Chamber and committees

I attended the one day Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on Monday 18 October with Margaret Beckett and Ben Bradshaw.

As this was the last Council attended by Commissioners Franz Fischler and David Byrne, the Council took the opportunity to pay warm tribute to the contribution that they had made during their time in office.

On fisheries, the meeting opened with a public debate on the Common Fisheries Control Agency. The debate centred around a five question questionnaire provided by the Presidency.

The UK welcomed the creation of the agency and stressed that it should co-ordinate fisheries control tasks, but that it should be cost-neutral and that the member states should retain the final say on where enforcement resources were to be deployed.

The Council conducted a first exchange of views on the annual exchange of fishing opportunities between EU and Norway. Under the provisions of the EEA agreement Norway is obliged to offer the Community access to Norwegian waters in order to fish for the Arctic cod stocks, for which Norway is entitled to compensation through balanced access to the Community’s fishing opportunities.

The UK indicated a preference for receiving the full offer of Arctic Cod from Norway, but noted that any offer of compensation involving additional access for Norway to the Community’s mackerel fishery would be unacceptable. The UK noted that the compensation to Norway could still be found in the Community’s share of quota stocks in Greenland waters.

Plans for the recovery of certain stocks in the Channel, Cantabrian Sea and Western Iberian peninsula were also discussed.

On agriculture, the Council responded to a number of key questions arising from a Commission report on the simplification of the common market organisation in fruit and vegetables. The UK joined several delegations in noting that, while changes to the regime agreed in 1996 have had a positive effect, there is a need to look constructively at the scope for further changes, including increased flexibility and subsidiarity. The impact of the regime on developing countries and on the Doha Development Agenda would also be important factors. Further intervention in the fruit and vegetable regime should be approached with caution but there may be scope for promoting consumption of fruit and vegetables. The Commission will reflect upon the exchanges before tabling any proposals forfurther reform. Discussion will resume at official level.

The Council noted, without discussion, developments on the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming and agreed conclusions supporting a range of further actions.

The Commission also reported the state of play on a number of important trade negotiations. On the WTO, Commissioner Fischler welcomed the framework agreement reached in Geneva in the summer as a basis for continued detailed negotiations which safeguard essential European interests. He also reported on the continuing attempts to make progress in the EU/Mercosur negotiations on work to agree a tariff-only arrangement for reform of the banana regime and on resolving outstanding negotiations with certain third country suppliers of rice. Among a long list of many other business items, the UK and several other delegations supported a Danish request to consider how best to include low fat dairy products in the school milk programme. Several, mostly central European, member states drew attention to the problems on the EU cereals market following this year’s harvest. Other matters raised were the impact of the US Bio-terrorism Act; implementation of the reformed CAP in Denmark; state aid for weather damagein Lithuania; the co-existence of GMO and other crops; the impact on fishing ofincreased diesel prices in France, and the EU/Angola Fisheries Agreement. The Commission tabled a written report on continuing BSE control measures. France reported on its action to deal with a recent case of rabies in an imported dog. Spain reported an outbreak of blue tongue disease in cattle in southern Spain and drew attention to a forthcoming conference on plant genetic resources.

Under any other business, the Council discussed the impact of rising fuel prices on Community fleets and concern over the breakdown of EU/Angola fisheries partnership agreement.

Today I am publishing the findings of the Police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) Working Group which was set up to consider how best to distribute police funding between Scottish forces. The working group has produced a new formula which aims to ensure that the way we distribute funding is linked much more directly to the cost of policing each force and recommends a target share for each force. The formula takes into account a range of factors including the population in each area, deprivation and the demands on forces.

An interim report from the working group, submitted in late 2002, had indicated that the allocations at that time merited adjustment and additional resources. As a result, an additional £4.5 million was added to the GAE allocations for Grampian Police, Fife Constabulary, Central Scotland Police and Northern Constabulary in 2005-06.

The group’s final report now makes clear that further adjustment is needed and recommends this continues to be achieved by “levelling up” the funding allocations for forces rather than by redistributing existing funding between forces. I have accepted this recommendation which means that no force will have its allocation cut as a result of the model. The overall extra amounts allocated for levelling-up are £5.5 million in 2005‑06, rising to £8.5 million in 2006-07 and £15.5 million in 2007‑08.  We intend to find the balance needed to complete levelling-up by 2009-10. Once the levelling up process is complete, subsequent allocations will then be made using the new formula.

The Financial Services Strategy Group (FSSG) is charged with developing a vision and strategy to support the future success of the financial services sector in Scotland. Building on its earlier work, it has identified three areas around which it will build its strategy, namely:

· the need to support firms in Scotland to be at the forefront of technical and market opportunities;

· the need to ensure Scotland has in place the infrastructure to sustain, develop and attract a quality workforce, and

· above all, the need for closer partnership working between the public and private sectors, allied to a greater clarity of communication, in and beyond Scotland, about the Scottish financial services sector.

At its meeting on 14 September, the FSSG discussed a number of specific measures and actions which, taken together, should contribute to the delivery of these aims. These include capitalising on Scotland’s research base, including the work of the Intermediate Technology Institutes; ensuring that current labour market interventions are delivering the skilled workforce that the industry needs to prosper; and developing a robust means of ensuring that the voice of the industry in Scotland is heard where decisions may have specific Scottish impacts.A number of additional areas were also identified by the group and thinking on these will be developed over the next weeks and months.

