| Previous Section | Home Page |
SCOTLAND
Investment
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of total investment by other European Community country nationals, either natural persons or corporate bodies, in Scotland over the past 10 years.
Mr. Lang : The information requested is not available.
Rating Reform
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will introduce regulations that prevent personal data being disclosed from community charge registers by the community charge registration officer or charging authority (a) to any Departments of state under the conditions specified in section 34(5)(a) of the Data Protection Act, if the disclosure is not for a purpose
Column 72
connected with the community charge, (b) to the police, immigration and tax officials for the purposes specified in section 28 of the Data Protection Act and (c) to the security services for the purposes specified in section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 ; and whether he will make a statement ;(2) whether he will introduce regulations that prevent personal data being disclosed from community charge registers by the community charge registration officer or charging authority to public utilities ; and whether he will make a statement ;
(3) whether he will introduce regulations that prevent personal data contained within the community charge register being used or disclosed for purposes not connected with the community charge by the community charge registration officer or charging authority ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : The community charges register is available for inspection to the extent specified and for the purposes set out in section 20 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 1988, and in regulation 16 of the Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 1988. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to make any further regulations on this matter.
Water Pollution
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the volume and (b) the locations in Scotland at which discharges take place into the aquatic environment of(i) ethylene dichloride, (ii) perchloroethylene and(iii) trichloroethylene.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : This information is not held centrally. Control of discharges in Scotland is the responsibility of the seven river purification boards on the mainland and the islands councils in their areas.
Legal Aid
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to simplify the rules governing the availability of civil legal aid for first instance proceedings under the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1986.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I am aware of no difficulty which would require such action.
Road Maintenance
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the level of road maintenance expenditure in each of the last five years within the Shettleston constituency ; and what have been the levels of expenditure on the same activity in the Edinburgh, Pentlands constituency over the same period.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Expenditure on road maintenance in the Shettleston and Endinburgh, Pentlands constituencies is a matter for the regional councils concerned. This information is not held centrally.
Fishing Industry (Grants and Licensing Scheme)
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy for a grants and licensing scheme for the fishing industry.
Column 73
Mr. Rifkind : The United Kingdom Fisheries Departments operate both a licensing system and grants scheme for the fishing industry. These are currently being reviewed in consultation with the industry and a statement will be made in due course.
Electoral Registration
Mr Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the number of people on the current electoral register published earlier this month and (b) the number of people on the electoral register at the last general election ; and if he will express the change in percentage terms.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish registers published earlier this month contained 3,932,921 names, compared with 3,994,893 in February 1987, a change of minus 1.55 per cent. There is no central record of the numbers on the register at June 1987.
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what he expects the percentage change to be of the number of people on the electoral register in Scotland for each of the next five years.
Column 74
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Forecasts of the numbers on the electoral register are not prepared on a regular basis. Percentage changes over the previous year in the projected population for Scotland aged 17 and over are as follows :
Year |Per cent. ------------------------------ 1990 |0.00 1991 |-0.12 1992 |-0.17 1993 |-0.19 1994 |-0.33
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing for each Scottish constituency the numerical and percentage change of the number of people on the electoral register between February 1988 and February 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is set out in the following table.
