Chamber and committees

Slaughter under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme began at Brechin abattoir on 6 April and at Annan abattoir on 10 April, with slaughter at Kilmarnock abattoir projected to commence during the course of week ending 13 April.

As of 9 April, abattoirs at Annan, Kilmarnock, Brechin have agreed a contractual relationship with the Intervention Board Executive Agency to slaughter animals entered into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme. I am advised that the Intervention Board intend to obtain further slaughter capacity in Scotland for this scheme.

I am advised by the Intervention Board Executive Agency, who operate the scheme across Great Britain, that that 93,162 animals had been slaughtered under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme by the end of 9 April. This represents 66,154 sheep, 23,345 pigs and 3,663 cattle. Separate figures are not available for Scotland.

I am aware that producers who have entered stock into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme have experienced delays in their claims being processed and consequently their stock have not been slaughtered as quickly as they hoped. Since this became apparent, my officials have been in contact with the Intervention Board Executive Agency, who operates this scheme on behalf of the Agricultural Departments, to try and resolve any difficulties. They have been given assurances that significant slaughter throughput under this scheme will begin in the week commencing 9 April. The Intervention Board advises me that animals are dealt with in order of welfare priority and according to the availability of suitable slaughter and disposal facilities and it is therefore not possible for them to give precise time-scales in the form requested. However, the time between issue of the movement licence and collection of the animals must not exceed 24 hours. The Intervention Board will aim to make payments within 21 days of slaughter.

The Intervention Board Executive Agency operates the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme on behalf of the GB Agriculture Departments. They advise me that over 4,000 applications have been received for nearly 1.8 million animals across all of Great Britain. Applications are continuing to be received. At close on 9 April, Scottish applications accounted for 582 of the total, representing 115,915 sheep, 50,876 pigs and 8,658 cattle. Of these 14,225 sheep, 12,361 pigs and 537 cattle had been passed for slaughter.

I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-14775.

In our Social Justice Strategy, we have set long term targets of ensuring older people are financially secure and that increased numbers enjoy independent and healthy lives.The first Social Justice Annual Report, which was published on 13 November 2000, sets out what is being done to support our social justice targets and milestones for older people. This includes a community care package of £300 million over 3 years, the installation of central heating for 70,000 pensioners and free off-peak bus travel.In addition we are working closely with the UK Government which is working through the tax and benefits system to improve the incomes of poorer pensioners.

A draft of the report of the National Nutritional Audit was received by the Clinical Resource and Audit Group (CRAG) on 27 April 2000 and, in line with normal procedures for submission of a final report for a CRAG-funded project, was circulated for peer review during the first week of May.The final draft of the report was received by CRAG in August following feedback to the authors from the peer reviewers. The report was published on 18 December 2000.

The Independent Living Fund is funded by DSS and data relating to this matter is not held by the Scottish Executive.

Emergency planning across Europe and elsewhere reflects the particular threats, risks, hazards and possibility of occurrence relative to the country in question. We already have excellent emergency planning liaison with our European neighbours, including Sweden in particular, exchanging experience and expertise with them. Ownership of the electricity grid in Scotland lies in the hands of the electricity companies. Consideration of the procedures adopted in other countries for maintaining power supplies in adverse weather is clearly a matter for these utilities.