Mr Lochhead should direct his question about correspondence between the Scotland Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Secretary of State of Scotland.Regarding the correspondence between the Scottish Executive and other parties, Mr Finnie wrote to the Secretary of State about this issue on 20 June 1999. This letter has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

The Scottish Executive cannot comment on the actions of a previous administration.

Satellite monitoring arrangements apply to fishing vessels over 24 metres in overall length and are intended to supplement existing control measures.

As yet experience has to be gained of the practical operation of satellite monitoring. However, the Community has amended the rules for the Shetland Box so that satellite position reports may be accepted as fulfilling the obligations on masters of vessels over 24 metres to notify entry into and exit from the Box.The implications of satellite monitoring arrangements have also been considered as part of a recent review of pelagic management arrangements undertaken by a joint industry/Fisheries Departments working group. The group's report recommended, and we have agreed, some consequential changes to the arrangements for the exchange and uplift of pelagic licences. A copy of the report has been placed in SPICe for information. The Fisheries Departments will be writing to pelagic interests shortly setting out detailed guidance on the new arrangements.

Under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, the Natural Environment Research Council is required to provide Scottish Ministers with scientific advice on matters related to the management of seal populations. In practice this advice is provided on an annual basis. I have just received the 1999 report and I will be considering its contents very carefully. I will ensure that a copy of this report is placed with SPICe.A range of individual research projects are underway to investigate different aspects of interactions between seals and fish, for example, seals and salmon on the River Conon and the feeding habits of seals in Lochs Shieldaig and Torridon.The Conservation of Seals Act 1970 already permits the shooting of seals, provided that an appropriately licensed firearm is used, during the open seasons; and limited shooting under licence during the close seasons for the prevention of damage to fisheries. Current policy recognises that control of seal predation on fisheries is best handled at the local level.

The French Prime Minister's comments on a UK herd-based export scheme, which might have included Scottish herds, were never translated into a formal offer and were in any event unrealistic because they were at odds with the negotiated arrangements for lifting the ban, and also with the underlying Florence Agreement framework.Accordingly, the French Prime Minister's views were not considered in the technical discussions with the French on the Date Based Export Scheme.

Scottish Executive officials were present at all the technical discussions with the French on the Date Based Export Scheme and aimed at encouraging the French to comply with their obligations in respect of this Scheme under EU legislation.

The Scottish Executive became aware of the views expressed by the French Prime Minister on his apparent preference for a UK herd-based export scheme, which might include Scottish herds such as Aberdeen Angus, through press reports immediately following his reported remarks. The Executive was aware, however, of the general French view in favour of herd-based arrangements through the clarification discussions between the UK, France and EU Commission on the Date Based Export Scheme. Scottish Executive officials were involved throughout these discussions.

I refer Mr Lochhead to previous answers given to him on this matter (24 June and 3 November). It would have been inappropriate for the Scottish Executive to introduce a safety scheme while consideration was being given by the UK Government to re-instatement of the previous arrangements. Following confirmation in November 1999 that the UK Government will not re-introduce the UK-wide scheme, the Executive has acted promptly to propose Scottish measures.In any event, resources for the FIFG programme ending 31 December 1999 are fully committed in Scotland and would not have been available to support a safety scheme.

There is likely to be a small increase in the Department's staff over the next 12 months, mainly to handle the more complex support regime being introduced by the European Union under Agenda 2000, but the precise numbers involved are not yet clear.

Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for each Member State are set each year by the Council of Ministers. The figures for 1999 appear in the Official Journal of the European Commission, L13, volume 42, of 18 January 1999.

TACs for the United Kingdom are allocated to Producer Organisations (POs) and other groups of fishermen, and POs are responsible for managing quotas on behalf of their members. Some vessels in Scottish POs are registered elsewhere in the UK, and some in other POs are registered in Scotland. Information on how POs manage quota during the year is not held centrally and therefore it is not possible to specify the proportion of TACs allocated to Scottish registered and owned vessels.However, landings of all species by Scottish registered vessels in 1998 amounted to 73 per cent by weight and nearly 63 per cent by value of landings by all UK vessels in that year. Further details are available in Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics, 1998.