Chamber and committees

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

In financial year 2000-01 Quality Meat Scotland and its predecessor organisation (Scotch Quality Beef and Lamb Association) received funding amounting to approximately £3.5 million. This included £1.7 million from the Meat and Livestock Commission, £875,000 from membership fees of their quality assurance schemes, £365,000 from the Scottish Executive and £350,000 from the British Pork Executive.

At the end of July QMS launched its first strategic plan for the Scottish meat industry. The plan highlights strategic priorities and links in 26 specific objectives to these areas. The broad strategic priorities are Quality Assurance, Marketing, Industry Development, Effective Communication and Organisation Development. Examples of related specific objectives are enhancement of the scope and standards of quality assurance schemes, adoption of the "Specially Selected Scotch" brand across all three red meat sectors and develop and promote the primary themes affecting the Scottish Sheep industry identified in the Andrew Dewar-Durie Report. Coverage of the plan takes in the 3-year period from April this year to March 2004. While it is relatively early days, I believe that the positive and proactive approach which QMS have taken to addressing these targets will see their ultimate achievement, to the benefit of the whole of the Scottish meat industry.

The length of time people wait for treatment is more important to them than the number of people who are waiting.

Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change sets out the Executive's aims of reducing waiting and ensuring that the patient's journey is as swift, responsive and smooth as possible. It includes a number of specific targets on waiting, particularly in the priority areas of cancer and coronary heart disease.

I have no plans to set further targets on waiting lists.

My Parliamentary Private Secretary supports me across a broad range of Parliamentary and political activities.

The relocation of Civil Service posts in Scotland outwith the responsibility of the Scottish Executive is a matter for the Government Departments concerned.

With regard to action taken on Civil Service and other public sector jobs covered by the Executive's relocation policy, the Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department is now wholly located in Glasgow with some 160 staff having been transferred from Edinburgh to Glasgow over the last two years. The Food Standards Agency Scotland, with around 60 staff, has been set up in Aberdeen and the Public Guardian's Office, with around 50 staff, has been established in Falkirk.

In March 2001, the Executive announced that the headquarters offices for the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council will be located in Dundee with 160 posts.

On 17 July I announced in answer to S1W-17045 that the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, with around 175 posts, will transfer to the Galashiels area when the lease on its current Edinburgh premises expires in November 2002.

Under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998, subject to certain exceptions, the regulation of aviation and air transport is a reserved matter and therefore remains with the UK Government. Therefore the Scottish Executive does not have the power to take privately owned airports into public ownership.

Under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998, matters concerning the regulation of aviation and air transport are reserved to the UK Government. Matters concerning the promotion of direct air services from Scotland will be addressed in the preparation of the forthcoming Scottish Air Transport Consultation Document.

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

Apart from the SPS Medical Adviser, no medical staff are directly employed by the Scottish Prison Service.

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

Any such matter would be for Premier Prison Services Limited.