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Mr. Lang : No such decision has been taken. The Government's White Paper (Command 711) states at paragraph 5.10 that the position in each town will be carefully considered once an order for dissolution has been made, and formal consultations will be held with the development corporations, district councils and representative tenant groups to review the position and to determine to what extent transfers might take place, be it to housing associations, co-operatives, district councils, private or other landlords. Those tenants who have not transferred to other landlords will be transferred to Scottish Homes at wind-up, with a view to pursuing further diversification with the small residual number of houses.
35. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairmen of the new town development corporations ; and what subjects were discussed.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend last met the chairmen of the Scottish new town development corporations on 2 December 1988. A range of matters concerning the new towns was discussed.
British Summer Time
34. Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Scottish local authorities on the question of British summer time ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : None. The Government presented three options, including continuation of the present arrangements, in the Green Paper "Summer Time : A Consultation Document" (Cm 722). We shall study the responses received, including that of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, before reaching conclusions.
Scottish Trades Union Congress
36. Mr. Eadie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for meeting the Scottish Trades Union Congress ; and what matters will be discussed.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to meet the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on 10 November to discuss matters affecting the Scottish economy.
Overseas Visits
37. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which overseas countries he visited on official business during the parliamentary recess.
Mr. Rifkind : I paid official visits in Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Thailand.
In Japan I visited 15 companies and held meetings with the Japanese Government and with business men in Tokyo and Osaka. I was encouraged by the positive approach which companies took towards Scotland as a location for European manufacturing, and was able to announce an investment by Seiko in Livingston and an expansion of JVC's activities in East Kilbride. The links between Japan and Scotland will be further strengthened by the Japanese Government's decision to establish a consulate-general in Edinburgh, and by the Japan External Trade Organisation's proposal to set up an office in Scotland.
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My meetings with Government and business men in New Zealand and Australia built on the continuing strength of Scotland's relations with both countries and provided opportunities to encourage trade and pursue inward investment.During my brief stopover in Thailand I had a useful meeting with the Thai Minister of Finance about the problem of counterfeit Scotch whisky.
Transport
38. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to visit Prestwick international airport to discuss transport matters.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so at present.
Pollution (Moray Firth)
39. Sir Russel Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding pollution in the Moray firth : and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Thirteen representations have been received in the last five years about pollution from the present unsatisfactory sewage outfall at Inverness, and two about the outfall at Nairn.
Fourteen representations were received in connection with Highland regional council's application to the Highland river purification board for consent to discharge screened sewage effluent from the proposed Inverness main drainage scheme long sea outfall. After the issue of consent, a further 10 representations, five of which were from previous correspondents, were received about the effects of the proposed discharge.
Highland regional council's notice of intention to develop for a headworks building generated 51 representations about the effects of the scheme. My right hon. and learned Friend directed Highland regional council on 19 May to prepare an environmental statement. When this is received further consideration will be given to the application.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland received one representation from local fishermen opposed to the construction of the outfall.
Cornton Vale Women's Prison
40. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last visited Cornton Vale women's prison ; and what proposals for changes he has arising from that visit.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend last visited HM institution Cornton Vale on 10 April 1980 when he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
Economy (Lanarkshire)
41. Mr. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency to discuss the Lanarkshire economy.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to meet the agency chairman.
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Development Agency
42. Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total expenditure by the Scottish Development Agency since May 1979.
Mr. Lang : During the period from May 1979 to 30 September 1989, the Scottish Development Agency spent a total of £1,261 million.
Respite Care
46. Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money will be allocated to Scottish local authorities in 1990-91 in order to deal with the shortage of publicly provided respite care.
Mr. Lang : The allocation of expenditure to particular services is a matter of local authorities. The aggregate exchequer grant for 1990-91, announced by my right hon. and learned Friend on 26 July, provides for a 9.7 per cent. increase over that for 1989-90. This affords authorities the scope to increase expenditure on the provision of particular services, including, for instance, respite care, in the light of their view of priorities.
Greater Glasgow Health Board
48. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Greater Glasgow health board ; what subjects were discussed ; and when he intends to meet them again.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. and learned Friend met Greater Glasgow health board representatives in March 1989, when he opened a new 90 -bed unit at Woodilee hospital and heard of plans for further improvement to mental illness services. He has no plans for further meetings with the board in the near future.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what outside management consultant groups have been employed by Greater Glasgow health board in each of the past five years ; and at what cost.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The names of individual management consultancy groups employed by Greater Glasgow health board are not held centrally.
Ferry Services
49. Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report on progress towards (a) upgrading of the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin and (b) the provision of a bridge to Skye ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Following the recent discussions I have had with Highland regional council, I believe that private funding could provide the way forward for the provision of a bridge in the near future. It is, however, for Highland regional council to decide whether to take the project forward. I have indicated to it that it would receive the support of my officials in the Scottish Development Department in the practical processes involved should it determine to go ahead. I look forward to learning of its decision in due course.
I am aware of the pressures on the existing ferry service to Skye in the face of the increasing traffic demands. A
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decision on the bridge is, however, essential before a full assessment of the economic case for replacement ferries can be undertaken.Highlands and Islands Development Board
50. Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Highlands and Islands development board ; what matters were discussed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman of the Highlands and Islands development board at a meeting of the Scottish Economic Council held on 5 May in Edinburgh where general matters relating to the Highlands and Islands were discussed.
Gynaecological Unit, Moray
53. Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on option appraisals for the establishment of a specialist obstetric, maternity and gynaecological unit in Moray ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Grampian health board is presently carrying out the option appraisal exercise and expects to be in a position to report to the Scottish Home and Health Department in December.
Inverclyde Enterprise Zone
54. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency ; and whether the Inverclyde enterprise zone was discussed.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend last met the chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency to discuss the Inverclyde enterprise zone at the launch of the zone on 3 March 1989.
Legal Aid (Tenants)
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications have been received in 1988-89 for legal aid in order that a tenant may raise an action against a district council landlord.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not available.
Flat-roofed Houses
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many flat-roofed houses have been demolished in the public sector in each of the past 15 years ; and how many of these were constructed after 1960 ;
(2) how many flat-roofed houses in the public sector have been converted to pitched roofs in each of the past 15 years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not held centrally.
Housing Co-operatives
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing co-operatives have been formed by district councils in the past 12 months ; and what do these represent as a percentage of total district council stock.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information on housing co-operatives formed by district councils in the last 12 months is not held centrally.
Rent Officers
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many rent officers are employed at each office of the Rent Registration service.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : At 30 September 1989, the number of rent officers (including senior rent officers) employed at each office of the rent registration service was :
|Number
-------------------------
Aberdeen |4
Dundee |<1>3
Edinburgh |9
Glasgow |<2>20
<1> Plus one vacancy to
be filled.
<2> Of whom one is
located in Motherwell.
Television Festival
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representatives of his Department attended sessions of the Edinburgh international television festival.
Mr. Rifkind : My Department was not represented.
Rent Assessment Committees
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times rent assessment committees have sat in the past 12 months.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : One hundred and forty seven rent assessment committees were appointed to deal with over 700 appeals under the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 between 1 October 1988 and 30 September 1989.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the names and show the occupations of members of the panel from which rent assessment committees are formed.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : A list of the members of the rent assessment panel for Scotland is held in the House
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of Commons Library. The membership comprises three groups : chairmen (who are lawyers), valuers (who are chartered surveyors), and lay members. Information on the occupations of the lay members is not held centrally.Each rent assessment committee normally consists of a lawyer, a valuer and a lay member.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the basis of remuneration of members of rent assessment committees.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Members receive a fee on each occasion they sit on a rent assessment committee or carry out other work in their capacity as members of the rent assessment panel for Scotland.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on rent assessment committee work in the year 1988- 89.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The figure is £97,000.
