I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7961 on 18 January 2008. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code providesguidance on the possible dangers to members of the public of walking in fields occupiedby livestock. In addition Scottish Natural Heritage has developed a range of signagetemplates for use by land managers which relate to commonly encountered access issues.These were advertised in farming papers and magazines and distributed free of charge.The templates can be downloaded from the Scottish Outdoor Access website www.outdooraccess-scotland.com.

All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish Natural Heritage(SNH) is supporting a programme of research to monitor the operation andeffectiveness of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. In addition, a recent reviewundertaken by external consultants to consider the effectiveness of currentpromotion and education programmes concluded that the significant multi channelcampaign delivered by SNH had succeeded in raising awareness and improvedunderstanding of the code.

I am satisfied that existingguidance on this matter is satisfactory and proportionate. The Scottish OutdoorAccess Code provides guidance on access to areas occupied by livestock and wasdeveloped in conjunction with land management bodies and the Health and SafetyExecutive. The National Access Forum which considers national issues relatingto access rights, recently discussed access with dogs in areas with cattle inextensive open grazings. The Health and Safety Executive has also produced anInformation Sheet on the topic of cattle and public access aimed at farmersincluding advice on sign posting alternative routes to enable the generalpublic to avoid fields with livestock, without unreasonably interfering withresponsible access. The National Farmers Union has distributed a Public Access to Farmland brochure which provides a brief introduction forfarmers, crofters and growers on their rights and responsibilities.

A detailed topographical surveyboth above and below the road has been undertaken and this will be followed by detailedground condition investigations. This work is essential to allow the design of thepermanent measures to fully stabilise this section of road, improve drainage bothwithin and adjacent to the road, and stabilise the ground affected by the landslip.

It is not possible to confirmwhen the traffic lights will be removed because until the investigations are completeand fully assessed, the scale and cost of the improvement works will not be known.

Remedial works, which includedthe placement of 200 tons of rock on the roadside embankment, have temporarily stabilisedthe road. Unstable material was removed from the landslip area above the road. Safetybarriers have been erected and temporary traffic signals introduced to protect roadusers and the carriageway. Regular monitoring of the slopes above and below theroad is being carried out by specialist staff. A topographical survey of the slopeshas been undertaken, and ground investigations are currently being determined toassess the ground above and below the road for stability and drainage replacementworks.

The membership of the Regional Proposal Assessment Committees (RPACs) is restricted to officials frompublic bodies, primarily Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate(SGRPID), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry Commission (FCS), the ScottishEnvironmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and an enterprise representative from thelocal enterprise companies (LEC) or a relevant local authority.

The decision to restrictthe membership to public officials was taken in response to a strong view expressedby a number of different stakeholders during the consultation on the Strategy Planin summer 2006, that applicants would be very uncomfortable with confidential businessand financial information being open to scrutiny by private sector bodies or individuals.

However, the RPACshave involved a range of private and third sector stakeholders and representativebodies, including those representing farmers and crofters, in the process of settingthe regional priorities against which all funding proposals will be assessed, andwill continue to engage with these bodies on the priorities and the operation of the programme as it goes forward to full implementation.

I am currently consideringthe NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee’s (NRAC) report and the views submittedto me by the Health and Sport Committee and by health boards. I have not yet madea decision on how to take NRAC’s recommendations forward.

However, I am awarethat there are concerns about the costs of providing health services in remote andrural areas and I will be closely considering these representations before reachinga decision.

Yes. I amcurrently considering the report of the NHSScotland Resource AllocationCommittee which makes recommendations for changes to the Arbuthnott formula forfunding allocations to NHS boards. I will give full consideration to all therepresentations that have been made to me, including those relating to thecosts of providing health services in remote and rural areas.

I am currently consideringthe NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee’s report and the views submitted tome by the Health and Sport Committee and by health boards. I expect to make a decisionbased on the report, and all the comments I have received, early in the New Year.

The earliest thatany change could be introduced would be in relation to allocations for 2009-10.As I have already indicated, if I decide to make any adjustments to healthboards’ relative funding, no board would receive less funding than it does at present.Any resultant changes would be phased in over a number of years as has been thepractice under both the previous SHARE and Arbuthnott formulae.

On 24 October, weannounced an aid package worth around £25 million in response to foot-and-mouthdisease. Most of the aid was directed at the sheep sector because it wasparticularly badly affected by the outbreak. There are currently no plans forfurther measures to support the sheep sector.