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Newry by-pass--Stage 1Banbridge by-pass dualling
Newry--Canal Street/Downshire Road link
Tandragee Road/Bridge Street, Portadown
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what moneys have been invested in
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major road improvement schemes in each road division in the Six Counties between 1 March 1985 and 31 March 1991.Mr. Needham : Expenditure on major road improvement schemes in the past six financial years has been :
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Expenditure £ thousands Financial |HQ<1> |Ballymena |Belfast |Coleraine |Craigavon |Downpatrick|Omagh |Total year ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1985-86 |612 |906 |3,154 |757 |1,434 |985 |1,568 |9,414 1986-87 |418 |1,014 |3,268 |1,505 |1,804 |1,092 |879 |9,980 1987-88 |690 |1,071 |3,169 |1,821 |1,784 |890 |793 |10,218 1988-89 |1,755 |3,063 |1,999 |986 |1,844 |1,827 |694 |12,168 1989-90 |100 |1,895 |6,510 |1,298 |1,233 |2,217 |3,144 |16,397 <2>1990-91 |35 |1,522 |5,012 |1,065 |1,300 |2,789 |3,339 |15,062 <1>Relates to specific schemes which were handled centrally. <2>Provisional at this stage.
Ferry Services
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the increased fares on the ferry service between Strangford and Portaferry.
Mr. Needham : One representation to the most recent increase in fares has been received from Down district council.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much it cost to operate the Strangford to Portaferry ferry service in each of the years from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1991.
Mr. Needham : Operating costs for the Strangford to Portaferry ferry service were :
Financial |Cost (£'000) year --------------------------------------- 1985-86 |484 1986-87 |553 1987-88 |526 1988-89 |674 1989-90 |822 1990-91 |783
Concessionary Fares
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce reduced transport fares for women on reaching retirement age at 60 years.
Mr. Needham : The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is precluded by the provisions of the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 from making a distinction on age grounds between men and women. The qualifying age for concessionary half-fare travel by bus and rail in Northern Ireland is 65 years for men and women, and there are no plans to alter it.
Youth Services
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the education budget has been allocated to youth services in each year from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1991 in the Southern education and library board.
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Year |Percentage of|Percentage of
|recurrent |capital grant
|block grant |allocated to
|allocated to |youth service
|youth service
--------------------------------------------------------
1985-86 |2.88 |1.80
1986-87 |2.80 |2.14
1987-88 |3.03 |2.10
1988-89 |3.14 |1.09
1989-90 |3.10 |0.84
1990-91 |2.74 |1.04
Footpaths and Bridleways
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by year for the past 10 years, and for the current year to date, the number of (a) public footpaths and (b) public bridleways that have been (i) created and (ii) closed to the general public.
Mr. Needham : The creation and closure of public footpaths and bridleways is a district council responsibility and the information sought is not held centrally.
Renewable Energy Programme
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Northern Ireland will be included in the review of the renewable energy programme.
Fair Employment Commission
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards correcting the under-employment of Protestants on the staff of the Fair Employment Commission ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 3 June 1991] : I understand that the 1991 monitoring return made by the commission shows that 30, 53 per cent., of its employees are Protestant and 27, 47 per cent., are Roman Catholic. The commission's approach to the religious composition of its staff, including its wish to attract more applicants from the Protestant side of the community, was set out in its press release of 16 October 1990, a copy of which was placed in the Library.
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Detention Centres (Lay Visitors)
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the criteria for appointments by the police authority in Northern Ireland for the selection of lay visitors to non-paramilitary suspects in Royal Ulster Constabulary detention centres.
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Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 3 June 1991] : The appointment of lay visitors is a matter for the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.
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SCOTLAND
Opera House Edinburgh
Sir Nicholas Fairbairn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for an opera house on the site of the Empire theatre, Edinburgh ; and what public bodies are involved in taking this project forward.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I have been kept advised of Edinburgh district council's plans to convert the Empire theatre into an international venue for opera, ballet, concerts and drama. In addition to the district council, Lothian regional council, Lothian and Edinburgh enterprise company, Historic Scotland, the Scottish tourist board and the Scottish Arts Council are likely to be involved in the project.
Scottish Agricultural College
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which agricultural advice services provided by the Scottish agricultural college are wholly publicly funded.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Services which are undertaken for the public good : that is, the benefits accrue to the whole community and not only to the individual. They include the following.
(a) General advice on what is needed to conform with statutory requirements (Such as those on pesticides, health and safety at work or animal welfare).
(b) All general advice on animal welfare.
(c) Initial general advice on conservation and diversification. (
(d) General education and training for the rural community. (
(e) Veterinary investigation service tests related to notifiable diseases.
(f) Monitoring services on patterns of animal health, welfare and infertility.
