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The Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit has reported that discussions with Tayside Police about the fatal accident on the A90 at Friarton Bridge in November 2001 did not identify any road defect or requirement for specific engineering measures to be undertaken. Notwithstanding this report, BEAR Scotland Ltd has been asked to investigate the Friarton Bridge area in general, as part of the annual trunk road safety programme, to determine whether any measures could be introduced to improve safety at this location.

It is for the board to consider their position in light of local needs and planned best responses to those needs, against the background of expectation set out in the original Framework for Mental Health and the support group forward agenda which includes specific attention on the creation/expansion of eating disorder services.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to arrange a ministerial visit to the Ballinluig junction. However, officials have visited the site on many occasions to meet with local community representatives, Tayside Police and BEAR Scotland Ltd. Visits have included safety inspections, safety audits, and onsite meetings to discuss ways of increasing safety at the junction.In addition, I have met with various parties to discuss this matter including John Swinney MSP, local Community Council representatives and the Chief Constables of Tayside Police and the Northern Constabulary.

The Scottish Executive's Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit will meet with Tayside Police to determine the circumstances of the accident and consider whether immediate remedial measures need to be undertaken.

In 1995 Tayside Regional Council carried out a review of options for providing grade separation of the Ballinluig junction, by providing slip roads connecting the northbound carriageway of the A9 to the A827 Ballinluig to Killin Road. This study took into account earlier work carried out by Acer Consultants in 1992, which considered the provision of low flow grade separation. The outcome of the Tayside Regional Council's study was that none of the options brought forward could be economically justified within the competing priorities of the trunk road programme at that time.At my request, consultants are now re-examining options for improving road safety at this junction, including those previously considered by Tayside Regional Council with a view to identifying and costing an improvement scheme that may be taken forward.

The pattern of acute hospital services in Tayside is a matter for the NHS board, in consultation with its planning partners and the people of Tayside. The decision to withdraw acute services from Stracathro was a clinical safety issue and was not taken on cost grounds. It is vital that health care services are sustainable, safe, and take account of local priorities.

We need to assess the position carefully and provide the right response. We have therefore brought together representatives of the industry and of the support agencies to consider the nature of the problem that we face. VisitScotland and the British Tourist Authority are urgently reviewing their marketing strategies. We are continuing to review our strategy for the tourism industry. This review will take into account the current world situation and the effects that the foot-and-mouth disease crisis had on the tourism industry.

We announced in August, as part of the foot-and-mouth disease recovery package, that £300,000 would be spent on developing environmentally based tourism opportunities for the farming sector. Initial work has been undertaken. The project will focus on Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.