Seòmar agus comataidhean

There appears to be no direct correlation between growing seal numbers in the sea and the decline in salmon stocks. In Scotland, as throughout the rest of the range of Atlantic salmon, catches have been declining for a number of years. The reasons for the decline are not clear but it is acknowledged that the mortality rate in the marine phase of the salmon's life has increased, thus reducing the number of fish returning to our rivers each year. In addition to predation factors such as habitat degradation, disease, water quality and poor weather conditions may also have an effect on spawning populations.

The issue of seal predation on freshwater fisheries already features in the consultation paper Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries: A Review, published recently. A copy of this is held in the Parliament Information Centre.

Gross rate income for 2000-01 £1,921 million

minus Transitional Relief £ 70 million

minus Mandatory Reliefs¹ £ 205 million

minus Other reductions² £ 55 million

minus Prior-year adjustments³ £ 40 million

Net rate income for 2000-01 £1,550 million

Notes:

1. Unoccupied/partly unoccupied property, churches, charities, rates rebates and rural rate relief2. Hardship, charities & other organisations, sports clubs, rural rate relief, rates written off and provision for write-offs, refunds of overpayments interest, bad debts previously written off now payable, late additions to the valuation roll now payable and appeals.3. The main element of prior-year adjustments is the repayment of rates for earlier years as a result of successful appeals.

To calculate the gross rate income an estimate of the total rateable value in Scotland in 2000-01 was multiplied by the poundage rate. The rateable value in 2000-01 was based on the rateable value in 1999-2000 (obtained from annual returns made by the Assessors) adjusted by the estimated 12% revaluation factor arising from the revaluation of Scottish business properties in 2000. The rate poundage, set with a view to maintaining the total tax take in real terms, was adjusted to take account of inflation (1.1%) and the ultimate losses to the rates base due to successful appeals (3.6%).

Estimates of the costs of the 2000 Transitional Relief scheme are modelled using the sample survey of 10% of non-domestic subjects in Scotland. Other estimates (including estimates of the continuing costs of the 1995 Transitional Relief scheme) are based on estimates returned by authorities in previous years.The reduction in income in 2000-01 from appeals following the 2000 revaluation is estimated to be less than £0.5 million. As appeals losses transpire they will be included in the prior-year adjustment figures for subsequent years. Experience of the 1995 revaluation has shown that the main reductions from appeals are likely to fall in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

A paper showing how the Scottish Executive calculated the revaluation factor, the rate poundage and a description of the 10% survey of non-domestic subjects is currently available from SPICe.

Possible changes to the proposed Assisted Areas map (published on 10 April 2000) have been discussed with the European Commission since the close of the consultation period on 2 May: the European Commission may or may not accept these changes.

A copy of the Assisted Areas map will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre once approved by the European Commission.