Chamber and committees

A number of the recommendations, outlined in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland, have been implemented and work continues to address the others.

Our policy on the location of public sector jobs involves examining a range of locations when possible moves are being considered. All Scottish local authorities and Local Enterprise Companies have been asked to supply information about suitable sites or development opportunities in their areas. All parts of Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway, will continue to be considered.

sportscotland gave the Scottish Equestrian Association grant-in-aid of £16,500 and a payment of £800 for sports science costs in financial year 2000-01. Subject to a suitable application being received, the association should attract a similar amount of grant-in-aid in 2001-02. The association has also benefited from awards made through sportscotland's Junior Group and Performance Coach Development Lottery programmes totalling £48,330.

Planning legislation controls "development", which is defined in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as "the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land". The Act goes on to specify that the carrying out of works for the maintenance, improvement or other alteration of any building does not involve development, if it affects only the interior of the building or does not materially affect the external appearance of the building.

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, grants planning permission for the stone cleaning or painting of the exterior of any building or works except if the painting is for the purposes of advertisement, announcement or direction; or if the building or works are in a conservation area; or where the building is a listed building.

The UK Government in consultation with the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations has today published a Response to the report of the BSE Inquiry. This follows on from the publication of the Interim Response on 9 February on which a widespread public consultation was carried out. The consultation responses broadly welcomed the actions taken by government and suggested that the Interim Response was very much on the right lines. I welcome the fact that there were many extremely useful contributions from Scottish consultees, which have been reflected in the Response. The document sets out what the Government has done to address the Phillips Inquiry's findings and conclusions. It also looks forward to further improvements in the near future.

The Phillips Inquiry underlined the importance of contingency planning and for the Government to be open and transparent about risks and uncertainty. This is addressed directly today through the publication of a draft contingency plan against the possibility that in the future BSE might be found in sheep. I welcome this step as part of the overall precautionary strategy in place for managing risk and protecting public health.

The department expect to be in a position soon to write to the water authority and to Scottish Environment Protection Agency to issue the Scottish ministers' decision. You will, therefore, appreciate that, at this stage, it is not appropriate for ministers to comment in any detail on the issues raised in the appeal.

No. Efficiency savings are essential to ensure that future charge rises for the customer are minimised. The delivery of these efficiencies will be required irrespective of whether Scottish Water is created.

I announced on 4 September 2001 that the New Futures Fund is to continue for a further three-year period from 1 April 2002 on the same basis as before.

Eaga Partnership Ltd were appointed to administer the Central Heating Programme on 29 August 2001. Eaga were awarded the contract in accordance with EC public procurement rules. They will have a budget of £9 million for the programme in 2001-02.

It is too early to contemplate the recommencement of markets in Dumfries and Galloway. The position will be kept under review in the light of the prevailing Foot-and-Mouth Disease position.