§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the forthcoming policy and financial management review of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. [43049]
§ Mr. DewarAs part of the Government's ongoing programme of policy and financial management reviews of non-departmental public bodies, my Department will conduct a thorough review of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland—the national body of survey and record of the man-made environment in Scotland. As is the norm for such reviews, the first stage will take the forms of a "prior options" study. This will include an examination of the scope for discontinuing, privatising, contracting out or transferring to another body some or all of the functions carried out by the royal commission. The review is now under way and I would welcome comments from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 19 June to: Mr. John Barber, Room 3.9, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH.