Rhoda Grant

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a fundamental and insurmountable incompatibility between the restoration plans for Castle Tioram proposed by the castle's current owners and the Executive's position in respect of the recent public local inquiry into those plans.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The public local inquiry gave the opportunity for all parties to be heard and for witnesses, including Historic Scotland, to be cross-examined. The inquiry was conducted by an independent reporter who recommended to Scottish ministers that scheduled monument …

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to making Historic Scotland a non-departmental public body.

Answer · Elaine Murray: This was one of a number of options considered and rejected when Historic Scotland was established as an executive agency in 1991 and again as part of a review in 1994. The status of Historic Scotland as an executive agency, within the Scottish Executive, was…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the work of Historic Scotland could be assisted by it being accountable to a board representative of a range of different interests.

Answer · Elaine Murray: No. Historic Scotland is directly accountable to Scottish ministers and, through them, to this Parliament. However, ministers are currently considering ways in which independent advice on the built heritage and the discharge of functions relating to it might …

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there would be any advantages in Historic Scotland being subject to more scrutiny.

Answer · Elaine Murray: All public bodies can benefit from informed scrutiny and review from time to time.

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to resume control of powers and decisions currently delegated to Historic Scotland.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland is an agency of the Scottish Executive, within the Education Department, acting on behalf of Scottish ministers. Officials of Historic Scotland are civil servants of the Scottish Executive and directly accountable to me through the Chief Exe…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alter Historic Scotland's operating instructions as set out in Historic Scotland - Framework Document 2001.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The framework document reflects the responsibility of Historic Scotland to discharge statutory functions of Scottish ministers. The framework document will be revised to reflect the fact that Historic Scotland no longer fulfils the departmental sponsorship fu…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Historic Scotland's strategy is for securing the conservation of Castle Tioram.

Answer · Elaine Murray: In evidence to the Public Local Inquiry, Historic Scotland stated that it believed the appropriate conservation strategy was to secure it as a consolidated ruin and restore year-round public access.

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether officials at Historic Scotland are sufficiently accountable for their actions.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Officials of Historic Scotland are civil servants of the Scottish Executive and directly accountable to me through the Chief Executive.<P>In their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill, the Education, Culture and Sport Committee have asked the S…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Historic Scotland gives sufficient priority to ensuring the conservation of historic buildings by restoration for contemporary domestic use.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland recognises the importance of finding new uses for historic buildings. Many will be considered adaptable to appropriate change in order to secure continued use. They will be given consent and may attract grant. However, a small number are con…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct Historic Scotland to discuss long-term conservation measures with the current owners of Castle Tioram.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The owners of Castle Tioram have lodged an appeal with the Court of Session on a point of law. However, officials in Historic Scotland would be happy to discuss long-term conservation measures with them if an approach was made.

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether any further deterioration in the condition of Castle Tioram should be permitted.

Answer · Elaine Murray: In his report following the Public Local Inquiry the reporter found that the castle was inherently strong but concluded that without major consolidation work the risk of further collapse in five to 10 years was significant. Under section 5 of the Ancient Monu…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the position of Historic Scotland is in respect of at what point any further deterioration in the condition of Castle Tioram will compromise the castle's current historic interest.

Answer · Elaine Murray: In his report following the Public Local Inquiry the reporter found that the castle was inherently strong but concluded that without major consolidation work the risk of further collapse in five to 10 years was significant. Under section 5 of the Ancient Monu…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action Historic Scotland will take if the condition of Castle Tioram deteriorates to a point where its current physical form and interest is compromised.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Under section 5 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, if it appears to Scottish ministers that any works are urgently necessary for the preservation of a scheduled monument, they may enter the site of the monument and execute those works…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action Historic Scotland will take if Castle Tioram's physical structure deteriorates to a point where public access is denied for reasons of safety.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Castle Tioram was closed to the public following the issuing of a Dangerous Building Notice by the Highland Council in 1998. The notice was issued following engineering reports from the owners regarding the dangerous condition of the building. The castle rema…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions representatives of Historic Scotland met representatives of Castle Tioram before the recent public inquiry.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Representatives of Historic Scotland met representatives of Castle Tioram on four occasions prior to the recent public inquiry.

