Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive's position on greenhouse gas reductions is that every energy user in every sector and geographical area in Scotland should contribute to meeting the UK's Kyoto commitments. However the UK Government has recognised the special position of horticulture as an energy intensive sector, exposed to international competition but not eligible for a negotiated agreement. In addition to the 50% discount, which applies for five years not only to gas and oil but also to coal and electricity, the package of benefits to the horticulture sector will also include:

• targeted support from the climate change levy energy efficiency fund;
• an extension to the list of investments qualifying for enhanced capital allowances to include thermal screens.

It is extremely difficult to make a meaningful comparison between the horticulture sectors in different countries because several other factors affecting costs need to be taken into account in addition to Climate Change Levy arrangements, including the relevant rates of other forms of taxation.

The work has been taken forward in various ways: the publication in April 2000 of A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture - A Discussion Document (over 3,000 paper copies distributed in addition to the text being available on our website); a major conference in June 2000 with over 170 attendees from over 70 organisations; over 80 public contributions in response to the Discussion Document (see Table 1 for a list of the contributors), and seven regional discussion meetings held throughout the summer months (see Table 2 for meeting locations). I also chair an Agriculture Strategy Steering Group (see Table 3 for the membership list) created to advise me on the development of the Agriculture Strategy.

Table 1: List of Public Contributors

Table 2: Meeting Locations

Table 3: Agriculture Strategy Steering Group Membership List

All authorities provided proposals which, after some adjustment, were considered satisfactory. Letters confirming this were sent to authorities on 5 October. They indicated that, in mid-January 2001, we will require confirmation that the respective proposals (or revised proposals) are being successfully acted upon. Following that, the monies will be disbursed later this financial year as part of the local authority's Revenue Support Grant.

Timber prices are at an historic low point in real terms because of a combination of events: the strong exchange rate, the impact of recycling, the impact of cheap imports from the Baltic countries and consequential effects of the downturn in the Asian economy.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to commission a supplementary study to the Scott Wilson study. Any study to explore further potential markets for the Kielder Forest is a matter for the timber industry.

However, information is available from the homelessness applications data collection which separately identifies single person households of pensionable age. This provides information on the number of households placed in temporary accommodation rather than the number in temporary accommodation at any one time.