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Council Housing (Rent Arrears)
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the level of council house rent arrears for each Scottish district and islands authority at (a) April 1986 and (b) April 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information on the accumulated rent arrears owed to Scottish local authorities is collected annually on the basis of arrears outstanding at 30 September. The amounts outstanding at 30 September 1985 and 30 September 1988 are as follows :
Rent arrears of District and Islands Councils at 30
September
|1985 |1988
|£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------
Scotland |17,698,066|30,067,921
Berwickshire<1> |43,397 |54,638
Ettrick and Lauderdale |28,780 |40,664
Roxburgh |162,267 |100,708
Tweeddale |19,568 |15,813
Clackmannan |169,583 |800,903
Falkirk |604,830 |667,830
Stirling |362,592 |635,700
Annandale and Eskdale |89,947 |121,708
Nithsdale |138,123 |322,710
Stewartry |16,908 |31,137
Wigtown |67,272 |173,229
Dunfermline |466,974 |669,523
Kirkcaldy |381,896 |698,990
North East Fife |63,600 |117,675
Aberdeen |568,992 |1,144,379
Banff and Buchan |194,557 |277,064
Gordon |38,498 |76,225
Kincardine and Deeside |25,599 |48,878
Moray |41,825 |105,555
Badenoch and Strathspey |11,981 |17,900
Caithness |26,307 |109,666
Inverness |137,154 |<2>
Lochaber |97,700 |53,259
Nairn |5,170 |<2>
Ross and Cromarty |214,453 |268,364
Skye and Lochalsh |24,687 |27,400
Sutherland |14,254 |29,279
East Lothian |213,935 |416,583
Edinburgh |993,270 |1,709,041
Midlothian |244,054 |279,632
West Lothian |150,568 |239,049
Argyll and Bute |65,299 |167,810
Bearsden and Milngavie |30,484 |126,374
Clydebank |516,541 |1,567,976
Clydesdale |73,984 |191,031
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |394,358 |446,934
Cumnock and Doon Valley |269,013 |391,219
Cunninghame |170,000 |304,415
Dumbarton<1> |486,136 |445,232
East Kilbride |35,536 |40,059
Eastwood |25,392 |38,237
Glasgow |5,814,000 |10,241,488
Hamilton |537,661 |487,120
Inverclyde |254,159 |318,000
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |113,144 |214,026
Kyle and Carrick |189,839 |333,026
Monklands |594,509 |958,767
Motherwell |743,287 |1,063,807
Renfrew |463,214 |1,226,984
Strathkelvin |468,721 |459,718
Angus |94,055 |117,843
Dundee |488,398 |1,019,368
Perth and Kinross |132,890 |188,615
Orkney Islands |34,091 |57,583
Shetland Islands |94,614 |111,934
Western Isles |<2> |296,853
<1> Figures include rate arrears.
<2> Not available.
Nursery Education
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to assess the current annual revenue cost of providing nursery education.
Mr. Lang : In 1987-88, the latest year for which figures are available, 39,290 children attended local authority nursery schools at a revenue cost of £30.7 million.
Lead Water Pipes
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is able to estimate the number of public sector properties in Scotland which require replacement of domestic lead piping ; and if he is able to estimate the position affecting private sector properties ;
(2) if he is able to estimate the total cost of eliminating lead piping from all of Scotland's domestic and private water supplies ; (3) what is his estimate of the total numbers of persons currently served by lead water piping in domestic property.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information on which to base such estimates is not held centrally.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to estimate the total cost of eliminating lead piping from all of Scotland's water supplies to property.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The number of properties that still have lead pipes connecting them to public water supply mains is not know accurately. However, the cost of replacing such pipes has been broadly estimated at £300 million. There are no lead water mains in public water supply systems.
Information on private supplies is not held centrally.
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Farming
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the measures being taken by his Department to encourage diversification into organic farming.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : We have already set the framework for organic production by establishing under the auspices of Food From Britain the United Kingdom register of organic food standards which sets standards for the production and processing of organic produce and serves as a quality assurance mark for consumers.
The set-aside scheme offers farmers an opportunity to switch to organic methods : land may be put to fallow either for the full five year set-aside period or in rotation with cropping, thus allowing land to be taken out of intensive production and cleared of chemical residues. We are also considering whether the European Community arable extensification scheme, which is due to be implemented shortly, might include provision to assist a switch to organic production methods.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify the sums of money paid by his Department to organic farmers in Scotland in the past five years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to the farming industry is generally available to both organic and other farmers on the same basis and it is not possible to identify separately the sums paid to organic farmers. Assistance aimed specifically at promoting the development of organic farming includes the funding of research and development work carried out by the Scottish agricultural colleges. The recently-launched joint pilot project to be carried out by the Edinburgh university centre for human ecology and the Edinburgh school of agriculture to demonstrate the viability of organic farming has also attracted public funding from the Scottish Development Agency as well as support from the European Community and Safeway plc. Part of the Scottish Development Agency contribution will assist the Scottish Organic Producers' Association with market development work and will help to meet the cost of providing training and marketing advice to organic producers.
