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No such monitoring is currently undertaken. However, one of the principal objectives of our policy to promote renewable energy is to help Scottish companies to benefit from the increasing opportunities arising from the exploitation of Scotland's huge potential in this field. We will continue to work closely with both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on this, with the aim of increasing the many hundreds of jobs in Scotland already dependent on the design, installation and maintenance of renewable energy schemes.

The two Ministerial Taskforces for Forums are currently considering the tasks for forums in year two of their operation. A decision will be made in February 2002 and guidance as required will be issued thereafter.

Scottish Executive officials have had a number of meetings and other exchanges by letter and telephone with P&O Scottish Ferries about a range of issues related to the Northern Isles ferry contract, including staffing matters related to the transfer of the contract to NorthLink. Further discussions with P&O Scottish Ferries will take place in the near future.

Both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have commissioned studies into the wider economic benefits that could be derived in their respective areas from the development of Scotland's renewable energy resource. Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently working with a number of clients to take forward renewable energy projects. In particular, it is assisting Vestas establish a wind turbine manufacturing base in Argyll and is progressing the Marine Energy Test Centre project in conjunction with the Executive, Scottish Enterprise and other public sector partners. The latter project is proposed for Orkney and, if confirmed, will assist the development of the marine energy industry in Scotland.In addition, Scottish Enterprise took a roadshow round Scotland last year encouraging companies to consider diversifying into renewable energy systems. Several of these companies are now pursuing opportunities for new business.

The amount spent by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on measures to expand the renewable energy sector since 1999 and committed until 2004 is around £700,000. This excludes expenditure on business development cases where Local Enterprise Companies have provided assistance to renewable energy related projects, such as the significant assistance to the Vestas project to assist that company establish a wind turbine manufacturing facility in Argyll. The cumulative spend on the renewable energy sector by Scottish Enterprise over the last three years, plus that already approved for 2002-03, is in excess of £1 million. This includes the cost of encouraging Scottish companies to diversify into renewable energy opportunities in general, through a series of seminars/roadshows which reached 160 companies.

The Action Group for Languages outlined its recommendation that pupils should have an entitlement to foreign language learning. This entitlement, which comprises 11 elements, was accepted in full by the Scottish Executive in its published response to the report. Both the report, Citizens of a Multilingual World, and the Scottish Executive response are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 110392 and 16335 respectively). To promote awareness of the entitlement, the Scottish Executive is developing information leaflets for pupils and their parents which will be distributed early in the New Year.

The Scottish Executive response to the recommendations made by the Action Group for Languages in its report, Citizens of a Multilingual World, outlined proposals to support language education in primary and secondary schools. The response, available from the Parliament's Reference Centre under Bib. numbers 10393 (report) and 16335 (response), set out how the Scottish Executive would provide additional financial support to local authorities to secure improvements in quality and availability of foreign language education.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20789.

Shetland Voes have been identified as a discrete type of Large Shallow Inlet and Bay using definitions published by the European Commission and by the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee for the purpose of the Habitats Directive.The criteria used to assess Special Areas of Conservation were published in the Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report number 270. Application of these criteria, using a range of ecological information from surveys undertaken over 35 years, has demonstrated that Sullom Voe meets the published definition of a Large Shallow Inlet and Bay, and qualifies as the most suitable candidate for selection on the basis of its area of qualifying habitat and the range and ecological richness of its biotopes.

Formal consultation documents were sent to all owners and occupiers and other interested parties in September 2000.The covering letter included in the consultation package offered further details to all consultees if they wished, and a copy of the full scientific justification was issued to any consultees who requested it, including the Shetland Islands Council.Sullom Voe Candidate Special Area of ConservationList of Consultees

Consultee

A. Owners and Occupiers

Mr Peter Brown

Ms Jeanette Spall

Ms Ruby Brown

Ms Ingrid Laurenson

Mr Allan Ridland

Mr Charlie Laurenson

Mr Alex JB Williamson

Mr AL Ratter

Mr Roy Dickens

Mr John Robertson

Mr Peter Ratter

Mr Bob Jamieson

Mr Gerry Ramsay

Mr John Scollay

Mr Bruce Stephen

Mr Ian Peterson

Mr AT & KP Doull

Mr M Ernie Peterson

Mr Billy Johnson

Ms Mabel Rendall

Ms Angela Mowat

Mr Stuart Balfour

Mr James Hall

Mr Frank Anderson

Mr WD Williamson

Mr & Mrs J&J Manson

Ms Mira Irvine

Mrs Ina O'Neil

Mr Chris Laurenson

Messrs Adam & Derek Hunter

Ms Elma Manson

Mr Brydan Nicolson

Mr A Hawick

Mr Bertie Johnson

Mr J Manson

Dianne & Mark Bryant

Mr R Johnson

Mr RC Hawick

Mr G Robertson

Mr WH Manson

Mr W Brown

Mr ATH Tulloch

Mrs Elizabeth Hileman

Ms Hazel Leask

Mr Bobby Nicolson

Mrs Elaine Williamson

Gordon Grant, Terminal Manager, BP Exploration Operating Co. Sullom Voe Terminal

Gordon Grant, BP, Scatsta Airport

Willie Inkster, Serco, Scatsta Airport

Malcolm Stevens, Brent System Manager, Shell Exploration & Production

B. Local Authorities other competent authorities

Shetland Islands Council:

Mr Morgan Goodlad, Chief Executive,

Mr Graham Spall, Exec Dir Infrastructure Services

Capt. George Sutherland, Dir. Of Marine Operations, Shetland Islands Council

Mr Alvin Bashforth, Dir of Economic Development

Exec Dir Community Services

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

C. Utilities & others

Mr Malcolm Miller, NoSWA

Mr J.Moncrieff, Shetland Amenity Trust

Mr M.Mullay, Shetland Islands Tourism

Mr A Miller, Secretary, Shetland Anglers Association

Ms Janis Smith, Secretary, Shetland Field Studies Group

Wendy Dickson, General Secretary, Shetland Bird Club

Mr P.M.Ellis, Shetland Officer, RSPB

Shetland Enterprise Co. Ltd., Toll Clock Shopping Centre

Kenny Hughson, Shetland Towage

Linda Kingham, SOTEAG

Mrs Vera Clerk, Delting Community Council

Mrs Williamson, Northmavine Community council

D. Marine Interested Parties

Mr John Goodlad, Shetland Fishermens' Association

Mr Gibbie Johnson, Shetland Salmon Farmers' Association

Mr John Morrison, Shetland Sub-aqua Club

E. Unsolicited views

Letter to Sarah Boyack MSP hand delivered to SNH office from Mr DF Hawkins

Mr C Gallagher