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No decisions have been taken on the future of the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme and none will be taken ahead of the CAP health check. There will be full consultation on all aspects of the CAP health check after the commission''s legislative proposals are published in May.

Support is already provided for farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands through, for example, the single farm payment and the less favoured area support scheme. The Scottish Beef Calf Scheme (SBCS) provides specific support for the beef sector and was introduced in order to sustain quality beef production and protect the environment, particularly in more remote areas. No decisions have been made about the future of the SBCS ahead of the CAP health check. There will be full consultation on all aspects of the health check after the commission's legislative proposals are published in May.

Representations on the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme have been received from the Scottish Crofting Foundation and the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers.

80% of the funding allocated to LEADER local action groups (LAGs) is formula-based. The other 20% is discretionary, and is allocated on the basis of the LAGs' local development strategy.

For the 80% tranche, the allocation is proportionate to an area's share of population on the one hand and surface area on the other. Population accounts for two-thirds of the allocation; and surface area for one third, thereby advantaging the more sparsely populated areas.

The remaining 20% tranche is based exclusively on an independent assessment of the bids received. The assessment criteria can be grouped under four headings: (1) Partnership; (2) Alignment with the SRDP and other Strategies; (3) Leverage and (4) Quality and Realism. These criteria were notified in guidance given to potential local action groups in July last year.

The same criteria will be used in allocating funds to LAGs in the second round of LEADER funding which closes to new bids on 30 May 2008.

Under the Scotland rural development programme, some £38.5 million is available for LEADER throughout Scotland, and an additional £19.2 million will be made available to the Highlands and Islands in convergence funding. Thus far, £31.75 million out of the £38.5 million has been allocated to the 16 bids received in the first round. Convergence funding has not yet been allocated.

80% of the funding allocated to LEADER local action groups (LAGs) is formula-based. The other 20% is discretionary, and is allocated on the basis of the LAGs'' local development strategy.

For the 80% tranche, the allocation is proportionate to an area''s share of population on the one hand and surface area on the other. Population accounts for two-thirds of the allocation, and surface area for one third, thereby advantaging the more sparsely populated areas.

The remaining 20% tranche is based exclusively on a score derived from an independent assessment of the bids received. The scoring criteria can be grouped under four headings, each accounting for 25%: (1) Partnership; (2) Alignment with the SRDP and other Strategies; (3) Leverage and (4) Quality and Realism. These criteria were notified in guidance given to potential local action groups in July last year.

The following table indicates the bids received from LAGs in the first round and the relevant criteria used to calculate the awards of funding from the LEADER budget.

LAG Name	Population	Share %	Area km²	Share %	Bid (£ million)	Share %	Score %	Award  (£ million)	Share %
Shetland	22,000	1.75	1,425	2.08	1.50	3.31	73.71	0.63	1.97
Orkney	19,800	1.58	974	1.42	2.00	4.41	73.19	0.51	1.61
Highland	146,229	11.65	23,315	33.97	6.83	15.08	75.13	6.63	20.87
Argyll and Islands	83,172	6.63	7,387	10.76	3.86	8.53	76.45	2.74	8.64
Cairngorms	16,024	1.28	3,800	5.54	1.60	3.53	65.79	0.92	2.90
Outer Hebrides	26,350	2.10	3,071	4.47	2.80	6.18	54.19	0.94	2.95
West Lothian	54,292	4.33	377	0.55	1.90	4.19	67.54	0.98	3.08
Rural Tayside	125,420	10.00	6,000	8.74	2.00	4.41	66.63	2.00	6.30
Aberdeenshire	147,725	11.77	4,819	7.02	3.46	7.63	64.57	3.24	10.20
Tyne- Esk	122,291	9.75	1,009	1.47	2.44	5.38	66.44	2.23	7.01
Forth and Lomond	128,733	10.26	2,656	3.87	2.91	6.43	68.23	2.63	8.29
Dumfries and Galloway	100,320	7.99	6,396	9.32	3.41	7.53	62.02	2.75	8.65
South Lanarkshire	63,466	5.06	1,576	2.30	3.05	6.73	79.44	1.39	4.37
Scottish Borders	83,740	6.67	4,731	6.89	3.83	8.44	83.21	2.33	7.33
Fife	84,146	6.71	1,036	1.51	1.33	2.93	65.79	1.33	4.18
Kelvin Valley	31,105	2.48	66	0.10	2.40	5.3	62.85	0.53	1.66
Round 1 total	1,254,813	100.00	68,638	100.00	45.30	100.00		31.75	100.00

 

The work programme commenced by the Scottish Building Standards Agency will continue to be taken forward by Scottish building standards, a part of the directorate for the built environment. Working party meetings with the industry have already begun to consider recommendations relating to both the compliance issues and the proposed changes to the energy standards of the building regulations. Research is also being undertaken to consider the financial implications of the recommendations.

The independent regulatory review group has not made any recommendations or offered advice on the cost implications of implementing the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Should it do so, ministers will consider any recommendations carefully before considering what action, if any, is appropriate.

I understand that NorthLink Ferries Ltd has taken the view that this measure is necessary to ensure the safety and security of its passengers, crew and vessels as part of its wider approach to security, health and safety issues. I also understand that CalMac Ferries Ltd does not feel that such a step is currently necessary on its own routes but will keep this matter under review as part of its on-going consideration of operational security, health and safety arrangements.

No. It is for individual ferry companies to take their own decisions on such operational matters.

No such distinction was made in the invitations to delegates to attend the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum and no final decision has yet been taken by ministers about the size and composition of any emerging core membership for future meetings.