Chamber and committees

In the last two years, Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), in partnership with sportscotland, has developed a number of steps to make information on sport and recreation opportunities available to those wishing to participate in sport.These include the new SDS website, www.scottishdisabilitysport.com, which was officially launched during 2000; the SDS newsletter The Changing Times, which is published three times a year; SDS sport specific leaflets covering the sports of athletics, archery, boccia, cycling, swimming, table tennis, football and bowls; an A5 flyer promoting the work of SDS; a comprehensive resource pack, which acts as a one stop shop for disability sport issues, with funding through the Ready Willing and Able for Sport programme; SDS has an information stand and undertakes practical sessions as part of the annual Scottish Mobility Roadshow held at the SECC, Glasgow; and SDS is promoted at a local level throughout Scotland through its local branch structure.The SDS Marketing & Communications Convenor is a voluntary post within the governing body with the responsibility of co-ordinating the above initiatives in conjunction with the Chairman and the sportscotland Co-ordinator.

As detailed in the latest Land Reform Action Plan Progress Report, issued on 7 December 2001 and copied to all MSPs and to the Parliament's Reference Centre (question S1W-11799 refers), the draft Land Reform Bill will issue for consultation later this month. Following the 12-week consultation period, the target date for introduction to Parliament is September 2001. Thereafter, the Bill's timetable will be a matter for the Parliament.

The Scottish Executive's draft Freedom of Information Bill will in due course be published for consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny. In paragraph 4.17 of the Executive's consultation document, An Open Scotland, it was stated that "We consider it necessary that government should continue to have an appropriate degree of privacy to conduct its internal debates, to receive advice, to develop policy and to make decisions. Failure to provide adequate protection for these processes can undermine a government's ability to choose objectively between options and to maintain collective responsibility".

Paragraph 8 of Part 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information states that the "Code is non-statutory and cannot override provisions contained in statutory rights of access to information or records (nor can it override statutory prohibitions on disclosure)."

Quality Meat Scotland is not accountable to the Scottish Executive for its total expenditure although any expenditure arising from statutory levies is accounted for in the Meat and Livestock Commission Accounts which are published annually. MLC consultations on possible increases to beef and sheep levies are still not complete.

Yes. Government continues even when Parliament is in recess. Members continue to ask questions at these times. As Mr Ewing will know he has asked around 150 questions during recesses.

Article 9 of European Council Directive 92/102/EEC gives Member States the choice of measures they can adopt, either administrative or penal. Penal measures were introduced because the implementation and registration of animals are central both for veterinary and premium control purposes. On the veterinary side, they are essential for the control of outbreaks of disease and on the premium side to ensure compliance with EU Subsidy scheme rules.

The Scottish Regulations implement European Council Directive 92/102/EEC and this is reflected in corresponding legislation in the rest of GB. While there are some minor differences, the Scottish SI is no stricter in its application than the counterpart legislation in the rest of GB. The differences are mainly in drafting including: the implementation date; record keeping for subsidy purposes; movement of sheep off holding to a tattooist, and powers of inspectors and penalties.Specifically on record keeping, the veterinary legislation requires records to be kept for six years whereas the premium legislation stipulates a minimum of four years. Since the same flock data is used for both purposes, the Scottish SI specifies six years - to avoid the need to keep separate records.The powers for inspectors and penalties in England are given in detail under the Animal Health Act 1981 and therefore not contained in the English SI. Since the Scottish SI is made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, the powers for inspectors and penalties require to be included in the Scottish SI. There are similar powers and penalties under the Animal Health Act 1981.

The traceability systems used for BSE and cattle tracing purposes are kept under review. Any lessons to be learned from this particular incident will be acted on as necessary.

The Food Standards Agency, the Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food are involved in investigating this incident. Any lessons learned will be acted upon.