Drugs (Eviction)
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will amend the Housing Acts so that a person found guilty by due process of dealing in drugs can be evicted from a secure or assured tenancy within one month of conviction.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : We have no proposals to amend the current housing legislation, which already provides that landlords may seek to evict tenants causing a nuisance or annoyance in or within the vicinity of their homes.
Housing
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of new housing completions by district councils in the period 1977 to 1988.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is set out in the table.
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Local Authority completions 1977-88
District |1977 |1978 |1979 |1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scotland |9,119 |6,686 |4,755 |5,048 |3,770 |2,342 |2,311 |2,120 |1,989 |1,733 |1,710 |1,933
Borders
Berwickshire |31 |45 |14 |11 |29 |- |- |27 |16 |22 |17 |-
Ettrick and Lauderdale |41 |100 |34 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Roxburgh |230 |109 |4 |12 |- |51 |45 |43 |8 |8 |4 |28
Tweeddale |10 |30 |- |56 |- |10 |- |- |- |- |6 |54
Central
Clackmannan |13 |18 |155 |132 |- |- |- |1 |23 |30 |- |35
Falkirk |213 |21 |- |23 |54 |66 |20 |78 |147 |56 |74 |-
Stirling |21 |91 |9 |42 |168 |8 |18 |37 |- |6 |- |-
Dumfries and Galloway
Annandale and Eskdale |132 |226 |100 |224 |173 |86 |160 |158 |85 |38 |35 |17
Nithsdale |62 |44 |129 |78 |49 |18 |27 |6 |70 |80 |66 |74
Stewartry |37 |61 |74 |51 |49 |42 |44 |41 |23 |34 |40 |10
Wigtown |77 |48 |32 |77 |34 |120 |20 |86 |- |40 |20 |26
Fife
Dunfermline |433 |74 |110 |129 |- |83 |89 |26 |58 |60 |178 |132
Kirkcaldy |220 |135 |123 |44 |54 |63 |15 |113 |101 |91 |131 |172
North East Fife |51 |121 |198 |127 |121 |41 |142 |70 |14 |48 |65 |17
Grampian
Aberdeen |921 |754 |430 |518 |372 |134 |47 |117 |178 |45 |93 |136
Banff and Buchan |697 |418 |175 |220 |227 |99 |128 |116 |154 |48 |67 |60
Gordon |108 |89 |35 |- |4 |85 |199 |108 |89 |44 |171 |9
Kincardine and Deeside |81 |76 |56 |4 |53 |35 |60 |54 |22 |175 |41 |105
Moray |477 |64 |87 |567 |111 |156 |139 |85 |75 |100 |34 |169
Highland
Badenoch and Strathspey |74 |- |24 |49 |20 |54 |38 |16 |16 |- |13 |-
Caithness |52 |127 |54 |68 |40 |- |55 |20 |14 |23 |29 |24
Inverness |97 |198 |38 |124 |68 |25 |115 |90 |10 |136 |32 |59
Lochaber |- |30 |57 |102 |18 |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Nairn |70 |55 |- |- |- |- |- |- |20 |24 |22 |-
Ross and Cromarty |365 |200 |89 |64 |96 |48 |31 |65 |8 |38 |46 |26
Skye and Lochalsh |49 |18 |11 |46 |9 |13 |- |10 |14 |46 |8 |25
Sutherland |61 |44 |13 |27 |13 |22 |27 |22 |15 |10 |33 |34
Lothian
East Lothian |118 |79 |46 |18 |30 |45 |92 |25 |91 |65 |14 |66
Edinburgh |167 |84 |199 |- |117 |49 |8 |- |- |- |63 |87
Midlothian |47 |5 |- |47 |- |- |- |- |7 |- |14 |-
West Lothian |- |51 |- |- |- |- |2 |- |- |- |8 |76
Strathclyde
Argyll and Bute |211 |64 |110 |126 |68 |60 |33 |76 |17 |- |12 |71
Bearsden and Milngavie |- |33 |36 |67 |27 |56 |12 |- |16 |- |35 |6
Clydebank |55 |21 |- |63 |73 |2 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Clydesdale |63 |6 |53 |32 |49 |18 |20 |18 |- |30 |- |24
