Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Executive remainsin regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including theeradication of child poverty. As and when contact on any issue results in agreedproposals for amending the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament orthe executive competence of the Scottish ministers, these are put to the Scottishand UK Parliaments in the normal way (i.e. either through Orders in Council underthe Scotland Act 1998, or through Legislative Consent Motions in the Scottish Parliament associated with bills before the UK Parliament).

I am advised by the Food StandardsAgency that affected farms are subject to statutory controls under the terms of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and the current restrictions are specifiedin the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) Order 1991(SI 1991/20), as amended.

In order to ensure food safety,a monitoring system known as “Mark and Release” is operated to ensure that sheepexceeding the 1,000 Becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg) control level do not enter thefood chain. Sheep from restricted areas are live-monitored for radioactivity usingportable radiation monitors prior to being moved. Sheep exceeding the control levelmay either be kept on-farm and subsequently re-monitored; or marked with an indeliblepaint and moved under licence. Marked sheep are prohibited from slaughter forthree months and a set rotation of colours under “Mark and Release” allows sheepto be automatically released from slaughter controls three months after the useof a particular colour ceases.

I am advisedby the Food Standards Agency that restrictions resulting from the Chernobyl incidentstill apply to sheep on a small number of restricted farms.

These farms are subject to statutorycontrols under the terms of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. In orderto ensure food safety, all sheep leaving restricted farms are live-monitored usingportable radiation monitors and any sheep exceeding the 1,000 Becquerel per kilogram(Bq/kg) control level is prohibited from entering the food chain.

The Scottish Executive has noplans to commission an independent study into the determinants of child poverty.Extensive independent research already exists, such as the annual Joseph RowntreeFoundation/New Policy Institute report on Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusionin Scotland.

Poverty is a complex social issuethat has no simple remedy and the Executive considers research from many differentsources in determining how its policies can best tackle poverty in Scottish society.Our Closing the Opportunity Gap (CtOG) approach focuses the efforts of all Departmentson tackling poverty and is consistent with, and complementary to, the UK Government’starget for eradicating child poverty within a generation.

We have made it clear throughoutthat the best way to ensure that individuals have the National Entitlement Cardwhich they will need to access the Scotland-wide Free Bus Scheme was to submit theirapplications early. We will make every effort to ensure that everyone who submitteda valid application before 20 March 2006 will receive their entitlement card by 1 April 2006. Thosewho for whatever reason do not have a new Entitlement Card by 1 April will be ableto use their old travel card for local travel for a limited period of time thereafter.

The total amount of compensationpaid to Scottish farmers since 1999 as a result of the Chernobyl incidentamounts to approximately £398,000. Details for each financial year are set out inthe following table.

Year	£
1999-2000	£64,000
2000-01	£60,000
2001-2002	£61,000
2002-03	£63,000
2003-04	£57,000
2004-05	£49,000
2005 to date	£44,000

 

The total numbers of staff (posts)employed in the Deputy First Minister’s private office since 1999 are set out inthe following table:

Year	Staff
1999/2000	3
2000-01	4
2001-02	4
2002-03	4
2003-04	5
2004-05	5

 

The increase in the number ofposts reflects the need to engage more effectively with the policy detail and administrativerequirements of an increased legislative and parliamentary programme following devolution.

The costs for staff in the FirstMinister’s office are contained in the following table. These figures are basedon gross pay and include National Insurance and Superannuation costs and overtimepayments. Administration costs are also shown and include travel, hospitality, telecommunications,IT, stationary and other office costs.

Year	Staff Costs (£)	Administration Costs (£)	Total Costs (£)	Total Costs at 1999-2000 Prices (£)
Part-year June 1999-March 2000	131,258	109,124	240,382	240,382
2000-01	233,952	82,378	316,330	312,242
2001-02	303,205	81,015	384,220	370,111
2002-03	330,928	96,272	427,200	398,843
2003-04	370,926	94,770	465,696	423,554
2004-05	422,535	104,419	526,954	469,300

 

Increased costs since1999 reflect a range of factorsincluding changes to the grading profile of private office posts to engage moreeffectively with the policy detail and administrative requirements of an increasedlegislative and parliamentary programme and updated rules allowing middle gradestaff in private offices to claim overtime.

Total staff and administrationcosts per member of staff in real terms have increased by less than 0.2% (£104)between 2004-05 and 2000-01, the first full year of devolution (from £52,040 to£52,144).

The costs for staff and administrationexpenses in the Deputy First Minister’s office are contained in the following table.Staff costs are based on gross pay and include National Insurance and Superannuationcosts and overtime payments. Administration costs include travel, hospitality, telecommunications,IT, stationary and other office costs.

Year	Staff Costs (£)	Administration Costs (£)	Total Costs (£)	Total Costs in 1999 Prices (£)
Part-year June 1999- March 2000	55,009	22,101	77,110	77,110
2000-01	106,467	33,299	139,766	137,960
2001-02	116,924	32,527	149,451	143,963
2002-03	129,436	30,736	160,172	149,540
2003-04	164,149	56,459	220,608	200,659
2004-05	211,962	61,324	273,286	243,383

 

Increased costs since1999 reflect a range of factorsincluding changes to the grading profile of private office posts to engage moreeffectively with the policy detail and administrative requirements of an increasedlegislative and parliamentary programme and updated rules allowing middle gradestaff in private offices to claim overtime. The change in ministerial portfolioresponsibilities on the Deputy First Minister’s office, from Justice to Enterprise,Transport and Lifelong Learning, has also impacted on the requirement for travel,etc.

The total number of staff (posts)employed in the First Minister’s private office in each year since 1999 are setout in the following table:

Year	Staff
1999-2000	6
2000-01	6
2001-02	8
2002-03	10
2003-04	9
2004-05	9

 

The increase in the number ofposts reflects the need to engage more effectively with the policy detail and administrativerequirements of an increased legislative and parliamentary programme following devolution.The 2002-03 figure includes one post dedicated to the overall management of MinisterialPrivate Offices which has subsequently been transferred from the First Minister’sOffice to the Cabinet Secretariat.