Chamber and committees

The current estimate of the cost for the remedial measures is £30,000.

The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that the reference in The Herald newspaper of 26 September 2000 was to the tender documentation relating to the external cladding of the MSP building. That document states that, "preference will be given to materials from sources that will reduce the need for transportation and the associated environmental disadvantages". This is one of a number of criteria which must be considered carefully by the HPG in reaching decisions on these matters.

I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group (HPG) that the inclusion of the stipulation, quoted from the tender documentation for the MSP block "cladding" package, goes beyond the statutory requirements for contract tendering, under existing EC regulations. The HPG is confident that, together with the assurances from the successful cladding contractor, the stipulation will ensure that the materials are obtained from a responsible and ethical source. Additional checks will be subsequently carried out, the arrangements for which will be determined by the HPG on the basis of the best available professional advice.

The National Library of Scotland Act 1925 provides for the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates to be an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, and for five other members to be appointed by the Faculty. The statutory provision reflects the National Library's origins in the Advocates' Library. In due course we will undertake the review of current library legislation announced in the National Cultural Strategy and seek a legislative opportunity to make any appropriate changes.

The information is set out in the following table. The figures are drawn from the catalogue of the permanent collections of the National Galleries of Scotland and include paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, miniatures and some sculpture including medals, medallions and other items. Many of the items classified as "in-store" are kept unframed but can be viewed by members of the public by appointment. Others are regularly transferred between store and display.

Category	Total Number
On display in public galleries	4,948
On loan to government departments	151
On loan elsewhere	14
In store	45,196
None of the above	48
Total	50,357

Further information on the collections can be obtained from the Registrar of the National Galleries of Scotland.

The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that, in the context of the specification for granite cladding, "identical characteristics" means that the "essential nature" of any alternative stone offered must be "the very same", in terms of properties and attributes, as the stone from the Scottish quarries. Under EC procurement rules it would not have been permissible to specify "Scottish granite" which would prevent other EC member states an opportunity to compete, when they may be able to supply suitable alternatives.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack on a wide range of operational matters.

The costs were not broken down by individual quarries.

Phase 1 of the research (published in April 1998) concluded that the potential environmental benefits lie mainly in the restoration of former quarries. These include the creation of recreational amenity and sports facilities; after-use as an essential service (e.g. waste disposal, water storage); creation of wildlife habitat and geological exposure; and recovery of archaeological remains and recording of information. These benefits are applicable to quarries in general. No monetary value was placed on the benefits.

UK research on The Environmental Costs and Benefits of the Supply of Aggregates was published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in July 1999. This surveyed a number of quarries, including two in Scotland, to derive a monetary value that the public placed on the impact of quarrying. There are no plans to undertake further research.