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |27 |10 |35 |54 |3 |- |16 |8 |- |- |6 |-
Cumnock and Doon Valley |78 |133 |26 |47 |43 |6 |- |14 |- |2 |6 |2
Cunninghame |162 |123 |102 |68 |90 |45 |85 |44 |54 |34 |- |55
Dumbarton |26 |15 |6 |39 |- |- |- |- |- |14 |18 |18
East Kilbride |- |26 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Eastwood |47 |17 |- |25 |3 |14 |- |- |37 |40 |14 |31
Glasgow |1,733 |1,430 |615 |385 |558 |161 |63 |- |140 |58 |- |-
Hamilton |146 |127 |55 |166 |42 |78 |122 |46 |44 |39 |8 |53
Inverclyde |153 |184 |4 |8 |- |26 |- |- |- |- |64 |-
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |80 |52 |101 |62 |27 |- |- |33 |- |- |- |-
Kyle and Carrick |109 |58 |136 |119 |56 |17 |91 |35 |71 |28 |47 |37
Monklands |34 |85 |61 |37 |53 |- |11 |67 |- |- |- |-
Motherwell |389 |134 |167 |173 |104 |50 |- |- |- |36 |- |-
Renfrew |84 |46 |65 |122 |113 |179 |34 |135 |19 |10 |64 |27
Strathkelvin |25 |173 |254 |- |40 |- |6 |13 |6 |24 |7 |-
Tayside
Angus |81 |78 |58 |40 |- |12 |34 |34 |41 |84 |40 |78
Dundee |128 |84 |221 |82 |163 |55 |80 |5 |57 |- |- |5
Perth and Kinross |122 |117 |150 |273 |149 |71 |75 |105 |144 |21 |- |-
Islands Councils
Orkney Islands |176 |24 |34 |25 |26 |18 |43 |16 |6 |6 |12 |41
Shetland Islands |147 |97 |55 |121 |81 |31 |43 |25 |33 |20 |20 |30
Western Isles |88 |134 |115 |54 |93 |90 |22 |32 |46 |20 |33 |14
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total incurred per house in each year from 1979 to 1988 in loan charges debt redemption, interest and expenses for the four city district councils.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Loan charges paid by district councils relate to capital borrowing for various purposes, some of which are not associated with capital expenditure on housing. Loan charges per house met from housing revenue accounts, calculated on the basis of the number of houses to which those accounts relate, are set out in the table.
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Loan charges per council house (£)
Authority |1979-80 |1980-81 |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1984-85 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aberdeen
Debt redemption |43.94 |50.29 |55.98 |63.08 |69.66 |81.45 |84.22 |90.62 |100.34 |114.67
Interest charges |392.19 |465.83 |470.54 |448.83 |416.07 |425.39 |449.30 |425.57 |432.40 |462.82
Loan fund expenses |1.78 |2.15 |3.38 |3.03 |2.56 |2.29 |2.63 |1.89 |3.41 |2.03
Dundee
Debt redemption |38.98 |42.33 |46.92 |50.04 |58.68 |68.64 |79.24 |94.63 |123.99 |179.51
Interest charges |282.21 |322.15 |324.92 |325.80 |312.10 |317.21 |338.15 |322.74 |331.78 |368.08
Loan fund expenses |0.74 |0.91 |1.49 |1.42 |2.06 |1.82 |2.25 |2.13 |2.84 |2.21
Edinburgh
Debt redemption |21.45 |24.20 |26.98 |31.42 |30.11 |36.10 |10.68 |10.54 |14.31 |21.99
Interest charges |339.89 |376.78 |375.94 |394.66 |345.61 |356.47 |374.82 |393.82 |400.62 |432.38
Loan fund expenses |2.02 |1.78 |2.80 |2.28 |1.95 |2.11 |1.87 |1.63 |1.63 |1.88
Glasgow
Debt redemption |42.34 |49.69 |58.22 |67.99 |73.84 |87.01 |95.52 |111.13 |114.45 |145.60
Interest and other charges 361447.51 486.18 491.57 479.91 498.54 520.43 512.94 533.75 596.60
Notes:
