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Mr. Grist : The data requested were not collected centrally prior to 1 April 1989, since when they have been collected on a six-monthly basis. The available information is given as follows :
Estimated<1> number of
sight tests paid for by
family practitioner committees
in the six months ending
|30 September 1989|31 March 1990
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adults receiving family credit
or income support |33,420 |35,700
<1>Estimates based upon a 2 per cent. sample of all such sight tests.
Home Improvement Grants
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how the amount of the financial allocation for the new system of home improvement grants for the financial year 1991-92 will be determined.
Mr. Grist : This is a matter to be determined in the current public expenditure survey.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the new system for home improvement grants will come into operation.
Mr. Grist : The new area renovation arrangements and minor works assistance were introduced on 1 April this year. The remainder of the new renovation grant system will be brought into effect on 1 July 1990.
Housing
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he proposes to have on the housing needs of the elderly in Wales.
Mr. Grist : The Department is currently consulting statutory and voluntary bodies on the future of home improvement agencies in Wales. The housing needs of elderly people will also be considered by Welsh district councils and officials in the context of authorities' housing strategies for 1991-92.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will call for a report from the chairman of Tai Cymru on its supervision of the financial affairs of Corlan Housing Association ;
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(2) when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry instituted under the Housing Association Act 1973 into the financial difficulties of Corlan Housing Association ;(3) if he will publish the report of the inquiry into the financial affairs of Corlan Housing Association ; and if he will make a statement ;
(4) whether he has any plans to issue new guidelines to Tai Cymru on the supervision of the financial affairs of Welsh housing associations.
Mr. Grist : Under the Housing Associations Act 1985 Housing for Wales has various powers and responsibilities in respect of registered housing associations and under section 28 of the Act has instituted an inquiry into the affairs of Corlan Housing Association. A report is expected within about six weeks. Housing for Wales will then decide what further action needs to be taken in the light of the inquiry's findings. My right hon. Friend and I are, of course, in touch with the situation.
The board of Housing for Wales is already considering the wider implications of the situation and will be discussing these with me.
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consideration he has given to the independent technical report prepared for Newport borough council by Ove Arup, consulting engineers, on the structural soundness of houses at Ringwood hill, Newport, Gwent ;
(2) if he will vary or revoke the designation of properties at Ringwood hill, Newport, Gwent, as being defective within the terms of section 528 of the Housing Act 1985 ;
(3) if he will now reply to a letter dated 9 May from the hon. Member for Newport, East concerning the designation of houses at Ringwood hill, Newport, Gwent, as being defective within the terms of section 528 of the Housing Act 1985.
Mr. Grist : I have not received any recent correspondence from the hon. Gentleman about houses at Ringwood hill, Newport. However, we have very recently written to Newport borough council to say that my right hon. Friend is not prepared to revoke or vary the designation of Hawksley SGS houses under section 528 of the Housing Act 1985.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the policy outlined in his reply of 11 June, Official Report, column 25, applies to properties owned by Douglas Haig Memorial Homes.
Mr. Grist : As a landlord body, Douglas Haig Memorial Homes will be able to apply for financial assistance under the renovation grant being introduced from 1 July.
Communicators for the Deaf
Mr. John P. Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on future funding for the Communicators for the Deaf course at Barry college.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Training Agency funded the course on a 12- month contract which ends in July. There are no plans to extend funding.
Mr. John P. Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to provide training for communicators for the deaf in Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Department recognises the need for and value of training in this field. A three-year grant
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was awarded to the Wales Council for the Deaf in 1989-90 to set up a pilot project with the aim of increasing the number of people with advanced qualifications in sign language.Bathing Beaches
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 June, if he will make it his policy to provide the financial resources necessary to fully implement the display of information on water quality at all bathing beaches in Wales.
Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave him on 13 June at column 226, to which there is nothing that I can add.
Engineering
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call for a report on the supply and demand for engineering skills and training facilities in Wales arising from (a) new investment projects and (b) existing firms, including small enterprises.
