Chamber and committees

I am currently consulting CoSLA on the recommendations of the Working Group (including the resource implications and the implementation timetable). This process should be completed by the end of March and I will make a full response as soon as possible after this.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13189.

The operation of fishing vessel licensing arrangements has been recently reviewed by a joint industry/departmental working group and a copy of the group's report is being placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.The working group has recommended that the existing capacity penalty arrangements should be maintained for the time being but that the penalty relating to the uprating of an existing engine, or to an increase in power following its replacement, should be based on the increase in the vessel's capacity rather than its overall capacity. The Fisheries Departments in the UK agree and arrangements are being made to notify the owners of licensed fishing vessels.As of today a 20% capacity penalty will operate for the uprating or replacement of an existing vessel engine provided the resulting increase in engine power does not exceed 35%. This penalty will be reduced to 10% where an engine is uprated or replaced before 31 December 2001. However, except in the case of pelagic vessels, where vessel capacity units (VCUs) are taken from vessels under 18 metres in overall length and aggregated onto licensed vessels measuring 18 metres or more in overall length, the capacity penalty will be 30%. Provision will also be made for the splitting of fishing vessel licences for the purpose of engine power adjustments.

The Fisheries Departments, in conjunction with the European Commission, are also prepared to consider, on a case-by-case basis, waiving capacity penalties and compliance with tonnage rules for vessel improvements which relate exclusively to improved safety and which will not result in an increase in a vessel's fishing effort. Under EU legislation, member states may apply for an increase in tonnage objectives under their relevant Multi Annual Guidance Programme to take account of increases in vessel capacity resulting exclusively from safety improvements. Advantage is now being taken of that facility.In the longer term the Fisheries Departments in the UK wish to simplify the present capacity regime and, with the exception of engine power adjustments, plan to return to a situation where a single penalty applies. The present capacity penalties will therefore end on 31 March 2003 and be replaced on 1 April 2003 by a single penalty which will also apply to tonnage and engine power as well as vessel capacity units. Since two years notice of these changes is being given, no provision will be made for so-called pipeline cases. The views of the fishing industry and other interests are being sought on the level at which the capacity penalty should be fixed and whether this should apply to both licence transfers and aggregations or to aggregations alone.

sportscotland, on the Scottish Executive's behalf, is taking a number of steps to promote football for women and girls.

In the case of the structure of the women's game, these steps include ongoing investment in a Women's and Girl's Football Co-ordinator as part of the Youth Sport Programme and the provision of a funding package for the setting up of a Women's Football Department within the SFA - this currently consists of the Scottish National Women's Team Coach/Director of Women's Football, two Assistant Directors and a Marketing Officer. Funding is also being provided to promote the provision of Partnership Posts in local authority areas and, to date, the employment of four full-time Women's Football Development Officers has been agreed with a fifth under discussion. In addition, sportscotland funds the Executive Administrator's post within the Scottish Women's Football Association, which has the responsibility for girl's and women's league football.

At international level, sportscotland funds the national squad through the Talented Athlete Programme, while at youth level it works closely with schools through the remit of the Youth Sport Co-ordinator.sportscotland also maintains regular dialogue with the SFA about implementation of the Women's Football four-year development, now in its second year. In addition to this, I hope to meet with representatives of women's football in the near future myself to discuss issues relating to the women's game.

The Scottish Executive is providing over £5 million per year to local authorities for the development and training of classroom-based staff and trainee educational psychologists working with children with special educational needs, including dyslexia and other similar conditions. £1 million of this funding is directed towards early intervention, which addresses a wide variety of training requirements including accreditation such as the Certificate in Dyslexia.The Scottish Executive Education Department has worked jointly with the Scottish Dyslexia Trust to train teachers in dyslexia awareness and early identification. The Executive is currently funding the Trust to run a national seminar and to produce a report to highlight good practice and innovative approaches for teaching dyslexic pupils. This report will be issued to all education authorities in Scotland.In addition, the 3-5 Curriculum guidelines for pre-school education cover the key aspects of children's development and learning. Differences in children's progress, and any need for extra support, are noted through observation and careful assessment.

Yes. We consult with businesses through their representative organisations, either by correspondence or through meetings.

I have recently announced the allocation of £5 million amongst a number of authorities to take forward work on feasibility studies into possible further school Public/Private Partnership projects. We are currently giving consideration to the possibility of appropriate financial support for a stage beyond that where suitable projects have been identified. We shall make an announcement when that consideration has been completed.

Scotland's first integrated Science Strategy will be published soon.

Local authorities already have full discretionary powers to control seagulls where necessary. The Executive has no plans to impose a statutory duty on councils.

It is for local authorities to take appropriate measures to control seagulls should this become necessary. Councils have full discretionary powers to do so. Licences are issued by the Scottish Executive to cover situations where lethal control is the only satisfactory solution available.