It is firstly important that we distinguish the sheep keeper’s requirements from the requirements of the cattle identification regulations. Cattle farmers must ensure that the details in their herd register match those on the central database, and that all animals are presented, correctly identified and with a passport to match (i.e 100% accuracy). Under the sheep inspection regime it is recognised that in many circumstances not every single animal will be gathered, that animals die and it may not always be possible to identify and record the dead animal’s identity, sometimes tags will be lost and these can be replaced without cross referencing to the original identity where that identity is not known.

EC Regulation 21/2004 requires farmers to maintain an up to date register which must contain certain specified information including individual details for animals born after 31 December 2009. (except where advantage has been taken of the derogation to allow sheep keepers selling animals intended for slaughter before 12 months of age to be identified with a single EID tag).

The flexibility that Scottish Government obtained from the EU Commission allows those farmers who are selling sheep through a Critical Control Point (CCP) to choose to rely on the CCP reads uploaded to the ScotEID database to provide the individual IDs required as part of their flock records. Where a 100% read rate has not been achieved the flexibility obtained will ensure that the farmer does not incur a cross compliance penalty for this particular element of the Regulation.

Farmers purchasing animals through a CCP may also choose to rely on the CCP reads uploaded to the ScotEID database, however the flexibility obtained in relation to moves onto a holding for fully identified EID sheep means that farmers are advised to monitor their read rates. Clearly the further read rates are from the average the more likely it is that a farmer may face the risk of penalties. However if a farmer obtains read rates that are near the national average, they can take comfort that they are less likely to fall foul of the inspectors.

Farmers must still comply with all other elements of the sheep identification legislation.

There have been 79 applications to date under the Rural Priorities Option ‘Setting Up Young Farmers – Interest Rate Relief’. 63 of these have been successful, as detailed in the following table:

Note: These figures are based on approved Rural Priorities cases with finalised contracts.

The Scottish Government has provided a total of £21,280 for lipreading classes since 2007.

The Scottish Government aims to respond to 100% of FOI requests within the statutory target of 20 working days.

The majority of requests received are registered on the Scottish Government’s Information Request Tracker which automatically calculates the 20 working day due date and in turn alerts the request owner and line management via email. A further email alert is issued two days before the due date. Local area arrangements are also implemented to ensure replies are issued timeously.

(a) 21%, (b) 33%, (c) 25%.

Transport Scotland aims to respond to 100% of freedom of information requests within the statutory target of 20 working days as set out in the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002.

The majority of requests received are registered on the Transport Scotland Request Tracker which automatically calculates the 20 working day due date and in turn alerts the request owner and line management via email. A further alert is issued two days before the due date. Local area arrangements are also implemented to ensure replies are issued timeously.

Whilst the Scottish Government does not currently provide support toward the maintenance and expansion of lip-reading classes officials have recently met with both Action for Hearing Loss and the Scottish Council on Deafness to discuss and agree a way forward for lip-reading provision in Scotland. Further meetings will take place in due course.

There are no plans at present to fund a training course to train lip-reading tutors.

Spend is reported in UK financial years as £ million. Please note that expenditure is demand-led and is subject to the submission of claims.

Agri-Environment Legacy Schemes includes Organic Aid Scheme, Countryside Premium Scheme, Rural Stewardship Scheme, Habitats Scheme.

Farm Woodland Legacy Schemes includes Farm Woodland Scheme, Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme - Farmland Premium.

Forestry Legacy Schemes includes Woodland Grant Scheme and Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme.

The Scottish Government has provided funding of £21,280 for lip-reading classes since 2007.

Scottish Government officials have recently met with Scottish Council on Deafness and Action for Hearing Loss to discuss and agree a way forward for lip-reading provision in Scotland. Further meetings will take place in due course.