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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.

The current members of the Project Assessment Committee (PAC) are:

Neil Black	Scottish Tourist Board
Ms Barbara Bremner	Scottish Natural Heritage
John Brown	Principal Agricultural Officer (Highland), Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department (SERAD)
Frank Gaskell	Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Ms Phyllis Harvey	Orkney Islands Council (representing the Islands' local authorities)
John Henderson	Assistant Chief Agricultural Officer, SERAD HQ and Chairman Panel 1 (agricultural applications)
Peter Johnstone	Principal Agricultural Officer (Grampian), SERAD
Iain Matheson	Principal Agricultural Officer (Northern & N Isles), SERAD
John Maxwell	Principal Agricultural Officer (Argyll & W Isles), SERAD
Roy McLachlan	Principal Agricultural Officer (Arran & Bute), SERAD
Ms Catriona Maclean	Highland Council (representing the Highlands' local authorities)
Henry Snedden	SERAD HQ policy branch and Chairman Panel 2 (non-agricultural applications)

Observers:

Rory Dutton	Scottish Crofters Union
Ms Beverley Wilson	National Farmers' Union of Scotland
(nominee awaited)	Scottish Landowners' Federation

Nominations for PAC membership came from the joint public sector/industry team that designed the scheme. The SERAD members reflect the Executive's overall policy and financial responsibilities for the ABDS, and their knowledge of the agricultural sector in their respective areas. The non-departmental representatives bring expertise and experience on economic and social development, tourism and environmental priorities for the Highlands and Islands - relevant criteria in assessing grant applications. Some of the public organisations concerned may also part-fund some grants. The industry representatives have chosen to be observers rather than full members of the PAC.All members of the PAC are there in an ex-officio capacity.

The Mountain Recreation Group is a working group established by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and is accountable to SDS. Group meetings are chaired by the SDS Mountain Recreation Co-ordinator and attended by individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds with an interest in this area of work, including representatives from sportscotland. The dissemination of the group's minutes of meetings is a matter for SDS.

As detailed in the latest Land Reform Action Plan Progress Report, issued on 7 December 2001 and copied to all ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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 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.