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Column 548
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The estimated number of contracted hours of duty of junior hospital doctors in Scotland was 86.1 as at 30 September 1988. The 1988 data for Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Forth Valley health boards are not yet available ; 1987 data for these boards have therefore been included in the calculation of this average.
Young People (Housing)
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any new proposals for enabling young people to enter the housing market either as tenants or owner-occupiers.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Young people and others who need access to housing will stand to benefit from a number of Government measures designed to improve the operation of the housing market. These include the reform of the private rented sector and the extension of the business expansion scheme to the provision of accommodation let on assured tenancies ; powers for local authorities to make schemes to assist tenants to obtain other accommodation ; and powers for Scotttish Homes to assist the development of both rented and owner-occupied housing.
Local Authority Housing
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy regarding the provision of housing by local authorities.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Local authorities in Scotland have a major role to play both as enablers and providers of housing for the foreseeable future. In their role as housing providers authorities will meet an increasingly competitive environment following the introduction of tenants' choice whereby council tenants will have the right to opt for a new landlord. There are, however, no plans to compel authorities to give up their landlord function and there are no statutory powers whereby the Government or any other body can force them to do so. The only person who can compel a council to sell its property is the individual sitting tenant.
The Government's recognition of the substantial role played by councils as housing providers is reflected in the fact that gross capital consent allocations to housing authorities have virtually doubled over the last four years.
It is important, however, that councils should not focus on their landlord function to the detriment of their role as strategic and enabling housing authorities.
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Industry
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of people employed in the shipbuilding and marine engineering industry in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole in each year from 1975 to 1989.
Mr. Lang : The latest available figures for Scotland relate to 1986. After 1979 only figures for the shipbuilding and ship repair industry (activity heading 3610 of the 1980 standard industrial classification) are available. Annual figures for Strathclyde and Greenock and Port Glasgow are not readily available.
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|Shipbuilding and marine|Shipbuilding and
|engineering 1968 SIC, |repairing 1980 SIC
|MLH 370 |activity heading 3610
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1975 |40,400 |-
1976 |40,800 |-
1977 |37,300 |-
1978 |37,600 |-
1979 |35,600 |30,600
1980 |- |26,500
1981 |- |25,900
1982 |- |26,000
1983 |- |24,800
1984 |- |21,800
1985 |- |20,800
1986 |- |18,600
Source: Annual Census of Production.
Manufacturing Investment
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table taking 1979 as 100, of investment in real terms in manufacturing (a) in Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.
Mr. Lang : The latest available figures for Scotland relate to 1986. Similar indices for Strathclyde and Greenock and Port Glasgow are not readily available.
|c|Gross domestic fixed capital formation in Scottish manufacturing|c| Year |Index (1979=100) --------------------------------------------------- 1977 |108.8 1978 |104.0 1979 |100.0 1980 |99.8 1981 |82.8 1982 |71.8 1983 |59.0 1984 |72.3 1985 |98.6 1986 |86.7
Electoral Registration
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number of people in the parliamentary constituencies of Greenock and Port Glasgow and Renfrew, West and Inverclyde listed in (a) the electoral registers for 1988-89, (b) the electoral registers for 1989-90 and (c) the electoral registers for five and 10 years ago, respectively.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is as follows :
|c|Number of electors|c| Constituency |1989 electoral register|1988 electoral register|1984 electoral register|1979 electoral register ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greenock and Port Glasgow |55,612 |57,339 |60,217 |62,360 Renfrew West and Inverclyde |57,234 |57,025 |54,893 |79,339
The 1979 figures relate to the former constituencies of Greenock and Port Glasgow, and Renfrewshire, West whose areas correspond broadly with those of the present constituencies created in 1983.
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Dog Hunting (New Forest)
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he and the Forestry Commission have received by letter, postcard and petition, concerning the prohibition of hunting with dogs in the New Forest.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Since 1 January 1988 the Forestry Commission has received six letters concerning the prohibition of hunting with hounds in the New Forest. My right hon. and Learned Friend has received no communications on this subject.
