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Historic Scotland and RCAHMS are working collaboratively to identify the range of stakeholder interests. The views of interested stakeholders will form an important part of the review process.

I anticipate that the findings of the review will be published in spring 2012. The Education and Culture Committee have been informed of the review and a commitment has been made to inform them of the outcome.

RCAHMS core functions include the survey and record for the built and historic environment of Scotland, and responsibility for one of Scotland’s National Collections with archives of national and international importance. The current legal definition of the role is set out in the Royal Warrant issued to commissioners, last updated in 1993. An early task of the review will be to determine a contemporary definition of broad core functions against which options will be assessed.

I took the decision to commission an options review of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. This decision was announced in parliament on 17 November 2011.

The review will be a collaborative process which will:

identify the objectives to be met in securing a sustainable long term future for RCAHMS’ functions;

identify a range of possible options that might meet those objectives, and

assess those options against the benefits that they deliver, the risks involved and the cost implications.

A shortlist of viable options will be produced and each option will undergo a more detailed assessment.

The review is to be carried out jointly by RCAHMS and Historic Scotland on behalf of Scottish Ministers, using external expertise as necessary and taking into account the views of RCAHMS’ stakeholders.

There are no immediate plans to amend the Royal Warrant. The option appraisal will look at a range of organisational options for securing the long term future of RCAHMS’ functions and expertise. Any decision about whether or how to amend the Royal Warrant will be made in the light of the outcome of the review.

I met the Chair of RCAHMS on 14 September to discuss the potential impact on RCAHMS’ core functions of the 2011 Spending Review. Following further discussions between officials of RCAHMS and Historic Scotland, I met the Chair and Secretary of RCAHMS on 16 November 2011 at which meeting the detail of the review was agreed.

Scottish Enterprise has been closely involved in the identification and ongoing assessment of potential Enterprise Area sites across Scotland, including locations in Glasgow.

Ministers will make decisions on the sites to be included in Scotland’s Enterprise Areas but on the basis of the assessment of potential sites, in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, against a rigorous set of criteria.