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Mr. Lang : The Government issued a consultation document on 28 March which discussed a range of additional conservation measures that might be taken in the waters off the west coast of Scotland. Some replies have been received and others are awaited. In addition, my noble Friend the Minister of State met a delegation on 24 April to discuss these issues.
44. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the current situation facing the Scottish fishing fleet ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : A variety of representations have been received. In addition my right hon. and learned Friend met the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 7 February and will be doing so again very soon. We are continuing to monitor the situation of the industry very carefully. It remains the case that reductions in landings are being substantially offset by increases in prices. Up to the end of March landings by United Kingdom vessels into Scotland of cod, haddock, whiting and saithe have declined by 28 per cent. compared with the same period in 1989, but the value of these landings in that period has declined by only 3 per cent. in cash terms. The total value of all landings into Scotland in the first three months of this year has declined by only 1 per cent. in cash terms compared with the same period last year.
51. Mr. Buchanan-Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representation he has received on the proposals for the fishing industry for aggregation of capacity and for transferable quotas ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : The consultation paper on capacity aggregation, which was issued last November, elicited a wide range of responses from the industry. The Government recently announced their intention to proceed with the capacity aggregation proposals. We will, of course, monitor their operation carefully.
The Government are interested in considering individual transferable quotas, but any proposals it may develop will be the subject of full consultation with the industry.
Private Landlords
38. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the proportion of landlords in the private sector in Scotland who reduced combined rent and rate bills in 1989-90 to take account of the abolition of domestic rates.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No information is available centrally.
Apprenticeships
39. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to find more apprenticeship places for young people in Scotland.
Mr. Lang : The provision of apprenticeships is a matter for industry and in particular for industry lead training bodies such as the construction industry training board. In recent years the number of apprenticeships based on time serving has decreased as industry has moved towards flexible training systems for young people. Such schemes
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operate in conjunction with youth training and are based on the achievement of standards of competence. This shift of emphasis is welcome as it encourages the rapid attainment of skills by trainees.Poverty (Church Report)
40. Mr. Buchan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the Moderator of the Church of Scotland to discuss the report from the church and nation committee of the Church of Scotland entitled, "Scotland's Poor--a challenge to Kirk" ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend at present has no plans to do so.
Greater Glasgow Health Board (Takare Contract)
42. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when Greater Glasgow health board will release details of the Takare contract to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I understand that Greater Glasgow health board will provide further details to the hon. Member shortly.
Pre-school Education
43. Mr. Graham : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any fresh proposals to increase pre-five education in Scotland.
Mr. Lang : It is for education authorities themselves to determine the level of provision they wish to make in their area for the education of children under five, having regard to available resources, local circumstances and competing priorities.
Health Services (Glasgow)
45. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Greater Glasgow health board to discuss health services in Glasgow.
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. I regularly meet health board chairmen to discuss a variety of topics.
Health Spending
46. Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated expenditure by each health board in Scotland in 1990-91.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Health boards are expected to contain their expenditure within the amounts allocated to them at the beginning of each financial year. The amounts allocated to each health board in Scotland in 1990-91 for gross revenue and capital expenditure are as follows :
Health board |£ million<1> ------------------------------------------------ Argyll and Clyde |150.284 Ayrshire and Arran |135.563 Borders |34.965 Dumfries and Galloway |56.547 Fife |111.210 Forth Valley |103.695 Grampian |198.975 Greater Glasgow |535.870 Highland |83.173 Lanarkshire |178.255 Lothian |341.482 Orkney |6.528 Shetland |8.788 Tayside |198.227 Western Isles |19.153 <1> These figures do not include allocations for systems implementation, computers and breast cancer screening services totalling £29.376 million which have still to be notified to Boards.
Ayr Road Route
47. Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the timetable for the construction of the Ayr road route (A77).
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Ayr road route is divided into two sections. That between the M77 and the City of Glasgow district boundary is a regional road scheme promoted by Strathclyde regional council. The remainder of the route to Malletsheugh is a trunk road and the responsibility of the Secretary of State.