The calibre of those involved in the FSSG has enabled high-quality, detailed and wide ranging analysis to be carried out and this will be reflected in the final strategy, to be published in early 2005.

The Executive recognises that science centres are valuable assets in helping to create a more enterprising, pro-science country. Science and innovation are two of Scotland’s key strengths, vital ingredients for economic growth and to achieve the aims of Smart Successful Scotland. Following the Executive’s review of the funding of science centres, we have agreed to contribute up to £5.1 million to a support package for the centres in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow untilthe end of  2005-06. Scottish Enterprise have agreed to provide a further £1.9 million for the Glasgow Science Centre in 2004-05, and the Millennium Commission is also considering its contributions to this package. Funding for years beyond 2005-06 will be considered in the course of the Executive’s Spending Review. As part of the current package, the centres have agreed to undertake a number of business improvements, including reducing costs, greater collaborative working, sharing of exhibition material and development of their involvement with school education. The Executive’s funding package for science centres will only be available to the existing four main science centres.

The consultancy report on which the review was based also concluded that the Big Idea at Irvine, which had been held in receivership by the Millennium Commission while this review was being carried out, should not be re-opened.  The report found that the costs of maintaining the centre did not represent good value for money in terms of the forecast likely numbers of visitors, and after careful consideration, ministers have, with regret, accepted this conclusion.  Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and North Ayrshire Council are considering future uses of the site with the owners of the surrounding land, with the aim of ensuring that it is put to best use for the local economy.

I am publishing today a consultationpaper with a draft Bill which proposes wide-ranging reforms to personal bankruptcyand diligence. This meets the First Minister’s commitment on 28 May 2003 to consult.The consultation period will run until 30 September 2004. The consultation paper and the draft bill will be available on the Scottish Executive website after 2 July 2004 at:www.scotland.gov.uk/bankruptcyanddiligenceandwww.scotland.gov.uk/bankruptcyanddiligence/responserespectively.

Part 5 of the act, which cameinto force on 1 July 2002, provides important safeguards for adults with incapacitywho need medical treatment. At the same time, it brings helpful clarity to a hithertouncertain area of law for health care professionals who give such treatment.

Following concerns about someof the procedures introduced by part 5 and the accompanying Code of Practice, the Executive set a review in train last year. This included a written consultation(an analysis of which is in The Scottish Parliament Reference Centre, Bib.number 31350), qualitative research (placed today in The Scottish Parliament ReferenceCentre, under Bib. number 32709) and discussions with key stakeholders. In the lightof these processes, and bearing in mind the relatively short period part 5 has beenin force, the Executive proposes two changes to part 5 as follows:

- to allow health care professionalsother than registered medical practitioners to issue certificates of incapacityunder section 47, provided they have the necessary expertise to assess capacity.

- to allow the maximum durationof section 47 certificates to be extended from one to three years, in certain circumstances,for example where the adult has a degenerative or progressive illness.

These changes to the act willbe made when a suitable legislative vehicle becomes available.

A revision of the Code of Practicehas also been set in train to bring greater clarity to current procedures and, withinthe framework of the act, to facilitate the operation of Part 5. The Section 47certificate is likewise being adjusted in this sense.

Enhanced training and educationfor health care professionals and other stakeholders in respect of part 5 of the act are also being considered.

Our aim in this review has beento find ways to help improve the operation of this important legislation, whileat the same time maintaining its principles and ensuring the continuing benefitsand protection it provides for this vulnerable group of adults.

The Executive believes the measuresproposed will serve to this end.

Both networks have an important role to play in developing an image of a modern, confident Scotland. We greatly value the work carried out by the members to date. We aim to build on that by avoiding overlap and ensuring better co-operation and integration of the networks, particularly in the use of website information. The Friends of Scotland network will be given a clearer focus and expanded within target audiences to support specific initiatives such as Fresh Talent.  In recognition of its new role the project will be renamed Global Friends of Scotland.

The Executive announced yesterday Sir John Orr’s appointment to review the licensing system for marches and parades. One of the issues Sir John will consider is how the licensing system can better manage antisocial behaviour associated with marches or parades.

The consultation on smoking inpublic places will be launched today and will run until the end of September. Theconsultation will test public opinion on the need for legislation to prohibit orrestrict smoking in public places and to offer individuals, businesses and organisationsthe opportunity to put forward suggestions for alternative approaches. The consultationis part of wider evidence gathering to inform the Executive’s future policy on reducingexposure to second-hand smoke.

Copies of the consultation materialsare available at www.scotland.gov.uk/smokingconsultation/and responses can be submitted online.

Copies of Smoking in PublicPlaces – a consultation on reducing exposure to second hand smoke have beenplaced in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32879).

The Executive, on 30 April 2004, issuedits consultation paper on this proposed merger, with a copy of a draft bill. Weare looking for responses by 15 July 2004.

Aspart of the consultation process a series of events will be held around Scotland forthose interested to discuss the key issues surrounding the proposals.

Copies of the consultation paperwill be available on the Scottish Executive internet site www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations.Copies will also be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number: 32496– Consultation Paper and 32497 – draft bill).