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The Commission published interim measures in October 2000 for dealing with the issue of adventitious presence of GM seeds in conventional seed and has been working up draft proposals for legislative change. These proposals have evolved over time and have been the subject of two separate consultation exercises with interested organisations. A further, and I expect near final version, in the form of draft legislative proposals, has now been published by the Commission and I am arranging for a further period of consultation with stakeholders. I have arranged for copies of these documents to be available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The Executive will take into account all the views that are expressed on the Commission's proposals in helping to frame the UK's position in Brussels.The revised proposals include maximum thresholds for the presence of GM material in conventional seed and requirements to minimise, monitor and test for such occurrence.

The Scottish Executive is working with key stakeholders in education, business and the wider community to develop a simple, effective and easily understood examination and pupil assessment system for children of all ages.In relation to younger children aged three to 14, the Scottish Executive has established an Assessment Action Group to develop a single, clearly understood national system of assessment, record-keeping and reporting. The initiative aims to provide better feedback for pupils leading to improved achievement; a simplified system and support for teachers thereby reducing their workload and clearer information for parents.For examination and assessment post-14, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has reviewed assessment arrangements for all new National Qualifications courses. Significant changes have been made to reduce unnecessary demands on teachers and students. The National Qualifications Task and Steering Groups and Scottish Executive ministers have endorsed these changes. This process will continue and the SQA has identified 18 subjects for a more fundamental review of assessment arrangements. Furthermore, the National Qualifications Task and Steering Groups are overseeing the development of clear guidance and support materials to help teachers reduce and simplify the work associated with assessment.

The Scottish Executive has withdrawn the High Natural Dispersion Areas (HNDA) status for the coastal waters in the String, Kirkwall; Lerwick Harbour and the Minch, Stornoway. The consequence of this is that Scottish Water will provide secondary treatment for urban waste water discharges at Stornoway and Lerwick; it has already upgraded the sewage treatment works at Kirkwall. The provision of secondary level treatment will provide further protection to the waters in these areas, resulting in general environmental benefits.

Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd will continue to operate within the public sector and the Scottish Executive will continue to ensure the efficient and effective use of public funds.

Scottish Executive officials met representatives of Omniport in July 2001, at their request, when Omniport raised the issue of private sector involvement in the management of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL). No further meeting has been held and the Executive has no plans to transfer HIAL airports from public ownership. Representatives of HIAL meet other airport operators, including the operators of Prestwick Airport, on a regular basis to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Scottish ministers have already considered but were not persuaded by the business case submitted by Shetland Islands Council for taking over responsibility of Sumburgh Airport. The Scottish Executive has no plans to seek such business cases from other authorities.

Scottish ministers considered but were not persuaded by the business case submitted by Shetland Islands Council for taking over responsibility for Sumburgh Airport. No other proposals have been made.

It is too early to assess the impact of the new student support arrangements. There are, however, some encouraging trends in the most recent data which shows a steady growth in the proportion of school leavers entering higher education to 32%, an overall participation rate of 50% of Scots under the age of 21 and a 5% increase in the numbers of Scots applying for higher education through UCAS this year.

In light of the responses received to the recent consultation exercise on changes to improve the operation of existing agri-environment schemes in the short term, the Executive is considering early reforms to these schemes. As indicated in the consultation paper, we will be consulting also on longer term options, including what to do when current Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme agreements come to an end.

discussion of proposals for the introduction of TACs and a licensing scheme to regulate deep-water fisheries; a policy debate on the Commission's cod and hake recovery proposals, and a presentation of the Commission's proposals for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.Agreement was reached by qualified majority on proposals for the regulation of deep-water species involving the establishment of a licensing scheme, and of TACs for a number of stocks. The UK opposed the proposals on the grounds that the measures were not likely to prove effective in conserving these endangered stocks.The debate on the Commission's proposals for recovery plans for cod stocks in the North Sea, to the west of Scotland and in the Irish Sea was constructive, recognising the parlous state of these stocks and the need for effective responses and for full examination of the options and of the scientific and socio-economic issues. The UK acknowledged the urgency of the situation and called for serious and informed debate on the proposals.The Commission gave a presentation of its proposals for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy issued on 28 May and member states offered initial reactions. As expected there were divergent opinions on some aspects of the proposals. The UK welcomed the broad thrust of the proposals and the need for further consultation and discussion. The Commission aims to secure agreement on the reforms by the end of the year.