Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-14775.

I am aware that producers who have entered stock into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme have experienced delays in their claims being processed and consequently their stock have not been slaughtered as quickly as they hoped. Since this became apparent, my officials have been in contact with the Intervention Board Executive Agency, who operates this scheme on behalf of the Agricultural Departments, to try and resolve any difficulties. They have been given assurances that significant slaughter throughput under this scheme will begin in the week commencing 9 April. The Intervention Board advises me that animals are dealt with in order of welfare priority and according to the availability of suitable slaughter and disposal facilities and it is therefore not possible for them to give precise time-scales in the form requested. However, the time between issue of the movement licence and collection of the animals must not exceed 24 hours. The Intervention Board will aim to make payments within 21 days of slaughter.

The Intervention Board Executive Agency operates the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme on behalf of the GB Agriculture Departments. They advise me that over 4,000 applications have been received for nearly 1.8 million animals across all of Great Britain. Applications are continuing to be received. At close on 9 April, Scottish applications accounted for 582 of the total, representing 115,915 sheep, 50,876 pigs and 8,658 cattle. Of these 14,225 sheep, 12,361 pigs and 537 cattle had been passed for slaughter.

Slaughter under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme began at Brechin abattoir on 6 April and at Annan abattoir on 10 April, with slaughter at Kilmarnock abattoir projected to commence during the course of week ending 13 April.

In our Social Justice Strategy, we have set long term targets of ensuring older people are financially secure and that increased numbers enjoy independent and healthy lives.The first Social Justice Annual Report, which was published on 13 November 2000, sets out what is being done to support our social justice targets and milestones for older people. This includes a community care package of £300 million over 3 years, the installation of central heating for 70,000 pensioners and free off-peak bus travel.In addition we are working closely with the UK Government which is working through the tax and benefits system to improve the incomes of poorer pensioners.

A draft of the report of the National Nutritional Audit was received by the Clinical Resource and Audit Group (CRAG) on 27 April 2000 and, in line with normal procedures for submission of a final report for a CRAG-funded project, was circulated for peer review during the first week of May.The final draft of the report was received by CRAG in August following feedback to the authors from the peer reviewers. The report was published on 18 December 2000.

The Independent Living Fund is funded by DSS and data relating to this matter is not held by the Scottish Executive.

As is standard in the aftermath of any such event, emergency plans will be reviewed to discover if there are any lessons to be learned.

The Scottish Executive does not need emergency powers to reopen roads previously closed by snow blockages. Roads are reopened in consultation with the police when it is considered safe to do so.

Throughout the emergency, the Executive worked closely with agencies such as Lothians and Borders Police, the Scottish Borders Council emergency planning team and Scottish Power in the areas worst affected to restore power as soon as possible. We will consider carefully the lessons and whether we need to conduct a review of the arrangements used. Responses to emergencies of this type are led locally.