What the present plans are for the development of the European Community Initiatives INTERREG II and EQUAL.

Following the adoption by the Commission on 14 April of guidelines for the Community initiative EQUAL, concerning equal opportunities in employment, the Scottish Executive has worked with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations to prepare proposals for a UK plan. Scottish organisations were consulted on its possible content in the summer. Subsequently the UK Government made proposals to the Commission and Scottish Executive officials are now involved in the continuing discussions with the Commission. We have kept the European Committee informed of developments. I expect implementation of the EQUAL programme to begin in the New Year.Guidelines for INTERREG II, concerned with inter-regional co-operation were adopted in May. As with EQUAL the Scottish Executive is working closely with the UK Government, in the development of programmes for the North Sea, Atlantic and North West Europe programme areas. The Scottish Executive has sole UK responsibility for the Northern Periphery Programme, involving the Northern parts of Scotland, Finland, Sweden and Norway as well as other North Atlantic countries such as Iceland. These programmes are being developed in co-operation with other respective Member States and 'third countries'. Again we have kept the European Committee informed of developments and expect implementation to begin in the New Year.