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Consultancy firm |Subject and agency
Addenbrookes hospital, |HQ Relocation
Cambridge
Admiral Management Services. |Quality Management System
Ltd | Pilot Project-Agency ITSA
ACE Datasystems Ltd. |Staff Suggestions Unit
| Consultancy
Andersen Consulting |Employment Services-
| Agency ITSA
Andersen Consulting |Common Benefit Architecture-
| Agency ITSA
Andersen Consulting |Training Project-Agency ITSA
Andersen Consulting |Contributions Unit
| Development
Anita Ram |Selected International
| Comparisons of Household
| Incomes
Applied Systems Engineering |Single Terminal Access Project
| Productisation-Agency
| ITSA
Applied Systems Engineering |Virtual Machine Environment-
| Auditor Production
| Development-Agency ITSA
Arthur D. Allwright Associates |Purchasing Consultancy
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Communicating the Operational
| Strategy (Phase I)
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Communicating the Operational
| Strategy (Phase II)
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Code and Instruction Review
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Social Fund Communications
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Communication Project for
| Benefits Agency (BAMT)
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Communication Skills Course
| for Service Development
| Teams
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Working With Small Groups
| Workshop Project
Baddeley Associates Ltd. |Headquarters Review Team-
| Consultancy Support
Ben Williams Consultants |Customer Service Training-
| Agency ITSA
Cavendish Tricorne |Local Factors Model
Cavendish Tricorne |Local Pay Additions
Cavendish Tricorne |Performance Related Pay
Cavendish Tricorne |Overbearing Model
Cavendish Tricorne |Integrated Pay and Personnel
| Project
Cavendish Tricorne |War Pensions
Cavendish Tricorne |Contributions Unit
| Development (Human
| Resource Planning)
Central Computer and |Departmental Information
Telecommunications Agency |Systems Strategy Scoping
| Study
Central Computer and |Financial Information Strategy
Telecommunications Agency |Project (Annual Review)
Childcare |Childcare Arrangements at DSS
| Longbenton
Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte |Agencies Systems Planning
Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte |Training Seminar for Leaders
Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte |Creation of the Purchasing and
| Supply Manual
Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte |Procurement Management
| Information System
Computer Sciences Company |ITSA Security Training-
Ltd. | Agency ITSA
Computer Sciences Company |ITSA Security-Developments
Ltd. | Systems and Infrastructure
| Projects-Agency ITSA
Computer Sciences Company |Security Standards Software
Ltd. | Support-Agency ITSA
Computer Sciences Company |Support for Single Terminal
Ltd. | Access Project
Computer Sciences Company |Terminal Management System
Ltd. | Development-Agency ITSA
Comshare Limited |Executive Information System-
| Software Support
Crantex Limited |Emergency Support for
| Infrastructure Support and
| Design Group-Agency
| ITSA
Crantex Limited |Health Service On-Line Project
| -Agency ITSA
Dameimage Limited |Analytical Services Statistical
| Information System (Assist)
| Project Audit
Dameimage Limited |Assist Project-User Assurance
| Co-ordinator
Dameimage Limited |Assist Project-Technical
| Assurance Co-ordinator
Daniel Doherty Associates |Gender discrimination project
David Sheppard and Associates |Contributions unit agency
| launch project
DEGW Limited |Space standards consultancy
DPS Consultancy Limited |Retirement counselling courses
Dun and Bradstreet Software |Introduction of accountancy
Services | framework system-Agency
| ITSA
Dun and Bradstreet |Purchasing consultancy
International
Easams Limited |Delivery of system to receipt,
| record and account for
| valuables-Agency ITSA
Easams Limited |Support for strategy operations
| architecture project
Electronic Data Systems Ltd. |Writing procedures for project
| control services-Agency
| ITSA
Enator |Integrated complementing
| system
Enator |Integrated monitoring system
Enator |Performance integrated
| monitoring for managers
| system
Enator |OPSTRAT implementation
Equalities Associates |Equal opportunities seminars
| (Central)
Equalities Associates |Equal opportunities seminars
