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WalesMr. P. Quinn, Gwent TEC-- General Manager and Director Lucas Heavy Duty Braking Systems
Mr. J. Phillips, Mid Glamorgan TEC-- Chairman and Managing Director Reliance-Barker-Davies Limited
Mr. J. Troth, North East Wales TEC-- Managing Director Denis Ruabon Limited
Mr. T. Jones, North West Wales-- Chief Executive Pilkington Optronics Division
Mr. D. G. Margetts, Powys TEC-- Chairman Elkay Electrical Manufacturing Company Limited
Mr. R. Helliwell, South Glamorgan TEC-- Group Director William Cowlin and Sons Limited
Mr. P. Allen CBE, West Wales TEC-- Managing Director British Steels Strip Products
Labour Stastistics
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people unemployed for less than (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years, (e) five years and (f) more than five years ; and how many in each group are (i) male and (ii) female ; for the United Kingdom and each standard region for Scotland and Wales.
Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 26 March 1990] : The information is contained in the following table and can also be obtained from the NOMIS database system in the House Library.
Duration of |Male |Female |Total
Unemployment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South East
Less than 1 year |178,454 |71,278 |249,732
Less than 2 years |207,990 |80,818 |288,808
Less than 3 years |220,573 |84,611 |305,184
Less than 4 years |228,495 |87,098 |315,593
Less than 5 years |234,754 |89,041 |323,795
5 years or more |19,787 |5,119 |24,906
South West
Less than 1 year |50,595 |22,079 |72,674
Less than 2 years |57,678 |24,743 |82,421
Less than 3 years |60,507 |25,744 |86,251
Less than 4 years |62,253 |26,401 |88,654
Less than 5 years |63,684 |26,916 |90,600
5 years or more |4,581 |1,633 |6,214
East Anglia
Less than 1 year |19,867 |7,919 |27,786
Less than 2 years |22,099 |8,730 |30,829
Less than 3 years |23,020 |9,064 |32,084
Less than 4 years |23,616 |9,290 |32,906
Less than 5 years |24,081 |9,483 |33,564
5 years or more |1,853 |542 |2,395
West Midlands
Less than 1 year |69,046 |29,830 |98,876
Less than 2 years |83,670 |34,811 |118,481
Less than 3 years |90,127 |36,856 |126,983
Less than 4 years |94,310 |38,288 |132,598
Less than 5 years |97,774 |39,465 |137,239
5 years or more |15,617 |3,606 |19,223
East Midlands
Less than 1 year |48,801 |20,347 |69,148
Less than 2 years |57,128 |23,210 |80,338
Less than 3 years |60,867 |24,319 |85,186
Less than 4 years |63,088 |25,141 |88,229
Less than 5 years |64,777 |25,744 |90,521
5 years or more |7,114 |1,878 |8,992
North West
Less than 1 year |107,802 |43,836 |151,638
Less than 2 years |133,822 |51,549 |185,371
Less than 3 years |145,216 |54,619 |199,835
Less than 4 years |151,986 |56,589 |208,575
Less than 5 years |157,304 |58,075 |215,379
5 years or more |23,507 |4,308 |27,815
Yorkshire and Humberside
Less than 1 year |79,658 |30,882 |110,540
Less than 2 years |95,608 |35,831 |131,439
Less than 3 years |102,498 |37,927 |140,425
Less than 4 years |106,955 |39,287 |146,242
Less than 5 years |110,584 |40,351 |150,935
5 years or more |13,538 |2,875 |16,413
Northern
Less than 1 year |59,131 |22,695 |81,826
Less than 2 years |72,906 |26,526 |99,432
Less than 3 years |78,332 |28,006 |106,338
Less than 4 years |81,636 |28,963 |110,599
Less than 5 years |84,373 |29,707 |114,080
5 years or more |12,794 |2,242 |15,036
Wales
Less than 1 year |46,126 |17,265 |63,391
Less than 2 years |54,679 |19,554 |74,233
Less than 3 years |58,153 |20,490 |78,643
Less than 4 years |59,940 |21,046 |80,986
Less than 5 years |61,418 |21,462 |82,880
5 years or more |6,318 |1,151 |7,469
Northern Ireland
Less than 1 year |32,066 |15,225 |47,291
Less than 2 years |42,397 |18,758 |61,155
Less than 3 years |48,706 |20,404 |69,110
Less than 4 years |53,599 |21,555 |75,154
Less than 5 years |57,759 |22,432 |80,191
5 years or more |17,808 |2,414 |20,222