A legal challenge has been made by Glasgow district council to the Secretary of State's decision on the regional road section. Prior to the challenge, that section was scheduled for a start during 1991 and it was hoped that the trunk road section would follow on in 1992 subject to the availability of funds and priorities at that time. Advance works for the regional road section, in areas not affected by the legal challenge, have already started.
Flood Damage
48. Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give up-to-date details of assistance which has been given to landowners, farmers and householders whose property was damaged in the recent floods in north Tayside.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Twenty-six applications have been received from farmers in Tayside for special assistance for the repair of elevated floodbanks damaged in the recent floods. Engineering specifications have been drawn up for the 20 of these cases and returned to the applicants for them to obtain contractors' estimates. So far, only two applicants have submitted detailed costings.
As to other damage and losses sustained by landowners, farmers and householders, it has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments not to pay compensation for the effects of severe weather, particularly where risks are insurable.
Unemployment
49. Sir Hector Monro : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed unemployment with the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
Mr. Rifkind : I met the general council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on 10 November 1989 for a discussion of economic issues, including unemployment. I
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called attention to the sustained improvement in the Scottish economy in recent years which has seen unemployment fall to its lowest level since 1980.Arts Provision
Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to encourage other cities in Scotland to emulate Glasgow's emphasis on provision for the arts.
Mr. Lang : I am happy to acknowledge Glasgow's success in developing provision for the arts and in exploiting the valuable contribution made by the arts to the economic life in the city. Glasgow's achievement as this year's European city of culture shows what can be done when local authorities join forces with private and corporate sponsors.
Community Charge
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a Scottish university student registered for community charge at his or her parents home in Scotland, is also required to register and pay community charge during the period of attendance at university at the address of his or her accommodation in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : A full-time student in Scotland is not required to pay the personal community charge at more than one address at the same time. He or she is regarded, for community charge purposes, as being resident, and therefore liable for the personal community charge at the reduced rate of 20 per cent. of the full charge, at his or her term- time address for the duration of his or her course, including vacations.
Forestry
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vehicles the Forestry Commission operates.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Forestry Commission is currently operating 1,859 of its own road vehicles and 230 leased road vehicles.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the area of forestry plantations in Scotland which has been killed by pine beauty moth or pine sawfly since 1986 ; and if he will list the names of the plantations affected, their size, their dates of planting and the dates of the attack leading to the plantation death in each case.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Only two areas of forestry plantations of any size are known to have been killed by pine beauty moth or pine sawfly in Scotland since 1986. These were two hectares at Truderscaig which were planted in 1972-73 and attacked by pine beauty moth in 1987 and 1988, and 12 hectares at Poulary which were planted in 1967-68 and attacked by pine beauty moth in 1986. Both these areas are in Highland region.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and areas of any further forestry grant applications since his answer of 22 March 1989, Official Report, columns 660-61 in excess of 100 hectares for which the Forestry Commission has not requested an environmental assessment.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is given in the following table :
Name and Region |Area proposed for
|planting (ha)