1. Figures for 1979-80 to 1986-87 are based on audited accounts.
2. Figures for 1987-88 to 1988-89 are based on authorities' near actual outturn returns.
3. The returns made by Glasgow district council do not distinguish between interest and loan fund expenses.
4. Figures are based on the number of council houses at 30 September of each year.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department plans to undertake research of the effects of mixed tenure on communities arising out of council house sales.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The report of research commissioned by the Scottish Development Department into the repair and maintenance of housing in areas of mixed ownership is expected to be published soon. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House. There are no immediate proposals for research into other aspects of mixed tenure.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of families living in overcrowded conditions as defined by section 135 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Development Department does not make such estimates.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations he has made under section 60 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No such regulations have yet been made.
Post-school Day Care
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the provision of post-school day care for children at the latest available date ; and what (a) local authority and (b) central Government funding is given.
Mr. Lang : Provision for post-school day care is made at some local authority community centres by voluntary organisations but no information is held centrally about the extent of the arrangements or details of funding.
Commissioner for Local Administration
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to proposals to strengthen the powers of the Commissioner for Local Administration ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Provisions in part II of the Local Government and Housing Bill considerably strengthen the powers of the Commissioner. They are also designed to increase public awareness of the recommendations in his reports, particularly in those cases where authorities have failed to act on them.
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Foreign Teachers
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many foreign teachers have signed contracts in Scotland in the past three months.
Mr. Lang : The information requested is not available centrally.
House Repossessions
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many house repossessions there were in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde, and (c) Glasgow for each year since 1979.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Council of Mortgage Lenders publishes statistics on the number of repossessions by building societies in the United Kingdom as a whole, but no information is available for Scotland only or any part of it ; and no information is available to the Government on repossessions by other mortgage lenders in Scotland.
Vacant Teaching Posts
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many teachers' posts were vacant by 1 October in (a) Greater Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland ;
(2) how many teachers were needed by 1 October in order to fill vacancies in (a) English, (b) history, (c) mathematics, (d) science and (e) physical education in (i) Glasgow, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Scotland.
Mr. Lang : The information requested is not yet available.
Recreation Facilities
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures is his Department taking in order to help local authorities to increase the number of green areas and recreation facilities in (a) Scotland and (b) Glasgow.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : It is for individual local authorities to determine their expenditure on green areas and recreation facilities in the light of their overall priorities. In order to increase local authorities' capital spending powers, the Government have removed two important constraints on their expenditure. With effect from 1 April 1990, local authorities will be able, without penalty, to finance capital expenditure from current revenue and to treat contributions from the private sector as receipts. These changes will greatly enhance local authorities' flexibility to plan and implement their expenditure programmes, including those for the provision of green areas and recreation facilities.
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Prisons (Suicides)
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps will be taken to reduce suicides or suicide attempts in Scottish prisons ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Among measures already taken are an increase in the number of cells especially designed to hold inmates who are under observation and the provision of flame-retardant mattresses throughout Scottish penal establishments. In addition the prison service updates on the basis of past experience, best practice, and expert advice the procedures for minimising suicides and suicide attempts.
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Although great care is taken by staff to identify, protect and treat those who are thought to be at particular risk, deaths from unpredictable and determined acts of self-destruction can never be completely eliminated.School Numbers
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school children there were in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Glasgow for each year since 1974 ; and how many of these received free school meals.
Mr. Lang : The information taken from annual school meals census returns is as follows :
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