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Lowland Airports

62. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Scottish lowland airports policy.


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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend is now receiving copies of responses to the consultative document on Scottish lowland airports policy issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. The consultation exercise ends on 29 November and submissions received will be taken fully into account in the review now in progress.

Hospices

63. Mr. Conway : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision his Department is making for the hospice movement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 14 November 1989.

School Boards

64. Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will meet with the directors of education of local authorities in Scotland to discuss the progress of school boards.

Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend addressed the annual conference of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland on 27 October. He made it clear that we regard progress with the implementation of school boards as very satisfactory.

Forestry Taxation

66. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a progress report on the forestry and farm woodland schemes since the changes to the forestry taxation.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The forestry taxation changes were announced on 15 March 1988, the associated woodland grant scheme was opened to applications on 21 June 1988 and the farm woodland scheme was introduced on 1 October 1988.

By 30 September 1989, the Forestry Commission had received applications for entry to the woodland grant scheme which covered nearly 50,000 hectares of prospective new planting. In the first full planting season after the 1988 Budget--that is, for the year to 30 September 1989--13,468 hectares of new planting were grant-aided by the Commission, including 6,984 hectares under the woodland grant scheme.

During the year ended 30 September 1989, the farm woodland scheme attracted applications covering over 7,600 hectares of proposed planting, and grant had been paid on 1,825 hectares.

Scottish Enterprise

67. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has received from the business community in Scotland to the establishment of Scottish Enterprise.

Mr. Lang : There has been an enthusiastic and broad-based response to our proposals, which aim to integrate economic development, training and environmental renewal to form a Scottish solution to Scottish needs. To date six groups, led by senior business people, have applied for funding to meet the costs of developing


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local enterprise companies. The actual establishment of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will require legislation, for which we shall seek an early opportunity.

Scottish Farmers' Union

68. Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the president of the Scottish Farmers' Union ; and what they discussed.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 18 October at columns 129-30 .

Nurses

69. Mr. Gerald Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses there were in Scotland in 1979 ; what was their average salary ; and what were the comparable figures for the most recent period.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : At April 1979 there were 65,439 nursing staff in the National Health Service in Scotland and average earnings including allowances were £67.80 per week. At April 1989 staff numbered 74,829, an increase of 9,390, and average earnings were £220.00 per week. The increase in real terms in basic pay over the period was 43 per cent.

Procurator Fiscal

71. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Lord Advocate last met the procurator fiscal ; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate last met the procurator fiscal, Edinburgh along with other senior procurators fiscal on 1 November 1989.

Enterprise Trusts

72. Mr. Younger : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the progress being made in setting up enterprise trusts.

Mr. Rifkind : The Government welcome the valuable contribution being made by the growing network of local enterprise trusts to the development of small businesses in Scotland. There are now 45 approved trusts operating under the aegis of Scottish Business in the Community (SCOTBIC). The "Annual Review 1988-89" recently published by SCOTBIC and the Scottish Development Agency shows that, during the period of the review, 44 trusts helped 3,900 start-up businesses and 5,700 existing businesses. The total number of jobs in the new businesses helped was 3,900 and the same number of existing jobs was supported or saved.

Oilseed Rape

Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take any steps to encourage the breeding and production of varieties of oilseed rape which minimise the dispersal of pollen and other airborne material into the atmosphere.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : If it were shown conclusively that existing varieties of oilseed rape caused


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serious problems for human health we would consider what measures were necessary to tackle the problem. The breeding of varieties with specific properties could be one such measure.

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what conclusions his Department has reached on the results of the oilseed rape research project funded by Angus district council and Ninewells hospital on the relationship between oilseed rape crop and allergies, a copy of which has been sent to him ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) what research or investigation his Department has made into the health problems connected with the oilseed rape crop ; what finance has been allocated to such projects ; and what plans he has to develop further the recent research financed by Angus district council and Ninewells hospital.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : I received on 25 October a copy of the report of a project undertaken by Mr. Cameron, Dr. Parratt and Dr. Macfarlane- Smith. I am arranging for the report to be evaluated. The Scottish Home and Health Department is currently considering an application for funding research relating to the alleged health problems connected with the oilseed rape crop.

Pollen from many plants, grasses and trees are known to produce allergenic symptoms and the relative importance of oilseed rape pollen as an allergen has still to be determined.

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department is undertaking or commissioning into developing less allergy-inducing strains of oilseed rape.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is not engaged in, and has not so far commissioned, such research. The priority to be given to any proposals for adding work in this area to the Department's programme of commissioned research and development would depend on a number of factors, including the extent to which the claimed adverse effects of oilseed rape on human health had been confirmed.

Firework Display (Lennox Castle)

Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the cost of the firework extravaganza at Lennox castle on 5 November, sponsored by the Greater Glasgow health board.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : I understand from Greater Glasgow health board that an allocation was made at the beginning of the year from the board's endowment funds to improve patients' amenities at Lennox Castle hospital. Part of this allocation, £880, was used to stage a fireworks display at the hospital on Sunday 5 November. In line with the board's policy of involving the local community in the life of the hospital, members of the public were invited to attend.


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Licensing Law

Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received recent representations from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association about proposed changes in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 ; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The views expressed by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association during the consultative review of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 were taken into account in the proposed changes in Scottish liquor licensing law described in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 19 May at c. 343-44.

Housing

Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total financial subsidy granted by the Scottish Development Agency to Barratt for its housing development at Dunedin way, West Pilton, Edinburgh ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang : The amount of Scottish Development Agency support for the Barratt project at Dunedin way, West Pilton, is a commercial matter between the agency and Barratt Homes Scotland and I am therefore unable to provide the hon. Member with this information.

Poisoned Birds, Islay

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 1 November, Official Report, column 219, on which estates or properties on Islay the illegally poisoned birds were found ; and whether any prosecutions resulted.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information with regard to the location of the birds is given in the table. No prosecutions have resulted.


                                    |Location                           

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1979              |Gyr Falcon       |Islay Estates                      

1981              |Buzzard          |Ardmore Estate                     

1982              |Golden Eagle     |Islay Estates                      

                                    |Dunlossit                          

1983              |Crow             |Estate                             

1986              |Buzzard          |Islay Estates                      

1987              |Buzzard          |Islay Estates                      

                  |Crows (5)        |Islay Estates                      

1988              |Buzzard          |Foreland Estate                    

                  |Raven            |Islay Estates                      

                  |Golden Eagles (2)|Islay Estates                      

1989              |Raven            |Islay Estates                      

                  |Buzzard          |Islay Estates                      

Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow

Mr. Watson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask the Greater Glasgow health board to publish bacteria levels recorded from samples taken at Victoria infirmary, Glasgow.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : No. This is an operational matter for Greater Glasgow health board. I understand that shortcomings in cleaning standards at the Victoria Infirmary, which were identified as a result of stringent monitoring of standards, have now been rectified.


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Heart Transplant Service

Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for establishing a heart transplant service in Scotland.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : I am currently giving this matter consideration.

NHS Expenditure

Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the actual amount of expenditure on the National Health Service in Scotland each year from 1959 until the present (a) in cash and (b) adjusted for inflation ;

(2) what was the spending on the National Health Service in Scotland each year from 1959 until the present adjusted for inflation in the National Health Service in Scotland.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : Information is readily available only from 1974-75 and this is set out in the following table :


Total National Health Service expenditure                                       

                    |(a)                |(b)                                    

                    |£ million cash     |Adjusted by the GDP                    

                                        |deflator to 1988-89                    

                                        |prices                                 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1974-75             |458                |1,802                                  

1975-76             |603                |1,890                                  

1976-77             |685                |1,895                                  

1977-78             |777                |1,890                                  

1978-79             |893                |1,959                                  

1979-80             |1,064              |2,001                                  

1980-81             |1,343              |2,130                                  

1981-82             |1,531              |2,213                                  

1982-83             |1,660              |2,241                                  

1983-84             |1,773              |2,288                                  

1984-85             |1,901              |2,337                                  

1985-86             |2,015              |2,348                                  

1986-87             |2,144              |2,421                                  

1987-88             |2,328              |2,498                                  

1988-89             |2,571              |2,571                                  

1989-90<1>          |2,815              |2,668                                  

<1>Projected outturn.                                                           

Drinking Water

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for how long the derogations for aluminium granted under article 20 of the European Commission drinking water directive are ; and in each case when they are due to expire.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Applications for delay under article 20 of the directive were made in 1985. Those still remaining and which relate to aluminium are due to expire as follows :


        |Number       

----------------------

1990    |6            

1991    |5            

1992    |11           

1993    |8            

1994    |2            

1995-96 |12           

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the water supply areas along with the


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size of population they serve, in Scotland, which failed, at any time in the last 12 months, to meet the European Commission standard of 200 microgrammes per litre for aluminium and whether they are covered by a derogation under article 20 of the European Commission drinking water directive.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Available details of water supplies which may currently fail to meet the EC standard for aluminium are given in the table, which shows populations served and identifies supplies which are the subject of application for delay under article 20 of the directive. Supplies not so identified exceed the standard only occasionally.