----------------------------------------------------------
Borders
North Hurdlaw |164
Heathpool |224
Ladhope |158
Central
Gartchonzie |171
Gartnafuaran |153
Muirhill |199
Dumfries and Galloway
Glenquicken |168
Loch Ree |328
Shilling Land |117
Ericstane |168
Grampian
Pluscarden |110
Tillypronie |200
Ballogie |132
Cowden |128
Christkirk |128
Craigs of Succoth |103
Bisset Moss |278
Smallburn |149
Boghaugh |134
Torry Hillock |136
Wraes |101
Highland
Coille am Sealbach |122
Coille Buidhe |122
Achlibster |291
Braelangwell |487
Loch Choire |1,396
Tacher |243
Astle |114
Ackron |270
Woodend |251
Greshornish |962
Wyvis |114
Glen Speireig |288
Loubcroy |388
Loubcroy 2 |295
Orkney Isles
Melsetter Hill |215
Strathclyde
Brackley Hill |304
Cleughearn |186
Dalrazzie |104
Darley |524
Western Isles
Sollas |520
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and areas of any plantings carried out by the Forestry Commission since July 1988 which are in excess of 100 hectares ; and if he will list any proposed plantings for 1990-91 which are above this threshold.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is given in the tables :
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|c|Areas proposed for planting in 1990-91|c| Forestry Commission |Name of forest area|Area to be Forest District |planted (ha) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kintyre |Invernei |167 Kintyre |Alltmore |108 Perthshire |Rannoch Invercarie |180 Perthshire |Camserne |123 Wester Ross |Braebost |175 Wester Ross |Glenarroch |120 Dornoch |Stroupster |267 Dornoch |Inveroykel |410 Fort Augustus |Phochaicain |238 Ayrshire and Arran |Mossdale |230 Newton Stewart |Gentrool |125 Borders |Langburnshiels |275
|c|Areas proposed for planting in 1990-91|c| Forestry Commission |Name of forest area|Area to be Forest District |planted (ha) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kintyre |Invernei |167 Kintyre |Alltmore |108 Perthshire |Rannoch Invercarie |180 Perthshire |Camserne |123 Wester Ross |Braebost |175 Wester Ross |Glenarroch |120 Dornoch |Stroupster |267 Dornoch |Inveroykel |410 Fort Augustus |Phochaicain |238 Ayrshire and Arran |Mossdale |230 Newton Stewart |Gentrool |125 Borders |Langburnshiels |275
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will name the sites, locations and areas for which the Forestry Commission has requested environmental assessments under the Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988 since their introduction ; and if he will state for each site whether an assessment has been presented, or is in progress, and whether the applications for forestry grant have been approved, withdrawn, refused or are still under consideration.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The following table lists all those sites for which the Forestry Commission has requested an environmental statement.
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Current Position
Name |Region |Area Proposed for |Statement |Application
|planting (ha)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baillie Whirr |Dumfries and Galloway|40 |Not provided |Withdrawn
Glenure Forest Estate |Dumfries and Galloway|28 |Presented |Under consideration
Stonehouse Farm |Dumfries and Galloway|19 |Being prepared |Under consideration
Gulls Nest |Grampian |298 |Not provided |Refused
Ardtornish |Highland |55 |Presented |Under consideration
Auchtertyre |Highland |357 |Presented |Under consideration
Bhealaich |Highland |280 |Presented |Under consideration
Brabster Farm 2 |Highland |564 |Presented |Approved<1>
Cnoc nan Gall |Highland |231 |Presented |Under consideration
Corrielair |Highland |458 |Presented |Approved
Forest Farms |Highland |2,310 |Being prepared |Under consideration
Gortoneorn |Highland |296 |Not provided |Withdrawn
East Halladale |Highland |810 |Being prepared |Under consideration
West Halladale |Highland |730 |Being prepared |Under consideration
The Hope |Highland |233 |Presented |Under consideration
Lochluichart |Highland |218 |Being prepared |Under consideration
North Winless |Highland |90 |Presented |Withdrawn
South Channain 2 |Highland |39 |Presented |Under consideration
Auchenroy and Dalcairnie |Strathclyde |419 |Presented |Approved<2>
Coull Farm |Strathclyde |77 |Not provided |Withdrawn
Gallohoille Farm |Strathclyde |136 |Not provided |Withdrawn
Mulea Plantation |Strathclyde |42 |Presented |Under consideration
Turbiskill Farm |Strathclyde |207 |Presented |Under consideration
Pitcarmick |Tayside |160 |Presented |Under consideration
Cragganester |Tayside |135 |Being prepared |Under consideration
Notes:
<1> Only 118 hectares of this application were approved; the remainder was withdrawn.
