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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 Executive.Scottish ministers can request that officials of Historic Scotland seek ministerial agreement to decisions which can be made under delegated powers.

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 be most appropriately obtained.

All public bodies can benefit from informed scrutiny and review from time to time.

The recent findings published by Scottish Gas and Help the Aged support data from the Scottish Crime Survey which suggest that Scotland is a safer place to live not only for older people but also generally. However, whilst our statistics tend to confirm that older people in Scotland are almost half as likely to be victims of violent crime as those in England and Wales, the level of fear of crime amongst older people in Scotland, whilst still lower than England and Wales, is disproportionate to the level of crime they experience. This message needs to be reinforced and the additional investment we are making to tackle serious crime, such as violence and drugs, the measures we have introduced and the targets we have set to reduce these and other crimes should have a positive effect on how our communities feel.

In the answer given to question S1W-24583 on 28 March 2002, I undertook to continue to report quarterly on the numbers of letters received by ministers and our performance in answering them. In the quarter April to June 2002, 3,898 letters were received for ministerial reply of which 72% received a reply within 17 working days, and 87% received a reply within 25 working days. This maintains the performance of the first quarter of 2002 when 72% of letters received a reply within 17 working days and 88% received a reply within 25 working days.

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.

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.

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 the IaaO designation, for the National Steering Group's consideration.

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 in the Memorandum of Guidance on listed buildings and conservation areas. Over 2,500 listed buildings receive listed building consent each year. The restoration of a scheduled ancient monument is subject to different procedures and restoration may remove a standing structure's scheduled status.Every alteration to or restoration of a historic building has some positive and some negative effects on the preservation of historic fabric and our appreciation of it. The decision on whether or not to restore has to weigh these in the balance. There are a range of examples of listed buildings and scheduled monuments being restored each year. Fenton Tower in East Lothian is a good example as it was both scheduled and listed (at Category A). The Tower is a late 16th century/early 17th century towerhouse standing in agricultural land near North Berwick. It had been missing its roof and floors since at least the 19th century and was typical of a wide range of similar structures in Scotland. Historic Scotland was involved in the restoration of Fenton Tower on behalf of Scottish ministers. Working closely with the project team, Historic Scotland gave extensive advice, granted scheduled monument and listed building consents for the works and grant-aided some of the costs of reinstatement of the historic fabric.

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 ministers, sets out its role and responsibilities. All functions performed by the agency are carried out on behalf of Scottish ministers. Legislation governing Scotland's built heritage either empowers or places a duty on Scottish ministers, who then direct Historic Scotland to meet all aspects of their built heritage functions.The main legislation under which Historic Scotland acts, on behalf of Scottish ministers, is as follows:Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953;Protection of Wrecks Act 1973;Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, andPlanning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997The agency's work will also be guided by the Valetta Convention to which the UK Government has subscribed.