| (Midlands region)
Ernst and Young |Integrated complementing
| system
Ernst and Young |Integrated complementing
| system-further work
Ernst and Young |Integrated complementing
| system development
Ernst and Young |Departmental information
| systems strategy scoping
| study (headquarters units)
Ernst and Young |Departmental information
| systems strategy impact
| analysis
Ernst and Young |Self investment by pensions
| schemes
Facilita Software Development |Integrated terminal test system
Limited | -Agency ITSA
Furniture Industry Research |Purchasing consultancy
Association | (furniture research)
Hadley Hunter |Overpayments Recovery
Hadley Hunter |Lone Parent Support
Handley Walker |Post Office Counters-Fee
| Negotiations
Handley Walker |Purchasing of Welfare Milk
Hoskyns Group Plc |Child Support Agency-Project
| Managers-Agency ITSA
| Workbench
Hoskyns Group Plc |Contingency Planning-Agency
| ITSA
Hoskyns Group Plc |Integrated Personnel and
| Payroll Project-Agency ITSA
Hoskyns Group Plc |Viability of the Mailsort System
| -Agency ITSA
HMG Consulting Limited |Departmental Management
| Board Reporting System
HMG Consulting Limited |Executive Information Systems
| -Agency ITSA
Industrial Motivations Ltd |Make a Difference Campaign
I-Net Communications Limited |Review of Strategy Data
| Communications-Agency
| ITSA Network
International Computers |Adjudication Support Prototype
Limited (UK) | -Agency ITSA
INLI-Institute for a New |Equal Opportunities Training
Leadership Initiative | Development
Institute of Manpower Studies |Manpower Planning Workshop
Institute of Manpower Studies |Manpower Planning Project
Kentec Mailing Consultants |Mailing Consultancy
Level-7 Limited |Naming and Addressing
| Requirements for-Agency
| ITSA the Single Terminal
| Access Project
Level-7 Limited |X-400 Project-Agency ITSA
Lloyd Northover |Corporate Image for DSS
| Property
Logica UK Ltd |Integrated Monitoring System
Logica UK Ltd |Integrated Monitoring System
| (For Integrated
| Complementing System)
London Economics |Self Investment by Pensions
| Schemes
Mass Observation |Relocation Assessment
Market and Opinion Research |HQ Relocation Project
International
Meena Goyal |Housing and Community
| Charge Benefits Project
| Work
MFT Computers Systems Ltd. |Business Unit Information
| Centre Project-Agency
| ITSA
Mr. J. M. Bankier |Study on Whole Person
| Concept
Mr. G. Beaven |Non-Executive Director of
| Management Board
Mr. M. Lee |Principles of Pension
| Trusteeship
Mr. J. Mesher |Statement on the Principles of Trusteeship
Mr. N. Parry |HQ Relocation Project
Mr. M. Tyler |Integrated Complementing
| System
Nationwide Anglia Relocation |Headquarters Relocation
| Projects Relocation
| Presentation at OCAO
Neville R. H. Way, |Review of the Purchasing and
Procurement and Supply |Supply Manual and
Consultant |Training Needs Analysis
PA Consulting Group |Rewards Strategy-Agency
| ITSA
PA Consulting Group |Feasibility Study into the
| Computer System for the
| Proposed Child Support
| Agency-Agency ITSA
PA Consulting Group |Child Support Agency-
| Planning Support to User
| Teams-Agency ITSA
PA Consulting Group |Review and Development of
| Standards in ITSA Security
| -Agency ITSA
PA Consulting Group |Enhancement of the MMD-
| BMD Database
| (Nottingham Staff Resource
| Unit)
PA Consulting Group |Management Reviews
PA Consulting Group |Review of the DSS Central
| Office Management
Pathfinder |Develop and Assist in the
| Implementation of IT
| Security in the Departmental
| Network Systems-Agency
| ITSA
Pathfinder |ITSA Security-PC Security
| Audit-Agency ITSA
P-E Inbucon |Survey of Local Authorities-
| Follow up to the
| Community Charge Benefit
| Monitoring Exercise
Peat Marwick McLintock |Contributions Unit
| Development (Customer
| Survey-Employers)
Peat Marwick McLintock |Counselling for Staff Leaving
| under the Voluntary
| Redundancy Scheme
| (Outplacement Scheme)
Peat Marwick McLintock |Head of Training for the
| Benefits Agency (Selection
| and Recruitment)
Peat Marwick McLintock |Debt Recovery Monitoring
| System
Perspective Technica |Quality Management Systems-
| Agency ITSA
Peter Hyde Management and |Benefits Agency Planning
Training Consultant | Seminar
Porter Gittins Limited |Child Care Project for DSS in
| Coventry
Praxis Systems Plc |Integrated Terminal Test
| System Support and
| Maintenance-Agency ITSA
Price Waterhouse |Administrative Resource
| Management System (Unit
| Costs and Budgeting)
