Chamber and committees

The table below shows the extent (value and percentage of total budget) to which Rural Affairs portfolio expenditure (that is, excluding expenditure on the environment by the Rural Affairs Department) is offset by contributions from the European Union.

£ million

1995-96 Outturn	1996-97 Outturn	1997-98 Outturn	1998-99 Outturn	1999-2000 Estimated Outturn	2000-01 Plan	2001-02 Plan
365 (70%)	436 (73%)	333 (65%)	363 (63%)	357 (65%)	386 (70%)	413 (70%)

Arrangements for EU reimbursements vary. Over 95% of the total EU related funding shown comes from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). Under EU rules member states receive reimbursement from Brussels for related scheme spending, generally some two months in arrears. In the UK, payments to beneficiaries are funded by the UK Exchequer - from the Westminster Vote for the Intervention Board Executive Agency which is the nominated UK Funding Agency for CAP schemes. The agency passes the funds to Scottish Ministers for payment by the Rural Affairs Department. The agency's vote subsequently brings to account of the UK Exchequer the related EU receipts.

The small balance of EU funding comes mainly from the Guidance Section of EAGGF and from the EU Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) and the department claims from Brussels the relevant EU contribution towards the gross costs of the measures concerned.

In the case of the major component of EU contributions - from the EAGGF Guarantee Section - spending is from the Assigned Budget, but is part of Annually Managed Expenditure. The costs of any increased demand for related CAP spending are met entirely by the UK Treasury. The small balance of EU receipts has two main components. The largest single component is spending on Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances (HLCAs), which generates about £8 million a year of EU receipts. Spending on HLCAs is in the non-Assigned Budget. The remaining balance of receipts is attributable to EU contributions towards a range of agricultural and fisheries structural measures for which the Department holds gross spending provision, within the Assigned Budget.

When launching the Scottish Executive's Drugs Action Plan on 11 May, I announced that the Executive would be making available an additional £1 million for the rehabilitation of drug misusers and £1 million for improved drug treatment services. We are not yet in a position to say how the extra funding will be distributed, but decisions will be made, and announced, following consultations with all 22 Drug Action Teams in Scotland.

As Mr Lochhead is no doubt aware, a Policy Unit review of the total expenditure on tackling drug misuse across the Scottish Executive is ongoing. The initial results of this review have thus far shown that the total estimated drugs expenditure is likely to be over £250 million. The Policy Unit Study does not, however, provide a breakdown in costs by region, and the information sought is not held centrally.

There is at present no formal definition of a twin rig or a multi-rig trawl for the purpose of compliance with mesh size regulations for fishing nets. The Executive is currently working to develop a suitable definition. This will be issued as soon as practicable, either in guidance or in forthcoming regulation.

The information requested is not held centrally. Teachers are employees of local authorities and the management of staff absence is a matter for local authorities.

With apologies for the delay, I hope to be able to reply to question S!W-3923 in the very near future.

The Executive was notified of six escape incidents in 1998 involving up to 95,000 salmon; 15 incidents in 1999 involving up to 255,000 salmon; and so far this year 10 incidents involving up to 395,000 salmon. The majority of incidents, particularly this year, have been attributed to storm damage, but there have been a handful of escapes resulting from equipment failures as well as two which have been directly linked to predator damage. The Scottish Executive takes this matter very seriously, we are determined to ensure that containment is enhanced and that escapes are minimised. I look forward to receiving views on the report on this subject, which the Scottish Executive issued on 7 April.

There is currently one formal application for a Regulating Order with the Scottish Executive. This was submitted by the Orkney Fisheries Association in June 1999. The Scottish Executive is currently discussing with the association stock management and administrative aspects of their Management Plan. The decision on whether the application proceeds to public advertisement will be taken by ministers following these discussions. In addition to the Orkney application, the Scottish Executive has received draft proposals prior to formal application from interests in the Highland Council area, the Solway Firth and the Western Isles.

The Scottish Executive has not received any applications to sell or produce genetically modified salmon or other fish.

The Scottish Executive keeps in close touch with the Department of Trade and Industry as a range of issue affecting Scotland. There are well over 100 posts in the DTI's Oil and Gas Directorate offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen, and that number is set to increase.