Column 73
Number of electors
Constituency |1988 Electoral register|1989 Electoral register|Numerical change |Percentage change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aberdeen North |62,075 |60,604 |-1,471 |-2.37
Aberdeen South |60,323 |58,947 |-1,376 |-2.28
Angus East |61,643 |61,899 |+256 |+0.42
Argyll and Bute |48,912 |48,695 |-217 |-0.44
Ayr |67,063 |66,545 |-518 |-0.77
Banff and Buchan |63,054 |62,830 |-224 |-0.36
Caithness and Sutherland |30,978 |31,031 |+53 |+0.17
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley |56,708 |56,338 |-370 |+0.65
Central Fife |56,440 |56,183 |-257 |-0.46
Clackmannan |49,127 |48,757 |-370 |-0.75
Clydebank and Milngavie |50,128 |49,075 |-1,053 |-2.10
Clydesdale |62,602 |62,456 |-146 |-0.23
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |46,392 |46,345 |-47 |-0.10
Cunninghame North |55,566 |55,262 |-304 |-0.55
Cunninghame South |50,414 |49,931 |-483 |-0.96
Dumbarton |59,369 |58,328 |-1,041 |-1.75
Dumfries |59,972 |59,962 |-10 |-0.02
Dundee East |61,221 |60,394 |-827 |-1.35
Dundee West |61,445 |60,246 |-1,199 |-1.95
Dunfermline East |51,008 |50,894 |-114 |-0.22
Dunfermline West |51,384 |51,413 |+29 |+0.06
East Kilbride |63,956 |63,715 |-214 |-0.38
East Lothian |65,542 |66,108 |+566 |+0.86
Eastwood |62,839 |63,483 |+644 |+1.02
Edinburgh Central |58,975 |57,069 |-1,906 |-3.23
Edinburgh East |48,745 |47,802 |-943 |-1.93
Edinburgh Leith |60,031 |58,984 |-1,047 |-1.74
Edinburgh Pentlands |58,884 |58,538 |-346 |-0.59
Edinburgh South |64,026 |62,452 |-1,574 |-2.46
Edinburgh West |62,652 |61,172 |-1,480 |-2.36
Falkirk East |52,737 |52,679 |-58 |-0.11
Falkirk West |50,606 |50,506 |-100 |-0.20
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale |53,621 |53,481 |-140 |-0.26
Glasgow Cathcart |48,767 |47,702 |-1,065 |-2.18
Glasgow Central |50,867 |50,535 |-332 |-0.65
Glasgow Garscadden |46,916 |44,931 |-1,985 |-4.23
Glasgow Govan |50,190 |48,908 |-1,282 |-2.55
Glasgow Hillhead |57,704 |56,718 |-986 |-1.71
Glasgow Maryhill |52,039 |50,589 |-1,450 |-2.79
Glasgow Pollok |50,829 |49,497 |-1,332 |-2.62
Glasgow Provan |42,908 |41,086 |-1,822 |-4.25
Glasgow Rutherglen |56,929 |55,695 |-1,234 |-2.17
Glasgow Shettleston |53,883 |53,254 |-629 |-1.17
Glasgow Springburn |50,489 |48,785 |-1,704 |-3.37
Gordon |75,228 |75,537 |+309 |+0.41
Greenock and Port Glasgow |57,339 |55,612 |-1,727 |-3.01
Hamilton |63,167 |62,688 |-479 |-0.76
Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber |66,695 |67,262 |+567 |+0.85
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |63,325 |62,834 |-491 |-0.78
Kincardine and Deeside |64,398 |64,432 |+34 |+0.05
Kirkcaldy |53,823 |53,626 |-197 |-0.37
Linlithgow |60,584 |61,135 |+551 |+0.91
Livingston |58,008 |59,533 |+1,525 |+2.63
Midlothian |61,139 |61,089 |-50 |-0.08
Monklands East |50,271 |49,533 |-738 |-1.47
Monklands West |51,300 |50,450 |-850 |-1.66
Moray |63,206 |62,840 |-366 |-0.58
Motherwell North |58,331 |57,971 |-360 |-0.62
Motherwell South |52,599 |51,704 |-895 |-1.70
North East Fife |52,442 |52,313 |-129 |-0.25
North Tayside |54,582 |54,367 |-215 |-0.39
Orkney and Shetland |31,180 |31,115 |-65 |-0.21
Paisley North |48,973 |48,213 |-760 |-1.55
Paisley South |50,403 |49,595 |-808 |-1.60
Perth and Kinross |63,957 |64,505 |+548 |+0.86
Renfrew West and Inverclyde |57,025 |57,234 |+209 |+0.37
Ross, Cromarty and Skye |52,278 |53,062 |+784 |+1.50
Roxburgh and Berwickshire |43,631 |43,484 |-147 |-0.34
Stirling |58,715 |58,387 |-328 |-0.56
Strathkelvin and Bearsden |63,296 |62,706 |-590 |-0.93
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale |38,438 |38,773 |+335 |+0.87
Western Isles |23,085 |23,097 |+12 |+0.05
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |3,967,377 |3,932,921 |-34,456 |-0.87
Pupils (Qualifications)
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of pupils left Scottish schools with no qualifications in 1987- 88, nationally and by region.
