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Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 20 March 1989] : The following tables show escapes by prisoners from closed prisons. The information in relation to the years from 1979 to 1985-86 has largely been derived from published annual reports on the work of the prison department, the most convenient source. The information for 1984-85 covers the 15-month period from 1 January 1984--31 March 1985. Thereafter, information relates to the financial year, until the final period which covers from 1 April to 31 December 1988 :
Establishment |Number
------------------------------------------------
1979
Acklington |4
Brixton |1
Camp Hill |4
Channings Wood |7
Dorchester |1
Erlestoke House |2
Featherstone |7
Haverigg |6
Liverpool |2
Northallerton |1
Northeye |19
Norwich |23
Standford Hill |27
The Verne |11
Wymott |2
|-------
Total |97
1980
Acklington |2
Brixton |4
Camp Hill |4
Canterbury |1
Channings Wood |3
Coldingley |1
Erlestoke |4
Exeter |1
Featherstone |2
Haverigg |2
Liverpool |2
Northallerton |1
Northeye |12
Norwich |3
Preston |1
Ranby |2
Standford Hill |20
The Verne |6
|-------
Total |71
1981
Acklington |1
Beckingham |1
Exeter |1
Haverigg |1
Highpoint |4
Lancaster |1
Manchester |1
Northeye |16
Norwich |3
Ranby |1
Rollestone |6
Standford Hill |32
The Verne |10
Wymott |1
|-------
Total |79
1982
Birmingham |5
Brixton |1
Camp Hill |3
Channings Wood |2
Erlestoke |9
Grendon |1
Haverigg |5
Highpoint |3
Leeds |1
Maidstone |2
Manchester |1
Northeye |25
Norwich |10
Nottingham |6
Preston |3
Ranby |1
Standford Hill |23
Swinfen Hall |2
The Verne |11
Wandsworth |2
Wymott |1
|-------
Total |117
1983
Acklington |4
Bedford |4
Cardiff |1
Channings Wood |4
Exeter |2
Haverigg |3
Highpoint |4
Manchester |1
Northeye |36
Norwich |4
Ranby |5
Stafford |4
Standford Hill |22
The Verne |2
Wymott |1
|-------
Total |97
1984-85
Birmingham |1
Cardiff |1
Channings Wood |9
Coldingley |1
Haverigg |14
Highpoint |8
Lewes |2
Maidstone |2
Northeye |14
Norwich |4
Oxford |1
Preston |2
Ranby |7
Reading |1
Standford Hill |42
The Verne |5
|-------
Total |114
1985-86
Acklington |5
Blundeston |2
Brixton |5
Channings Wood |6
Featherstone |7
Haverigg |5
Highpoint |10
Lewes |1
Lindholme |5
Maidstone |1
Northeye |23
Norwich |17
Oxford |2
Pentonville |4
Ranby |11
Stocken |1
The Verne |2
Wayland |6
Wormwood Scrubs |1
Wymott |3
|-------
Total |117
1986-87
Acklington |1
Blundeston |2
Cardiff |3
Channings Wood |1
Dartmoor |1
Featherstone |2
Haverigg |5
Highpoint |7
Lindholme |13
Manchester |4
Northeye |10
Norwich |5
Pentonville |1
Ranby |11
Send |2
Stafford |1
The Verne |4
Wayland |6
|-------
Total |79
1987-88
Acklingtom |3
Aldington |7
Bedford |2
Bristol |2
Brixton |2
Camp Hill |1
Canterbury |1
Channings Wood |6
Cookham Wood |2
Dartmoor |1
Exeter |1
Featherstone |3
Gartree |-
Havering |5
Highpoint |7
Holloway |1
Lindholme |26
Manchester |2
Medomsley |1
Northeye |2
Norwich |4
Nottingham |1
Oxford |1
Pentonville |3
Preston |2
Ranby |1
Send |4
Shepton Mallet |3
Stafford |2
The Verne |5
Thorp Arch |1
Wayland |8
Winchester |1
Wymott |2
|-------
Total |115
|-------
1988 (from 1 April)
Acklington |3
Ashwell |7
Bedford |3
Brixton |2
Camp Hill |1
Channings Wood |3
Dartmoor |2
Featherstone |9
Havering |3
Highpoint |21
Lindholme |21
Littlehey |3
Manchester |2
Norwich |2
Nottingham |1
Pentonville |7
Ranby |6
Rollestone |1
Stocken |1
Swansea |2
The Verne |6
Thorp Arch |1
Wayland |2
Wymott |3
|-------
Total |112
Column 229
Steel-Cored Bullets
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the article by Thomas Alfred Warlow of his Department's forensic laboratory on the properties of steel-cored bullets published in the British journal of accident surgery.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 23 March 1989] : Mr. Warlow contributed four technical paragraphs on the firearms used in the Hungerford shooting incident to an article in Injury, the British journal of accident surgery, describing the management of the 14 patients admitted to Princess Margaret hospital, Swindon after the Hungerford shooting incident.
