To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-16495 and S2W-17355 by Cathy Jamieson on 27 June and 23 May 2005 and given that there are matters in the draft Framework Decision on retention of data processed and stored in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or data on public communications networks for the purpose of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of crime and criminal offences, including terrorism, that may fall within the Parliament’s legislative responsibility, whether it will express a fuller view on the draft Framework Decision’s impact on (a) Scots law on criminal investigations and procedure, (b) Scots law on judicial co-operation with other countries and (c) civil liberties in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-16495 S2W-16497 and S2W-16498 on 23 May 2005 and S2W-17355 and S2W-17356 on 27 June 2005. 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/search_wa .

An assessment of the decision’s impact on matters that fall within the Parliament’s responsibilities will be made in due course, if necessary. The matters covered by the latest draft of the Framework Decision (dated 29 June 2005) are wholly reserved.