Seòmar agus comataidhean

The UK Red Squirrel Group co-ordinatesactions to support red squirrel conservation. The relevant Scottish statutory agenciesare represented on this group as are those from the north of England. Thisprovides a forum for discussion of cross-border issues and for sharing informationand good practice.

The Scottish Red Squirrel ActionPlan 2006-2011, recognised the importance of targetted grey squirrel control asthe most effective approach to red squirrel conservation. It also recognised theparticular risks currently facing red squirrels in the south of Scotland from thespread of grey squirrels testing positive for Squirrelpox virus antibodies. Actionhas been taken by SNH and FCS to control the flow of potentially infected grey squirrelsfrom the Cumbria region through the employment of grey squirrel controlofficers.

Scottish Executive ministersdo not have a “top ten” list of priority road schemes. The current schemes beingtaken forward are as follows:

Kincardine Bridge: Under construction

A68 Dalkeith Bypass

A90 Glendoick and Kinfauns Interchanges

M74 Completion: Tenders Invited

A9 Ballinluig

A830 Arisaig – Loch Nan Uamh

A75 Overtaking Opportunities

M80 Stepps – Haggs: Bidding InterestsInvited

M8 Baillieston – Newhouse: Majorschemes being prepared

M8 Associated network improvements

Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road

A725/M74 Raith Interchange

Schemes to improve the trunkroad network are published on the Transport Scotland Website http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/.Transport Scotland should be contacted for further information regarding these schemes.

Information in the form requestedis not available centrally.

Detailed statistics on road accidentsand casualties are published annually in Road Accidents Scotland, copiesof which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Road AccidentsScotland 2005, to be published on 24 November 2006, will include a range oftables giving accident rates per million vehicle kilometres and casualty rates perthousand population.

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department hasresponsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health andhealthcare needs in Scotland. CSO does notnormally commission research but supports research projects of a sufficientlyhigh standard initiated by the researchcommunity in Scotland. This role is well known and advertised throughoutthe healthcare and academic community.

CSO is currently funding onesmall project on the experience of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) amongyoung women with premature ovarian failure but nothing specifically on adverseaffects of HRT. CSO would be pleased to consider proposals for research in thisarea which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

The safety of medicines isreserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare productsRegulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA and its independent advisory committee theCommission on Human Medicines (CHM) keep the safety of all licensed medicines,including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), under close review.

The MHRA and the CHM run theUK Yellow card Scheme which is used to collect information from healthprofessionals and patients on suspected adverse drug reactions. The MHRA hasadvised that all of the important information on the safety of HRT has comefrom large epidemiological studies. They are not aware of any studies thatdemonstrate that the balance and risks of HRT differ in Scotland.

The following table showsthe number of people employed in the fishing, farming and manufacturing sectorin the years, 1997, 1999 and latest available.

Industry	1997	1999	Latest Available
Fishing*	8,194	7,330	4,971 (2005)
Agriculture**	68,830	69,417	66,854 (2006)
Manufacturing	327,000 (1998)	315,000	236,000(2004)

Notes:

*The number of fishermenemployed on Scottish based vessels.

**The total number of peopleemployed in agriculture (includes totalnumber of occupiers, spouses, and employees working, full-time, part-time,seasonally and casually).

The options for a longer termstrategy for red squirrel conservation are wide ranging and complex. Full detailsof these options are contained within the Red Squirrel Action Plan. I have askedScottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to publish the plan on their website and expectit to be available soon. As I stated in my previous response to the MSP, the actionplan is being considered as part of the SNH Species Framework for Action, whichis currently being developed.

Two grey squirrel control officershave been appointed to work in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, inwoodlands identified as priority areas for red squirrel conservation. They havebeen tasked with raising awareness of the squirrel pox virus amongst landowners and the public, offering training to land managers in live trapping andhumane methods of despatch of grey squirrels and carrying out control wheresuch assistance is required.

I share the concerns of thoseworried about the level of returns being made by many milk producers but I cannotintervene directly in the market.

When I meet the major retailers,I emphasise how seriously the Executive views the importance of maintaining a sustainablefood chain with healthy trading relationships between suppliers and retailers.

The Executive has invested £16.5million (including support from the European Regional Development Fund) implementinga Scotland-wide project which has delivered broadband access to every Scottish community.A separate figure for broadband investment under this project in Tayside is notavailable, but investment in the East of Scotland amounts to £2.7 million.