§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the criteria for calculating the United Kingdom's contribution to European Union finances; and if he will estimate the Scottish contribution to the European Union based on these criteria. [13798]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 31 January 1997]: The arrangements for financing the EC budget are set out in the Community's "Own Resources Division" Council decision 94/729/EC, Euratom, adopted by the Community in 1994. A copy of the ORD is held by the Library. The most significant effect of the ORD is to increase the Community's own resources ceiling from 1.2 per cent of Community GNP in 1994 to 1.27 per cent. in 1999. Because the data used to determine own resources contributions are collated for the UK as a whole, it would only be possible to estimate a disaggregated contribution for Scotland at disproportionate cost.
Notifications of Lyme Disease by Health Board Area4 1994 to 19961 Year Argyll and Clyde Ayrshire and Arran Fife Grampian Greater Glasgow Highland Lothian Tayside 19942 2 — 1 — 1 2 2 1 19952 — 1 — 1 1 2 — — 19963 — — — — 2 1 — — Source: 1 NHS Information and Statistics Division. 2 Confirmed notifications 4 Provisional notifications subject to amendment where a revised diagnosis is subsequently received 4 There were no statutory notifications from 7 Health Boards. Lyme disease is transmitted from animals to man by the bite of the adult female tick. It is not a common condition in Scotland, but the notification requirements introduced in 1990 enable monitoring of its incidence to be maintained.
The Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage have issued guidance to their field staff on precautions that should be taken to avoid tick bites.