To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) interested parties and/or key stakeholders, (b) the UK Government and (c) the European Commission concerning Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on market access to port services, published by the European Commission on 13 October 2004. Scottish Executive officials met with their Department for Transport counterparts and representatives of the Scottish ports industry on 9 February to discuss the proposed Directive on market access to port services.