Mr. Rifkind : The latest available information on school leavers' qualifications relates to 1986-87 and was published in SED statistical bulletin No. 11/E2/1988, a copy of which is available in the Library.
Child Sexual Abuse
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what co- ordination of research into child sexual abuse takes place between his Department and the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : The Scottish Office makes a substantial contribution to the cost of the society's Overnewton centre in Glasgow, which is carrying out a major project in developing methods of dealing with child victims of sexual
Column 76
abuse within the context of their families and joint treatment of perpetrators. We are also providing grant support to the society to undertake a project designed to improve public awareness of child abuse, both physical and sexual, and the need to take measures to combat it.As part of our new strategy for social work research we recently sent to interested research contractors a project specification on child sexual abuse. I am arranging to send a copy to the society.
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times officials of his Department have given evidence to inquiries involving child sexual abuse since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
AIDS
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to protect prison officers from being infected with AIDS or the HIV virus.
Column 77
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Guidance was issued to prison officers in April 1986 advising them of the sensible hygiene precautions which should be taken, for instance when there is a spillage of blood or other bodily fluids. This guidance has since been reinforced as an integral part of prison officers' induction and on the job, operational training. This emphasis on training, to ensure that prison officers are aware of both the facts of the situation and the measures and precautions they should take, will continue.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners in Scottish gaols are known to be (a) suffering from AIDS or (b) HIV positive ; and what are the comparable figures for the last five years for which information is available.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The most recent survey, conducted on 20 October 1988, showed that 67 inmates in Scottish penal establishments were known to be HIV positive, and five were suffering from AIDS or AIDS related complex. There was a previous survey at Easter 1988 when the figures were 71 and four respectively. No figures are available before that date.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to prevent the spread of AIDS in Scottish prisons ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Nationally, we have established an extensive education programme, involving both national campaigns as well as videos, leaflets and general talks specifically addressed. A variety of local initiatives are also being planned by individual establishments, with the co-operation of health boards and voluntary bodies.
We are taking a number of additional measures to minimise the opportunity for risky behaviour. An increasing proportion of the prison population is being housed in single cells. The gradual reduction of the prison population, partly as a result of measures to provide alternatives to custody, is also of assistance here.
Mr Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities there are in Scottish prisons for the treatment of prisoners who are known to be suffering from AIDS or to be HIV positive.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Prisoners who have been confirmed as HIV positive but are asymptomatic have access to advice, counselling and treatment from the prison medical staff. Health boards and voluntary organisations also provide specialist advice, counselling and testing facilities. When the health of an inmate with HIV/AIDS begins to deteriorate, the prison medical officer will decide on the appropriate form of treatment and whether to place the inmate in the prison hospital. Inmates who need specialist medical facilities unavailable in a prison hospital can be transferred to a hospital outside.
Private Medicine (NHS Debts)
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest information regarding private medicine sector debts to the National Health Service in Scotland for the use of facilities and installations of the National Health Service.
Column 78
Mr. Rifkind : The information, as sought, is not held centrally. At 31 March 1988, £92,706 was due to the National Health Service in Scotland for treatment given to private in-patients.
