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The June 2007 Agricultural Census indicates that 470 registered crofts, or holdings containing crofts, had a total of 735 bulls on them. In the same year, the Crofters Commission provided a total of 121 hires. It is not known how many of the remaining bulls were owned by crofters. As at 13 November 2008, there are 17,885 crofts registered with the Crofters Commission.

The requested information is given in the following table:

Number of Suckler Cows by Agricultural Region

	Suckler Cows
	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Agricultural Region	Number	Number	Number	Number	Number	Number
Shetland	2,022	2,001	2,111	2,038	1,934	1,960
Orkney	28,486	28,938	28,362	28,096	27,259	26,565
Eileanan an Iar	2,854	2,895	2,886	2,873	2,870	2,799
Highland	55,119	55,657	55,184	53,817	52,210	51,242
North East Scotland	95,399	95,854	96,260	95,352	94,471	92,626
Tayside	38,124	38,247	37,601	37,440	36,397	36,065
Fife	14,239	14,122	13,899	14,503	13,951	13,722
Lothian	13,476	13,711	13,721	13,622	13,436	13,696
Scottish Borders	48,853	49,137	50,290	49,331	46,789	45,371
East Central	13,561	13,679	13,643	13,475	13,152	12,976
Argyll and Bute	22,852	23,297	22,958	22,251	21,300	20,901
Clyde Valley	33,197	34,323	34,415	32,900	31,896	31,543
Ayrshire	30,589	30,804	31,017	31,222	29,993	30,168
Dumfries and Galloway	88,362	90,208	89,972	90,274	86,566	84,720
Scotland	487,133	492,873	492,319	487,194	472,224	464,354

Source: Scottish agricultural census. Data refers to first, non-Sunday, day in June each year.

The information for 2003 to 2007 is already available, through separate publications for each year, in the annual Scottish Agricultural Census Summary Sheets publication.

The information can be accessed through the agriculture and fisheries statistics website at:

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I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17650 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17638 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17650 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at .

The Scottish Government considers that the scheme at one time made a positive impact in terms of the maintenance of cow numbers, environmental benefits and local economic activity. However, the Scottish Agricultural College 2003 report (Bib. number 32088) concluded that the Bull Hire Scheme did not represent value for money in terms of genetic improvement of crofters'' cattle.

In September 2007, the Scottish ministers invited the Crofters Commission to undertake a formal appraisal of the investment that would be required to bring the facilities at Inverness up to scratch for a modern service. The options appraisal carried out by independent consultants is available on the Scottish Government website at . The independent investment appraisal sets out detailed cost assumptions including estimated costs per hire of £2,318 (at 124 bulls). However, with an estimated current annual hire rate of 110 bulls, the appraisal''s hire cost forecasts, under different investment scenarios, rise to approximately £2,500. Beneficiaries should pay at least 50% of costs in order properly to satisfy state aids (de minimis) conditions. This results in the forecast charge of £1,250 quoted by me on 1 October 2008 (Official Report c.11309), an increase of 150% on current hire rates. Experience has shown that increasing charges results in significantly lower use of the scheme.

The Scottish Government did not consult formally on the future of the Bull Hire Scheme in advance of my statement, which responded to the Shucksmith Inquiry''s recommendations on its future. Veterinary issues were not seen as a major concern.

The Scottish Government has had no discussions with private hire companies about the market opportunities which will become available to them in future as a result of the removal of subsidised state hire provision. No obligation can be placed on such companies either to provide bulls for hire in remote areas or to ensure competition. However, assistance to mitigate the transport costs of private hire should ensure that hiring in remote areas is no more costly than on the mainland and thus encourage greater competition.

Private individuals or enterprises intending to offer bull hire services must comply with statutory requirements to provide appropriate care for livestock. The Scottish Government has no reason to consider that private commercial companies would be less than diligent in meeting such requirements.

This information is not collected by the Scottish Government.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17650 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .