Chamber and committees

There is no separate monitoring or ring-fencing of expenditure by the various supporting agencies on a company basis.

This was discussed with the industry, but was seen as less important than other priorities, such as the industry's image, attracting young people into the industry and training issues.

To date, two champions helped us at the launch of the Scottish Textiles Forum last year, and two have attended textile promotion functions at Dover House. Several of them have achieved positive press coverage about textiles.

I understand that the search and rescue capabilities at Prestwick will remain unchanged when HMS Gannet otherwise closes at the end of March. However, the precise details are a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

The ash disposal was the subject of a contract between DEFRA and Barr Limited and the cost is a commercially confidential matter.

In total some 4,828 tonnes of waste material, including pyre ash, soil and bottoming, was transported and buried at Garlaff landfill site. Three thousand, seven hundred and twenty-one tonnes were transported from the two continuous burning sites in Dumfries and Galloway and 1,107 tonnes from the site in the Scottish Borders.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22664.

The Executive has allocated £100,000 to support the Burns Festival being developed by Ayrshire and Arran Tourist board. £45,000 has also been given to North Ayrshire Council to support the development of a children's opera on Burns, in conjunction with Scottish Opera for All. A further £100,000 has also been made available to the Scottish Arts Council in this and each of the next two financial years to support projects with a Burns theme in areas of social deprivation. VisitScotland is also currently in discussion with the Robert Burns World Federation to develop a Burns trail.

The Executive recognises the important role that the Burns Cottage Museum plays in its local area. I recognise the significant investment by South Ayrshire Council in the park and I welcome their continued interest in its future along with the other partners overseeing the park's Development Plan. None of the partners has presented to the Executive any request for support. While I would be happy to consider any such request it would be against the background that as a non-national museum the Burns Cottage Museum is not the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

The Scottish Executive is responsible for National Museums and Galleries whereas the responsibility for non-national museums, including the Burns Cottage Museum and its collections, is the responsibility of local agencies. The Burns National Heritage Park was formed in 1995 drawing together Burns assets in Alloway including local authority assets. The park is under a joint management board of the local authority, Burns Monument Trust and the local enterprise company. I understand that the management board sent some of the items from the collection at the Burns Museum for storage to the National Library of Scotland.I understand that the Burns National Heritage Park are working on plans to develop the park further, centred on the museum.