Sir Wyn Roberts : A labour market assessment covering the whole of Wales is undertaken annually by the Training Agency for Wales. In addition, the Training Agency carries out specific research exercises such as the "Valley Skills" study. At a local level the developing training and enterprise councils are undertaking local labour market research for their corporate and business plans. The supply and demand for engineering skills and training feature as subjects in these studies. Known inward investment projects are taken into account and firms of all sizes are considered.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what public funds have been made available towards the cost of a regional freight terminal linking Welsh industry and commerce with the channel tunnel.
Sir Wyn Roberts : No specific amount has been set aside for freight terminals. British Rail is proposing to spend over £1 billion to enable freight and passenger services to be in place when the tunnel opens. This includes expenditure on freight terminals. British Rail is currently negotiating to obtain the best commercial deals on terminals in partnership with the private sector.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has undertaken on the demand for a regional freight terminal in south Wales to link with the channel tunnel.
Sir Wyn Roberts : None. This is a matter for British Rail, which has identified south Wales as a possible location for a major terminal for channel tunnel freight services.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make an assessment of the demand in Wales for regional freight terminals to link with the channel tunnel.
Sir Wyn Roberts : No. British Rail has already assessed the demand in Wales for freight terminals in drawing up its published plan for channel tunnel services. It is now up to businesses in Wales to consider their requirements and make these known to British Rail.
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TRANSPORT
M6 (Road Works)
Mr. Snape : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report (a) the number of occasions when major road works have taken place on the M6 motorway between junction 8 (M5 Ray Hall) and junction 9 (Bescot), (b) the type of work carried out and (c) the total cost of such work since that portion of the M6 motorway was completed.
Mr. Atkins : Since the M6 opened, there has been one major road maintenance scheme on this section, in 1979, when major reconstruction and resurfacing of the carriageways between junctions 8 and 10 was undertaken at a cost of £3 million. Further major maintenance works between junctions 8 and 9 will start this month. In addition there is an ongoing programme of structural maintenance to the viaducts themselves.
Bedford Bypass
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to publish Her Majesty's Government's recommendations about the line of route for linking the projected southern relief road at Elstow in the county of Bedford with the A428.
Mr. Atkins : Such a link would form a western bypass of Bedford. The Department is discussing its preferred inner route with the local authorities, which favour alternative proposals further to the west. Technical analyses of traffic data will take a number of months to complete and I do not expect to make any announcements before the autumn.
Dial-a-Ride
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are made to fund dial-a-ride and similar services for disabled people outside London ; if he will list the amounts paid in support of such services in shire county and metropolitan areas in the years 1988-89 and 1989-90 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Shire councils and passenger transport authorities and executives in the metropolitan areas have a duty to have regard to the transport needs of members of the public who are elderly or disabled, and may fund dial-a-ride and other special needs services. We do not have comprehensive figures on local authority spending in this area, but a recent assessment by the local authority associations put provision by the PTAs in the metropolitan areas at £4.4 million in 1988-89 and£8.2 million in 1989-90.
East London Rail Study
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received concerning the release of any economic evaluation of the east London rail study ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will publish any cost/benefit analysis of the east London rail study commissioned by his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : A small number of representations have been received about the release of details of the economic
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evaluation of the Jubilee line extension including some from hon. Members. This material was not released at the time the east London rail study report was published last July as it might have prejudiced negotiations with developers about their contributions to the cost of the line. However, now that agreement has been reached about the level of these contributions, I can now release this information. The cost benefit analysis which lay behind the ELRS report was as follows.Present value of costs and benefits for the Jubilee line extension from Green Park via (inter alia) Waterloo, Canary Wharf and Greenwich Point to Stratford
|c|1988-89 prices discounted to 1989|c|
|£ million
----------------------------------------
Capital costs |(690)
Operating cost |(90)
Additional revenue |290
Funding gap |(490)
Passenger benefits |730
Road user benefits |200
|--
Net benefit |440
Benefit: cost ratio |1.56:1
London Underground
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received advocating the extension of the London underground to Thamesmead ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The Department has received a small number of representations in support of an extension of the Jubilee line to Thamesmead. The east London rail study showed that the capital costs (estimated at £420 million in 1989 prices) and operating costs would greatly exceed the revenues and benefits.
