- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions representatives of Historic Scotland met representatives of Castle Tioram before the recent public inquiry.
Answer
Representatives of Historic Scotland met representatives of Castle Tioram on four occasions prior to the recent public inquiry.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action Historic Scotland will take if the condition of Castle Tioram deteriorates to a point where its current physical form and interest is compromised.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the position of Historic Scotland is in respect of at what point any further deterioration in the condition of Castle Tioram will compromise the castle's current historic interest.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct Historic Scotland to discuss long-term conservation measures with the current owners of Castle Tioram.
Answer
The owners of Castle Tioram have lodged an appeal with the Court of Session on a point of law. However, officials in Historic Scotland would be happy to discuss long-term conservation measures with them if an approach was made.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 7 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its crime statistics support the research by the Scottish Gas and Help the Aged partnership into the fear of crime amongst older people.
Answer
The recent findings published by Scottish Gas and Help the Aged support data from the Scottish Crime Survey which suggest that Scotland is a safer place to live not only for older people but also generally. However, whilst our statistics tend to confirm that older people in Scotland are almost half as likely to be victims of violent crime as those in England and Wales, the level of fear of crime amongst older people in Scotland, whilst still lower than England and Wales, is disproportionate to the level of crime they experience. This message needs to be reinforced and the additional investment we are making to tackle serious crime, such as violence and drugs, the measures we have introduced and the targets we have set to reduce these and other crimes should have a positive effect on how our communities feel.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 7 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alter Historic Scotland's operating instructions as set out in Historic Scotland - Framework Document 2001.
Answer
The framework document reflects the responsibility of Historic Scotland to discharge statutory functions of Scottish ministers. The framework document will be revised to reflect the fact that Historic Scotland no longer fulfils the departmental sponsorship function in respect of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.The Education, Culture and Sport Committee have asked Scottish ministers to review the roles and responsibilities of Historic Scotland in their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill. Ministers are considering this request and will be responding in advance of the Stage 2 discussions on the bill.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 7 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive why the powers and responsibilities of Historic Scotland, as set out in the Historic Scotland Framework Document 2001, are not available for public view on the agency's website and whether there are any plans to make the framework document available on the website.
Answer
Historic Scotland has recently refreshed its website and is currently extending the range of publications on it. This includes the framework document which is now available on the website.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 7 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the work of Historic Scotland could be assisted by it being accountable to a board representative of a range of different interests.
Answer
No. Historic Scotland is directly accountable to Scottish ministers and, through them, to this Parliament. However, ministers are currently considering ways in which independent advice on the built heritage and the discharge of functions relating to it might be most appropriately obtained.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 7 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there would be any advantages in Historic Scotland being subject to more scrutiny.
Answer
All public bodies can benefit from informed scrutiny and review from time to time.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 7 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to resume control of powers and decisions currently delegated to Historic Scotland.
Answer
Historic Scotland is an agency of the Scottish Executive, within the Education Department, acting on behalf of Scottish ministers. Officials of Historic Scotland are civil servants of the Scottish Executive and directly accountable to me through the Chief Executive.Scottish ministers can request that officials of Historic Scotland seek ministerial agreement to decisions which can be made under delegated powers.
