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The next step is a matter for the UK Government. The Executive has liased closely with the UK Government on what we believe is a substantial case for a public service obligation on the Inverness/Gatwick link.

No. Disclosure of information which would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion is exempted from the commitment to provide information under the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.

The case for a bypass for Nairn has not been identified as a priority when considering potential projects for the motorway and trunk roads programme and there are no plans at present to take forward such a scheme. I have not received representations on this matter from either Highland or the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS).

Responsibility for the Post Office and Post Office services is a reserved matter.A decision not to roll out Your Guide nationally was announced by DTI Ministers on 15 October. The decision was taken largely on value for money grounds, following the evaluation of a major pilot.Officials will continue to stay in close contact with DTI and Post Office efforts to identify the potential for government departments to deliver services through post offices in future.The Executive's public internet access point initiative is creating over 1,000 new venues across Scotland where people can have cheap, easy access to the web and all its services - public, commercial and voluntary sector. We are actively encouraging rural post offices to participate in the scheme - which provides eligible venues with computer hardware, software, and internet connectivity - all free of charge. The scheme therefore allows rural post offices to provide another valuable service to their customers and potentially another source of income for small post offices.

The total number of seats is not below 250. Seating provision for the press and public in the Holyrood Chamber, including that for disabled visitors, will total 277.

The Scottish ministers set the policy directions under which the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) operates the PE and Sport Initiative in Scotland. This programme is now operational and is NOF's responsibility to administer based on guidance agreed with the Scottish Executive. Each local authority area has been given a provisional allocation and the local authority submits projects based on agreed local priorities.

The design work supplied by Flour City has required to be adapted since the original package has now been split into six separate trade packages. It has been estimated by the Design Team that around 95% of the drawings produced by Flour City were satisfactory or better and form the basis on which the additional design requirements are being built. Interface details generic to Flour City have been developed further, since they utilised many of their own standard details, and the additional cost for this is estimated at £117,500.

A tendering exercise was carried to procure outsourced legal services and contracts were agreed with three firms. The services provided by Shepherd and Wedderburn in connection with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and Flour City International Inc. have been at the rates quoted in the contract. It would not be appropriate to divulge the competitive rates which prevail as a further tender round is likely when the current contracts expire.

Information has been received on Flour City International Inc. as a result of the work of the SPCB's agents. Further updated information is expected soon together with an opinion on the prospects of recovery of the additional costs being incurred by the SPCB due to the failure of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd. The SPCB will then consider the opinion and what action might be appropriate. As I stated in my letter to the member of 3 October, I will write further once reports from our agents are received. As the SPCB will be considering its legal position it is not appropriate that information forming part of that consideration be placed in the Parliament's Information Centre

The estimated costs of current legal services being provided by Shepherd and Wedderburn in connection with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and Flour City International Inc. is £10,000 plus outlays.