Seòmar agus comataidhean

A reply to the letter of 8 May will be issued in advance of the Public Petitions Committee meeting on 18 June 2002. I will respond to the Petitions Committee on matters they have raised with me following the meeting of 7 May 2002.The member will be interested to know that The Scottish Transport Group (Dissolution) Order 2002 has been made today and will come into force on Friday 7 June 2002. Copies of the Order have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

The information requested is not held centrally. It is Executive practice to write to MSPs to tell them about forthcoming ministerial visits in their constituency and list area.

Three contractors from the short list of five invited to tender for the MSP block cladding package did not submit bids. Details of non-compliant bids are considered commercially confidential.

All tender bids received for Trade Packages are analysed by the Construction Managers, Design Team and Quantity Surveyors. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that following recommendation by the Construction Manager, the tender bid from Flour City was endorsed by the Design Team and approved by the Holyrood Project Team. The Parliament has received legal advice that documents should not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre while the SPCB's rights and entitlements are still being evaluated, as they may form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow.

No, the Scottish Transport Group is not obliged to lay the report and accounts of the individual pension schemes before Parliament. There is, however, a statutory requirement to present the Scottish Transport Group annual report and accounts to Parliament. The report and accounts for the final period, covering 1 April 2001 to the date of dissolution, is scheduled to be presented to Parliament in July, following completion of the audit process.

A generic copy of the contract document applicable to all four management and maintenance contracts is already available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 16573). The minor alterations to the two contracts with BEAR Scotland Ltd came into effect when the Executive wrote formally to BEAR. The majority of these alterations have not as yet been recorded in the individual contract documents. When they are, arrangements will be made for the generic copy to be amended.The minor alterations include improved communications with the National Driver Information and Control System (NADICS), new provision for direct communications between BEAR and the press and MSPs/MPs, and increased safety inspections on some routes.It would not be appropriate to publish details of the additional costs to be paid to BEAR as a result of these minor alterations because of commercial and contractual considerations. However, the costs are not significant in comparison with the existing contract costs.

Scottish Executive and BEAR Scotland Ltd are aware of the condition of the A830 which has been caused mainly by the wet weather and the freeze/thaw conditions over last winter. The action to repair potholes and undertake patching on the route has ensured it has remained safe.Mallaig Community Council wrote to the Scottish Executive on 12 May 2002 expressing concerns about the A830 and a reply confirmed that a structural maintenance scheme was programmed to be implemented in the autumn. Meantime, an interim strategy to undertake urgent repairs and increase the frequency of safety inspections has been formulated to ensure road safety is maintained. In addition to the repairs already carried out, further extensive patching works have been identified and will be implemented shortly.In recognition of the importance of this route, consultations have started with some of the interested parties on the optimum timing of the proposed works.

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.