Students (Allowances)
Sir Hector Monro : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish full details of students' allowances for session 1989-90.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I announced the main rates of student grant for the 1989-90 academic year in response to a question from my hon. Friend on 16 December 1988 at columns 780-82.
I am publishing today the supplementary grant rates for the 1989-90 session and details have been placed in the Library. The increases in these rates are broadly in line with the 5 per cent. increase in the main rates, but allowances for students with dependent children will be increased, on average, by 10 per cent.
In addition, there are some minor changes in the terms of the students' allowances scheme. These include :
i. adjusting the classification of some countries for the purposes of determining the rates of grant for study abroad ;
ii. treating married students as independent of their parents after two years of marriage ;
iii. reducing the qualifying period to two years where parental contributions can be waived in the case of a student who has been in care or custodianship.
Forestry (Report)
Sir Hector Monro : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has determined his response to the report from the Highland regional council working party on forestry in Caithness and Sutherland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : I welcome this report as a basis for resolving the apparent conflicts in land use in Caithness and Sutherland. I intend to act on those recommendations directed at my departments, and hope that the other agencies involved will also respond positively. The report was agreed unanimously and I pay tribute to all the working party members for adopting a reasonable and reasoned approach. I think there are three significant elements in the report. First, the proposed land use strategy, which provides a policy framework for considering all land use changes including conservation and forestry. Secondly, the agreement on the scientific interest of the peatlands, and the need to conserve the areas of highest value. Thirdly, the need to establish a viable forest industry by planting a further 40,000 hectares to secure long term employment in the area. The proposed land use strategy is a sound basis for both safeguarding the prime peatlands and managing the change of sufficient land to create a viable forest. It is an entirely appropriate mechanism consistent with the
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principles of our planning system. Proposals to change land use are initiated by its owners. Only when there is a public interest in the proposed change should there be any involvement with Government and statutory agencies. An indicative strategy sets out clear presumptions for or against particular uses, but leaves individual cases to be decided on their merits. By endorsing this strategy, I am providing a clear indication to private sector interests of the likely attitude of public authorities towards any proposed change in land use, and more particularly, commercial forestry, including those which come to me for ultimate decision.As regards the specific recommendations which fall within my responsibilities, I am responding positively as follows : (a) Forestry
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 9, 13, 14 and 16 all relate to forestry. The Forestry Commission will have due regard to these. The detailed changes in Forestry Commission procedures proposed in recommendation 16 will be examined carefully, with other agencies as appropriate. (b) Agriculture
DAFS will have due regard to the strategy in carrying out its duties and, in particular, will examine carefully any proposals which will allow tree planting on areas presently in agricultural or crofting use (recommendation 5).
(c) NCC
I am happy to accept recommendation 15 that consultation with the NCC should in future take place only where tree planting is proposed on existing or potential SSSIs. I look to NCC to keep the other public agencies advised of their designation programme.
It is proper to record that the proposed strategy does not totally remove the potential for conflict between conservation and forestry. There are residual problems and concerns. I am, however, greatly heartened by the attitude of the working party members and I believe that if they work within the framework and in the spirit of the agreed report, then we can resolve particular cases in a reasonable and sensitive manner. To emphasise this I am writing today advising them of my response and encouraging them to adopt the strategy and publish their views on specific recommendations relevant to their functions and duties.
Finally, I again express my gratitude to the working party members for their efforts. I hope that they will continue to co-operate in the manner achieved during the lengthy deliberations of the working party.
Trunk Road Projects
Sir Hector Monro : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the major trunk road projects which have been started during 1988 -89 and those which he expects to start in 1989-90.
