Chamber and committees

Satellite monitoring of fishing vessels over 24 metres became mandatory from 1 January 2000. All Scottish vessels in this category subject to the requirements of the satellite monitoring regulations are now equipped with onboard terminals. The majority of these vessels are fully compliant and providing signals at the required frequency. There are, however, a number which are not yet fully compliant for various reasons. All of these are being followed up with the appropriate vessel owner.

As far as fishing vessels registered outwith Scotland are concerned, all of those boarded at sea or seen in port by officers of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency have the necessary equipment on board. Where signals from these vessels are not being received, the reasons for this are followed up with the Master or, if necessary, with the vessel's flag state's Monitoring Centre should the fault lie in that area. Appropriate enforcement action is taken against any vessel which does not comply with the satellite monitoring requirements.

The primary function of satellite monitoring is to provide regular information on the position of fishing vessels. Operational developments are at an early stage. The intelligence gathered is being used currently to complement the SFPA's existing aerial and surface surveillance and will progressively enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of fisheries enforcement within the UK and across the European Community.

The last Policy and Financial Management Review (PMFR) of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBC) took place in 1995 and the recommendation that it be relocated to premises of its own was implemented that same year. The lease on the LGBC's premises at 3 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh is not due for renewal until February 2004 but at that point consideration will be given to the merits of a further relocation in the context of the relocation policy for the Scottish Executive and its Agencies prevailing at that time.

One of the main messages of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland is that we need to reconsider, as individuals, how we deal with waste. We must try to apply the waste hierarchy wherever appropriate to reduce, reuse and recycle. Farmers, as producers of waste, will be expected to apply this principle.

We are committed to bringing non-natural agricultural wastes (pesticide containers, plastics etc.) into the controlled waste management regime. This may result in farmers having to acquire a licence from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for the handling of these wastes.

The strategy also identifies agricultural waste as a priority waste stream. This means that it is one of a number of wastes which will be the focus of a research project by SEPA. The research will provide information on the quantities of waste being produced, the treatment or disposal facilities available and the potential for development of alternative methods of treatment. SEPA plans to have completed all the priority waste projects by 2003.

The Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998 provides for the setting of a target for road traffic reduction in Scotland. It is for the Scottish Ministers to implement, not the local authorities.

In accordance with the provisions of this Act, Scottish Ministers are required to lay before the Scottish Parliament a report on their proposals for the setting of a national road traffic reduction target. This report will be laid before Parliament in December 2000.Local authorities are required under the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 to undertake a review of existing and forecast levels of traffic on local roads in their areas and to prepare a report at such times as Scottish Ministers may direct. The 1997 Act has now been commenced in Scotland and local authorities have been directed to submit their first report under the Act by 31 October 2000.

The enterprise agencies, funded by the Scottish Executive, are working closely with the community and local partners to assist the development of projects aimed at creating new job opportunities and helping to identify funding opportunities. I am aware that a number of interesting project proposals have emerged, and that the enterprise agencies stand ready to look closely at the case for supporting the best of these.

Implementation of the Groundwater Regulations 1998 is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland and for the Environment Agency (EA) in England and Wales. Anyone wishing to dispose of any substance listed in the schedule to the regulations is required to have an authorisation to do so. This would include spent sheep dip and washings from certain chemical sprays.

There have been some differences in approaches to implementation between SEPA and the EA. SEPA introduced a number of measures to help farmers and crofters and waived the annual maintenance charge in the first year. The EA has dropped the annual subsistence charge for the next four years, however SEPA need to levy such a charge in order to meet the requirement on them to recover the costs of regulation.

Yes. The Executive has been assured that MoD officials will be discussing with the local community the disposal of surplus MoD property in Unst and participating in discussions on other relevant issues such as the options for economic development on the island.

The Scottish Executive has received a copy of this report. Since biodiversity policy is a devolved matter to which the Scottish Executive is accountable to the Scottish Parliament, we will not be making any response to the House of Lords.

We will, however, have regard to the views of the Select Committee in our continuing development of policy and programmes to ensure the protection and enhancement of Scotland's biodiversity.

No specific discussion of strategic environmental assessment has taken place in the first two meeting of the Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland. Progress on the European Directive will determine at what point it will be useful to instigate a more formal approach to strategic environmental assessment.

Strategic environmental assessment will be a valuable tool in the delivery of our Programme for Government commitment to delivery of sustainable development. The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland has already taken significant steps to ensure that sustainable development is embedded in Government and these will take effect over coming months. The EC Directive is now expected to be adopted by the end of the year. The clarity and uniformity which the EC Directive offers will be of considerable assistance in enabling organisations to make decisions about programmes for themselves. We believe it important to implement the Directive as it finally emerges rather than to act prematurely on an interim text.