To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of its initial response to the Finance Committee's 2nd Report 2004 (Session 2) Report on Scottish Water (SP Paper 125), the current Water Industry Commissioner will be replaced when his current contract expires; on what date the contract expires, and whether there will be an open competition for any new commissioner. The Executive’s intention isthat the post holder of the Office of Water Industry Commissioner will assume theresponsibility of chief executive upon the establishment of the new commission.The appointment of the chief executive and the commissioners of the new Water IndustryCommission will take place entirely within the Public Appointment Framework as laiddown by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.The terms of the Water IndustryCommissioner’s appointment are contained within the Scottish public bodies directoryon the Scottish Executive website.