Chamber and committees

I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:The undertaking of consolidation work, at an early date, would be advantageous for the monument. This is a matter for the owner of the monument, who will be aware of which works are most pressing. Historic Scotland would be happy to offer advice and would welcome an application for scheduled monument consent in respect of such consolidation works.

As stated in the White Paper Renewing Local Democracy: The Next Steps, published in March 2002, there are no plans to review local authority boundaries or the number of councils in the foreseeable future. The Review of Scotland's Cities published on 9 January 2003 identified that the prospects for Inverness's future are better than ever before, the city having established itself as the principal administrative and service centre for the Highlands. The wider Highlands benefits by having access to an unrivalled set of services in the region and the city benefits by the local jobs and growth its Highland Capital status brings. There is a clear and strong interdependence between the wider Highlands and the City of Inverness. The Review of Scotland's Cities made clear that cities can only be successful as part of a successful city-region and emphasised the importance of all city and regional stakeholders working in partnership. Inverness and the wider Highlands has the great advantage of having no artificial administrative boundaries to impede the development of a cohesive city-region. In that context the Scottish Executive has very strongly welcomed the recent establishment by local stakeholders, including Highland Council, of a City Partnership to address the particular needs of Inverness and its relationship with the surrounding region.

I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:Most listed buildings already have a contemporary use and listed building consent is the process by which necessary changes to allow on-going use are managed. The process is managed primarily by local authorities, with advice as requested, from Historic Scotland. Difficulties arise when listed buildings go out of use. In such circumstances the Scottish ministers' Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas encourages local authorities to display the greatest possible flexibility in considering alterations necessary to ensure a continuing future in a new use. This includes conversion to contemporary domestic use. In the case of a scheduled monument it is usually expected that the monument will be conserved in the state in which it is found. Restoration for whatever use, be it domestic, commercial or interpretative is a major departure from this. In assessing any such major intervention, consideration is given to the impact of the proposals on those aspects of the monument which lend it significance. A monument may be so outstandingly important for the evidence it embodies that nothing should be done which might compromise the integrity of that evidence. A monument may also be a significant source of artistic or literary inspiration, or may have particular resonances at a national or local level in its ruined state. The production of a Conservation Plan should identify those aspects of a particular monument's significance which should be safeguarded. Restoration, for whatever function, is considered acceptable in cases where such an action is compatible with this significance.

I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:Of the 66 representations received about the future of Castle Tioram, 62 were in favour and four objected to the plans put forward by the current owners to redevelop the castle.

The time taken for Eaga to respond depends on the kind and number of enquiries and it is not practicable to set a general time limit. Eaga answer all telephone enquiries immediately. Letters are acknowledged as soon as possible after receipt and a full reply is generally issued within another 10 working days.

This information is not collected. Information collected by Eaga about the central heating programme can be found on their website at www.eaga.co.uk/grants/scotland. Information not shown is not collected regularly.

In their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill, the Education, Culture and Sport Committee asked Scottish ministers to review the roles and responsibilities of Historic Scotland. Ministers are actively considering this request and will respond to the committee in advance of the Stage 2 discussions on the bill.

Officials of Historic Scotland are civil servants of the Scottish Executive and directly accountable to me through the Chief Executive.In their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill, the Education, Culture and Sport Committee have asked the Scottish Executive to consider how Scottish ministers may be advised on built heritage issues, in addition to the advice provided by Historic Scotland. Ministers are considering this request and will be responding in advance of the stage 2 discussions on the bill.

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 confirmed by the then First Minister in July 1999 in the answer given to question S1W-696 on 28 July 1999. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.Scottish ministers are considering the suggestion made by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee in their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill that the roles and responsibilities of Historic Scotland should be reviewed, and will be responding to the committee prior to Stage Two consideration of the bill.

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 considered by Historic Scotland as too important to the nation to warrant any change other than the least intervention necessary for their preservation.