A copy of the article has been placed in the Library.
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SCOTLAND
Computer Consultants
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
Mr. Rifkind [holding answer 4 April 1989] : In 1988 my Department spent £406,970 on management consultancy and £70,066 on computer consultancy.
The contracts awarded by my Department in 1988 were as follows :
Column 229
|Subject of assignment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery Operation Centres Ltd. |To review existing computer data security and prepare a computer contingency
| plan.
PIEDA |Impact of the rundown of Dounreay Nuclear Establishment and alternative
| economic opportunities for Caithness (jointly with Highlands and Islands
| Development Board).
|Study development proposals for Stirling Old Town put to HBMD by the LIR
| Leisure Group in conjunction with Stirling District Council.
Deloitte, Haskins and Sells |To produce work programmes for the computer audit of Health Boards.
|Financial and Management Information System for Scottish Homes.
Coopers and Lybrand Associates |Organisational Structure of Scottish Homes.
|Review of Information Systems for Scottish Homes.
|Human Resource Strategy for Scottish Homes.
|HAG and Loan Accounting Project for Scottish Homes.
|To assess the future debt servicing capability of the 5 Scottish New Towns
| industrial and commercial assets, and to advise on the consequential calculation
| of the amount of National Loans Fund debt to be written off.
Gilpin Black Associates |Management Audit for Scottish Homes.
Edinburgh University Computer Services |Advice on implementation of Scottish Office digital mapping system.
Firn, Crichton Roberts Ltd. |Strathclyde Integrated Development Operation (jointly with Strathclyde Regional
| Council).
Open College |Consultancy on Open Learning.
University of Warwick |Determination of performance measurements in Further Education.
Dr. S. Clarke |Evaluation and quality of learning and teaching in Further Education.
BIS Applied Systems Ltd. |Consultancy Services for HMI Office Automation Project.
Scottish Examination Board |Systems analysis and computer programming work undertaken in development of
| procedures for the HMI national task for the use of SCE results.
Dundee College of Technology |Investigation of the administrative arrangements in Jordanhill School.
Coal
18. Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to try to ensure a long-term supply contract for Scottish coal between British Coal and the South of Scotland electricity board.
Mr. Lang : Following discussions with my right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, the chairmen of the South of Scotland electricity board and British Coal have now agreed to negotiate on the basis of a five-year contract under which the Scottish electricity industry would purchase 2 million tonnes of coal per annum subject, in respect of the fourth
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and fifth years, to the conclusion of a satisfactory contract with the electricity supply industry in England and Wales for exports of electricity over the interconnector amounting to 600 MW per annum.Self-Governing Schools
19. Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the Government's proposals for self-governing schools in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend gave earlier to the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald).
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SCOTLAND
Community Charge
13. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on arrangements for paying the community charge in respect of official ministerial residences in Scotland.
Mr. Rifkind : The only residence available for Ministers in Scotland is Bute house in Edinburgh. I understand that Lothian region's community charges registration officer has determined that, with the exception of the caretaker's flat in the basement, the property is non-domestic in nature and will therefore be subject to non-domestic rates. Bute house will be considered as a Crown property for this purpose.
20. Mr. Douglas : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the criteria which are being used by community charge registration officers to remove individuals from their register for limited periods.
Mr. Lang : Community charge registration officers will remove the name of an individual from the register in a particular local authority area only if he is no longer liable to pay the community charge there. In addition, a registration officer may exclude an individual's register entry from the publicly available parts of the register if that individual has applied for anonymous registration. In every case, registration officers will base their decisions on all the relevant circumstances.
23. Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest estimates for the costs of administration of the poll tax in the coming year.
Mr. Lang : The latest estimate by regional and islands councils of the cost of administering the community charge in 1989-90, including costs of registration and collection, but excluding the cost of the rebate scheme, is £31.73 million.
27. Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had since the 1 April with poll tax levying authorities.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to report on the levels of payment of the community charge.
Mr. Lang : Although I expect it to be some time before reliable information becomes available, I would expect the level of payment to be broadly the same as it has been for domestic rates.
Priorities for Patients"
21. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has had from interested bodies in Ayrshire in response to the White Paper "Priorities for Patients".
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Some 65 letters have been received from the Ayrshire area offering observations on the White Paper "Working for Patients", most being from general practitioners.
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Constitutional Convention
22. Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received as a result of the first meeting of the Scottish constitutional convention.
29. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received an invitation to attend the next meeting of the Scottish constitutional convention ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : I have received no specific invitation to the next meeting of the convention. It would be quite wrong to participate in a convention designed to achieve change which the Government believe would be harmful to Scotland.
Health Care
24. Mr. Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his future plans for the provision of health care in rural areas in Scotland.
Mr. Rifkind : The proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients" are designed to improve health care for patients in rural areas as in other parts of Scotland. They include an undertaking to safeguard the position of doctors in the less-populated areas of Scotland and who offer a good standard of service to their patients.
Highlands (Financial Assistance)
25. Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the total additional financial assistance which he will make available to the Highlands in the light of the current year's adverse weather conditions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland wrote to Highland regional council and Inverness district council on 10 February requesting detailed reports of flood damage and extra costs incurred. He received a reply from Highland region dated 6 March which reports costs without full supporting details, and has just received a report from the district council. Ross and Cromarty and Lochaber district councils have reported additional costs in dealing with storm damage to housing estates. I am assessing this and other information and will make a statement as soon as possible.
COSLA
26. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities ; and what matters he proposes to discuss.
Mr. Ian Lang : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (McAllion).
Waste Dumping
28. Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further measures are proposed to deter waste dumping in Scotland.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie) on 22 March at columns 653-54.
Water (EC Directives)
30. Mr. Thomas Graham : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish water suppliers will not be able to comply with the deadline set by the EEC to bring water supplies up to EEC directives ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Drinking water supplies which do not comply with the EC standards are the subject of improvement programmes submitted to the European Commission. The Commission does not normally set deadlines and has not expressed dissatisfaction with the programmes submitted, but has asked for those for reducing lead in tap water to be completed by the end of 1989. Only a small number of areas in Lothian and Strathclyde regions will not comply with that date.
Additional capital provisions have already been made and the allocations for water and sewerage have been increased by 14 per cent. for 1989-90. This should enable water authorities to make faster progress on bringing drinking water supplies up to the EC standards.
General Practitioners
31. Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioners in Scotland earn over £55,000 per year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : This information is not held centrally.
Scottish Development Agency
32. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency ; and what matters were discussed.
33. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency ; and what subjects were discussed.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman, Sir David Nickson, on 7 March to discuss the Government's White Paper on Scottish enterprise.
Working for Patients"
34. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the medical profession on the White Paper "Working for Patients".
35. Mr. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Royal College of Nursing about the Government's plans to restructure the National Health Service.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : We are inviting comments from the medical and nursing professions, as well as from a range of other bodies, on the arrangements for implementation of the White Paper proposals, as set out in detail in six Scottish working papers, published last month.
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Law Reform
36. Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received regarding his proposals for law reform in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Four responses have been received so far to my right hon. and learned Friend's consultation paper on the legal profession in Scotland. The consultation period continues until 13 June.
Electricity Boards
37. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairmen of the South of Scotland electricity board and the North of Scotland Hydro Electricity Board ; and what subjects were discussed.
Mr. Lang : I met both chairmen on 31 March when they endorsed agreements which will formally replace the joint generating agreement with contractual commitments reflecting the restructuring of the industry for privatisation. A range of relevant matters was discussed.
GPs (Rural Areas)
38. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to protect the income of general practitioners in rural areas ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In the White Paper "Working for Patients" we said that we would safeguard the position of doctors in the less-populated areas of Scotland. I wrote to all general practitioners in Scotland on 16 March to make it clear that a Scottish doctor who cannot increase his practice size and who offers a good standard of service to his patients will not suffer a reduction in his income through no fault of his own. I am now receiving the views of GPs which my letter requested and will announce the Government's proposals shortly.
Women's Refuges
39. Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from women's aid organisations regarding the levying of the poll tax on residents of women's refuges.
Mr. Lang : I have received a number of representations from Members of Parliament and others on behalf of women's aid groups about the application of the collective community charge to refuges.
Legislative Assembly
40. Mr. Gow : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received against the setting up of a legislative assembly in Scotland.
Mr. Rifkind : Since the last general election I have received 32 letters against devolution.
CBI
41. Sir Hector Monro : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed unemployment in Scotland with the Confederation of British Industry.
Column 235
Mr. Rifkind : I have frequent discussions with the Confederation of British Industry on a range of issues affecting the Scottish economy. I am sure that the CBI shares my satisfaction that seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 43,400 over the past 12 months and is now at its lowest level since July 1981.
Torness Power Station and Shotts Prison (Documents)
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the discovery of documents concerning the design of Torness power station and Shotts prison in a public place close to Torness.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I am advised by the South of Scotland electricity board that the fragments of charred papers, apparently from a contractor's bonfire, found near the Torness site, did not disclose any information of a security or other nature which would cause concern to the board.
