2. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns regarding the future of the Jim Clark rally. (S5O-00450)

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of events such as the Jim Clark rally, but we need to balance the potential for economic benefit from such events with the imperative for a high degree of safety, both for spectators and road users.

I welcome the fact that progress is now being made on the investigations into the tragic events of 2014. The Jim Clark rally contributes greatly to the Borders economy, and its loss over the past few years has impacted significantly on local businesses. Thoughts are now turning to the 2017 event, which the organisers have told me is within weeks of being cancelled.

Will the Government do all that it can, alongside Police Scotland and Scottish Borders Council, to facilitate the holding of a closed-road rally event next year? Will she confirm that the holding of a fatal accident inquiry does not preclude the rally’s taking place?

I am aware that the event organisers have notified the Scottish ministers of their intention to hold the Jim Clark rally in 2017, and that they have submitted a report that sets out how the promoters intend to implement the Motor Sports Association’s “Stage Rally Safety Requirements”. That report is under consideration.

As ministers, we continue to have a higher-level supervisory role. John Lamont will be aware that, as the lead road and traffic authority, Scottish Borders Council, along with Police Scotland, remains the authority that authorises the detailed arrangements for the rally.

As John Lamont said, another factor that needs to be considered is the announcement by the Crown Office on 1 December of the establishment of a fatal accident inquiry into the tragic death of a spectator at the Snowman rally in January 2013 and the deaths of three spectators at the Jim Clark rally in May 2014.

I am happy to make sure that the member is kept abreast of consideration of the report that I mentioned. I will ask the Minister for Public Health and Sport to write to him to keep him apprised of the facts if there are any further developments.