Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13618 on 20 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13618 on 20 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 received Royal Assent on 10 July 2012 and certain technical provisions came into force the following day. Commencement Order No.1 came into force on 1 November 2012.

The remainder of the Act will come into force on such a day as the Scottish Ministers may by order appoint. It is the Scottish Government’s intention to prescribe a designated day in late Autumn 2014. In addition, the Scottish Government are working with key stakeholders in developing the policy that will allow the provisions for legally valid electronic documents to be commenced by the end of 2013.

(a) & (b) Scottish Government support in such matters is delivered through Historic Scotland, as the Executive Agency tasked with safeguarding the historic environment.

(i) & (ii) Historic Scotland (HS) works closely with local authorities and communities to safeguard, preserve and secure the future of Scotland’s listed buildings. It has long been recognised that the most effective way of keeping a healthy listed building stock is through their everyday use in the community.

(A) It is when historic or listed buildings fall out of use that they are at risk and HS continues to develop strategies around identifying development and funding strategies in partnership with local authorities, community partnerships and other key stakeholders. At a national and local level, the agency also helps identify and deal with buildings at the estate management stage, before they have become redundant, advising on new uses and potential for conversion.

Recent examples where under-used or redundant buildings have been brought back to life through concerted action by community groups, private developers or charitable building trusts assisted financially and technically by HS, include, Knockando Woollen Mill, Maryhill Burgh Halls and Anchor Mills, Paisley converted to a business centre and residential accommodation. Historic Scotland will continue to prioritise important buildings seeking new uses and supporting local authorities in managing their own heritage property portfolios.

The protection of listed buildings is largely the responsibility of local authorities and is carried out through the listed building consent procedure under the terms of the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011. Historic Scotland works closely with all local authorities advising on technical issues and larger scale strategic projects.

(B) Historic Scotland makes financial support available to local authorities, individuals and community groups who wish to repair and redevelop historic buildings, through a range of grant funding streams that are targeted to provide the most appropriate intervention. One of the key drivers for the provision of such grant support is; delivering benefits for communities by helping to regenerate and promote the active use and ongoing care and maintenance of the historic environment, broadening access to it, promoting sustainable economic and rural development and reinforcing local identity and sense of place.

The principal grant streams are (amounts per annum):

Historic Building Repair Grant Scheme (HBRG) (£4.6 million); financial help is available to owners to meet the cost of high-quality repairs using traditional materials and specialist craftsman to conserve original features in buildings of special architectural or historic interest. In redevelopment projects, stage one Historic Scotland grant is very often the first confirmed scheme support and is recognised as a catalyst in attracting other funders to the project.

Repair Grants for Places of Worship (£1.5 million); Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund jointly provide grant assistance for repairs to Places of Worship considered to be of outstanding architectural or historic interest.

Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme: Historic Scotland’s Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) grant programme is intended to drive the integrated regeneration of historic urban centres primarily by repairing and revitalising the built heritage so as to bring new uses, new economic activity and new confidence together with the engagement of local communities through a range of awareness raising, training and educational initiatives. The scheme encourages local authorities to establish Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes and can also support Townscape Heritage Initiatives funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. To date, Historic Scotland has awarded £26 million of funding towards 46 area based regeneration and conservation initiatives undertaken by 22 separate local authorities and one National Park Authority.

City Heritage Trusts (£3.0 million); Funding to independent organisations within the 7 Scottish Cities, which seek to promote city wide cultural heritage and historic environment programmes of work. Edinburgh World Heritage Trust is included within this category.

Given the significant impact in assisting with the delivery of key local and community projects, promoting economic regeneration and ensuring sustainable outcomes and appropriate public access for our historic environment, I have committed to maintaining Historic Scotland’s grant budgets in cash terms through 2013-15.

The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport has lead responsibility within the Scottish Government on all matters related to the delivery of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Glasgow 2014 Strategic Group has a formal role in approving the Games Budget and monitoring annual expenditure. There are distinct arrangements for monitoring the security budget; in relation to which Stephen House, Chief Constable of Police Scotland, has assumed primary responsibility for the delivery of the overall safety and security for the Games, including the budget. Scottish Ministers will monitor these arrangements via the new Governance structures outlined in the document placed in SPICe (Bib number 54597) on 18 December 2012.

The document placed in SPICe (Bib. number 54597) on 18 December 2012 describes the new Governance structures which Police Scotland will work within in delivering the safety and security aspects of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The chief constable will attend meetings of the strategic group, chaired by the First Minister, to update on all aspects of security planning to the games partners.

Contingency funds together with a Scottish Government Special Reserve exist within the wider 2014 Commonwealth Games budget to support the management of both known and unforeseen cost pressures which may emerge in lead up to the games.