Chamber and committees

The Executive has set out a clear direction in A Smart, Successful Scotland and we will follow this. There are no plans for a super-ministry.

In terms of section 2(1)(g) of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 Scottish Natural Heritage is empowered to acquire, hold and dispose of land or any interest in or right over land. Most land owned by SNH consists of areas designated as National Nature Reserves. In these cases, ownership of land can enhance SNH's ability to manage and protect important areas of high natural heritage value, taking into account, as required by section 3(1)(f) of the 1991 act, the interests of local communities.

Ministers have not issued any directions to Scottish Natural Heritage under the 1991 act. It is standard practice for executive non-departmental public bodies to be subject to directions given by the relevant minister, but this is regarded as a power of last resort. The Strategic Framework in place (Management Statement, Financial Memorandum and conditions attached to the annual Grant-In-Aid letters) has proved more than adequate for the effective discharge of SNH's statutory functions.

In accordance with our contract with BEAR Scotland Ltd and to ensure value for money for the repairs to the section of the A830 between Borrodale and Arisaig, the work will be put out to tender. The design, preparation of tender documents, tender period and the appointment of contractors to carry out the work mean that it will be impossible to carry out the repairs before the tourist season. In recognition of the importance of this route, consultations will take place with interested parties on the optimum timing of the works and the traffic management regime to achieve the minimum disruption. In the interim the strategy to undertake urgent repairs and increase the frequency of safety inspections to ensure road safety is maintained will continue.

As part of the classification process required under Council Regulation 999/2001, as amended, all member states including the UK were invited to make an application to determine their BSE status against agreed criterion.The UK application was subject to discussion with all the devolved administrations, before it was submitted to the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee for evaluation.Regulation 999/2001 allows for a member state to notify the Commission of any epidemiological evidence or other information which might lead to a change in BSE status. As far as the Executive is aware, neither France nor the Republic of Ireland have applied to have their original classification as "low incidence" re-examined.

The Scottish Executive methodology for identification of groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones is detailed at paragraphs 13 to 15 and Annex 3 of the consultation paper Protection of Scotland's Water Environment: Consultation on Further Scottish Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Parliament's Reference Centre Bib. number 18665). The issues and objectives of designation are summarised at paragraphs 2 to 18 of the draft Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment at Annex II of the consultation paper Water Quality: Action Programmes for Scottish Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: A Consultation (Bib. number 20823). The answer to question S1W-22488 on 12 February 2002, covers the requirements of the EC Nitrates Directive for designation of nitrate vulnerable zones. The supporting scientific evidence and monitoring data details for each of the proposed nitrate vulnerable zones are available from the British Geological Survey report Groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones for Scotland (Bib. number 18567).

No further amounts will be paid to Flour City Architectural Metals UK Limited. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that, with the exception of one, all trade packages to replace the work contracted to Flour City Architectural Metals UK Ltd have been let. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be liable for the cost of the works.

The Scottish Executive meets airlines, including British Airways, on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters, including the cost of flights and the encouragement of new services.

The Scottish ministers have entered into two contracts with BEAR Scotland Ltd, one in respect of the management and maintenance of the North West Unit and one for the North East Unit. There have been a limited number of minor alterations to these contracts since 1 April 2001. The construction of a new grade separated junction has also added to BEAR's management and maintenance responsibilities. The level of remuneration paid to BEAR will be increased to cover these additional responsibilities, in accordance with the rates specified in the trunk road contracts.

Ministers meet regularly with MSPs of all parties, both formally and informally. No central records are kept but, depending on the nature of the meeting, a record may be prepared by the Minister's Private Office or other Scottish Executive officials.