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he applies, and by what authority, in determining which advisory work of the Scottish agricultural college shall be partly publicly funded.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Authority for the provision of agricultural advice is derived from section 4(4) of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911. Advice which is partly publicly funded is advice the benefits of which accrue partly to the community and partly to the individual user. It includes the following :
Specified services which would otherwise be fully chargeable but which are supplied to crofters at a reduced rate because of the effect of low income and relatively poor resources in the crofting area.
Services which are charged at a standard price, which does not cover the cost of delivering them in remote or otherwise disadvantaged areas.
Work associated with animal and crop disease surveillance. Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the advisory work of the Scottish agricultural college which is partly publicly funded is chargeable to the client.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In the year 1989-90, charges for partly publicly funded advice accounted for some 25 per cent. of total costs.
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Arts (Buildings)
Sir Nicholas Fairbairn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of those buildings used for the arts in Scotland which have been built, renovated or improved with Government funds since 1979.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The table lists the properties occupied by the three Scottish national institutions, which are directly funded by my Department through building programme grant in aid. All of these properties have, to varying degrees, been subject to building or improvement works since 1979. In addition, the Government provided £9.4 million--on an exceptional basis--towards the construction of the Burrell gallery in Glasgow.
In addition, my Department supports the development of local authority museums, galleries and libraries through the revenue support grant. Other support for the arts in Scotland, including an element for building projects, is provided by the Office of Arts and Libraries, through grants to arts bodies by the Scottish Arts Council.
Properties Occupied by the National Institutions-- Institution and Property
National Galleries of Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland, the Mound, Edinburgh
Royal Scottish Academy, Princes Street, Edinburgh
National Portrait Gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh
Gallery of Modern Art, Belford Road, Edinburgh
Store, 140 Causewayside, Edinburgh
National Museums of Scotland
Royal Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
National Museum of Antiquities, Queen Street, Edinburgh York Buildings, Queen Street, Edinburgh
Leith Custom House, Leith, Edinburgh
Scottish United Services Museum, Edinburgh Castle
Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian
Scottish Agricultural Museum, Ingliston, Edinburgh
Shambellie House, Dumfriesshire
Biggar Gasworks Museum, Lanarkshire
Store, Port Edgar, South Queensferry
Store, West Granton Road, Edinburgh
Store, Newbattle Abbey, Dalkeith
Store, Brighton Street, Edinburgh
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
Causewayside Building, Edinburgh
Offices, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh
Law Court Buildings, Parliament Square, Edinburgh
Bindery, Sighthill, Edinburgh
Store (shared), Sighthill, Edinburgh
Specific major capital building and maintenance projects since 1979 include (the figures are rounded to the nearest £0.5m) : 1. The conversion of the former John Watson's School to become the Gallery of Modern Art. (£3.5 million).
2. The construction of the first phase of the National Library's accommodation at Causewayside, Edinburgh. (£11 million).
3. Restoration and repair works at the Royal Museum of Scotland. (£8 million, on completion).
4. Stonework restoration at the Findlay Building in Queen Street, Edinburgh (home of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland). (£4 million). 5. Refurbishment of the National Gallery of Scotland. (£1 million).
6. Recladding of the hangars at the Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian. (£1 million).
Construction work has now begun on the second phase of the National Library's Causewayside Building (which is
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costing £22 million), and I have committed resources of £22 million (exclusive of VAT and fees) to the construction of the new Museum of Scotland. Other major projects to be financed by the Government are : the provision of new storage accommodation for the National Museums (over £4 million), a major programme of fire precaution works at the National Library's HQ Building in George IV Bridge, Edinburgh (£4 million) ; and restoration work at the Royal Scottish Academy Building in Princes Street, Edinburgh (over £5 million).Footpaths and Bridleways
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by year for the last 10 years, and for the current year to date, the number of (a) public footpaths and (b) public bridleways that have been (i) created and (ii) closed to the general public.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : This information is not kept centrally.
Fish Farms
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are in place for formal consultation when marine fish farms, which were established before the formal consultation procedures were introduced in 1989, apply to the Crown Estate for the renewal of their sea bed lease.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Each lease will be subject to individual review by the Crown Estate as and when it falls due for renewal. The Crown Estate will undertake any consultations it considers necessary in the light of the circumstances at each review.