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it has received about the future of Castle Tioram.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Following the decision of Scottish ministers earlier this year to accept the reporter's recommendation following a Public Local Inquiry not to grant scheduled monument consent for the restoration of Castle Tioram 66 representations have been received.

25 Sep 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to improve the quality of life in the Highlands.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Among many other measures it takes in the Highlands, the Executive recently approved an additional £4.3 million to Highland Council to spend on quality of life initiatives.

11 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what examples it has of historic buildings which have been fully restored for contemporary use which have not removed the historic interest and the ability to interpret the history of the building and what role Historic Scotland played in the outcome achieved.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Listed building consent is required for the alteration or extension of a listed building in any manner that would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. Scottish Executive policy on listed building consent is set out…

11 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a fundamental incompatibility between the full and tasteful restoration of historic buildings for contemporary use and the ability to interpret such buildings for their historic interest.

Answer · Elaine Murray: There is no fundamental incompatibility. However, a basic distinction may be drawn between the adaptation for contemporary use of an occupied historic building and the restoration of a ruinous ancient monument. In the former case, where the historic interest …

11 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what statutes, treaties, conventions and other provisions gave rise to the powers and duties of Historic Scotland.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland is an Executive Agency within the Scottish Executive's Education Department and is directly accountable to Scottish ministers and, through them, to the Scottish Parliament. The agency's Framework Document, which is agreed by Scottish ministe…

11 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature is of the delegation of decisions and/or powers from ministers to officials of Historic Scotland; whether such delegation is explicitly specified; when such delegation was given; whether ministers will publish all documentation which specifies the nature and range of such …

Answer · Elaine Murray: The information requested is contained in <I>Historic Scotland's Framework Document 2001</I>, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 12376).

11 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Historic Scotland provides ministers or officials with draft answers to parliamentary questions concerning that agency.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Ministers reply to questions relating to policy issues based on drafts provided by Historic Scotland officials. Historic Scotland's Chief Executive replies to questions on operational matters.

11 Sep 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is educating children about road safety.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign to enable it to produce road safety education resources aimed at children of all ages. The campaign is developing and implementing a strategy for road safety education in Scottish sc…

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20533 by Lewis Macdonald on 29 November 2001, when it will publish the Performance Audit Group's independent report on the first year of operation of the new trunk road operating companies in accordance with the recommendation of the Auditor General …

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The report entitled <I>Report on the First Year of the New Trunk Road Operating Companies, 2001-02</I> will be published on Wednesday 4 September 2002. The report, which has been prepared by the Performance Audit Group, will be available on the Scottish Execu…

29 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale was given to the management group of Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge to report back on its proposals for enabling new areas to enter the initiative following the most recent meeting of the initiative's National Steering Group.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: At its June 2002 meeting the Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge (IaaO) National Steering Group asked the IaaO Management Group to report on these matters at the National Steering Group's next meeting in October 2002.

29 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the management group of Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge will produce proposals for enabling new areas to enter the initiative.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge (IaaO) Management Group will submit proposals to the next IaaO National Steering Group in October 2002 on the way forward for the Iomairt beyond 2003. These will include proposals on criteria for exit and entry to…

28 Aug 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the use of the not-for-profit trusts as a vehicle for increasing investment in public services.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive has been supporting developing work by Partnerships UK for some time with Argyll and Bute Council. Good progress has been made with the council in developing a variant model, founded on the standard public private partnership model, but dealing …

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any reports of incidents of poisoning during the 1989-90 trial of Nuvan500/Aquaguard by the Veterinary Products Committee.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No such reports have been received.

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Royal Society Inquiry into Infectious Diseases in Livestock will be published.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This report has been published today and copies have been made available to the convener and members of the Rural Development Committee. A copy has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. Number 22294) and the report can be viewed on the websit…

26 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to deliver on the commitment made in the UK Parliament in 1998 to extend the provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 in order to ensure that police officers who wish to disclose wrongdoing receive the same protection given to other workers under th…

Answer · Jim Wallace: Amendments have been tabled to the Police Reform Bill, currently before the UK Parliament, to fulfil this commitment by amending the Employment Rights Act 1996 so that police officers in England, Wales and Scotland are covered by the Public Interest Disclosur…