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The study will be available tofeed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review that will determine the futureprogramme for transport investment.

Historic Scotland is expected to useits powers under the Ancient Monuments legislation pro-actively. It is not uncommonfor Historic Scotland to make it known in the course of visits of monument wardensand inspectors that support might be found for the consolidation or care of an importantmonument, even when the owner has not made a direct request for help. The grant-aidedconservation work at Moy and Cessford Castles came about after initial meetingswith the area inspector to discuss the condition and future care of the monuments.Typically, at such discussions the inspector will explain the grant applicationprocess and indicate the likelihood of a project receiving grant, although prospectiveapplicants are then encouraged to write to Historic Scotland to begin the processof formal consideration for grant.

Routinely, Historic Scotland also works with a range of communitygroups, conservation trusts and other bodies who wish to pursue the management ofkey historic environment assets which they do not themselves own, although suchbodies are required to obtain agreement from owners of sites affected by their proposalsbefore they can receive grant aid.

A strategic projects reviewfor all transport modes is currently in progress and consideration will be givento how information on future infrastructure programmes can best be provided to thecivil engineering industry.

Major projects which wouldbe cancelled after May 3 would of course have a highly negative impact on theinternational construction industry’s confidence in the Scottish market.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for moreinformation if required.

Note: *The anticipated costswill depend on the out-turn of the various risks associated with each of these projects,subject to limits of grants proposed for some public transport works.

I wrote to the Local Governmentand Transport Committee on 13 March 2007 to explain that the anticipated outturnforecast of the Kincardine Bridge has risen from the tender cost of £93.5millionplus VAT (as indicated in my statement on 16 March) to £102.5 million to includea number of items that do not form part of the core contract estimate such as provisionsfor grouting underground mine workings, public utilities works and engineering costs.Otherwise, the anticipated out-turn forecasts for all other projects in the programmeare the same as those quoted in my statement last March.

The details of these proposals,including the number of nursing care beds needed for the future andconsideration of population changes, are operational matters for NHS Highlandand The Highland Council. In considering these proposals, ministers will needto be satisfied that they are consistent with the principles set out in Deliveringfor Health and Executive policy for planning services for older people, andthat they have been developed with the full involvement of planning partnersand are based on robust evidence and best practice. Ministers will also need tobe satisfied that the board has undertaken public consultation in line withScottish Executive guidance.

The Scottish Health Council has yet to submit a report onNHS Highlands engagement and consultation process. Once all of the informationis available then ministers will consider the matter very carefully, includingall representations received, before coming to a final decision.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Where the calculatedprobability of flooding is greater than once in every 200 years, the SPP setsout appropriate planning responses for two different types of area. Firstly, inareas already built up the SPP indicates that residential development may besuitable on brownfield land provided that flood prevention measures alreadyexist, are under construction or are planned. Secondly, for undeveloped andsparsely developed areas, it says that they are not suitable for additionaldevelopment.

The SPP points out that thecalculated probability of a flood occurring has to be treated as a best estimateand not a precise forecast. Other factors including the depth of the water onthe land and the effects of a flood on access have to be taken intoconsideration on a case-by-case basis.

As a matter of law thedevelopment plan and other material considerations will have to be taken intoaccount in reaching a decision.

The Care Commissions corporate plan,including key performance indicators (KPIs), is approved by Scottish ministers.The plan for 2006-09 includes a KPI measuring the percentage of registrationscompleted within target times, based on the time between receipt of a validapplication and the date of registration.

In 2006-07 the target forcompleting childminders registration is 80% within three months. The definitionof this target allows for registrations which take more than three months toprocess from receipt of the valid application where the cause of delay wasoutwith the Care Commissions control. Delays can be caused, for example, byawaiting Disclosure Scotland information or references about medicalsuitability, or a request by the applicant for the application to be put onhold. It is reasonable to take these into account when measuring the CareCommissions performance.

On that basis, in Scotlandbetween 1 April 2006 and 31 January 2007, 84% of childminders were registeredwithin three months of receipt of a valid application.

My officials regularly meet theCare Commission to discuss performance against targets in the corporate planand remedial action where targets are not achieved.

Further information aboutregistration of care services can be obtained from the Chief Executive of theCare Commission:

Jacquie Roberts

Care Commission

Compass House

11 Riverside Drive

Dundee DD1 4NY

Telephone: 01382 207109 (Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive).