Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Executive is being kept fully informed of developments at the Arjo Wiggins paper mill in Corpach. Officials from Highlands and Islands Enterprise met the company's senior management to discuss the job loss situation and also what assistance can be offered to those employees affected.The company has been offered a grant under the Department of Trade and Industry's Bio-energy Capital Grant Scheme. The grant offer is based on the installation of a bio-energy plant and the DTI is monitoring the situation with Arjo Wiggins. In respect of their dealings with the EU, this is a separate matter of Competition Policy, which is reserved to the UK Government.

Responses to the consultation exercise on technical conservation measures for scallops, which were not marked as confidential, are available from the Scottish Executive Library.

Powers of direction vary from body to body. There is a wide range of terminology used in statute to describe directions that can be given to NDPBs. The power is normally contained in each body's establishing legislation or other founding framework documentation. These provisions give ministers a power to issue to an NDPB directions of a general or specific nature. Alternatively or in addition, statute may give ministers the power to issue directions on matters such as the form in which an NDPB must draw up its accounts or on what the NDPB must do to ensure the delivery of an EU obligation.The provision and application of such powers, is and can be interpreted in many ways. This flexibility is desirable in order to reflect the differing nature and individual status of the wide range of NDPBs and also to maintain positive relationships between bodies and ministers. In practice it is for each NDPB sponsor division within the Executive and solicitors to interpret what action(s) might qualify as a direction, taking into account the circumstances of the body and the scope of the power, and offer advice to ministers accordingly.Any decision for a minister to write to an NDPB in such terms may be considered to form part of the normal day to day operational responsibilities which ministers hold in relation to accountability and governance of NDPBs. Such responsibilities are an essential aspect of the well defined arms length relationship between NDPBs and ministers. The use of powers of direction is not recorded separately in every case. The information requested is, therefore, not held centrally in a way which would allow the provision of a comprehensive list.

The Executive is not aware of any existing voluntary provision by mountain rescue teams having been withdrawn and no estimates have been made of the costs of providing such a service.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4 on 3 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Highland Council have already been appointed to bring forward preparation work for this scheme. Construction will depend on the success of statutory procedures and the availability of funding, including European Funds from the Highland and Island Transitional Programme. Subject to favourable outcomes, construction could start in 2005.

The Scottish Scallop Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from the Executive, Food Standards Agency Scotland, Fisheries Research Services (FRS) and the scallop industry, is developing options for research that will inform the science behind the amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) action level. In recognition of the effects of ASP closures on the scallop industry, the Executive is committed to supporting any such research. FRS is currently undertaking a project to review the spatial and seasonal occurrence of harmful algal blooms in Scottish waters and their relationship to shellfish toxicity. In 2003-04, the scallop sector will benefit from funds committed from the Scottish Executive and Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance grant schemes. This will include support for an industry-led project analysing scallop portion sizes.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4 on 3 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The trunk road cycling officer is meeting representatives of Highland Council on 10 June 2003. Highland Council's proposals for the route of this National Cycle Network link through Kingussie will be discussed as part of the agenda.

An independent analysis of the 1,400 written responses to the consultation on Towards Better Oral Health in Children is currently in train. The analysis, which will be published when completed, will inform our consideration of the measures needed to improve the oral health of children in Scotland.