Chamber and committees

Following a public local inquiry, the Scottish Ministers accepted the Reporter's recommendation that a planning application for wheelchair access to the High Kirk of St Giles be refused. This decision was intimated in the Scottish Executive Development Department's letter of 10 September 1999. It is open to the applicants to come forward with acceptable alternative proposals for wheelchair access.Significantly, Disability Scotland, which aims to be the national voice of the disabled movement in Scotland, are also in favour of an alternative point of access. In their view, alternative means of providing access for disabled people, most notably at the north door, would be reasonable access and would also provide a sociably acceptable, independent point of access into the cathedral, as well as being more acceptable in planning terms.

Government Departments have discretion as to whether they produce public documents in Gaelic. We encourage the production of Gaelic versions of documents which have a clear focus on the Gaelic community.

I am aware of proposals to enable the Glasgow Highlanders' Institute to replace the premises which it closed some years ago. The Scottish Executive has no plans to provide assistance.

The money will be found from savings identified within my budget in the current year.

The Executive became aware of an expected increase in the level of this year's deficit on 5 October 1999.

Discussions are continuing between the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Opera. Scottish Opera has not requested any assistance from the Scottish Executive.

We have asked the Scottish Arts Council to keep us informed of developments in its discussions with Scottish Opera. There have in addition been meetings between my officials and Scottish Opera.

Discussions are continuing between Scottish Opera and the Scottish Arts Council.

Historic Scotland has a policy of charging for entry to its staffed sites, including religious monuments such as Elgin Cathedral, St Andrews Cathedral and the Border Abbeys. This helps to offset maintenance costs. The exceptions are Glasgow Cathedral and Dunblane Cathedral which serve as parish churches. Iona Abbey is not a parish church and most visitors are tourists who are already asked to make a £2 donation. Historic Scotland does not plan to charge Iona residents, staff and resident guests of the Iona community, or those attending services at the Abbey.

Historic Scotland will manage Iona Abbey as professionally and sensitively as all the other religious sites in its care.