Chamber and committees

I have previously indicated that the Scottish Executive considers that section 1 (1) (b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 fully implements the provisions of Article 5 (b) of the Wild Birds Directive as it protects all nests in use. Ultimately, of course, it is for the courts to interpret statute.

Modern Studies is one of a range of subjects which contribute to the development of citizenship and global values. Along with the development of a good school ethos, Modern Studies can make a valuable contribution to pupils' learning in relation to these issues. Citizenship and global values are further explored in the Scottish Executive document An International Outlook which was distributed to schools in October 2001.

The Scottish Executive is on course to deliver the Action Plan by January 2002 as previously announced.

The Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education was involved in proposals developed in early 2000 for a teaching qualification on outdoor education. Decisions on those proposals were deferred pending the outcome of the discussions on the McCrone report. I intend to reconsider the proposals alongside the review of initial teacher education.

The Scottish Executive is not aware of any such research.

Officials from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department attended the annual meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation in Mondariz, Spain from 4 to 8 June 2001 as members of the European Union Delegation.

The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland last met on 19 March 2001. The main issues discussed were the Health Spending Programme, the consultation on sustainable development indicators and responses to the Renewables Obligation Scotland consultation.A summary of this meeting is available on the Ministerial Group page of the Sustainable Scotland website at www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk.The group's next meeting is planned for 31 July and the main items on the agenda will be:

• transport and sustainable communities;
• the mainstreaming of sustainable development in the structural funds, and

strategic environmental assessment.

The Scottish Executive considers that section 1 (1) (b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 fully implements the provisions of Article 5 (b) of Council Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds, in relation to the deliberate destruction of, or damage to, nests and nest sites outwith the breeding season. The Executive has not received specific advice from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on this subject. However, SNH is currently preparing its response to Scottish Ministers on the implications for Scotland of the recommendations contained in the report of the UK Raptor Working Group (RWG), which calls for an investigation of the legal status of nests outside the breeding season and consideration of any changes to national legislation to protect them.The Nature of Scotland proposes new offences of reckless disturbance of nesting sites of specially protected species and reckless damage or destruction of nests and eggs.

The rearing of genetically modified fish in marine pens would require consent under the GM Deliberate Release Regulations.If the regulators were not satisfied that marine pens could be deployed without posing a threat to the environment, they would reject an application which proposed their use. There has, in any case, never been an application to release GM fish in Europe.

No scientific projects on genetically modified or transgenic fish have been directly funded by the Scottish Executive.