Channel Ferries (Fire Drills)
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 7 June, column 696, what fire drill practice passengers on cross-channel ferries undergo on each voyage ; and what fire drill information they are given in case of fire.
Mr. McLoughlin : Fire drills are directed at the crew and passengers are not required to participate. A fire in a space used by passengers should be detected by automatic fire detection systems or by fire patrols required by the SOLAS convention. This will activate the measures provided on the vessel for fighting a fire--including the provision of trained crew. In the event of a fire passengers would be instructed on the public address system to muster at specified positions on the vessels in the same way as in any other emergency. These instructions are also required to be posted in cabins and in other spaces used by passengers.
SCOTLAND
Lead Contamination
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has conducted into the effects of lead in water ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 446
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Scottish Home and Health Department has provided funding for a number of long-running major projects over the past 18 years :
Studies in Environmental and Industrial Lead Intoxification. Studies on the Biological Effects of Lead and Cadmium in the Environment.
The Evaluation of Certain Aspects of Lead and Cadmium Exposure in Terms of Biochemical Effects and Consideration of Bio-Analytical Indices of Exposure.
Developmental Behavioural and Neurochemical Aspects of Lead Exposure in Man and Experimental Animals.
Neuropsychological Function in Children Exposed to Low Levels of Lead in the Environment (in conjunction with the Medical Research Council).
Community Service Orders
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of administering community service orders in Scotland in the last year for which figures are available ; how many orders were made per 100,000 of the population in that year ; and what was the average cost per order.
Mr. Rifkind : The gross expenditure incurred by local authorities in the financial year ended 31 March 1989 in respect of community service schemes was estimated to be £3.2 million. There were 3,492 orders made during the same period, representing 69 per 100,000 population. On the basis of these figures, the average cost per order was about £920.
Security Firms
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the private security firms presently employed by his Department, the buildings at which they operate and the date of expiry of each contract.
Mr. Rifkind : The information relating to the Scottish Office and associated departments is set out in the table :
Company |Location |Expiry date of
|contract
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burns International |Middleton Hall, |13 July 1990
Security Services |by Gorebridge
(UK) Ltd.
Wackenhut (UK) Ltd. |Marine Laboratory,|1 December 1990
|Aberdeen
Burns International |Brandon Street, |31 March 1992
Security Services |Edinburgh
(UK) Ltd.
Burns International |Saughton House, |31 March 1992
Security Services |Edinburgh
(UK) Ltd.
Burns International |Jeffrey Street, |31 March 1992
Security Services |Edinburgh
(UK) Ltd.
Burns International |Supreme Courts, |31 December 1991
Security Services |Edinburgh
(UK) Ltd.
Burns International |Edinburgh Sheriff |31 December 1991
Security Services |Court
(UK) Ltd.
Burns International |Glasgow Sheriff |25 April 1992
Security Services |Court
(UK) Ltd.
Group 4 Total Security |Ladywell House, |<1>-
Ltd. |Edinburgh
Group 4 Total Security |GRO Building, |<1>-
Ltd. |Station Road,
| Edinburgh
<1>These buildings are covered by an ongoing contract which may be terminated
following one month{apos}s notice.
Column 447
Probation Orders
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many probation orders have been made by the courts in Scotland in each of the last five years ; how many orders were made per 100,000 of the population in the latest available year ; and what was the cost of administering probation orders in that year.
Mr. Rifkind : The number of persons placed on probation in each of the past five years for which figures are available is published in the Scottish Home and Health Department statistical bulletin No. 1/1990, "Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 1988", which is available in the Library.