Mr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers were employed in each county in Scotland in June 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Scottish counties ceased to be used for agricultural statistics purposes after 1975 following local government reform. When regional results for June 1989 become available my noble Friend the Minister of State will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm workers were employed in each county in Scotland in June 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Scottish counties ceased to be used for agricultural statistics purposes after 1975 following local government reform. When regional results for June 1989 become available my noble Friend the Minister of State will write to the hon. Member.
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Schools Inspectors
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of Her Majesty's inspectors' reports were prepared for (a) education authority schools and (b) independent schools in each of the years 1979-80 to 1988- 89, inclusive.
Mr. Lang : Publication of Her Majesty's inspectors' reports on schools was instituted from the beginning of the 1983-84 session. The number of reports produced for education authority schools and independent schools in each of the years since then are :
|Education authority|Independent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983-84 |143 |3
1984-85 |152 |5
1985-86 |158 |2
1986-87 |158 |4
1987-88 |146 |3
1988-89 |121 |3
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the total expenditure on research undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in each of the years 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89 inclusive, (b) the number of staff involved in research undertaken by the inspectorate in each of those years, and (c) the number of reports prepared by the inspectorate in each of those years.
Mr. Lang : Her Majesty's inspectors of schools do not undertake educational research projects.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many targeted inspections were undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in 1988-89.
Mr. Lang : All inspections conducted by Her Majesty's inspectorate are targeted to meet agreed objectives, which are notified to the establishments concerned at the outset of inspection.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review the role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.
Technology Academies
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many (a) pupils (b) teachers and (c) non-teaching staff are being considered for the first technology academy ;
(2) if he will give the total estimated expenditure for technology academies in each of the years 1989-90 and 1990-91 for capital and current expenditure ;
(3) if he will give the total estimated expenditure likely to be contributed from the private sector for setting up the first technology academy including (a) the amount of capital expenditure for the construction or refurbishment costs and (b) the organising revenue costs ;
(4) when he will announce the location of the first technology academy in Scotland.
Mr. Lang : No decisions have been made by the Glasgow Technology Academy Company regarding the
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location or size of the first academy. It is therefore too early to give an indication of pupil and staff numbers or estimated expenditure. Trusthouse Forte have already announced its decision to contribute £1.5 million towards the cost of establishing a technology academy.Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has consulted (a) Glasgow district council, (b) Eastwood district council, (c) Strathclyde regional council and (d) Greater Glasgow health board about a site for a technology academy in Glasgow ; (2) if he will list the education authorities which have expressed an interest in hosting the first technology academy ;
(3) if he will list the sites in Glasgow which have been consulted by his Department for the first technology academy.
Mr. Lang : The identification of a site for a technology academy and any relevant consultation are matters for the Glasgow Technology Academy Company. Earlier this year my right hon. and learned Friend held discussions with Strathclyde regional council about the possibility of its participating in the establishment of an academy in Glasgow. Unfortunately the regional council was unable to pursue this proposal.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many technology academies he will establish in Scotland in the period 1989-90 to 1991-92.
Mr. Lang : A firm and generous offer of sponsorship has been made for the first technology academy. Progress with others will depend on the availability of further sponsorship.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if any meetings have taken place with the teaching unions and professional associations about technology academies ;
(2) if he will list the organisations which have been consulted about technology academies.
Mr. Lang : A policy paper about the establishment of technology academies in Scotland was issued on 12 October 1988. A copy of this paper and a list of recipients has been placed in the Library.
Schools (Advertising)
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to (a) use public expenditure for publicity and advertising for self-governing schools and (b) set up a similar body to the Grant- Maintained Schools Trust to promote opting out.
Mr. Lang : In line with normal practice I intend to make available to school boards and others information and advice on the operation of new legislation giving Scottish parents the right to seek self-governing status for a school. Setting up a body on similar lines to the Grant-Maintained Schools Trust would not be a matter for Government.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for school boards (a) the total expenditure on publicity and advertising and (b) the total estimated expenditure in each of the years 1987-88 and 1988-89.
Mr. Lang : The figures for expenditure on information about School Boards are as follows :
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Total expenditure to date--£790,000Expenditure in financial year 1988-89--£48,000
No expenditure on information about school boards was incurred in financial year 1987-88.
Employment Training
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give in each of the months September 1988 to September 1989 (a) the total number of applications from single parents on employment training for financial assistance with child care, (b) the numbers approved and (c) the total expenditure.
