Chamber and committees

My answer to question S1W-4409 set out the wide range of activities being undertaken by Scotland House to raise Scotland's profile in the European Union. Outputs for these activities should include:

• Increased knowledge and awareness of Scotland within the EU Institutions, and vice versa.
• Increased Scottish influence within the EU
• Close working links with other EU nations and regions through their Brussels-based offices
• Together with Scotland Europa, organising policy seminars in Scotland House

Supporting locally organised Scottish events (e.g. in Belgium and in the Netherlands)

A breakdown of the current spend estimates on the Voluntary Sector for 2000-01 and 2001-02 is set out below.

	2000-01 £ million	2001-02 £ million
Annual Expenditure Report	6.0	5.9
Infrastructure bodies - Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Volunteer Development Scotland	0.6	0.6
Councils for Voluntary Services	1.3	1.3
Local Volunteer Development Agencies	1.0	1.0
Active Communities Initiative	0.6	0.8
Millennium Volunteers	0.7	0.7
Unemployed Voluntary Action Fund	0.9	0.9
Ethnic Minority Grant Scheme	0.3	0.3
Unallocated	0.6	0.3

No. Scottish Natural Heritage is already able to provide financial assistance to recreational groups involved in protecting the natural heritage. With regard to the sport of racing pigeons, participants are practising a competitive sport rather than participating in an activity which constitutes protection or enjoyment of the natural heritage. It is therefore inappropriate for SNH to offer financial assistance to those involved in this sport.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and other similar organisations are bound by the model Code of Conduct for Staff issued by the Cabinet Office, the adoption of which became mandatory for Executive NDPBs from 1 January 1997. SNH incorporated the code into its own staff handbook, which requires staff to ensure that no conflict arises in their job through their membership of outside organisations. In addition if staff members become office bearers or directors of outside organisations they are required to notify Personnel Services who maintain a register of such interests. Failure to comply may lead to disciplinary action being taken against the member of staff.

The main public sector agency for economic development in Kilmarnock and Loudoun is Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire (SEA).

SEA is active in attracting new businesses to Kilmarnock & Loudoun and in expanding existing companies. First Choice has created 450 jobs at Rowallan Business Park and SEA is actively marketing the site to other potential investors.

SEA is also active in supporting local companies to grow and in partnership with East Ayrshire Council supports the East Ayrshire Business Partnership which supported 61 start-up companies across East Ayrshire in 1999-2000, provided training to over 1,300 people and helped the development of over 100 projects by local companies.

The overall management of their school building stock is a matter for individual education authorities. Detailed information of the kind requested is not held centrally.

Between 1 May 1999 and 31 May 2000 Scottish Homes have invested some £0.609 million in Hamilton North and Bellshill. This includes:

Capital investment in new and improved homes	£0.252 million
Revenue Grants (Special Needs Allowance Package)	£0.100 million
Revenue expenditure - Housing Management	£0.257 million

A breakdown of the current spend estimates for Warm Deal for 2000-01 is set below. No decision has been taken on the breakdown of the plans for 2001-02.

	2000-01 £ million
Annual Expenditure Report	13.0
Local Authority Expenditure*	3.2
EAGA Partnership Ltd Expenditure**	9.8

* For works carried out by local authorities to their own stock.

** For works carried out by EAGA's (Energy Action Grant Agency) Registered Installers to all housing stock, including local authority stock.

The local enterprise company (LEC) for Hamilton North and Bellshill is Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire (SEL - formerly known as Lanarkshire Development Agency). SEL have developed the Strathclyde Business Park as one of Scotland's premier business locations and some 3,500 jobs have been created through the 100 companies that are now located there.

SEL have also been instrumental in developing the Lanarkshire Enterprise Zone (LEZ) and Eurocentral as one of nine sites that form the LEZ. Over £50 million of public money has been invested in Eurocentral together with £10 million of European Regional Development Funding. In January 2000 SEL entered into a Joint Venture Agreement to invest £15 million in the development to the remaining part of the Eurocentral site and to attract new investment.

Tannochside Park was the first LEZ site to be fully developed and it has created some 2,300 jobs through the 31 companies located on this site. It is estimated that businesses located at Tannochside Park have injected £70 million into the local economy.

Between 1 May 1999 and 31 May 2000 Scottish Homes have invested some £0.778 million in Kilmarnock and Loudoun. This includes:

Capital investment in new homes for social rent or sale	£0.732 million
Revenue Grants (Special Needs Allowance Package)	£0.046 million