Mr. Rifkind : The information is as follows :
Schemes with estimated cost over £1 million started
since 1 April 1988
A7 North Middleton
A75 Dumfries Bypass
A77 Balsalloch-Balcreuchan
A835 Garve Railway Bridge
A7 Dornie Bridge
A9 Dunblane Bypass
A9 Dornoch Firth Bridge
A94 Parkford-Balnabreich
A94 Upper Northwater Bridge--Oatyhill
A96 Inverurie Bypass
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Contracts let : works start expected later this month or in April.Schemes with estimated cost over £1 million expected to start by 31 March 1990
A68 Newton St. Boswells Bypass
A7 Dalkeith Bypass
A701 Ae Bridge
A76 Carronbridge Bypass
A76 Cumnock and Auchinleck Bypass
A77 Bennane Hill
M80 Steps Bypass
A82 Luss Bypass
A94 Stracathro Junction
In addition the following schemes may become ready in terms of design and of completion of statutory procedures during the year 1989-90 and, if so, will be available for start in case of slippage on other major schemes :
A75 Carrutherstown-Hetland
A91 Auchtermuchty Bypass
A92 Rosyth Bypass
Tourism
Dr. Owen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total of Government support for the tourist industry in 1988 prices for each year from 1960 to 1988 for Scotland ; and what is the projected amount for the next five years.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 10 February 1989] : Support for tourism in Scotland is mainly provided by the Scottish tourist board (STB) and the Highlands and Islands development board (HIDB) ; some of the Scottish Development Agency's (SDA) programmes are also of benefit to the tourism industry. Information on the STB's expenditure since 1969 and the HIDB's since 1981 (figures for earlier years not being readily available) is set out in the table. The publication "Public Expenditure to year 1991- 1992 : A Commentary on the Scottish Programme", which gives information on tourism provision in future years, is due to be published shortly ; copies will be placed in the Library.
Financial Year |Outturn at 1988-89 prices
|(£ million)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969-70 |0.5
1970-71 |3.7
1971-72 |9.6
1972-73 |10.0
1973-74 |13.2
1974-75 |8.0
1975-76 |6.8
1976-77 |6.4
1977-78 |6.8
1978-79 |7.5
1979-80 |7.9
1980-81 |8.2
1981-82 |16.0
1982-83 |17.2
1983-84 |21.4
1984-85 |22.4
1985-86 |20.3
1986-87 |19.9
1987-88 |18.3
<1>1988-89 |<1>20.1
<1> Estimated.
New Towns
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of the Scottish new town
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development corporations towards companies established under the enterprise allowance scheme who might be in competition with existing firms.Mr. Lang [holding answer 10 February 1989] : Scottish new town development corporations, where appropriate working in close liaison with their local enterprise trusts, seek to provide premises, advice and aid in securing financial assistance for which enterprises are eligible. That package of support is made available regardless of the existing competition between traders located within the designated area of the new town.
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many companies have been prevented from operating in East Kilbride since January 1987 because of the policy of the development corporation to prevent the establishment of enterprises competing with existing firms in the new town area.
Mr. Ian Lang [holding answer 10 February 1989] : The East Kilbride development corporation has no such policy. I am aware of my hon. Friend's interest in a recent case about which I have written to him separately.
Exports
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value of exports from (a) the manufacturing, (b) agricultural and (c) mining sectors for each year since 1975 and in 1988 moneys.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 20 February 1989] : The information is not available in the precise form requested. The Scottish Council (Development and Industry) has been conducting a survey of Scottish manufacturing exports for a number of years. Earlier surveys were conducted on a triennial basis and coverage was low. These points should be borne in mind when interpreting the survey results in the table, which gives the best available estimates on a 1980 price basis.
|c|Value of Scottish manufacturing exports: 1980 prices|c| £ billion Year |Value ------------------ 1975 |3.4 1976 |3.7 1977 |3.9 1978 |4.1 1979 |3.9 1980 |3.7 1981 |3.6 1982 |3.3 1983 |3.4 1984 |3.7 1985 |4.0 1986 |3.5 1987 |4.0
There is no information available on Scottish agricultural exports.
Information on the value of Scottish coal exports is not readily available but the table shows the volume of Scottish coal exports. There were no coal exports from Scotland between 1975-76 and 1980-81.
|c|Volume of Scottish coal exports|c| Financial year |Thousand tonnes ------------------------------------------------ 1980-81 |32,000 1981-82 |570,000 1982-83 |340,000 1983-84 |273,000 1984-85 |29,000 1985-86 |217,000 1986-87 |112,000 1987-88 |101,000 <1>1988-89 |111,000 <1> Provisional.
