Seòmar agus comataidhean

Eaga Partnership Ltd were appointed to administer the Central Heating Programme on 29 August 2001. The appointment was made as soon as possible following a careful and thorough evaluation of the tenders received.

The programme did begin as planned and we are paying grant for all heating systems installed in local authority dwellings since 1 April 2001. We will ensure that our commitment to provide every council and housing association tenant and everyone aged 60 or over in the private sector with a central heating system is met. We are also considering how the programme might be extended.

In line with the relocation policy, ministers consider a range of suitable locations when relocation opportunities arise. No particular areas of the country are targeted, nor are any ruled out. Inverness will be considered along with other locations.

Statistics of this kind covering enquiries, requests for advice and unsuccessful applications are not collated. Whilst some information may be retrievable from the relevant files, this would provide only an incomplete picture and would be likely to incur disproportionate costs.As indicated in previous answers, detailed records are held in relation to all licences which are issued under section 16 of the Act.

Predators of red squirrels include domestic dogs and cats, some members of the weasel and stoat family and some birds of prey. The main threats to red squirrels come from competition from grey squirrels and from habitat loss and fragmentation. Predation is not significant in the context of efforts to conserve the red squirrel. No action is therefore planned against red squirrel predators. Licences to kill or take red squirrels can be issued in terms of section 16(3) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). In each of the last 10 years the following licences have been issued:

	Licences Issued	Animals Killed/Taken
1990-93	nil	0
1994	1	21
1995	1	23
1996	1	0
1997	1	0
1998-present	nil	0

My officials have met with industry representatives and the department is looking at detailed options along with the Deer Commission for Scotland to support carcass disposal should that prove necessary. The Executive has already approved funding for a wild venison marketing initiative within the UK through the Marketing Development Scheme and will consider further applications should the industry wish to do so.

With the lifting of the small remaining infected area around Annan, the whole of Scotland now qualifies to be treated as foot-and-mouth disease free. This means that the movement and other controls which apply to our livestock sector are much less prohibitive than previously, allowing transactions by various means. Large numbers of livestock are now being moved as a result of private sales, video sales, sales by description and through collection centres and auction markets. In addition, the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme - Light Lambs should absorb large numbers of light and surplus lambs. In these circumstances I do not envisage the need to provide assistance for the purchase of additional fodder.

There has been no transfer of Scottish Executive posts to Inverness since May 1999.Information on the number of staff employed in non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.

The Executive's forthcoming quinquennial review of the Scottish Arts Council will consider and make recommendations to ministers on the most appropriate geographic location for that body.

The Scottish Executive has no such plans.