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While there are no current plans to change the role or composition of local Health Councils, the Executive is committed to improving patient and public involvement in the NHS and is currently examining how effective involvement can best be ensured. In recognition of their key role the Executive has provided the Scottish Association of Health Councils with funding to employ two Development Officers to improve the focus of the work of local councils.

I refer the member to the reply given to question S1W-6204.

Strategic environmental assessment will be a valuable tool in the delivery of our Programme for Government commitment to delivery of sustainable development. The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland has already taken significant steps to ensure that sustainable development is embedded in Government and these will take effect over coming months. Some of these may require us to proceed in pilot or trial mode: for example, the development of sustainable development indicators.

We have commissioned consultants to develop a trial set of indicators of sustainable development, which may be of importance in the application of strategic environmental assessment.

Strategic environmental assessment will be a valuable tool in the delivery of our Programme for Government commitment to delivery of sustainable development. The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland has already taken significant steps to ensure that sustainable development is embedded in Government and these will take effect over coming months. The EC Directive is now expected to be adopted by the end of the year. The clarity and uniformity which the EC Directive offers will be of considerable assistance in enabling organisations to make decisions about programmes for themselves. We believe it important to implement the Directive as it finally emerges rather than to act prematurely on an interim text.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Crown Estate on a range of issues.

The Scottish Executive disseminates information and encourages Executive Agencies and other public bodies to consider converting their vehicles to run on LPG through its participation in the UK-wide Powershift scheme. Responsibility for purchasing vehicles is a matter for each organisation. Exchequer-funded bodies are ineligible to receive funds from the Powershift programme. There is no requirement for such bodies to inform the Executive of their plans to convert existing vehicles to alternative fuels or to purchase new ones.

The Scottish Executive is constantly in touch with the UK Government on a range of matters. Lease rentals have also featured in discussions which the Scottish Executive has held with the Crown Estate Commissioners.

The Scottish Executive is committed to the promotion of renewable sources of energy. Although the use of passive solar power in the design and construction of buildings in Scotland is not monitored, we would expect that it would play a part in meeting Scotland's future energy needs.

The post of Secretary to the Crofters Commission has been advertised internally within the Scottish Executive. If there is insufficient interest or the applicants do not have the skills and abilities for the post, the position will be advertised externally.