Chamber and committees

There is no specific assistance available from the Scottish Executive to farmers who are unable to sell farm livestock due to the restrictions relating to foot-and-mouth Disease.

Where these restrictions have resulted in serious animal welfare problems the farmer may be able to make use of the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

As there is currently only one prisoner in HM Prison, Zeist, I am unable to provide the information sought as this would compromise the prisoner's right to medical confidentiality.

Farms in the at risk area can purchase animals from the Scottish "provisionally free area" or from the Scottish at risk area. Cases where farmers wish to purchase animals from England and Wales and move them on to Scotland will be examined on a case by case basis. There are restrictions which prohibit the movement of animals on to Scottish farms from Northern Ireland and other EU countries.

The above conditions also apply to farms in the "Infected Area" assuming that they are not under form A or form D restrictions.

These arrangements are kept under review.

I am pleased to announce that I am launching the Green Paper, Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries - Securing their Future, today.

An Information Note giving farmers general guidance on the requirements which need to be met before restocking can take place has been issued to all farmers who have had their animals culled as part of the foot-and-mouth disease eradication programme. It describes the options available to meet a wide range of circumstances and the timing involved in each case.

Given a prisoner's right to medical confidentiality, and as there is currently only one prisoner within HM Prison, Zeist, no details can be disclosed about any visits by health care professionals to HM Prison, Zeist.

This matter is being considered as part of the ongoing discussions involving all four UK Health Departments on Agenda for Change: Modernising the NHS Pay System with key negotiations scheduled over the summer.

1999 is the latest year for which drug seizure figures are available. The values shown, which are based on average UK "street" prices for December 1999 reported to the National Crime Intelligence Unit, are only in relation to those Class A and B substances recorded systematically.

Police force	Value (£) Class A Drugs1	Value (£) Class B Drugs2	Value (£) Class C Drugs3
Central Scotland Police	45,029	135,847	N/A
Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary	362,560	297,921	N/A
Fife Constabulary	101,204	220,432	N/A
Grampian Police	252,320	160,205	N/A
Lothian & Borders Police	470,595	358,193	N/A
Northern Constabulary	29,677	252,300	N/A
Strathclyde Police	15,086,959	2,836,499	N/A
Tayside Police	41,291	252,570	N/A
Total Value			N/A

Notes:1. Cocaine, "crack", heroin, LSD, ecstasy-type and methadone.2. Cannabis (herbal and resin) and amphetamines.3. Information not available.

No. Economic factors condition the number of veterinary surgeons required. Veterinary qualifications are recognised throughout the European Union and there are reciprocal arrangements for recognition of veterinary qualifications of other countries, most notably Australia and New Zealand which allows the free movement of suitably qualified persons.The control of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland was not adversely affected by any shortage of veterinary surgeons. The State Veterinary Service operates on a Great Britain basis and was able to take on veterinary surgeons from private practice, research, other government departments as well as many veterinary surgeons from overseas.The funding of veterinary training is a reserved matter.

I understand that Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary are currently considering misconduct proceedings against Mr Carruthers. It would be inappropriate to comment further pending the outcome of that consideration.