Region and Supply                  |Area served           |Population served                            

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Borders                                                                                                 

                                                                                                        

Alemoor<1>                         |Parts of Central Borders                                            

20,000                                                                                                  

Knowesdean                                                |15,000                                       

                                                                                                        

Central                                                                                                 

Longhill<1>                        |Falkirk               |23,000                                       

Sauchie<1>                         |Cowie, Plean, part    |20,000                                       

                                   |  Stirling                                                          

Woodburn<1>                        |Kirkintilloch         |25,000                                       

Blaefaulds                         |Falkirk, Larbert      |36,000                                       

Sunnylaw                           |Bridge of Allan       |6,000                                        

                                                                                                        

Dumfries and Galloway                                                                                   

Areeming<1>                        |Springholm            |2,600                                        

New Abbey<1>                       |South West Nithsdale  |1,600                                        

Killylour<1>                       |Part Dumfries         |31,000                                       

Winterhope<1>                      |South East Annandale, |6,500                                        

                                   |  Eskdale                                                           

Penwhirn                           |Wigtown District      |15,700                                       

Auchneel                           |Stranraer             |10,000                                       

Carsphairn                         |Carsphairn            |200                                          

Lochinvar                          |Castle Douglas,       |10,600                                       

                                   |  Dalbeattie                                                        

Lochfoot                           |ICI Drungans          |-                                            

Black Esk                          |West Annandale,       |25,600                                       

                                   |  Eskdale                                                           

Euchan                             |Kirkconnel, Kelloholm |4,000                                        

Kettleton                          |Central Nithsdale     |12,000                                       

Wanlockhead                        |Wanlockhead           |100                                          

                                                                                                        

Grampian                                                                                                

Herricks<1>                        |Keith                 |4,300                                        

Rochomie<1>                        |Buckie                |5,500                                        

Glenlatterach                      |Elgin area            |28,600                                       

Newbigging                         |Inverurie             |15,000                                       

Turriff                            |REgional supply       |25,000                                       

Bogensourie                        |Fraserburgh           |6,500                                        

Craighead                          |Huntly                |4,500                                        

Glendye                            |North Kincardine      |-                                            

Black Hills                        |Lossiemouth           |6,300                                        

Mannofield                         |Aberdeen              |62,000                                       

                                                                                                        

Highland                                                                                                

Wick<1>                            |Wick                  |8,000                                        

Bonar Bridge                       |Bonar Bridge, Ardgay  |1,200                                        

Carrbridge                         |Carrbridge            |450                                          

Corpach                            |Corpach, Annat        |4,650                                        

Culrain                            |Culrain               |90                                           

Garve                              |Garve                 |200                                          

Roskhill                           |Roskhill, Dunvegan    |510                                          

Strathnairn                        |Strathnairn           |180                                          

                                                                                                        

Lothian                                                                                                 

Fairmilehead                       |Part Edinburgh        |225,000                                      

Hopes                              |East Lothian          |11,500                                       

Pateshill                          |West Lothian          |42,400                                       

Rosebery                           |East Midlothian       |54,100                                       

Whittinghame                       |East Lothian          |13,600                                       

                                                                                                        

Strathclyde                                                                                             

Afton<1>                           |Cumnock and Doon      |39,900                                       

                                   |  Valley                                                            

Staneley<1>                        |Paisley area          |37,000                                       

Whinhill<1>                        |Greenock              |17,100                                       

Bradan<1>                          |Ayr, Troon, Irvine    |94,300                                       

Greenhead<1>                       |Irvine, Kilwinning    |18,800                                       

Muirdykes<1>                       |Paisley, Johnstone    |60,000                                       

Overton<1>                         |Gourock, Greenock     |11,400                                       

Daer                               |Clydesdale and        |237,000                                      

                                   |  Motherwell Districts                                              

Amlaird<1>                         |Kilmarnock            |14,600                                       

Penwhapple<1>                      |Girvan area           |1,100                                        

Picketlaw                          |Eaglesham, Newton     |13,700                                       

                                   |  Mearns, etc.                                                      