<2> Only 242 hectares of this application were approved; the remainder was withdrawn.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and areas which are proposed by the Forestry Commission for aerial spraying with fenitrothion in 1990 to combat forest pests.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Forestry Commission is not expecting to carry out any aerial spraying with fenitrothion, or other insecticides, in 1990.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the current commissioners of the Forestry
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Commission was appointed to fulfil both the requirement under section two of the Forestry Act 1967 and section four of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1985.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Messrs Francis, Bradley, Foot, Woosnam and Strang-Steel fulfil the requirement under section 2 of the Forestry Act 1967 that at least three of the Forestry Commissioners must have special knowledge and experience of forestry ; Messrs Francis, Bradley and Foot fulfil the requirement that at least one Commissioner must have scientific attainments
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and a technical knowledge of forestry, and Mr. Mallinson the requirement that at least one must have special knowledge and experience of the timber trade. Section 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985, which amended the Forestry Act 1967, places a duty on all the Commissioners to endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance between the needs of forestry and those of the environment.Enterprise Companies (Complaints)
Mr. Watson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the basis for his decision that complaints relating to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise should not fall within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.
Mr. Lang : Bodies which operate in a predominantly commercial manner are excluded from the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise fall into this category.
Mr. Watson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that people in Scotland who might be aggrieved at the manner in which a local enterprise company has dealt with its affairs will have the same avenues of redress available to them as people in England and Wales who have similar grievances in respect of alleged maladministration by training and enterprise councils.
Mr. Lang : Local enterprise companies will be obliged by the terms of their contracts to operate a complaints procedure, under which an individual with a complaint can be assured that his or her case will be considered by the chief executive of the local enterprise company, and if necessary by the chairman. This obligation is no less than that which will operate in England and Wales.
RENAVAL
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he expects the allocation of grants available to Strathclyde region under the European Community's RENAVAL programme to be fully utilised ;
(2) if he will list the local authorities and other public bodies involved in submitting applications for financial assistance under the European Community's RENAVAL programme in Strathclyde region.
Mr. Lang : A decision is still awaited from the European Commission on the Government's bid to establish Strathclyde's eligibility under RENAVAL. There are therefore no Strathclyde authorities as yet involved in submitting applications for financial assistance under RENAVAL, and no grants available.
Farm Woodland Scheme
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will bring forward legislation to allow crofters access to the farm woodland scheme through planting on common grazings.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend is awaiting confirmation that legislation which would allow crofters to participate in the planting of commercial woodlands on common grazings would be acceptable to all crofting interests. It is not possible to say when such legislation might be introduced.
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Hospital Closures
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of hospitals closed in Scotland in the past 10 years.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Since 1980, 42 hospitals have been closed in Scotland. During the same period 62 major new hospital projects have been completed.
Mental Health Services
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the way the mental health services are operating in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Mental health services in Scotland are designed to ensure that people with mental illness receive appropriate treatment either as in-patients or increasingly as out-patients or through a wide range of services in the community. The recommendations of the SHARPEN report, which the Government have endorsed, accord a high priority to care in the community whenever appropriate for people who are mentally ill. The proposals set out in the White Paper "Caring for People : Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond" will bring further improvements in community care services for people with mental illness.
Road Deaths
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of road fatalities since 1 October 1989 and for each year from 1980 to 1990.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer Monday 30 April 1990] : The information requested is as follows :
|c|Number of road fatalities in Scotland|c| Year |Number --------------------------------------- 1980 |700 1981 |677 1982 |701 1983 |624 1984 |599 1985 |602 1986 |601 1987 |556 1988 |554 1989<1> |554 1989 October-December<1> |148 <1> Provisional
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Kryptrons
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what protective rules exist to cover the export from the United Kingdom of kryptrons.
Mr. Redwood : Kryptrons are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989. A licence is required to export such goods to any destination if the performance parameters are within the scope of entry IL 1542 (b) of group 3 of the order.
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Staff Qualifications
Mr. John Garrett : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the number and percentages of his staff in grades one to seven who have (a) arts and (b) science and technical degrees, who (c) are qualified accountants or (d) have post-graduate qualifications in management and who were educated in (e) local authority and (f) private schools.
