Chamber and committees

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NHS boards should ensure that drugs or treatments recommended by the Health Technology Board for Scotland are made available to meet clinical need.

This was one of a number of options considered and rejected when Historic Scotland was established as an executive agency in 1991 and again as part of a review in 1994. The status of Historic Scotland as an executive agency, within the Scottish Executive, was confirmed by the then First Minister in July 1999 in the answer given to question S1W-696 on 28 July 1999. 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/webapp/search_wa.Scottish ministers are considering the suggestion made by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee in their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill that the roles and responsibilities of Historic Scotland should be reviewed, and will be responding to the committee prior to Stage Two consideration of the bill.

Officials of Historic Scotland are civil servants of the Scottish Executive and directly accountable to me through the Chief Executive.In their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill, the Education, Culture and Sport Committee have asked the Scottish Executive to consider how Scottish ministers may be advised on built heritage issues, in addition to the advice provided by Historic Scotland. Ministers are considering this request and will be responding in advance of the stage 2 discussions on the bill.

Historic Scotland recognises the importance of finding new uses for historic buildings. Many will be considered adaptable to appropriate change in order to secure continued use. They will be given consent and may attract grant. However, a small number are considered by Historic Scotland as too important to the nation to warrant any change other than the least intervention necessary for their preservation.

Castle Tioram was closed to the public following the issuing of a Dangerous Building Notice by the Highland Council in 1998. The notice was issued following engineering reports from the owners regarding the dangerous condition of the building. The castle remains closed to the public. The maintenance of the castle is the responsibility of the owners.In his report following the public local inquiry, the reporter found that the castle was inherently strong but concluded that without major consolidation work the risk of further collapse in five to 10 years was significant. Under section 5 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, if it appears to Scottish ministers that any works are urgently necessary for the preservation of a scheduled monument, they may enter the site of the monument and execute those works after giving the owner and the occupier notice in writing of their intention to do so. Such powers would be exercised on behalf of Scottish ministers by Historic Scotland. There are currently no plans to exercise these powers in respect of Castle Tioram.

The public local inquiry gave the opportunity for all parties to be heard and for witnesses, including Historic Scotland, to be cross-examined. The inquiry was conducted by an independent reporter who recommended to Scottish ministers that scheduled monument consent to restore the castle be refused, a recommendation that Scottish ministers accepted. He believed that consolidation was a more appropriate approach to safeguarding the castle.The applicants have lodged an appeal with the Court of Session on a point of law. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this time.

In his report following the Public Local Inquiry the reporter found that the castle was inherently strong but concluded that without major consolidation work the risk of further collapse in five to 10 years was significant. Under section 5 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, if it appears to Scottish ministers that any works are urgently necessary for the preservation of a scheduled monument, they may enter the site of the monument and execute those works after giving the owner and the occupier notice in writing of their intention to do so. Such powers would be exercised on behalf of Scottish ministers by Historic Scotland. There are currently no plans to exercise these powers in respect of Castle Tioram.

In evidence to the Public Local Inquiry, Historic Scotland stated that it believed the appropriate conservation strategy was to secure it as a consolidated ruin and restore year-round public access.

In his report following the Public Local Inquiry the reporter found that the castle was inherently strong but concluded that without major consolidation work the risk of further collapse in five to 10 years was significant. Under section 5 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, if it appears to Scottish ministers that any works are urgently necessary for the preservation of a scheduled monument, they may enter the site of the monument and execute those works after giving the owner and the occupier notice in writing of their intention to do so. Such powers would be exercised on behalf of Scottish ministers by Historic Scotland. There are currently no plans to exercise these powers in respect of Castle Tioram but Scottish ministers would like to see all erosion arrested as any decay can compromise the cultural significance of a monument.