Dougiehill<1>                      |Port Glasgow          |8,300                                        

Prospecthill<1>                    |Greenock              |7,400                                        

South Moorhouse<1>                 |Caldcoats, Newton     |27,800                                       

                                   |  Mearns                                                            

Aucha Lochy                        |Campbeltown           |7,300                                        

Crosbie<1>                         |West Kilbride         |1,400                                        

Ardrishaig<1>                      |Ardrishaig,           |3,780                                        

                                   |  Lochgilphead                                                      

Pundeavon<1>                       |Dunlop, Lugton, etc.  |2,800                                        

Cochno                             |Clydebank, Dalmuir    |16,500                                       

Larkfield<1>                       |Gourock               |2,200                                        

Spallander<1>                      |Kyle and Carrick      |13,000                                       

Tarbert<1>                         |Tarbert               |1,340                                        

Kelly<1>                           |Inverkip, Wemyss Bay  |1,390                                        

Torra<1>                           |Bowmore, Port Ellen   |2,000                                        

Tighnabruaich<1>                   |Tighnabruaich         |800                                          

Tobermory<1>                       |Tobermory             |680                                          

Dhu Loch<1>                        |Rothesay, Bannatyne   |3,000                                        

Inveraray<1>                       |Inveraray             |450                                          

Furnace<1>                         |Furnace               |380                                          

Port Charlotte<1>                  |Port Charlotte        |210                                          

Carradale<1>                       |Carradale             |480                                          

Muasdale<1>                        |Muasdale              |150                                          

Garshake<1>                        |Dumbarton             |25,000                                       

Clachan<1>                         |Clachan               |150                                          

Kaim                               |Bridge of Weir,       |12,900                                       

                                   |  Lochwinnoch                                                       

Strachur                           |Strachur              |500                                          

Skelmorlie<1>                      |Skelmorlie            |1,300                                        

Corsehouse; Camphill               |Stewarton; North      |32,000                                       

                                   |  Ayrshire                                                          

Neilston                           |Neilston, Barrhead    |3,600                                        

Burncrooks                         |Clydebank, Bearsden   |13,800                                       

Maukinhill<1>                      |Greenock              |5,400                                        

Loch Eck                           |Kilmun Inellan        |10,600                                       

                                                                                                        

Orkney                                                                                                  

Kirbister                          |Orkney South Mainland |5,000                                        

Wideford                           |Kirkwall              |4,400                                        

Boardhouse                         |Orkney North          |2,300                                        

                                   |  Mainland                                                          

                                                                                                        

Shetland                                                                                                

Aith                               |Aith, Clousta, Bixter |550                                          

Burra                              |Burra                 |840                                          

Cullivoe                           |North Yell            |350                                          

Quarff                             |Gulberwick, Quarff    |360                                          

Sandness                           |Sandness              |200                                          

Walls                              |Walls                 |600                                          

<1> Supplies are the subject of applications under article 20.                                          

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the water supply areas along with the size of population they serve, in Scotland, which fail to meet the revised action limit for lead in drimking water of 50 microgrammes per litre, and those which do not appear on the Scottish Office lead identification survey which was presented to the European Commission in December 1987


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and the date by which all these areas will comply with 50 microgrammes per litre standard, based on a 100 per cent. compliance with the standard.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Regulations on the quality of drinking water, to be made shortly under the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 as amended by the Water Act 1989, will specify the new standard of 50 microgrammes per litre for lead in all samples of drinking water. Information on any water supply areas which fail to meet this new standard will not be available until water authorities have undertaken the monitoring which will also be required under the regulations.

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the role of his Department in ensuring that the European Commission standards for drinking water quality in Scotland are established and maintained.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The role of the Scottish Office is to set up the appropriate regulatory framework to enable directives to be applied ; to ensure that appropriate resources are available ; to maintain contact with the European Commission ; and to provide advice and guidance on the implementation of directives.

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when each water supply area which fails to meet the European Commission limit for aluminium will comply with the maximum admissible concentration laid down in the drinking water directive.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Programmes for full compliance with the aluminium standard are under discussion with water authorities. All supplies are expected to comply by early 1996.

Smoking-related Diseases

Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the amount of staff time lost in the National Health Service in Scotland as a result of smoking-related diseases ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : No information is available centrally on which such an estimate could be based.

Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to take active steps to protect non-smoking employees of his Department against the effects of passive smoking ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Malcolm Rifkind : The policy of my Department is currently under review. The review process has incorporated a comprehensive survey of smoking habits and attitudes of staff, conducted late in 1988.

Housing Agencies

Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what engagements the Minister responsible for housing has with housing agencies before Christmas.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I have frequent meetings and visits with housing agencies of various kinds, and since being appointed has visited 33 district councils to see and to discuss housing matters.


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Housing Associations

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new housing associations and co-operatives are expected to be formed over the next two years.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The registration of new housing associations and co-operatives is a matter for Scottish Homes. However, I understand that Scottish Homes expects that between 20 and 40 new associations and co-operatives will be formed over the next two years. The decision to apply for registration by Scottish Homes rests with the bodies themselves and therefore precise estimates of numbers and timing of registration are not possible.