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Mr. Forth : The information is as follows :
The numbers and percentages of Department of Trade and Industry staff in grades 1 to 7 with either graduate or post-graduate level qualifications as shown on the Department's personnel computer system, and by the subject groups in which this information is recorded there, are as follows :
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Grade level Total in Agriculture Arts Business studies Education Language and Miscellaneous Professional Science Social studies Technology
grade literature studies
|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade level 1 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |100.0 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Grade level 2 |13 |- |- |3 |23.0 |- |- |- |- |1 |7.7 |- |- |- |- |2 |15.4 |4 |30.8 |- |-
Grade 2 |13 |- |- |3 |23.0 |- |- |- |- |1 |7.7 |- |- |- |- |2 |15.4 |4 |30.8 |- |-
Grade level 3 |55 |- |- |13 |24.0 |1 |1.8 |- |- |6 |10.9 |- |- |- |- |18 |32.7 |13 |23.6 |5 |9.1
Grade 3 |55 |- |- |13 |24.0 |1 |1.8 |- |- |6 |10.9 |- |- |- |- |18 |32.7 |13 |23.6 |5 |9.1
Grade level 4 |13 |- |- |2 |15.4 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |5 |38.5 |1 |7.7 |- |-
Grade 4 |8 |- |- |1 |12.5 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |3 |37.5 |1 |12.5 |- |-
Deputy Inspector
General |3 |- |- |1 |33.3 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Assistant Comptroller
(Patents) 2 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |2 |100.0 |- |- |- |-
Grade level 5 |249 |- |- |39 |15.7 |4 |1.6 |2 |0.8 |23 |9.2 |- |- |3 |1.2 |71 |28.5 |58 |23.3 |25 |10.0
Grade 5 |209 |- |- |39 |18.7 |4 |1.9 |2 |0.9 |23 |11.0 |- |- |3 |1.4 |43 |20.6 |57 |27.3 |19 |9.1
Principal Examiner
(Patents) 28 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |19 |67.8 |1 |3.6 |5 |17.8
Superintent Examiner
(Patents) 10 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |9 |90.0 |- |- |1 |10.0
Grade level 6 |199 |1 |0.5 |7 |3.5 |11 |5.5 |- |- |9 |4.5 |- |- |- |- |66 |33.1 |33 |16.6 |30 |15.1
Grade 6 |182 |1 |0.5 |7 |3.8 |9 |4.9 |- |- |9 |4.9 |- |- |- |- |66 |36.2 |32 |17.6 |30 |16.5
Insolvency
Grade A |14 |- |- |- |- |2 |14.3 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Senior Legal
Assistant |3 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |33.3 |- |-
Grade level 7 |1,187 |1 |0.1 |53 |4.5 |35 |2.9 |1 |0.1 |53 |4.5 |1 |0.1 |3 |0.2 |320 |26.9 |123 |10.4 |126 |10.6
Grade 7 |912 |1 |0.1 |49 |5.4 |29 |3.2 |1 |0.1 |51 |5.6 |1 |0.1 |3 |0.3 |241 |26.4 |117 |12.8 |114 |12.5
Insolvency
Grade B |65 |- |- |3 |4.6 |6 |9.2 |- |- |1 |1.5 |- |- |- |- |- |- |4 |6.1 |1 |1.5
Senior Examiner
(Patents) |210 |- |- |1 |0.5 |- |- |- |- |1 |0.5 |- |- |- |- |79 |37.6 |2 |0.9 |11 |5.2
Only one member of Department of Trade and Industry staff in grades 1 to 7- -a grade 7--is shown on the Department's personnel computer system as having a post-graduate qualification in management. This represents 0.10 per cent. of grade 7 staff. The Department does not record details of the schools attended by its staff on its personnel computer system.