Resource Management (Hospitals)
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish his evaluation of the resource management initiative in the Inverclyde royal hospital and other hospitals involved in the exercise.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 23 February 1989] : No formal evaluation has been undertaken of the two resource management projects at Inverclyde royal hospital and Bangour general hospital. The experience there, and in English hospitals, will however be of benefit as the Scottish Health Service introduces more
clinically-oriented resource management in the next few years.
Schools (Assisted Places)
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost to his Department of the assisted places scheme in Scottish schools in each of the last five years ; and if he will give the estimated cost for 1989-90.
Mr. Rifkind [holding answer 1 March 1989] : The information is set out in the table. The assisted places scheme was introduced by the Government from 1981-82 to give parents in lower income families the opportunity to exercise choice in the education of their children.
K School year |Total expenditure £'000s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1984-85 |3,229 1985-86 |4,217 1986-87 |4,861 <1>1987-88 |5,303 <1>1988-89 |5,900 <2>1989-90 |6,800 <1> Provisional figures. <2> Estimated expenditure.
Community Service and Probation Schemes
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to encourage the further use of community and probationary schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 20 March 1989] : It is our intention to develop and expand community-based disposals for offenders and to that end the Government will, with effect from 1 April this year, refund to local authorities 100 per cent. of the eligible costs of providing community service schemes. We are providing additional resources which are expected to eliminate rationing of places and temporary closure of schemes and to provide 600 extra places in each of the next three years.
A review of the use and possible development of probation in Scotland has already been announced and is proceeding.
Column 555
Training
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures from all available sources as to the number of 16 to 18- year-olds without a YTS place and known to the local careers offices to be without work in Strathclyde region's educational divisions of (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) Ayr, (c) Dumbarton, (d) Glasgow and (e) Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire and Scotland as a whole ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 20 March 1989] : The only information available on the number of young people seeking a job or a YTS place is that held by the local careers services. I understand that the numbers of young people registered at careers offices in the educational divisions of Strathclyde and in Scotland as a whole on 9 March were as follows :
|c|Number of young people
registered|c|
|Number
------------------------------------
Strathclyde
Argyll and Bute |81
Ayr |716
Dumbarton |358
Glasgow |1,964
Lanarkshire |744
Renfrewshire |522
|-------
Total |4,385
|-------
Scotland |8,446
It should be noted, however, that these figures are likely to include young people who have in fact found work or a YTS place since they registered and others who are seeking only work.
By way of comparison, there were 10,022 unfilled YTS places in Scotland on 24 February.
Regional Enterprise Grants
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give (a) the total number of applications received for innovation grants from 1 April 1988 to the most recent date for which figures are available, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period and the estimated expenditure for 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 ;
(2) if he will give (a) the total number of applications received for investment grants from 1 April 1988 to the most recent date for which figures are available, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period and the estimated expenditure for 1989- 90, 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 20 March 1989] : The information requested for the period 1 April 1988 to 28 February 1989 is as follows :
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|c|Regional enterprise grants|c|
|Innovation grants|Investment grants
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of applications
received |85 |317
Number of applications
approved |32 |167
Value of applications
approved |£726.1 thousand |£1,004 thousand
Total gross expenditure of regional enterprise grants for the period covered is £205,000 out of a provision for 1988-89 of £1.6 million. Planned provision for 1989-90 is published in the Supply Estimates. Planned net provision for regional selective assistance and related schemes (including regional enterprise grants), consistent with the figures published in "Public Expenditure to 1991-92, A Commentary on the Scotland Programme" for each of the years 1990-91 and 1991-92 is
£80 million.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment Training
Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number entering employment training each month who had received (a) one training allowance, (b) three training allowances and (c) six training allowances, to be given on (i) a national and (ii) an area office basis for the latest available three months.
Mr. Nicholls : Each trainee on employment training can receive only one training allowance in any period.
Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total funding figures for employment training for (a) September 1988, (b) December 1988 and (c) March 1989 on (i) a national and (ii) an area office basis.
Mr. Nicholls : The total funding figures for employment training are for internal management purposes only.
Between September 1988 and March 1989 the cash limit for employment training nationally, excluding administration costs, was £493.6 million. Figures for the same period for Training Agency area offices were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 21 December at column 332.
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