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Information on the number of registered dentists and the number of dentists practising outwith the National Health Service in Scotland (NHSiS) is not available centrally. The number of general dental practitioners practising within the NHSiS by health board area over the past nine years is shown in the table below:

General Dental Practitioners1, 2 Practising within the NHSiS by Health Board Area
	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Scotland	1,656	1,680	1,774	1,770	1,776	1,767	1,802	1,855	1,931
Argyll & Clyde	157	160	165	170	167	166	166	166	153
Ayrshire & Arran	118	120	126	133	126	128	133	138	127
Borders	32	34	40	35	38	35	33	34	35
Dumfries & Galloway	37	36	43	41	44	42	38	37	42
Fife	103	100	117	123	119	119	118	124	113
Forth Valley	80	83	79	77	77	81	82	92	96
Grampian	139	146	160	148	155	151	157	162	169
Greater Glasgow	340	348	358	347	356	341	355	354	413
Highland	63	68	72	77	79	71	81	80	85
Lanarkshire	147	141	147	148	149	161	161	172	170
Lothian	278	282	301	298	301	308	310	322	344
Orkney	3	4	4	10	4	5	4	5	6
Shetland	6	8	8	9	9	8	9	9	9
Tayside	142	140	145	141	141	139	143	148	157
Western Isles	11	10	9	13	11	12	12	12	12

Notes:

1. A small proportion of dentists work in more than one health board. In this table each dentist is counted only once2. Excludes trainees and assistants.

I attended the EU council meeting in December at which the proposals for a compulsory beef labelling scheme were deferred by the EU until 1 September 2000. I support the introduction of a mandatory beef labelling scheme that would provide clear information to consumers as soon as is practicable. Officials from my department are participating in discussions within the EU on the new regulations.

As explained in my answer of 24 December 1999 to a related question from Irene McGugan, the Scottish Executive issued a consultation paper seeking views from interested parties on this matter. Responses to the consultation exercise are being considered with a view to amending the Guidance Notes on the Food Labelling Regulations to clarify and strengthen the guidance relating to country of origin. No change to the Regulations themselves is proposed.

I refer the member to the answer given in S1W-3748.

This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board but they are currently in discussion with the Automobile Association.

I shall answer this and Mr Lochhead's subsequent question (S1W-3749) together.In the reply of 13 January to a similar question from Mr Lewis Macdonald (No. S1O-902) we be explained that there is no single method of allocating resources for tackling deprivation across the range of the Executive's programmes.The reply also pointed out that the Social Justice Report, published in November 1999, makes clear that we will exploring how planning systems can be developed to ensure expenditure is effective and relevant to the problems experienced by particular groups and communities.

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.

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 review of the Common Fisheries Policy is due to be completed by 2002. The first round of consultations between the European Commission, member states and the fishing industry was completed last year. We expect to see the Commission's response to this exercise shortly at which time we will review developments with the industry. We are in broad agreement with the priorities expressed by the industry, which include a greater regional dimension to the CFP, and the maintenance of six and 12 mile coastal water limits and the principle of relative stability. Other issues, such as reduction in discarding of catches and the integration of environmental factors within fisheries policies, will also feature within the CFP review.