In 1988, 68 persons per 100,000 of the population aged eight or over were placed on probation. (If a person is placed on probation more than once in the same year, each occasion is counted separately.)
Column 448
Local authorities are unable to identify separately within the social work budget the cost of supervision of persons subject to probation orders.Management Consultants
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the studies conducted inside his Department by management consultants over the last 10 years, naming the consultancy, the cost, the subject and the outcome in each instance.
Mr. Rifkind : Comprehensive records of all studies for the period requested are not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. Details of contract costs cannot be disclosed because of commercial confidentiality. The following information is readily available :
Column 447
|c|1. Contracts awarded for Management Consultancies|c|
Firm |Subject of Assignment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986<1>
BP International Limited |Scottish Office Procurement Manual
Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited |Marketing Awareness, Historic Buildings and Monuments
Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited |Investment Function, Scottish Development Agency
Ernst and Whinney |Management Organisation and Procedures, Scottish Legal Aid Board
Hay-MSL Management Consultants
Limited |Grading Review-Nursing Services
Inbucon Management Consultants Limited |Financial Management Scottish Development Agency
Inbucon Management Consultants Limited |NHS Linen Services in Scotland
SCICON Limited |Patient Administration System
1987<1>
Frank Griffiths Associates Limited |Overview of Roads Procurement Procedures
CIPFA Services |Community Charge
1988<1>
PIEDA |Dounreay rundown
Deloitte, Haskins and Sells |Scottish Homes
Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited |Scottish Homes (several projects)
Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited |New Towns industrial and commercial assets
Gilpin Black Associates |Scottish Homes
Firn, Crichton Roberts Limited |Strathclyde Integrated Development Operation
Open College |Open Learning
University of Warwick |Performance measurements in Further Education
Dr. S. Clarke |Evaluation and quality of learning and teaching in Further Education
Dundee College of Technology |Investigation of the administrative arrangements in Jordanhill School
1989-90<2>
A. Fegent |Procurement (2 Projects)
Touche Ross |Health Education Review
Peat, Marwick McLintock |Lothian Health Board
Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited |HBM Executive Agency proposals
Price Waterhouse |Creche facilities
British Institute of Management |Network analysis on probation court services and parole
Peat, Marwick McLintock |Further Education development planning
Edinburgh University |Interpretation of a new statistical method
CSL Group Limited |Financial Regulations for School Boards
Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte |Education Finance
<1> Calendar year.
<2> Financial year.
|c|(2) Expenditure on
management consultancies<1>|c|
|£
-------------------------------
1985-86 |491,864
1986-87 |569,038
1987-88 |198,338
1988-89 |1,162,108
<2>1989-90 |300,000
<1> Expenditure in a
particular year does not
necessarily relate exclusively
to contracts awarded in that
year.
<2> Estimated figure.
Column 448
Urban Aid
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing total urban aid funding disbursed to new projects in the area of the Govan Initiative in 1988-89 and 1989-90 ; and how much of this went to projects submitted through the Govan Initiative.
Mr. Lang : There were 11 additional urban programme approvals in 1988-89 for the area of the Govan Initiative amounting to £1.340 million in total capital and annual
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running costs of which £1.311 million was for nine new projects. Three of this number, representing £0.264 million of the total, were submitted through the Govan Initiative.There were 11 additional urban programme approvals in 1989-90 for the area of the Govan Initiative amounting to £0.682 million in total capital and annual running costs of which £0.537 million was for six new projects. Four of this number, representing £0.490 million of the total, were sponsored by the Govan Initiative.
The additional approvals in 1989-90 brought total approved expenditure for the Govan Initiative area for the year to £1.708 million on 28 projects.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when considering urban aid allocations to economic initiatives in Strathclyde, he treates this aid as supplementary to the urban aid disbursed to non- initiative projects, and therefore not prejudicial to the non-initiative applicants.