Scotland
Less than 1 year |94,419 |42,113 |136,532
Less than 2 years |118,358 |49,237 |167,595
Less than 3 years |128,717 |52,270 |18,978
Less than 4 years |135,169 |54,097 |189,266
Less than 5 years |140,257 |55,601 |195,858
5 years or more |19,623 |3,695 |23,318
United Kingdom
Less than 1 year |785,965 |323,469 |1,109,434
Less than 2 years |946,335 |373,767 |1,320,102
Less than 3 years |1,016,716 |394,310 |1,411,026
Less than 4 years |1,061,047 |407,755 |1,468,802
Less than 5 years |1,096,765 |418,277 |1,515,042
5 years or more |142,540 |29,463 |172,003
Consultancies
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1989 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment ; and what is the total amount that his Department has budgeted to spend in the current year.
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Mr. Eggar [holding answer 28 March 1990] : I estimate that the total expenditure by my Department (excluding the Training Agency) in the financial year 1989-90 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, will be £3.1 million. The budget for the financial year 1990-91 is £5.0 million. The following firms were awarded consultancy contracts by the Department of Employment, excluding the Training Agency, during the financial year 1989- 90 :
Firm and subject of assignment
Algis Consultants--Service excellence in personnel work Arthur Anderson-- Optical Technology. Planning for NUBS2. Anderson Limited--BRPS2 Development.
Asset Technology plc--Customisation of optical character recognition interface.
D. E. Barnard Systems Limited--Implications of change study. Computer risk analysis review.
BIS Applied Systems Limited--Quality assurance on communications project. Communications requirements study. Communications security review. Communications study for relocation project.
British Research Market Bureau--Multi-functioning clients survey. Business Intelligence Limited--Single Terminal Access Project. Carrington Computer Consultants Limited--Specialist software advice.
Civil Service College--Analysis of trend in data from Labour Force Survey.
Coopers and Lybrand--Advice on procurement of replace-
ment personnel records system.
Crow Associates--Improving communications.
Datasolve--Small systems development.
DBI Associates--System testing planning for NUBS2 Project Support and Technical Assurance. Single Terminal Access Project Evaluation and Development of NUBS2 Project Management System.
Denham Nash Limited--Staff Attitude Survey analysis.
Duhig Berry--PROMPT Training.
EECS and Partners--Energy Efficiency and Maintenance.
Eosys--Single Terminal Access Project.
Falkman Communications Limited--Examination of ES internal communications.
Frere Cholmely--Solicitors Service for Pilot Scheme.
Full Employment UK--Consultations with the over 50s.
HUSAT--Human involvement in computer technology.
Instruction Set--Network Study Evaluation.
Interact--Advice on office systems.
James Lang Wooton--Advice on running Estate Surveying Pilot Scheme.
Kinsley Lord--Performance Information Project.
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Learmonth and Burchett Systems plc--Support on mini- computer Management replacement system. Scoping Study for PROMPT3. Implementation of PROMPT3.Lloyd Northover--Design Guide Corporate.
National Computing Centre Limited--Critical systems training consultancy.
Nexus Connection--LAN trials.
NML Presentations Limited--ES Agency Launch.
OPC--Work on Employers Census.
PA Consulting Group--Evaluation of office automation pilot. Information systems strategy. Review of GPU needs on relocation. Single Terminal Access Project. Data Management/IT Strategy. Pergamon Infotech--Prototype guides for NUBS2. Small systems development.
Rogers Chapman--Estate Surveying Pilot Scheme (London & SE Region). Rosalie Silverstone--Evaluation of reconnaisance visits. Sapphire--Small systems development.
