Chamber and committees

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.

There are no plans currentlyto amend the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Scottish Natural Heritage is responsiblefor monitoring the operation of the code and for ensuring that all issues whichrequire consideration will be considered as and when a formal review of thecode takes place.

Forall 11 Regional Proposal Assessment Committee areas there is an on-goingprocess of consultation on the development of the list of Regional Prioritiesinvolving the full range of stakeholder interests represented in rural Scotland. Representatives coveringforestry interests are engaged in this process. Regional Priorities are beingderived from existing priorities contained in a wide range of strategiesrelating to rural Scotland including the ScottishForestry Strategy. Once completed, these Regional Priorities will be used, byRegional Proposal Assessment Committees, which includes Forestry CommissionScotland in the assessment of proposals for funding. The process of updatingand refining Regional Priorities will continue throughout the Scottish Rural Development Plan funding period.

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.

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.

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.