Price Waterhouse |Integrated Complementing
| System (Development)
Price Waterhouse |Contributions Unit
| Development (Human
| Resources Personnel
| Strategy Project)
Price Waterhouse |Research into Costs in
| Residential Care and
| Nursing Homes
Price Waterhouse |Selection of Recruitment of
| Benefit Agency Finance
| Director
Price Waterhouse |Departmental Management
| Board Reporting System
Price Waterhouse |Executive Information System
| Feasibility Study
Price Waterhouse |Public Expenditure Survey
| Forecasting-Agency ITSA
Price Waterhouse |Review of Manpower
| Forecasting System-Agency
| ITSA
Professor Steven Haberman |Self Investment by Pensions
| Schemes
Property Holdings |HQ Relocation Project
Protocol International |Customer Services Section User
| Liaison-Agency ITSA
Public Arts |HQ Relocation Project
Purchasing Index (UK) Ltd |Purchasing Consultancy
Research Support and |Contract Data Preparation
Marketing
Robin Verney Associates Ltd |Telecommunications Training-
| Agency ITSA
SAS Software Limited |Support for Integrated
| Database Model
SCOPEC International |Enhancements to the Resource
| Management Systems-
| Agency ITSA
SEMA Group |Administrative Resource
| Management Systems-
| Agency ITSA
SEMA Group |Development of Local Office
| Project Social Fund
| Computer System-Agency
| ITSA
SEMA Group |Feasibility Study into the
| Future Processing of Social
| Fund Claims-Agency ITSA
SEMA Group |Local Office Project-Social
| Fund Full Study-Agency
| ITSA
SEMA Group |Local Office Micro Project-
| Social Fund-Agency ITSA
SEMA Group |Social Fund: IT User
| Development
SEMA Group |Study on Computer
| Development of North
| Fylde Central Office Future
| Organisation
SEMA Group |Social Fund Support
SERCO Limited |Purchasing Consultancy
SIA Ltd. |Evaluation of Computer Aided
|Personal Interviewing
Stuart McKeckie Limited |Service Development Team
| (Southern Territories)
Symonds Facilities Management |Headquarters Relocation
Plc | Projects (Facilities Management)
Telecommuting Management |Telecommuting Scoping Study
Consultants
Telecomputing Plc |National Health Service
| Superannuation
The Harry Mitchell College |Administrative Resource
| Management System (Work
| Measurement Pilot Exercise)
The Pre-Retirement Association |Introduction to Pre-Retirement
of Great Britain |Education
and Northern Ireland
TOP-IX Ltd. |Administrative Resource
| Management System (Work
| Measurement Pilot Exercise)
Touche Ross |Feasibility Study into Hardware
| and Software Requirements
| for the Strategy Operations
| Architecture Project-
| Agency ITSA
Lone Parent Study and Survey
Touche Ross |Lone Parenthood Consultancy
Touche Ross |War Pensions
Touche Ross |Administrative Resource
| Management System
| (Complementing)
Touche Ross |Integrated Complementing
| System (Maintenance)
Touche Ross |Management and Finance
| Information Systems for the
| Benefits Agency
Touche Ross |Management and Finance
| Information Systems for the
| Contributions Unit
Touche Ross |Asset Management in DSS
Touche Ross |Performance Indicators for
| Resettlement Units-Agency
| RA
Triad Special Systems Ltd. |Quality Assurance Package
Trident Quest Pty |Combined Services Architecture
| -Agency ITSA
Tri-Globe Communications Ltd. |Development of Network Operations Control Section-Agency ITSA
Ulec Services Limited |Clarke House Building
| Management and Maintenance-Agency ITSA
University College London |Psychologist for the Forms
| Design Unit
Warwick University |National Insurance
| Contributions Yield
Whitegates Estate Agents |Headquarters Relocation
| Projects
World Systems plc |Feasibility Study into the DRS
| 6000 Report Produced by
| ITSA-Procurement-Agency
| ITSA
World Systems plc |DRS 6000 Development-
| Agency ITSA
WS Atkins |Provision of Telecoms within
| DSS Headquarters-Agency
| ITSA
WS Atkins |Quality Management Group
| Support-Agency ITSA
Where no Executive Agency is shown, the consultancy work was undertaken for sections of the Department of Social Security which had not attained Agency status by the end of the period in question.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Royal Victoria Hospital
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place with trades unions about the status of the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.
Mr. Hanley : Before it was submitted, sponsors of the Royal Group of Hospitals' application for HSS trust status met trade unions on many occasions.