Rape
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of rape reported to procurators fiscal by the police, were marked for no further proceedings in 1988 ; and if any of these were so marked because of shortage of staff.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : In 1988, 69 of the cases of alleged rape reported to procurators fiscal by the police were marked "no further proceedings". None was so marked because of shortage of staff.
Water Supplies (Improvement Works)
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times since June 1988 inspectors from the Scottish Development Department have reviewed improvement works for water supplies in each one of the Scottish regions.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The provision of public water supplies is the responsibility of the appropriate regional council. Nevertheless, the Scotish Development Department has frequent contact with the councils on drinking water quality and capital expenditure plans. In addition, the regional councils' programmes for the improvement of water supplies were reviewed comprehensively by the Department between October 1988 and January 1989. Certain improvement work in Grampian, Lothian and Strathclyde was further reviewed last week.
Public Local Inquiry, Glasgow
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received the report of the public local inquiry held in Glasgow on 6 June 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : I received the report of the local inquiry on 21 August 1988. Having considered the report carefully, I am satisfied that the City of Glasgow district council has failed to do what is required of it by the provisions of section 1(1A)(b) of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 (as added by paragraph 1(a) of schedule 1 to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1986) and the provisions of section 75(1)(b) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
It is my view that the council entered into, and induced or sought to induce its tenants to enter into, agreements purporting to restrict the tenants' statutory rights to purchase their homes, by sending a letter to certain of their tenants requiring, as a condition of any works of improvement being carried out on, or on behalf of the council to, the houses which they tenanted, that the tenants sign or execute a document undertaking not to exercise their right to buy their homes within a specified period after completion of the improvement works ; and that if they did so they would repay to the council a proportion of the costs of any improvement works carried out to their houses.
Accordingly, I have now made an order under section 211 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requiring Glasgow district council to remedy its default by
Column 79
4 April 1989. The order requires the council to take steps to identify all tenants who have at any time between 7 January 1987 and 28 April 1988 been sent a letter by the council as above ; to write to those tenants so identified who had not signed the declaration informing them that they are no longer required to do so ; to write to those tenants who had signed the declaration advising that they are no longer bound by their undertaking ; and to repay to the tenants concerned those payments which they may have made to the council in pursuance of such a declaration.Copies of the inquiry report and of the default order have been placed in the Library of the House.
Trunk Roads (Inquiries)
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those trunk road schemes in Scotland on which he anticipates public inquiries being held during the current year with, where known, the likely date of the inquiry.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 22 February 1989] : For the M74 Maryville to West of Fullarton road scheme, a public local inquiry will begin on 13 March ; for the A96 Bucksburn diversion, an inquiry is expected to be held in the summer, possibly beginning late June ; and for the M8 Newbridge to Edinburgh scheme, it is possible that the inquiry adjourned in November 1988 will reconvene around November of this year.
For four other schemes--A68 Dalkeith bypass, A91 Auchtermuchty bypass, A828 Creagan Bridge, and A830 Lochan Doilead to Kinsadel--an inquiry towards the end of 1989 is a possibility, although I hope that inquiries will not be necessary.
ENERGY
British Coal
4. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce a reconstruction of British Coal's balance sheet and to write off its debt.
Mr. Parkinson : I continue to keep the British Coal Corporation's balance sheet and financial structure under review.
35. Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal ; and what matters were discussed.
39. Mr. Ilsley : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to meet the chairman of British Coal ; and what matters he expects to discuss.
47. Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Coal ; and what matters he proposes to discuss.
49. Mr. Michael Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.
42. Mr. Eadie : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Coal regarding future financial provision.
Column 80
Mr. Michael Spicer : I meet the chairman of the British Coal Corporation at regular intervals to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.
ENERGY
Gas Consumers (Code of Rights)
1. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the Director General of Gas Supply to discuss the code of rights for the domestic gas consumers.
Mr. Parkinson : My right hon. Friend and I have met the Director General of Gas Supply on a number of occasions. He recently announced agreement with British Gas on new methods of debt collection with a view to reducing the number of disconnections.