Mr. Lang : This information is not collected by the Training Agency and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the total number of occupied places on employment training for the most recent date for which information is available, (b) the total number of planned places in employment training in 1989-90, (c) the total planned expenditure on employment training in 1989-90 and (d) the total expenditure on employment training for the most recent dates for which information is available.
Mr. Lang : The information requested is as follows :
(a) The number of Employment Training filled places in Scotland as at 20 October 1989 was 25,446.
(b) The number of Employment Training planned places in Scotland for the year to March 1990 is 36,002.
(c) The total planned expenditure on Employment Training in Great Britain in 1989-90 is £1,271 million. No separate detailed figure is provided for Scotland. However, the Scottish share is estimated at approximately £153 million.
(d) The total expenditure on Employment Training in Great Britain for the period 1 April 1989 to 31 August 1989 was £388 million. No detailed figure is available for Scotland. However, the Scottish share is estimated to be approximately £47 million.
Independent Schools
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the steps and procedures involved in monitoring and reviewing (a) the development of the curriculum, (b) teacher training and (c) quality and standards of educational attainment within independent schools.
Mr. Lang : Independent schools are, like other schools, subject to inspection on a continuing basis by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools to ensure that efficient and suitable instruction is being provided. Such inspections will take account of the state of the curriculum, the quality of teaching and the level of educational attainment.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish Her Majesty's inspectors' reports for independent schools.
Mr. Lang : Reports on independent schools are published in the same way as for education authority schools.
Economic Output
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the index of output for production industries divisions 1-4 and (b) the output per person employed for each of the years 1979 to 1989, inclusive, using the employed labour force as a denominator.
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Mr. Lang : Estimates of the employed labour force are not available for the production industries in Scotland. The table shows an index of output in the production industries (SIC divisions 1 to 4) for Scotland together with estimates of employees in employment. Output per employee is calculated and expressed in index form for comparative purposes.
Year |Production output index|Employees in Employment|Output per employee
|(1985=100) |(thousands) |(1985=100)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |101.4 |674 |74
1980 |95.2 |631 |75
1981 |93.2 |580 |79
1982 |93.7 |545 |85
1983 |93.4 |511 |90
1984 |97.2 |499 |96
1985 |100.0 |495 |100
1986 |97.6 |474 |102
1987 |99.6 |463 |106
1988 |107.2 |470 |113
Source: Index of Industrial Production for Scotland Department of Employment
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the total index of output of manufacturing industrial divisions 2-4 and (b) the output per person employed for each of the years 1979 to 1989, inclusive, using the employed labour force as a denominator.
Mr. Lang : Estimates of the employed labour force are not available for the manufacturing industries in Scotland. The table shows an index of output in the manufacturing industries (SIC divisions 2 to 4) for Scotland together with estimates of employees in employment. Output per employee is also calculated and expressed in index form for comparative purposes.
Year |Manufacturing output |Employees in employment|Output per Employee
|index
|(1985=100) |(Thousands) |(1985=100)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |103.5 |602 |74
1980 |96.6 |556 |75
1981 |94.0 |507 |80
1982 |94.7 |474 |86
1983 |93.7 |443 |91
1984 |97.8 |434 |97
1985 |100.0 |431 |100
1986 |97.7 |416 |101
1987 |100.7 |407 |107
1988 |108.7 |412 |114
Source: Index of Industrial Production for Scotland Department of Employment
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the total index of output of the whole economy and (b) the output per person employed for each of the years 1979 to 1989 inclusive, using the employed labour force as a denominator.
Mr. Lang : The table gives the information requested for the years 1979 to 1987, the latest year for which there are estimates of Scotland's gross domestic product.
Year |Gross Domestic Product<1>|Output per
|personemployed<2>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |94.5 |88
1980 |92.7 |88
1981 |91.4 |90
1982 |92.8 |93
1983 |94.1 |95
1984 |97.2 |98
1985 |100.0 |100
1986 |100.5 |102
1987 |102.9 |104
Source: Scottish Office Department of Employment.
Notes:
<1>Output based estimate of Scottish gross domestic product 1985=100.
<2>Based on estimates of employed labour force in Scotland and expressed as an index (1985=100). The
employed labour force comprises employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's Forces.
Assisted Places Scheme
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on the assisted places scheme in 1988-89 and the estimated expenditure in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Lang : As regards the period 1989-91, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer he was given on 17 January. To achieve the planned increase in the number of children benefiting from the scheme I estimate that spending in 1991-92 could rise to £8.8 million.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of assisted places in independent schools for the following levels of family income : under £8,000 per annum, £8,000 to £12,000 per annum, £12,000 to £15,000 per annum and over £15,000 per annum for each of the years 1982-83 to 1988 -89, inclusive.
