Chamber and committees

The Agricultural Business Development Scheme (ABDS) is an integral component of the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme and is funded jointly by the Scottish Executive and the European Union. The scheme is only open to those applicants who operate an eligible agricultural business within the programme area. This covers some parts of the north-east of Scotland, including the whole of the Highland Council and some Moray Council areas. I have no plans to extend ABDS outwith the programme area. However, farming families with holdings located in parts of Scotland, outwith the programme area, may be eligible to apply for assistance under the Farm Business Development Scheme (FBDS), which is funded by the Scottish Executive. In many respects this scheme is similar to the ABDS. It is a competitive scheme offering variable rates of grant to farming families wishing to diversify or to expand or to improve existing diversified enterprises although, unlike the ABDS, it currently does not provide support for investments in agricultural holdings. As you might know, the FBDS was designed by my department in conjunction with partner organisations, including the farming industry. It appears to be performing well. However, I recently commissioned a review to assess its first years' performance and to consider whether any improvements to it are needed. The review, which includes full consultation with our partners, is scheduled to report to me early in the New Year. I will of course inform the Parliament should any significant changes emerge.

In the UK, licences are issued annually for vessels over 10 metres in length and biennially for vessels of 10 metres and under in length, and as and when necessary for individual vessels as a result of, for example, the introduction of a new or replacement vessel or change in vessel characteristics affecting licensing details. So the position may change from day to day.Fishing vessel licences are issued by the Fisheries Departments in the UK on the basis of a vessel's port of administration, as set out in arrangements notified to the industry in June 1999. As at 31 December 2001, licences had been issued on that basis by the Fisheries Departments across the UK to more than 4,500 fishing vessels with a port of registration outwith Scotland.

The arrangements in the UK are that licences are issued to fishing vessels by the Fisheries Departments on the basis of a vessel's port of administration. The arrangements relating to fishing vessel licensing following devolution were set out in letters sent to individual vessel owners and other industry interests in June 1999.As at 31 December 2001, over 4,500 UK-registered fishing vessels (excluding vessels in the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey) had a port of administration outwith Scotland.

A reply to the member's letter was sent on 29 October 2002.

It cost £11,844 to establish the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department's Funding For Learners website, with an annual operating cost of £2,644.

The National Debate on Education website was launched on 20 March 2002. The cost to establish the website was £24,000. The total operating cost from March to September 2002 was £3,500.

The Domestic Abuse website cost £20,000 (excluding VAT) to establish. Annual operating costs are £2,250 (excluding VAT).

A curator ad litem is appointed as an officer of the court to represent the interests of the child in the litigation. The court is responsible for the appointment of the curator and the supervision of his or her work. The Scottish Executive has no part to play in this. The court can also appoint a reporter to enquire into the circumstances of the family. This appointment is likewise subject to the supervision of the court. It is open to the parties involved in the case to challenge the accuracy or completeness of assessments made by a reporter, and the court will take this into consideration.

There are no current plans for improvement works at the Rathen junction on the A90 (formerly the A92). However, in view of local concerns, BEAR Scotland Ltd has been asked to carry out a review of road safety at this location.

The costs of establishing and maintaining the site are being met from within existing departmental running costs and thus have not given rise to any additional cost.