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Information on the types of schools attended by staff in grades 1 to 7 could, therefore, only be made available at disproportionate cost.The numbers and percentages of Department of Trade and Industry staff in grades 1 to 7, who are shown on the Department's personnel computer system as being qualified accountants, are as follows :
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Grade level |Total in grade |Accountants in |Percentage of |Accountants in |Percentage of
|grade level |total in grade level|grade |total in grade
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade level 1 |1 |- |- |- |-
Grade level 2 |13 |- |- |- |-
Grade level 3 |55 |2 |3.6 |- |-
Grade 3 |55 |- |- |2 |3.6
Grade level 4 |13 |1 |7.6 |- |-
Deputy Inspector General |3 |- |- |1 |33.3
Grade level 5 |249 |6 |2.4 |- |-
Grade 5 |209 |- |- |6 |2.9
Grade level 6 |199 |14 |7.0 |- |-
Grade 6 |182 |- |- |11 |6.0
Insolvency Grade A |14 |- |- |3 |21.0
Grade level 7 |1,187 |42 |3.5 |- |-
Grade 7 |912 |- |- |32 |3.5
Insolvency Grade B |65 |- |- |10 |15.4
Enterprise Initiative
Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms have received grant assistance, and at what average percentage level, under the quality initiative of the enterprise initiative in Scotland.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I have been asked to reply.
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As at 13 April 1990, 249 firms in Scotland had completed consultancy projects under the quality initiative, for which DTI assistance amounted to 65 per cent. of project costs on average.Column 591
Cars
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cars were exported to the European Economic Community and imported from the European Economic Community in the most recent annual period for which figures are available ; what was the balance of trade figure ; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 30 April 1990] : The information is as follows :
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|c|United Kingdom trade with EC: passenger cars (SITC 781)|c|
Year |Exports to|Imports |Balance |Balance
|EC |from EC
|'000 |'000 |'000 |£ million
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |117 |705 |-588 |-2,630
1986 |139 |782 |-643 |-3,224
1987 |157 |784 |-627 |-3,220
1988 |184 |1,034 |-850 |-4,409
1989 |256 |1,096 |-840 |-4,583
12 months to
February 1989 |198 |1,060 |-862 |-4,512
12 months to
February 1990 |262 |1,076 |-814 |-4,567
Source: Overseas Trade Statistics (MM20).
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DEFENCE
Nuclear Warhead Testing
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reasons underpinned the decision not to include United Kingdom--United States collaboration on nuclear warhead testing in Nevada in table 2, page 35, of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990, volume 1.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The table lists projects related to the joint development or procurement of equipment. British nuclear warheads are developed and manufactured nationally.
Ballistic Missiles
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence there is that any country outside the acknowledged nuclear weapons states has developed a nuclear capable re-entry vehicle for use with a ballistic missile system.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Any country which acquires or develops a ballistic missile for military purposes will also require as part of the missile package a means of delivering its payload. Whether or not this comprises a re-entry vehicle capable of carrying a nuclear warhead will depend on its range and payload.
For an assessment of countries known or believed to have deployed ballistic missiles I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. MacDonald) on 22 January 1990. We cannot comment on the capabilities of all of these missiles.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Trident ballistic missile system falls within the remit of ballistic missiles covered by the missile technology control regime outlined on page 13 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990, volume 6.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Trident D5 missile system falls within the range and payload parameters covered by the missile technology control regime. However, as the United Kingdom is an existing nuclear weapon state, our acquisition of the Trident system is not inconsistent with the MTCR's aim of preventing ballistic missile proliferation.
Research and Development
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are currently employed, respectively, in the royal aerospace establishment's propulsion department, the Admiralty research department, the royal armament research and development establishment and the royal signals and radar establishment ; and what changes in (a) total and (b) sectional employment is expected when the defence research agency replaces these establishments in 1991.
Mr. Neubert : As at 1 April 1990 the staff employed at the establishments named were as follows :
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|Staff
------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Aerospace Establishment |4,878
Admiralty Research Establishment |2,898
Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment |2,365
Royal Signals and Radar Establishment |1,593
It is not our policy to publish figures for individual departments.
Future staffing levels will depend on the development of the defence research agency's business.
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