Chamber and committees

Very high priority is being given to resolving the outstanding issues affecting Scotland's Less Favoured Areas Scheme. Our aim is to make payments under the scheme on the usual timescale next spring.

When considering major developments in the Healthfield area of Ayr, the Scottish Executive will give due weight to the fact that Whitletts Roundabout currently experiences traffic congestion problems at peak times and any additional traffic generated by major developments in the area would significantly increase the problems at this location.

There may be a number of reasons for the variation in registration rates from one local authority area to another, for example, variation in recording practices or different registration and deregistration criteria.

We are working with others to develop a revised system for the collection of child protection information. The new system will require agreed definitions and other data standards. Among other things it will allow more meaningful and reliable comparisons to be made between local authority areas.

I refer John Scott to the answer I gave to question S1W-9447.

Scotland's growth performance over recent years has been strong and, although output in Scotland fell marginally in the first quarter of 2000, GDP rose by 2.3% over the four quarters to March 2000 compared to the four previous quarters. Prospects remain good and independent forecasters predict continued growth over the next two years.The Scottish Executive has just published for the first time a Framework for Economic Development in Scotland. The Framework is firmly focused on the underlying economic conditions necessary to stimulate economic growth and how we can meet the challenges of a highly competitive global environment.

The Scottish Executive also published a manufacturing strategy earlier this year, and is currently engaged with the agricultural industry and other interested parties in devising a strategy to assist the future viability and sustainability of Scottish farming.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to upgrade the A77/B743 Whitletts Roundabout.

A design is currently being progressed to construct a roundabout at the A77/A719 Sandyford Toll Junction together with the closure of the centre reserve gaps between this junction and Whitletts Roundabout. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures and the availability of funding, work will commence next year.

I refer Mr Scott to the answer I gave today to question S1W-8749.

Spent sheep dip and pesticides are potentially dangerous, even at very low concentrations. Groundwater, once polluted, can remain contaminated for many years. Groundwater is particularly at risk from illegal disposal and poor operational controls during sheep dipping and the handling of pesticides. The information on which to base an estimate of the percentage of groundwater supplies at risk from such activities is not held centrally. However, as groundwater is ubiquitous and there are few areas of Scotland where neither sheep farming nor arable farming is practised, there is potentially a risk that these dangerous chemicals could enter groundwater in most areas if adequate precautions are not taken.

The disposal of these and other waste agrochemicals to land requires an authorisation to be sought from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under the Groundwater Regulations 1998. This process is designed to ensure that suitable areas of land are selected to receive waste sheep dip and agrochemicals. Provided an authorisation is granted and farmers comply with the conditions specified therein, the risk to groundwater should be minimal.

Charges under the Groundwater Regulations are determined by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency which has responsibility for setting levels which enable the agency to move towards full recovery of the costs of regulation, in line with the polluter pays principle. These costs include those of inspecting authorised disposal areas, monitoring of groundwater, reviewing authorisations and maintaining records and public registers.

No. A number of special arrangements have, however, been made in Scotland to ease the burden of the Groundwater Regulations. Smaller farmers and crofters can share one set of charges by working collectively to dispose of spent sheep dip, thus reducing substantially the amount they pay each year. The annual charge was also waived in Scotland in 1999-2000 while SEPA determined the first tranche of applications.