To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for security in the Scottish Executive; what increased security has been provided following the recent terrorist attacks in the United States of America; from what budget are security costs met, and what this budget currently is.

Responsibility for security, on a day to day basis, is delegated to the Departmental Security Officer. The security measures in place at any one time are appropriate to the perceived threat. It would be inappropriate to detail the measures deployed. Security costs are met from the Scottish Executive Administration budget. The direct costs related to Security Branch for the current year is £1.6 million.