Chamber and committees

Strategic environmental assessment will be a valuable tool in the delivery of our Programme for Government commitment to delivery of sustainable development. The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland has already taken significant steps to ensure that sustainable development is embedded in Government and these will take effect over coming months. The EC Directive is now expected to be adopted by the end of the year. The clarity and uniformity which the EC Directive offers will be of considerable assistance in enabling organisations to make decisions about programmes for themselves. We believe it important to implement the Directive as it finally emerges rather than to act prematurely on an interim text.

The Scottish Executive has contributed to the UK negotiating line on the proposed Directive.

Highlands & Islands Airports Limited prepares business cases for capital investment to determine best value for money. Analytical studies are also carried out on a regular basis to assess the lifespan and regulatory compliance of existing infrastructure. Proposed investments are considered and, where appropriate, prioritised in accordance with operational, statutory and regulatory demands and financial implications.

The maintenance strategy of Highlands & Islands Airports Limited for runways, taxiways and ramps is determined following independent inspection by expert consultants and consideration by the company of regulatory and safety requirements. Other maintenance requirements, including buildings, mechanical and electrical installations are determined by the company's engineers and prioritised in the light of consultation with airport managers.

The Board of HIAL is expected to oversee the strategic direction of the company and its expenditure, and to represent HIAL at the highest level. The Scottish Executive liaises on a regular basis with the Chairman of HIAL and meets the members through the presence of an assessor at board meetings.

The criteria used when selecting Members to the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) are:

Skills

Analytical and strategic skills;

Effective presentational, communication and negotiating skills;

Ability to provide inspiration and motivation for the HIAL Board;

*Ability to speak Gaelic;

Knowledge

Broad knowledge of Highlands and Islands issues;

Knowledge of aviation/transport issues;

*Knowledge of NDPBs/Nationalised Industries and the Public Policy Framework;

Experience

Proven experience at a senior level in the areas of business, finance, local government (aviation/transport);

Qualifications

Qualifications and/or experience in relevant subjects and issues such as business, finance, local government (aviation or transport).

* Desirable criteria (the remainder are necessary criteria)

The information is as follows:

Name	Remuneration	Appointment expiry date
Peter J Grant CBE, Chair	£18,188	28.02.2001
Robert Macleod, Managing Director	£61,965	08.06.2000
Francis W F Hamilton#	£5,807	31.07.2001
William K Semple#	£5,807	30.09.2000
William Brackenridge#	£5,807	30.11.2002
Stuart Edmond#	£5,807	31.03.2003

The Members of the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd are appointed to oversee the strategic direction of the company and its expenditure. Issues considered by the HIAL Board include financial, operational, development and miscellaneous responsibilities such as pay and the business priorities of the company. The time commitment of non-executive members is assumed to be two days per month and of the chairman 11/2 days per week.

#Non-Executive Members

Our guiding principles are the need to comply properly with EC regulations whilst ensuring that we do not impose any unnecessary or unreasonable burden on the agriculture industry.

All EU regulations, which impact on producers, were the subject of detailed scrutiny by a recent Red Tape Review panel of industry representatives. The panel investigated the perception that the UK over-interprets EC regulations and applies them more stringently than other members states but concluded this was not the case.

The Scottish Executive is working to ensure that all Government Departments, Agencies and organisations as well as the private sector are encouraged to contribute to the enhancement of Scotland's biodiversity. While particular action is targeted at a number of priority species and habitats, general conservation measures are also widely encouraged.

Progress towards the UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets is being achieved by the Forestry Commission through its status as Lead Partner for the BAP woodland habitats and its involvement with a number of species action plans. Highland and Islands Enterprise is funding preliminary work for the Highland Council Local Biodiversity Action Plan and undertakes work towards biodiversity targets across the breadth of its estates and holdings. Land held by the Rural Affairs Department is sympathetically managed, to contribute where appropriate, to specific biodiversity action plans. The Department has also recently launched a new Estates Charter, which incorporates recognition of the natural heritage, sustainable development and biodiversity in its estate practices.

Targets for the headline indicators are included in the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions documents A Better Quality of Life, published in May 1999, and the supplementary report Quality of Life Counts, prepared by the Government Statistical Service, published in December 1999. None of the targets stated are for Scotland separately although reference is made that Scottish targets may be found in other documents.

The Scottish Executive have provided no data to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on the attainment of targets set out in their documents A Better Quality of Life or Quality of Life Counts.