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Nuclear Energy

13. Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the future of nuclear energy provision in Scotland. [65310]

Mrs. Liddell: The future role of nuclear energy in the UK is one of the issues included in the current consultation which follows the PIU review of energy policy to 2050 and which forms part of the preparation for a Government White Paper around the turn of the year.

Scottish Regiments

14. Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the implications for Scotland of the future of Scottish regiments. [65311]

Mrs. McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer).

Enterprise

15. Mr. Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met CBI Scotland to discuss enterprise in Scotland. [65312]

Mrs. Liddell: I attended a dinner with CBI Scotland's Growing Business Forum on 24 June, together with the Scottish Executive Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, to discuss a range of issues relating to enterprise in Scotland.

Cross-border Road Links

16. Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive on cross-border road links, with special reference to the A1. [65313]

Mrs. McGuire: I have regular discussions with Scottish Ministers on a variety of transport issues including cross-border road links. The Scottish Executive

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plan to upgrade the A1 to dual carriageway standard between Howburn and Houndwood in the Scottish Borders at a cost of nearly £5 million. Construction is due to start on 15 July and should be completed in 2003.

Euro

17. Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent meetings she has had with business and industrial leaders regarding the impact on Scotland of the United Kingdom joining the euro. [65314]

Mrs. Liddell: I have regular meetings with businesses and industrial leaders to discuss a wide range of issues.

The Government's policy on membership of the single currency remains as set out by the Chancellor in October 1997, and restated by the Prime Minister in February 1999.

The five economic tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case can be made.

Scottish Parliament

18. Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she plans to make a statement on the consultation process on the size of the Scottish Parliament. [65315]

Mrs. Liddell: I expect to be in a position to announce the outcome of the consultation on the size of the Scottish Parliament in the autumn.

Airports

19. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the ability of Scotland's airport infrastructure to keep up with projected growth in passenger numbers. [65316]

Mrs. Liddell: The Government will, jointly with the Scottish Executive, very shortly publish a consultation document on the future of Scotland's air services and airports for the next 30 years. We intend to undertake an extensive consultation process. I hope that this will result in a productive debate on all aspects of the matter.

Drug Crime (Asset Seizures)

20. Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the action being taken to seize the assets of drug barons in Scotland. [65317]

Mrs. McGuire: Strengthening the powers to confiscate illegal gains, from drug dealing and also other serious crimes, is a priority for the Government. The Proceeds of Crime Bill will put in place an enhanced and effective system for seizing assets that have resulted from criminal activity.

Common Fisheries Policy

21. Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the European common fisheries policy as it affects Scotland. [65318]

Mrs. McGuire: Responsibility for fisheries policy in Scotland rests with the Scottish Executive.

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The European Commission has recognised that the Common Fisheries Policy is in need of reform. HM Government and the Scottish Executive are working together to ensure that the United Kingdom's and Scotland's interests are fully represented as member states discuss the Commission's reform proposals.

Asbestosis Compensation

22. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in securing the payment of compensation to asbestosis victims in Scotland. [65319]

Mrs. Liddell: There continues to be good progress. In relation to Chester Street, over £3 million has now been paid out by the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in cases where the insurance policyholder is insolvent. In addition, the Government have welcomed the recent judicial decision by the House of Lords in relation to the Fairchild case.

Manufacturing

23. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the recent performance of the manufacturing industry in Scotland. [65320]

Mrs. McGuire: The manufacturing sector continues to be very important to the economy of Scotland, employing around 281,000 in December 2001 and supporting a further 180,000 jobs in the Scottish economy.

Oil and Gas Taxation

24. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the oral answer of 11 June 2002, Official Report, column 708, on oil and gas taxation, what action she has taken to investigate the procedures for subcontracting work in the oil industry. [65321]

Mrs. Liddell: I take every opportunity in discussions with the oil and gas companies to underline the strengths of the UK supply and contracting industries. Provided that the UK supply and contracting industries can remain competitive in the European and global context I am confident that they will continue to win work.

Financial Exclusion

25. Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next plans to meet representatives from credit unions in Scotland to discuss financial exclusion. [65322]

Mrs. McGuire: I am very aware of the importance of credit unions' role in tackling financial exclusion in Scotland and look forward to meetings with representatives. The Financial Services Authority commenced its new regulatory regime for credit unions at the beginning of July. This regime is in place to ensure that depositors are appropriately protected. The Scottish Executive have made available funding support which, among other aims, is designed to help unions adjust to the new arrangements.

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ADVOCATE-GENERAL

European Law

30. Mr. Connarty: To ask the Advocate-General what role she has in relation to challenges which are alleged to be contraventions of European law. [65327]

The Advocate-General: Court actions against the Scottish Executive or challenges to legislation of the Scottish Parliament alleging failure to comply with European law must be intimated to me as devolution issues. I then decide whether it would be appropriate for me, as Advocate-General, to intervene. That will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case.

European Convention on Human Rights

31. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Advocate-General what representations she has received in the previous month relating to possible breaches of rights within the scope of the European Convention on Human Rights. [65328]

The Advocate-General: In the past month 22 devolution issues, intimated to me in terms of the Scotland Act, have concerned matters under the European Convention on Human Rights. I have received no other representations about the ECHR.

Devolution

32. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised with her since 11 June. [65329]

The Advocate-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris).

33. Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised since 11 June under the Scotland Act 1998. [65330]

The Advocate-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris).

34. Mr. Savidge: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised since 11 June under the Scotland Act 1998. [65331]

The Advocate-General: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris).

35. Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised since 11 June under the Scotland Act 1998. [65332]

The Advocate-General: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris).

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