Chamber and committees

I am advised by the Intervention Board Executive Agency, who operate the scheme on behalf of GB Agriculture Departments, that Matheson Jess, Brechin were unable to commence slaughter under the LWDS prior to 6 April as confirmation was awaited that the onsite incineration plant had obtained the necessary Scottish Environmental Protection Agency authorisation to process LWDS material. At the time there was no other disposal route in Scotland available as the renderers were processing foot and mouth contiguous cull material and had no spare capacity for LWDS material.G D Vivers & Son were unable to slaughter under the LWDS prior to 10 April, because they were dealing with foot and mouth contiguous cull animals.

The Information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Executive is currently considering the implications of the English judgement.

The potential risks to public health from carcass burning sites have been subject to comprehensive risk assessments carried out by the Environment Agency and by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health. These assessments have identified dioxins and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PCB's) as the main agents of concern in terms of any possible risks of cancer. In both cases, however, the risk assessments conclude that exposure to these agents either in air or in food, at the levels that are predicted to occur, is unlikely to pose a risk to health.The risk assessments have been, and continue to be, supported by programmes of pollution monitoring which address both immediate and long-term health concern. In addition, the Food Standards Agency plans to monitor food samples from around larger or continuous pyres to ensure that there are no long-term effects on food safety.As intimated in the answer to question S1W-15338, the Scottish Executive Health Department has issued guidance on the siting and management of pyres to help ensure that exposures to these chemicals are kept to the lowest practicable levels.Copies of the guidance are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

This is a matter for the local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

This is a matter for the local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

The Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme is operated on behalf of the Agriculture Departments by the Intervention Board Executive Agency. Slaughter under the scheme began at Brechin abattoir on 6 April and at Arran abattoir on 10 April.

I am aware that producers who have entered stock into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme have experienced delays in their applications being processed and, consequently, their stock have not been slaughtered as quickly as they hoped. Having overcome initial problems with this new scheme, stock are now being processed in approved abattoirs in Scotland. The Intervention Board advise me that animals are being dealt with in order of welfare priority.

We will continue to support the development of aquaculture, including new species, within a framework which has proper regard for the environment, and in particular the protection of wild fish. The industry is an extremely important part of the rural economy, and the Executive will work with the industry and others to ensure that fish farming maintains the highest standards of husbandry, environmental protection and quality assurance as it develops in the future.The Executive is already taking a variety of initiatives to achieve these ends. We intend to transfer the planning responsibility for fish farming to local authorities, to enhance transparency and local accountability. We are working together with fish farmers, wild fishery interests, councils and other stakeholders through the Tripartite Working Group, the Aquaculture Health Joint Working Group, and the Aquaculture Forum, and we have recently begun a review of aquaculture regulation. The new FIFG scheme will provide targeted financial support for new and developing aquaculture businesses throughout Scotland, with a particular emphasis on diversification into new species, the development of shellfish and environmental improvements across the industry.

Yes. The Scottish Executive has given careful consideration to the resources which the Scottish Environment Protection Agency requires to carry out its regulatory and monitoring functions. As a result of this consideration, in the Spending Review announced in September 2000, the agency was awarded additional funding of £16.5 million for the three years 2001-02 to 2003-04. The agency's total resources over this period, including income from charges, will be about £123 million.