The consultants are currently finalising the first phase of the study into road equivalent tariff (RET). The report will include details of current fares and potential RET fares for all ferry services subsidised by the Scottish Government.

As a general principle, no fares would rise as the result of the application of the proposed formula.

I will ensure that you are sent a final copy of the report when it is available.

To establish an appropriate rate for cars the consultants for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study considered Her Majesty''s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the AA and RAC current figures on the cost of car travel. The current HMRC rates for car travel have been in place for some time now. The 60p per mile rate suggested by the consultants is broadly comparable with the cost of running an average family car as identified by both the AA and RAC.

Using a core rate maintains a link to the actual cost of providing and maintaining vessels and harbours. It is important that any scheme is affordable, not just for the pilot exercise but for any future roll-out.

Scottish ministers expect to meet with The Crown Estate in the near future.

Scottish Government officials met with The Crown Estate in December 2007 to discuss a range of issues, including their East Coast Transmission Network study. We will remain in close contact with The Crown Estate on all offshore renewables issues.

The Scottish Government is involved in discussions with Ofgem on a number of issues, including the urgent need to secure fairer transmission charging and access to the grid in order to encourage renewables development in Scotland.

We are also in contact with Ofgem and BERR about the longer term role of sub-sea transmission in harnessing the potential of offshore renewables and achieving economic benefits.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9937 on 12 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9937 on 12 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9937 on 12 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9937 on 12 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We read the Crown Estate report with interest and believe it provides a useful contribution to our discussions with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and other stakeholders on future grid development.

The Scottish Government recognises that further grid reinforcements will be necessary if we are to exploit Scotland''s potential for renewable energy, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, where much of the resource lies. This could bring significant economic benefits to the region and the whole of Scotland.

The Scottish Government is also working with BERR on a strategic environmental assessment for offshore wind. This will include the deep waters of Scotland''s renewable energy zone where there is significant potential for development.

The Scottish Government is agreeable in principle to the issue of licences for a limited translocation research project. The purpose of the project is to assess whether trapping and relocation of sparrowhawks is a satisfactory solution to the problem of sparrowhawk predation on racing pigeons. The work will be carried out by an independent contractor. The contractor will be approved to fit rings to the relocated sparrowhawks. A Larsen trap will be used to catch the sparrowhawks. Live pigeons will be used to attract the sparrowhawks. The pigeons are not put at risk using this method, and conditions to protect their welfare and that of any trapped sparrowhawk are specified in the Project Protocol.