Chamber and committees

The total cost of the foot and mouth cull, taking into account manpower and other costs is not currently available. However to date, compensation costs have totalled approximately £120 million.

We have taken steps to ease the cashflow problems of all farmers by paying the main livestock subsidies amounting to £146 million as early as possible in April and May. I have also announced the payment of £24 million of agrimonetary compensation to beef, sheep and dairy farmers during the same period. We are seeking the maximum flexibility possible under CAP rules to ensure that farmers do not lose out when they are unable to comply fully with scheme rules as a direct result of the foot and mouth outbreak.Farmers will be paid at market value or on the basis of a specific valuation for stock culled as part of the measures to control the outbreak and arrangements are in place to reimburse farmers for animals slaughtered for welfare reasons.We are also working with a wide range of agencies to ensure that farmers have ready access to information and advice on coping with practical, financial, business and emotional problems. To help with this process the Executive has set up a Farm Business Support Steering Group for the south of Scotland which comprises representatives from the Executive, Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, the National Farmers' Union of Scotland and the local farming community.Our primary aims are built around stopping the spread of the disease and restoring normal trading conditions as quickly as possible. A medium-term recovery strategy is also being prepared drawing on the longer-term Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture which I had intended to launch in early March this year before the start of the foot and mouth outbreak.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14936.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14936.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14936.

The Executive aims in all its work to ensure that the particular needs, circumstances and choices of all Scotland's communities including travelling people are taken into account. To further that aim, work is in hand, under the Executive's Equality Strategy, published in November 2000, to develop a communication strategy and to improve consultative mechanisms with specific communities of interest such as travelling people. The Scottish Executive/Scottish Homes commissioned a specific survey of travellers in 1999 and local authorities have the power to undertake their own surveys for example in connection with Best Value reviews. The Executive's Memorandum to the Equal Opportunities Committee's Inquiry into Travelling People describes policies being pursued across the Executive which deal with issues of key concern for travelling people.In these circumstances, the Executive has no plans to establish a specific forum for the consideration of issues relating to travelling people. This is in line with the views of the former Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People which, during its final term of office, examined options for the future. Following consultation, the committee concluded that a successor organisation with executive powers would be counter-productive, potentially divisive and could in fact inhibit the objective of travellers becoming fully accepted as part of the Scottish community.There are no plans to review all existing legislation to assess its impact on any particular group. However, all Executive Bills must be accompanied by a statement of their potential impact on equal opportunities. In addition, the process of mainstreaming will move us towards integrating equality considerations into legislation, policy development, service design and delivery.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14936.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14936.

Under the Human Rights Act 1998, all public authorities, including local authorities, are required by law to act compatibly with the European Convention on Human Rights. If they fail to do so, action may be taken against them in the courts.

All tax matters, including the Working Families' Tax Credit, are reserved to the UK Government. Operational matters are therefore an issue for the Inland Revenue. The Executive will, however, continue to work closely with UK ministers on this and other issues in the pursuit of our social justice agenda.