SBS Alveus--BRPS1 Development.
SCPR--Evaluation of Restart. Evaluation of Jobstart. Restart Cohort Study.
Softlab Limited--IT security study.
Software Sciences--Small systems development.
Sphynx--Small systems development.
Support and Training Services Limited--Testing workshop support. Timberlake Clarke Limited--Data Envelope Analysis in the ES. Touche Ross--Advice on forecasting workloads in Central Pay Office Computer management.
Yale Data Computer Consultants--Extraction package study on statistical system. Facilities management study. Small systems development.
SCOTLAND
Complaints
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years (a) the number of complaints made against his Department to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, (b) the number of complaints upheld and (c) the action he took on (b).
Mr. Rifkind : The number of complaints (a) made and (b) upheld for the last 10 years is as follows :
|(a) Complaints|(b) Complaints
|made |upheld
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |<1>- |<1>-
1988-89 |17 |nil
1987-88 |12 |nil
1986-87 |18 |nil
1985-86 |8 |nil
1984-85 |10 |2
1983-84 |15 |2
1982-83 |13 |2
1981-82 |14 |1
1980-81 |17 |4
General Register Office (Scotland)
Nil except:
1983-84 |2 |nil
Scottish Courts Administration
Nil except:
1988-89 |1 |nil
<1> Figures not available.
When the Parliamentary Commissioner upholds a complaint it is departmental practice to provide an appropriate remedy.
Gun Clubs
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give details of the number of licensed gun clubs in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will list all registered gun clubs in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : There are currently 271 approved gun clubs in Scotland. I will write to the hon. Member with a list of the approved clubs and place a copy of my letter in the Library. Any rifle or pistol club can apply to become an approved club. Before granting approval my right hon. and learned Friend requires to be satisfied, among other things, that the club is bona fide and has a proper constitution, that the principal officers are responsible persons, that the security arrangements for the storage of club firearms and ammunition are satisfactory, and also that a probationary period of at least six months' duration
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applies in respect to new members during which the probationary member is given a course of regular instruction on the safe handling and use of firearms.Where approval is granted, the club may obtain a firearm certificate to purchase or acquire firearms and ammunition for the use of club members in, or in connection with, target practice. Club members do not require personal firearms certificates in these circumstances.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced in reply to a question on 23 January from my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice), at columns 592-93 , new and stricter conditions relating to membership of approved gun clubs covering such issues as probationary and novice members, day membership and guest days. That reply made it clear that my right hon. and learned Friend would adopt the same policy for approval of gun clubs in Scotland.
Appointments
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the appointments he has made annually since 1979 where the remuneration for duties was in the ranges (a) £20,000 to £25,000, (b) £25,000 to £30,000, (c) £30,000 to £35,000, (d) 35,000 to £40,000 (e) £40,000 to £50,000 and (f) above £50,000 per annum.
Mr. Rifkind : Information about appointments made in each year is not consistently available in the form requested. Listed in the table are the current appointments made at the requested salary levels. The Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" produced annually gives for each Government Department details of current appointments, including remuneration, as at 1 July each year.
In addition, I make some appointments jointly with other Secretaries of State.
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Body |Position |Remuneration
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crofters Commission |Chairman |c
Highlands and Islands Development Board |Chairman |f
|Deputy Chairman|e
|2 Members |e
Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland |Member |b
|Member |e
|Member |f
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board |Chairman |d
|Chief Executive|f
Scottish Dental Practice Board |Chairman |c
Scottish Development Agency |Chairman |c
|Chief Executive|f
Scottish Homes |Chairman |b
|Chief Executive|e
Scottish Legal Aid Board |Chairman |a
Scottish Tourist Board |Chairman |d
Scottish Transport Group |Chairman |f
South of Scotland Electricity Board |Chairman |f
|Deputy Chairman|f
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Hospitals, Clydesdale
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will visit Birkwood hospital in Lesmahagow to speak to the staff and patients about their concern about the future of the hospital ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will visit Law hospital in the Clydesdale constituency to discuss the future of the hospital with patients, members of staff and community groups.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have no immediate plans to visit either hospital. Developments there are a matter for Lanarkshire health board in the first instance and it is in touch with the views of the patients, staff and community groups.
