To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give further details of the advice sought by management consultants due to report on the location, staffing and organisation options for Scottish Natural Heritage; who the management consultants are; the expected date of the report's publication; and if he will make a statement.

The management consultants, Ernst and Young, consulted a wide range of interests including relevant public bodies, voluntary organisations and the management and trade union sides of the predecessor bodies. The Scottish Office Environment Department has now received the report. The management and trade union sides of the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Commission for Scotland are being asked for their views.