Scottish Coalmining Industry
11. Dr. Moonie : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Coal to discuss the future of the Scottish coalmining industry.
Mr. Parkinson : I meet the chairman regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry. I would also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Mr. Douglas).
Fluidised Bed Technology
17. Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give his best recent estimate of the impact of fluidised bed technology in economic and environmental terms.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Fluidised bed technology provides an economic method of meeting the emission regulations in small coal-fired power generators. The topping cycle technology proposed by British Coal appears particularly interesting.
Private Electricity Generators
18. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the Electrical Power Engineers Association's recent statement on single union deals for future private electricity generators.
Mr. Parkinson : Like the hon. Gentleman, I have noted with interest the EPEA's recent statement. However, as he will be aware, any agreements between the Electrical Power Engineers Association and future private electricity generators will be a matter for the parties concerned.
Nuclear Power Stations (Decommissioning)
19. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he proposes to undertake to assess the cost of decommissioning nuclear power stations.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Operators of nuclear power stations are responsible for their decommissioning, and have all necessary expertise to assess the costs of doing this.
Column 81
Grimethorpe (Fluidised Bed Project)
20. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive firm proposals from British Coal for funding the next stage of the experimental pressurised fluidised bed project at Grimethorpe.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Meetings are taking place with British Coal to clarify its proposals for a further programme of work at Grimethorpe, and my Department is studying carefully the additional information provided.
Fuel Prices
21. Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has concerning the impact of fuel prices on the employment and living standards of people in rural areas ; and if he will make a statement on what use he makes of this information.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Fuel prices for industrial and domestic customers have fallen by 24 and 18 per cent. respectively in real terms since 1983. This has raised living standards, reduced industrialists' real costs, improved their competitiveness and improved employment prospects in rural as well as other areas.
Norwegian Offshore Oil and Gas Sector
22. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last visited the Norwegian offshore oil and gas sector.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I last visited Norway in August 1988 when I attended the offshore northern seas exhibition in Stavanger.
Offshore Safety
23. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent representations he has received on offshore safety.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My right hon. Friend and I recently met representatives of the bereaved and survivors from the Piper Alpha accident who raised a number of concerns about offshore safety. I also continue to receive written representations from a wide range of sources about the offshore safety regime and other questions concerning safety.
30. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he proposes to take to improve safety in the offshore oil and gas industry.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Safety standards remain under continuous review and I have already informed Parliament that if the Piper Alpha public inquiry can recommend improvements to the present safety regime these will be accepted.
Director General Designate of Electricity Supply
24. Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the appointment of the Director General designate of Electricity Supply.
Mr. Parkinson : We intend to identify the director-designate in time for him or her to participate in the process of establishing the Office of Electricity Regulation.
Column 82
Electricity Prices
25. Mr. Yeo : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent representations he has received regarding the level of electricity prices.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I have received a number of representations.
56. Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the increase in electricity prices in 1988 ; and what estimate he has of any further increase on the current year.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The increase in electricity prices in 1988 was 8.6 per cent. The electricity industry will be announcing next month the increase to take effect from 1 April 1989.
Coal (Pricing Policy)
26. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Coal to discuss future pricing policy of coal to the privatised electricity companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry. The Government have made clear their view that while the privatised generating companies are likely to wish to buy a significant proportion of their coal requirements on a contractual basis, the size of that proportion, the price or prices at which coal is sold on contract, and the length of the contracts are all matters for commercial negotiation. British Coal's agreed underlying objective continues to be to earn a satisfactory return on capital while competing in the market place.
Director General of Gas Supply
27. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the Director General of Gas Supply ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I meet the Director General of Gas Supply regularly and we discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.
48. Mr. Rost : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next plans to meet the Director General of Gas Supply, to discuss the implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I have no plans to meet the Director General of Gas Supply.
| Next Section
| Home Page |