Gun Controls
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the Strathclyde police force on its demands for stricter gun controls.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has not received any recent representations from Strathclyde police about gun controls.
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from each of the Scottish chief constables on the need to have stricter gun controls.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has had no recent representations from any of the chief constables.
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Police Federation to discuss gun control.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend and I last met representatives of the Scottish Police Federation on 8 February. The subject of gun controls was not raised.
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Crime
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources he will give to the Scottish police authorities to enable them to combat the increases in violent crime and drug-related crimes.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The provision of resources to police forces is in the first instance a matter for police authorities. My right hon. and learned Friend stands ready to pay police grant on authorities' net approved expenditure on the police service. The level of police grant was increased from 50 to 51 per cent. on 1 April 1986 in recognition of the additional demands being made on the police, including the tackling of violent crime and drug-related crimes.
Speech Therapy
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill of 26 March, what assessment he has made of the effect of shortages in cover for maternity leave taken by speech therapists in Scotland ; what information he has available on the average waiting time for children with speech difficulties (a) in Scotland as a whole and (b) on a regional or sub-regional level ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : No central assessment of cover for maternity leave has been made. No information is available centrally about average waiting times for speech therapy treatment.
Wildlife Protection
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking for the protection of the capercaillie.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The capercaillie is presently listed in part 1 of schedule 2 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and may be killed or taken only outside the closed season, that is, between 1 October and 31 January. In view of the decline in numbers of capercaillie, I have recently written to a wide range of interests proposing that a statutory ban on their shooting should be introduced from 1 October 1990. Under my proposals, the ban would be reviewed annually, following consultation. A copy of my consultation letter has been placed in the Library.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the accounting system in the Scottish Office indicated that £4 million was available to fund poll tax ex gratia payments ; and from which spending head this money came.
Mr. Rifkind : This finance will be provided as part of the normal process of managing the resources available to me in the course of 1990-91.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with Mr. Michael Hirst on the spending head from which he has found £4 million on the Scottish Office budget to finance additional poll tax ex gratia payments.
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Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the accounting system in the Scottish Office has now identified any further savings over and above the £4 million allocated to poll tax ex gratia payments ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : It is too early to identify the full extent of the changes in requirements for specific spending programmes which may occur during the financial year.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will prepare a table illustrating the impact, in each islands and district council area, of a system which combines local income tax with capital value-based domestic rates, making the same assumptions as those used by the hon. Member for Wirral, West (Mr. Hunt) in respect of a similar table prepared for English local authority areas in a written answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) on 6 November 1989, Official Report, column 415.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The table provided in the answer of 6 November 1989 referred to in the hon. Member's question was prepared on the assumption that English local authorities would budget for 1990-91 in line with their standard spending assessments, the Scottish equivalent of which is grant-aided expenditure (GAE) figures.
As it is now clear that some Scottish authorities have budgeted to spend below their GAE figure and others above it, I do not think I can justify committing the substantial resources needed to producing a table which would clearly be of no practical significance.
Court Reporting
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the function of shorthand writing in Scottish courts has been put out to tender.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Those shorthand writing services in the Scottish courts provided under Government contract have been put out to tender, and contracts awarded from 1 April 1990.
Sport
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sports properties in the category of (a) stadia, (b) playing fields, (c) club houses and (d) sports grounds there are in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 30 March 1990] : This information is not held centrally.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the measures he is carrying out to encourage sporting activities of (a) secondary and (b) higher education students in Scotland.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 30 March 1990] : Further action is required to reverse the present decline in school-aged team sport. The report of the Scottish Sports Council's school-aged team sport inquiry group made a number of welcome recommendations on which views are currently being sought. Participation in sport is also to be encouraged among post- school students. This is primarily a matter for the governing bodies of the institutions concerned.
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