Mr. Lang : In arriving at the dedicated urban programme budgets which have been offered for Castlemilk, Drumchapel and Easterhouse in Glasgow and for Ferguslie Park in Paisley, account was taken of each area's share of the worst deprivation, and its track record of success in securing urban programme resources.
The budgets offered for Castlemilk and Ferguslie Park also took into account the fact that urban programme resources had been increased in order to allow additional priority to be given to urban partnerships areas without reducing the Government's commitment to other eligible areas. There is therefore no reason to believe that the provision of dedicated budgets should cause other areas to lose out.
Community Service Orders
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many community service orders have been made by the courts in Scotland in each of the last five years ; and if he will break down the figure in the last available year according to the number of hours of service specified in the order.
Mr. Rifkind : The information is set out in the tables.
-
|c|Community Service Orders
made by Courts|c|
Year |Number of
|Orders
------------------------------
1985 |2,889
1986 |3,453
1987 |3,508
1988 |3,590
1989 |4,190
|c|Number of Hours of Service
Specified in the Order
1989|c|
Number of |Number of
Hours |Orders
------------------------------
40-95 |802
100-140 |1,429
150-190 |991
200-240 |968
|---
Total |4,190
Column 450
Forestry Commission
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Forestry Commission land was sold in each of England, Scotland and Wales in the 12 months to 1 April ; and how much of this land was subject to agreement securing future public access.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is as follows. The figures given are provisional at this stage.
|c|Area of Forestry
Commission land sold in
the year to 31 March|c|
|c|1990|c|
|Hectares
---------------------------
England |1,699
Scotland |4,689
Wales |1,276
None of the land was subject to specific agreements concerning future public access.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what policies he has adopted to secure continuing public access to Forestry Commission land sold to the private sector ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Government are concerned that the general public should continue to enjoy access to those forests to be disposed of by the Forestry Commission in a way which is compatible with their management for forestry and other purposes. We are giving careful consideration to ways of achieving this objective, but a number of complex issues is having to be addressed. In the meantime, the commission is deferring the sale of woodlands that are particularly sensitive from the point of view of public access, except in those cases where the sale is to an environmental body under the sponsorship arrangements.
Secondary Education
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to announce the membership of the committee which he has established to review courses and examinations in the fifth and sixth years of Scottish secondary education.
Mr. Lang : I am glad to be able to announce that the following have accepted my right hon. and learned Friend's invitation to serve on the committee to be chaired by Professor John Howie :
Mr. David Alexander, Depute Director of Education, Strathclyde Regional Council.
Mr. Richard Bisset, Headteacher, Kemnay Academy, Aberdeenshire. Mr. Thomas Burness, Principal, Glenrothes and Buckhaven Technical College, Fife.
Mr. Ronald Crawford, Academic Registrar, University of Strathclyde and Executive Secretary, Universities of Scotland Standing Conference.
Mrs. Dorothy Dalton, Chief Executive, Scottish Community Education Council.
Dr. John Gow, Secretary General, The Royal Society of Chemistry. Mrs. Deirdre Hutton.
Professor Ian Lockerbie, Department of Educational Policy and Development, University of Stirling.
Mr. James McVittie, Headteacher, St. Ninian's High School, Eastwood, Renfrewshire.
Professor Ian Marrian, Director of Education, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Column 451
Mr. David Meek, Assistant Headteacher, Boclair Academy, Bearsden.Mr. Robert Nimmo, Rector, High School of Dundee.
Mrs. Jennifer Rees, Head of Management Studies Department, Scottish College of Textiles, Galashiels.
Mr. David Semple, Director of Education, Lothian Regional Council. Mr. James Thompson, Principal Teacher of Mathematics, High School of Stirling.
Sir John Thomson, former member of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service.
Dr. Gordon Wilson, Principal, Craigie College of Education. Professor John Woodward, Vice Principal, Paisley College of Technology.
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