The Scottish Home and Health Department has investigated the matter in relation to the design of Shotts prison. Expert examination of the documents reveals that what was alleged to have been found were copies of drawings issued to four construction firms invited by a management contractor to tender for a small sub-contract during the construction of Shotts prison in 1986. All the firms concerned have been asked to declare the whereabouts of the original copies sent to them.
The original drawings were not classified and there are no details of security systems shown on the material found. What has been revealed does not appear to constitute a serious breach of security. Nevertheless the Scottish Home and Health Department is reviewing the procedures for handling drawings of prison-related buildings and installations, and will report the result to me.
Tropical Timber
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is being undertaken into the cultivation of native woods suitable for the substitution of tropical timber and mahogany imports.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Forestry Commission has an active programme of research into the cultivation of native trees which are capable of producing wood that can be used in place of mahogany and other tropical timbers. Topics covered by the research include the selection of provenances, the techniques of establishing, managing and protecting the trees, and the alternative uses of the timber.
European Community (Assistance)
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those areas of Scotland he has nominated to the European Community Commission as being eligible for assistance under objective 5b, along with details of geographical boundaries, reasons for inclusions and the date of submission.
Mr. Lang : We already have an assurance from the Commission that the Highlands and Islands (the Highlands and Islands Development Board area) will qualify under objective 5b. We have put forward a case for Dumfries and Galloway (West) (the travel-to-work areas
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of Stranraer, Wigton and Stewartry) on 19 October 1988. In addition, following discussion with the Commission, cases were submitted on 17 March 1989 for Borders region (travel-to-work areas of Berwickshire, Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso and Jedburgh, and Peebles), Southern Highlands (travel-to-work areas of Aberdeen (less city of Aberdeen), Banff, Blairgowrie and Pitlochry, Brechin and Montrose, Buckie, Crieff, Elgin (part), Forfar, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Keith, Perth, Peterhead and Stirling (part), and eastern Dumfries and Galloway (travel-to-work areas of Annan, Dumfries and Lockerbie). All these areas score well on a number of the criteria for eligibility under objective 5b set out in Council regulation (EEC) No. 4255/88.Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what negotiations he has held during 1989 with the Highlands and Islands Development Board in relation to any plan to be submitted to the European Community Commission for structural fund assistance to the Highlands and Islands under objective 5b ; and when he anticipates a full plan will be published.
Mr. Lang : Scottish Office officials have discussed with the Highlands and Islands Development Board the draft plan for the Highlands and Islands to be submitted to the Commission under objective 5b. The reformed structural fund regulations provide for consultation on draft plans with partnership authorities (bodies with a direct interest in measures to be funded under the structural funds such as local authorities). They are then submitted to the Commission. In response to the plans, the Commission will draw up a community support framework. It is too early to be certain how long it will be before this is finalised.
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet organisations such as the Scottish National Farmers Union, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, enterprise trusts and regional councils on the content of Scottish 5b programmes prior to the submission of plans to the European Community Commission.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans. My noble Friend the Minister of State met yesterday representatives of Highland, Grampian and Strathclyde regional councils and the National Farmers Union of Scotland to hear their proposals for a FEOGA operational programme for the Highland mainland under objective 5b of the European structural funds.
Sand Eels
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the size of the total Shetland sand eel catch, including the proportion of O group and 1 group fish, for each of the past five years.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested is as follows :
Size of TPercentage by Weight
|(Tonnes)|O-Group |1-Group
---------------------------------------------
1984 |32,578 |29.7 |29.1
1985 |17,169 |21.4 |31.9
1986 |11,961 |18.5 |20.2
1987 |7,227 |20.2 |50.3
1988 |4,710 |18.0 |4.3
Column 237
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of O group sand eels taken by the Shetland fishery in each of the past 15 years.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested is as follows :--
|Number in millions
---------------------------------------------------------
1974 |929
1975 |4,309
1976 |4,268
1977 |5,970
1978 |5,453
1979 |1,403
1980 |6,432
1981 |13,243
1982 |16,851
1983 |5,604
1984 |6,773
1985 |2,192
1986 |1,785
1987 |419
1988 |530
Labour Statistics
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest unemployment figures for the Glasgow, Springburn constituency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : On 9 February 1989 there were 6,851 unemployed claimants in the Glasgow, Springburn parliamentary constituency. The constituency has shared in the general improvement in the Scottish unemployment situation with a reduction of over 2,000 in the number of unemployed claimants since the beginning of 1987. By continuing with our successful policies we aim to reduce unemployment even further.
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