA website to which there is a link from the Scottish Executive website.

Activities involving genetically modified micro-organisms are prohibited unless they comply with the Contained Use Regulations 2000 and relevant sections of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Applications must satisfy the regulatory authorities that the activity can be undertaken in conditions which are safe for humans and the environment.The prescribed conditions include the provision of risk assessments in relation to human health and safety and environmental protection; the establishment of a local safety committee to advise on risk assessments; classification of all activities into one of four categories related to the degree of risk; notification to the competent authority of an intention to use premises for genetic modification for the first time; notification to the competent authority of individual activities other than those defined as of no or negligible risk, and the preparation of an emergency plan for any reasonably foreseeable accident. Enforcement of the Contained Use Regulations is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. Their inspectors have extensive powers to enter premises and to require the production of relevant documentation.

Research on genetically modified vaccines for animals is required to be notified to the Scottish Executive and the Health and Safety Executive under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000. No such activities covered by these regulations have been notified for Scotland. However, some research is being undertaken on immune systems that could eventually lead to the development of such vaccines.

The Executive has been in close touch with the company and the Scottish Arts Council in respect of recent events.

No.

The case was halted because one of the essential witnesses was deemed unfit to complete his evidence. The decision to do so was based upon an assessment by an experienced clinical psychologist. As is common in major cases, the Crown Office will consider whether any matters have arisen the further examination of which may be beneficial for future cases.

I have asked the Scottish Arts Council to ensure that Scottish Ballet consults widely and that Scottish Ballet's plans are consistent with the overall five-year strategy for dance that the Scottish Arts Council is currently developing.

In responding to emergency 999 calls the Scottish Ambulance Service aims to meet national response times targets for getting an ambulance to the scene of the call-out. These vary according to population density and are as follows:

High Density - 95% reached within 14 minutes, 50% within seven minutes

Medium Density - 95% reached within 18 minutes, 50% within eight minutesSparse Density - 95% reached within 21 minutes, 50% within eight minutesThe performance of the Scottish Ambulance Service in relation to these targets is reported in the service's annual report. A copy of the report for 1999-2000 was sent to each MSP.Once at the scene of a call-out, ambulance paramedic staff will use their judgement to decide what course of action is required, depending on the medical condition of the patient. In some cases, treatment at the scene will be appropriate, and in others the patient's needs will best be served by moving them to hospital as quickly as possible. There is therefore no set target time for delivering the patient to hospital.