Mr. Lang : The information is as follows :
` School Year |Under £8,000 |£8,000-£12,000 |£12,000-£15,000|Over £15,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1982-83 |1,211 |239 |- |- 1983-84 |1,484 |416 |- |- 1984-85 |1,616 |649 |- |- 1985-86 |1,666 |780 |171 |3 1986-87 |1,532 |768 |285 |41 1987-88 |1,409 |750 |399 |122 1988-89<1> |1,273 |697 |433 |214 <1>Provisional figures.
Lothian Health Board
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Lothian and Borders police on the progress of his investigations into Lothian health board.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Lothian and Borders police are investigating allegations of criminal conduct by employees of Lothian health board. The procurator fiscal at Edinburgh is being kept advised as to progress and will receive a full report from the police at the conclusion of the inquiries.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail any unforeseen losses incurred by Lothian health board during the current financial year.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth : It is not yet known whether Lothian health board has incurred any unforeseen losses in the current financial year.
Hospitals (Self-governing Status)
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will accord pilot study status to those hospitals that first become self- governing trusts.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The early schemes will provide valuable, practical experience on how best to set up and manage self-governing NHS trusts and this will guide later developments.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he expects any acute hospitals to express an interest in becoming self- governing.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. and learned Friend looks forward to receiving expressions of interest from a wide range of types of hospital and services within the NHS, including acute hospitals.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the policy outlined in Scottish Working Paper No. 3 that self-governing status is likely to be particularly appropriate to major acute hospitals providing a reasonably comprehensive service, remains the case.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Yes, but all hospitals and a number of other services are potentially eligible.
Victoria Infirmary
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the proposed closure of laboratories at the Victoria infirmary, Glasgow.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The provision of laboratory services in its area is a matter for Greater Glasgow health board and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Infant Mortality
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply of 18 October to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, Official Report, column 172, what account is taken in shaping health policies and measures for Scotland of infant mortality and its causes.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Account is taken of information, advice and recommendations in relation to infant mortality from a variety of sources. Perinatal and infant deaths in Scotland are the subject of continuous epidemiological audit. In addition, cognisance is taken of reports from advisory bodies and from professional colleges and associations. Research studies into specific causes of infant death are also undertaken. In the decade 1978 to 1987 the infant mortality rate in Scotland declined from 12.9 to 8.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Charities
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his proposals for improved regulation of charities in Scotland.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend issued a statement, "Charities in Scotland : A Framework for Supervision" on Monday 23 October. Copies have been placed in the Library.
EMPLOYMENT
Member's Question
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) 28 July, Official Report column 1050 , if he will set out (a) the reasons for not replying to the priority written question referred to and (b) the longest interval between the asking of a priority written question and its answer by his Department.
Mr. Nicholls : The question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) of 17 April was answered on 28 July, Official Report , column 1049 . Information on the longest interval between the asking of a priority written question and its answer by my Department is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
YTS
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by region, how many unfilled places there were on YTS at the most recently available date and at the same date one and two years previously.
Mr. Nicholls : The table shows the number of unfilled places by region as at August 1987, August 1988 and August 1989.
Number of unfilled YTS places by region as at August of 1987, 1988 and 1989 ------------------------------------------------------ South East |22,000|18,400|19,900 London |18,000|11,400|10,200 South West |13,600|12,000|9,300 West Midlands |21,100|20,000|17,600 East Midlands and Eastern |17,700|13,800|11,600 Yorkshire and Humberside |8,500 |9,200 |9,800 North West |20,200|15,400|12,700 Northern |8,400 |7,100 |6,000 Wales |6,500 |4,500 |3,700 Scotland |12,900|12,800|10,700 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. 1987 figures exclude continuation places for YTS1 trainees.
Employment Training
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department is introducing to encourage members of ethnic minorities to take part in employment training ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : My Department has already introduced a wide range of measures to encourage members of ethnic minorities to take part in Employment Training and has plans for further measures which include :
action to ensure that racial discrimination does not take place ; action to ensure that training is attractive to and meets the needs of members of ethnic minorities and ;
action to ensure, through local marketing and publicity, that ethnic minority communities are aware of the programme.
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The success of existing measures is clearly reflected in a 10 per cent. participation rate for trainees from ethnic minorities and my Department will continue to build upon this excellent beginning. Nearly half the people in England who are taking advantage of ET are resident in inner cities. The proportion of inner city residents entering ET from ethnic minorities is 14 per cent. above the national average. These people will benefit from the special measures which were announced by my right hon. Friend on 9 March, from the appointment of inner city development officers and from a number of initiatives which have been locally planned to meet local needs.
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