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Generally, the Executive does not provide assistance to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in respect of the drafting of amendments on Private Members Bills. In this instance, the Executive is providing limited assistance on technical matters. All ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ are free to seek assistance from the Committee Clerk in preparing amendments to the Bill.In response to a question from the Convenor of the Rural Development Committee, (Official Report, 4 December, Col 2576) I said that the Executive would work with you to agree an amendment which defined pest species covered by the Bill. That offer remains available to you.

We recognise the important contribution made by commercial businesses based on outdoor activities to the Scottish economy as a whole and the rural economy in particular. There is no reason why such businesses should not continue to operate as at present following enactment of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. The bill will not diminish any existing rights nor will the fact that an activity is not included within the new access rights mean that it cannot continue as at present. In principle we do not consider it appropriate to provide commercial businesses with a statutory right to use another persons land for their own profit. It is for that reason that we have included section 9 (2)(a) in the bill. The effect of this provision is that the position of commercial businesses in relation to access is unchanged by the bill. In other words, they can continue to have access to land for the purpose of their business, as now, with the consent of the landowner (whether express or implied).Guidance on access by commercial businesses will be set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code following consultation with all interested parties.

The draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was the subject of extensive consultation with a wide range of interests in the course of 2001. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21336 on 17 January 2002, concerning the purpose of Section 9 (2)(a) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Default notices have been issued to BEAR Scotland Ltd in respect of management and operational issues relating to trunk roads. Default notices may impinge on contractual and commercial obligations. Consequently it would not be appropriate to place them in the Parliament's Reference Centre.BEAR's winter maintenance operations on the A9 on the evening of 4 December and early morning of 5 December 2001 have been investigated. There is nothing to suggest that the Operating Company did not meet its contractual obligations and consequently there are no plans to issue a default notice in this regard.

The contract with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd specified that a Performance Bond should be provided within 10 working days of the contract being completed as a deed. The contract was signed on 1 August 2001 and the Performance Bond was therefore requested by 15 August 2001.The Performance Bond should have covered 10% of the full contract value in the event that Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd were unable to fulfil their contract obligations.Verbal requests to the contractor for provision of a Performance Bond were made, initially, by the Construction Managers, Bovis Lend Lease (Scotland) Limited, by telephone and at package meetings. This was followed by the issue of a Notice Of Failure, specifically referring to the failure to provide a Performance Bond, on 30 August 2001 by the Holyrood Project Team. Ultimately, stipulations were also made at meetings with the President and Chairman of Flour City International Inc. by the Holyrood Project Team. This activity all took place between June and October 2001.

Publication and timing of publication of the Report and Accounts for both Scottish Transport Group pension schemes, which detail the scheme balances, are matters for the Trustees. The Scottish Transport Group Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001, which will include a reference to the net surplus in the pension schemes, were presented to the Scottish Parliament on 14 December 2001. No estimates have been made by the Executive of the funds as at 31 March 2002.Under the rules of the schemes the sums remaining in the pension schemes on wind-up fall to the UK Exchequer. As I announced in the Parliament on 29 November, Scottish ministers have secured for distribution the full amount of the estimated increase in the net surplus between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001, an additional £18 million, by agreement with Treasury Ministers.

The criteria used by the Scottish Executive in determining speed limits on trunk roads are set out in Scottish Office Industry Department Circular 1/93, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17782). Requests and representations for reductions in speed limits are considered in accordance with the criteria. The Executive commends the use of the criteria to local roads authorities for application to decisions concerning speed limits on local roads. It is, however, for each authority to decide whether or not to apply the criteria in any particular case.On 17 August 2001 the Executive issued revised guidance to local authorities on 20 mph speed limits. Scottish Executive Development Department Circular 6/2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17781), provides advice on the setting of mandatory and advisory 20 mph speed limits.

The contract of employment for special advisers states that in certain circumstances Advisers should obtain the agreement of the Crown before accepting any offer of employment outside the civil service which would start within two years of leaving Crown employment. In common with other members of the public, there is nothing to prohibit former special advisers from applying for an appointment to a public body. All such appointments are made on merit after a fair, open and transparent process, which is subject to independent scrutiny.

In accordance with the terms of their employment, special advisers are entitled to a severance payment in the event of termination of employment without notice. The amount of entitlement is currently calculated as follows:Advisers whose appointment is terminated within six months of appointment receive one month's salary regardless of age.Advisers under age 34 when appointment terminates receive three months salary.Advisers aged 34 on termination of appointment receive a severance payment at a rate half-way between three months' pay and the appropriate over 35 rate.Advisers aged 35 or over receive three months pay if appointment terminates during the first year of service and thereafter an extra one month's pay for each completed year of service after the first, subject to a maximum of six months' pay.

Under the terms of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995 as amended by the Civil Service (Amendment) Order in Council 1999, which is still in force, up to 12 special advisers can be appointed by the First Minister. There are no current plans to change that order.