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The Scottish Executive is not responsible for the maintenance of the Murray Fountain in James Square, Crieff. Responsibility for the maintenance, repair and protection of statues and monuments lies with the owner, or the body in which it is vested. However, section 96 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 enables local authorities to require the owner of any statue or monument not owned by them, which is located in a public place, to keep it in good repair.

Appointments to public bodies are made solely on merit following a fair and open process that involves independent scrutiny. An applicant's political activity or affiliation has no bearing on the criteria for selection.

It has been claimed for many years that Johne's disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium var paratuberculosis (MAP) is at least part of the cause of Crohn's Disease in people. The evidence is inconclusive. The UK Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens reviewed the evidence in 1992 and 1998. On both occasions they concluded that a causal link could not be established on current evidence.

No figures are available for Johne's disease, as it is not a notifiable animal disease.However, the Surveillance Group on Diseases and Infections of Animals has set up a working group and part of its remit will be to look into the prevalence of the disease in the national herd.

The Surveillance Group on Diseases and Infections of Animals has set up a Surveillance Working Group to look into Johne's disease in the national herd. As part of their remit the group aims to determine:the prevalence of the disease in the national herd;the consequences of the disease in animal health and welfare, andthe development of control measures.

The Executive has no plans to collate information on the percentage of children in private residential care homes that have been prescribed Ritalin and similar class drugs.The decision on whether or not to prescribe a drug for a patient is always a matter for the clinical judgement of the patient's doctor, informed by advice and guidance about the drug.The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission) in regulating services against the legislative requirements and the relevant national care standards requires providers of care homes for children (independent and local authority), to keep accurate up-to-date records of all medicines for the use of service users. These records are kept on the premises from which the care service is provided.

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. CSO is currently funding two biomedical research projects on autism. They are being conducted at the University of Aberdeen and Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh. In addition, CSO will be contributing £250,000 to the Medical Research Council's UK-wide programme of research on autism, the strategy for which is currently being developed.

The Scottish Executive has no such plans. The provision of services to meet the needs of people with these disorders is a matter for local health and social care organisations.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The information requested is not available.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The information requested is not available.