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the average level of housing association grant which is intended during the current year and for 1990-91 in Scotland ; and what are the highest and lowest percentages of housing association grant agreed for any developments respectively, approved to date.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No average level of housing association grant is intended. Scottish Homes has been set an increased output target in terms of the number of houses supplied per £ million of public finance (after allowing for inflation), for the current year of 15 per cent. and for 1990-91, of 17er cent. The target was set in this way to allow Scottish Homes to operate the new financial regime flexibly. It can be achieved by a combination of factors including the introduction of private finance and increasing efficiency. Accordingly, I have no information of the percentages of housing association grant agreed to date.

Scottish Homes

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of spending allocations to the various districts of Scottish Homes in the current year.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : In agreeing Scottish Homes' programme for any year, my right hon. and learned Friend considers the amount which Scottish Homes proposes be spent on particular functions, for example, in providing housing by housing associations. The allocation of funds to particular areas is then a matter for Scottish Homes.

Capital Receipts

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of capital receipts from sales he expects in 1990-91 from local authority, new towns and Scottish Homes stock.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Estimates of capital receipts from sales of local authority, new towns and Scottish Homes stock are taken into account in the public expenditure survey decisions which will be announced by my right hon. and learned Friend in early December.

Prestwick Airport

Mr. Lambie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further plans he has concerning the upgrading of transport links to Prestwick airport.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has already announced improvements in


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road links to Ayrshire and these will proceed. Appraisals are also under way of various options for providing direct rail services to and from Prestwick airport.

Right to Buy

Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the action of district councils in restricting the statutory rights of council house tenants to buy their home.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Development Department receives numerous representations about the right-to-buy provisions. Some of these contain allegations that some councils are in breach of statutory requirements, for example the duty to respond to an application to purchase within two months.

I am also aware of the city of Glasgow district council's practice of requiring certain of its tenants, before their houses are improved, to sign an undertaking not to exercise their statutory right to buy, or if they do so, that they will repay to the council a proportion of the costs of the improvements. This matter was the subject of a local inquiry in June 1988 following which my right hon. and learned Friend made an order declaring the council to be in default of its statutory duties. Following an intimation by the council that it did not accept that it was in default, the Court of Session was petitioned for an order of specific performance by the council. The court's opinion was issued on 20 October, granting the petition and allowing Glasgow district council 12 weeks within which to complete the steps to remedy the default.

Nature Conservancy Council

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to place in the Library copies of the responses to his proposals relating to the Nature Conservancy Council.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 13 November 1989] : As is standard practice with consultation exercises, a public file of responses is available for inspection. The public file on the SDD consultation paper, "Scotland's Natural Heritage", is available in St. Andrew's house library, Edinburgh. The file contains all responses except those submitted in confidence. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the House of Commons Library and shall advise the hon. Member when it is available.

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 8 November, what assessment he has made of (a) the time in man hours and (b) the cost of producing the breakdown of responses relating to those for and against Nature Conservancy Council proposals.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 13 November 1989] : None. I must emphasise that the Scottish Development Department's consultation paper sought views only on the proposal to create a Scottish natural heritage agency. It is not possible, nor would it be meaningful, to attempt to identify respondents' views on the question posed by the hon. Member.


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Protected Birds

Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider new measures to prevent continuing persecution of species of protected birds, with particular reference to the golden eagle.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 30 October 1989] : The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides a comprehensive statutory framework for the protection of wild birds and their habitats, and contains additional provisions to safeguard rare and vulnerable species, including the golden eagle.

The Nature Conservancy Council is presently reviewing the effectiveness of the legislation and expects to report next year. We shall consider its report and any recommendations for change most carefully.

Building Safety

Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps and what research his Department has taken to encourage safety in the Scottish building industry.

Mr. Nicholls : I have been asked to reply.


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We will shortly be making the wearing of safety helmets on construction sites compulsory. The Health and Safety Commission has recently published a consultative document setting out proposals for new regulations to strengthen the management of health and safety on construction sites and the Health and Safety Executive's inspectors will be paying more attention to the quality of site management and levels of training and supervision. For the last two years we have met the HSC's requests for resources in full which has allowed real growth in their activities. For example, this includes increasing the number of HSE inspectors devoted to construction by 10 per cent. since 1988 and sponsoring research both within HSE and externally. Each year the HSE's research and laboratory services division (RLSD) devotes resources to research into safety topics of relevance to the building industry. Information on all such projects is included in the Health and Safety Executive's programme of research and related services, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. In addition to sponsoring research, the HSE also provides specialist input and advice to a number of construction- related research projects.


 

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