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the Crown Estate's very sensitive areas in Scottish waters and the number of fish farm leases allocated in each ;
(2) how many sea bed leases for (a) salmon farms and (b) shellfish farms are located in areas designated as very sensitive areas by the Crown Estate.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The table shows the number of sea bed leases allocated to salmon and shellfish farms in the very sensitive areas defined and identified by the Crown Estate :
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Loch Laxford/Loch |Sutherland|3 |3
a'Chadh-Fi
2.Loch Glendhu/Loch |Sutherland|1 |1
3.Loch Broom/Loch Kanaird |Ross-shire|2 |1
4.Inner Little Loch Broom |Ross-shire|1 |1
5.Inner Loch Ewe/Loch |Ross-shire|3 |4
6.Inner Loch Gairloch |Ross-shire|0 |3
7.Inner Loch Torridon/Loch Shieldaig |Ross-shire|3 |4
8.Loch Carron |Ross-shire|1 |4
9.Loch na Cairidh/Caolas |Skye |1 |2
10.Loch Brittle/Loch Scavaig |Skye |0 |0
11.Loch na Dal |Skye |0 |1
12.Loch Alsh/Loch Duich |Lochaber |3 |7
13.Inner Loch Hourn |Lochaber |1 |1
14.Inner Loch Nevis |Lochaber |0 |0
15.Loch nan Uamb |Lochaber |0 |0
16.Inner Loch Sunart |Lochaber |6 |7
17.Inner/Outer Loch Leven |Lochaber |2 |3
18.Tobermory Bay, Mull |Argyll |1 |1
19.East Lismore |Argyll |1 |0
20.Inner Loch Creran |Argyll |0 |0
21.Inner Loch Etice |Argyll |1 |6
22.Sound of Kerrera/Loch |Argyll |1 |5
Feochan
23.Loch Melfort/Shuna Sound |Argyll |2 |2
24.Loch Craignish |Argyll |1 |2
25.Loch Sween |Argyll |2 |2
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sea bed leases for marine fish farms are now in force in Scotland, for (a) finfish and (b) shellfish ; and how many of each were established before the formal consultation procedures were introduced in 1986.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I understand from the Crown Estate that there are currently 308 sea bed leases for finfish farming and 392 for shellfish farming off the coast of Scotland. Of these 158 finfish and 112 shellfish leases were granted before October 1986.
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of extant sea bed leases for marine salmon farms in Scotland, including (a) map reference, (b) area in hectares, (c) date of lease agreements, (d) date of expiry of lease, (e) production limits and when imposed or revised and (f) whether each application was subjected to (i) the formal consultation procedure, (ii) statutory environmental assessment and (iii) consideration by the advisory committee.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I understand from the Crown Estate that the information requested at points (a), (b), (c) and (d) is not available in the form requested except at disproportionate cost to public funds. Lists of leases giving basic information are, however, made available by the Crown Estate on request. I am also informed that Crown Estate leases granted under the formal consultation procedures contain conditions specifying the equipment which may be installed ; the consequential production limits are not separately listed.
All new site applications submitted to the Crown Estate have been subject to the formal consultation procedures since October 1986, and to the provisions of the Environmental Assessment (Salmon Farming in Marine Waters) Regulations 1988 which came into effect on 15 July 1988. One application has met the criteria for which such an assessment is required.
One case has been referred to the advisory committee for its consideration.
Whisky
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much whisky was sold in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) in export sales for each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Lang : The statistics requested are as follows :
Whisky sales-1981-1990
(million litres of pure
alcohol)
|United |Export
|Kingdom|sales
|sales
--------------------------------
1981 |47.71 |244.24
1982 |44.75 |251.28
1983 |44.48 |227.84
1984 |43.36 |231.29
1985 |46.15 |225.89
1986 |45.64 |236.19
1987 |44.60 |240.17
1988 |45.18 |245.94
1989 |43.03 |242.49
1990 |41.52 |238.75
Source: Scotch Whisky Industry
Review 1990.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of total whisky sales in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) export sales was made up by malt whisky in each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Lang : The statistics requested are as follows :
Sales of malt whisky-1981 to
1990
Proportion of market by volume (
per cent.)
|United |Export
|Kingdom
--------------------------------
1981 |1.7 |10.6
1982 |2.3 |10.3
1983 |2.1 |12.3
1984 |2.6 |13.1
1985 |2.6 |10.4
1986 |2.8 |11.4
1987 |3.3 |10.4
1988 |3.6 |11.2
1989 |4.0 |12.2
1990 |4.4 |12.8
Source: "Scotch Whisky Industry
Review" 1990.
Substandard Housing
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the number of houses in Renfrew district which are below minimum required standards ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) if he will publish a table showing the number of (a) houses of all forms of tenure which are below tolerable standard, (b) local authority houses which have rising and penetrating dampness, (c) Scottish Homes houses which have rising and penetrating dampness, (d) local authority houses with condensation and rising and penetrating dampness and (e) Scottish Homes houses with condensation and rising and penetrating dampness, in (i) Renfrew district and (ii) Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Office does not make estimates of houses that are below minimum required standards. Local authorities' estimates of the number of dwellings in their districts below the tolerable standard at 31 March 1990 were published in tables 16 and 17 of the "Scottish Office Statistical Bulletin HSG/1991/2". Copies were sent to all Members representing Scottish constituencies and are available in the Library. Local authorities provide estimates of the numbers of local authority dwellings affected by condensation and dampness to the Scottish Office each year. The figures for Renfrew district and Scotland setting out the position as at 31 March 1990 are shown in the table. Comparable information for Scottish Homes stock is not held centrally.
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