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We have received such representations from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Hardship relief is included in the Executive's package of assistance to help stabilise businesses affected by the foot and mouth outbreak. This was announced on 28 March in response to question S1W-14552. Guidance will be issued to local authorities.

Strict controls are being enforced to secure against any further transmission of the foot and mouth virus. On farms where slaughter is taking place there is strict control of the movement of people, vehicles and other equipment. Essential equipment or plant which has to be moved off a farm is cleansed and disinfected before being allowed.These measures aim to contain any further spread of the virus.

All susceptible species e.g. cattle, sheep and pigs have to be slaughtered on infected premises. As a containment measure and because this disease is much more difficult to identify in sheep, it has been decided to remove all sheep in the infected areas. Cattle and pigs in other parts of infected areas, with the exception of those next to farms which became infected on or after 16 March which may well require to be slaughtered, are being kept under close surveillance.

Strict controls are in place surrounding the areas within which sheep are to be slaughtered.A complete standstill of movement is imposed on infected premises (including the movement of people, animals, vehicles and products), and around the infected premises, 3 kilometre zones have been defined where no livestock movements are allowed.In addition, any vehicles or personnel moving on or off slaughter areas will be subject to thorough cleansing and disinfection.

Dr Langran received a response to his own approaches to the Executive direct from officials on 9 March. A copy of this response has been sent to you.

I appreciate fully the impact which livestock movement restrictions and other foot-and-mouth disease controls are having on livestock hauliers' businesses. The relaxation in controls which I referred to in my Statement to the Parliament on 5 April should help these businesses recover. The financial impact of the foot-and-mouth disease on businesses generally is being assessed.

In advance of the Water Industry Commissioner's Strategic Review of Charges, it is difficult to predict precisely how water and sewerage charges will change. Given the need to invest, as set out in the Quality and Standards consultation paper, it is unlikely that charges in the north will fall. It is, however, the case that if a single water authority for Scotland is established, then we would expect that charges in the north would need to rise far less sharply than if the three authorities remained separate.

The two varieties of oilseed rape which are currently being grown as part of the farm scale evaluations both contain the following introduced genetic sequences:- PssuAra (a promoter)- bar (a gene conveying tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium)- 3`g7 (stop signal)- PTA29 (a promoter)- barnase (a gene conveying male sterility)- barstar (a gene conveying fertility restoration)- 3`nos (stop signal)The outcome of this modification is a hybrid crop resistant to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium, which is widely used in agriculture to control annual and perennial weeds. Further details of the construction of these varieties is contained in the public register along with precise location details for each of the trial sites.The term "terminator gene" is understood to apply to genetic modifications which leave a plant incapable of producing seed able to germinate (seed sterility). Crop varieties containing these genes have neither been developed nor grown in Scotland. The varieties of modified oilseed rape which are grown in Scotland are fully fertile and produce viable pollen.

The plans for the A95 Gaich to Craggan improvement scheme require to be reviewed and once completed they will be subject to public consultation prior to construction which is programmed for 2001-02. Details will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre when finalised.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14585.