Trades unions are among the bodies invited, as part of the public consultation, to comment on the application.
Tobacco
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to mark World No Tobacco Day on 31 May ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Department had no specific plans for marking World No Tobacco Day. Northern Ireland Departments adopted a formal policy on smoking in 1987. The introduction of a non-smoking policy is being actively pursued in the Northern Ireland Office.
Road Improvement Schemes
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what minor road improvement schemes have been carried out in the Downpatrick and Craigavon divisions between 1 March 1985 and 31 March in the current year.
Mr. Needham : The information requested is as follows :
Downpatrick Craigavon
Education (Access Funds)
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many students are currently receiving access funds from each education board in Northern Ireland ;
(2) what was the total amount of access funds allocated to each education board in Northern Ireland ;
(3) how many students were refused access funding by each education board in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is :
------------------------------------------ Belfast |67 |29,000|10 Southern |73 |29,000|33 South-Eastern |33 |29,000|8 North-Eastern |36 |29,000|2 Western |129 |28,000|67
WALES
School Tests (Moderators)
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the training and appointment of moderators for school tests at (a) seven and (b) 11 years-old.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Moderation is part of the national curriculum assessment arrangements which, for seven and 11-year-olds, is the responsibility of the individual local education authorities. Each LEA, supported by total grant approved expenditure of £2.2 million in 1991- 92, is required to develop assessment implementation plans which cover the administrative and training arrangements for moderation. The School Examinations and Assessment Council has provided detailed guidance on moderation which will be updated later this year for use in the 1992 arrangements.
Radioactivity
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating levels of Strontium 90 detected in rainfall in Wales in each year since 1961 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Monitoring of Strontium-90 in rainfall has been conducted on a regular basis at only two sites in Wales. The available information is given in the table.
Column 258
Annual Deposition of Strontium-90 from
Rainfall<1>
Megabecquerels per square kilometre
|Milford |Bridgend<3>
|Haven<2>
------------------------------------------------
1961 |91 |<4>
1962 |350 |<4>
1963 |770 |<4>
1964 |430 |<4>
1965 |180 |<4>
1966 |110 |<4>
1967 |45 |<4>
1968 |46 |<4>
1969 |31 |<4>
1970 |44 |<4>
1971 |52 |<4>
1972 |<4> |<4>
1973 |<4> |<4>
1974 |<4> |<4>
1975 |<4> |8.1
1976 |<4> |9.7
1977 |<4> |15.4
1978 |<4> |12.3
1979 |<4> |15.7
1980 |<4> |5.6
1981 |<4> |20.3
1982 |<4> |4.2
1983 |<4> |<5>
1984 |<5 |<5>
1985 |<3 |<5>
1986 |2.2 |<5>
1987 |<2 |<5>
1988 |<2 |<5>
1989 |<4> |<5>
1990 |<4> |<5>
<1> Levels reached a peak in the early 1960s
following nuclear weapons tests in 1961 and
1962. 1981 levels were increased by fallout
from Chinese atomic weapons tests in October
1980.
<2> Source: Atomic Energy Authority Technology.
<3>Source: National Radiological Protection
Board.
<4> Not available.
<5> Nil or below limits of detection.
General Practitioners
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any proposals to issue guidelines to general practitioner fund-holders and to hospitals regarding preferential placing on hospitals waiting lists for general practitioner fund-holders' patients.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : I do not propose to issue guidance at present.
Road Safety
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state how many people have been killed as a result of road accidents in Wales in each of the past 10 years, and what is the total to date this year.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The information requested is given in the table :
Persons killed as a
result of road accidents
in Wales
|Number
-------------------------
1981 |275
1982 |300
1983 |245
1984 |250
1985 |245
1986 |235
1987 |220
1988 |226
1989 |231
<1>1990 |248
<1><2>1991 |12
<1> Provisional.
<2> 1991 data from all
police authority areas
are only available
centrally to end of
January.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he proposes to take any further measures to improve road safety in Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : We are continually seeking to improve road safety. For example, we are currently encouraging the use of rear seat belts which will be compulsory as from 1 July.
Roads
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects (a) to invite tenders for the construction work on the A465 Glynneath-Aberdulais improvement and (b) construction work to start on the A465 Glynneath-Aberdulais improvement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The 1991 supplement to "Roads in Wales : Progress and Plans for the 1990s" shows the scheme as scheduled to start before April 1994. It is not possible to give a firmer indication of timing at this stage.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to improve valley road links to the motorway system.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Responsibility for improving these roads rests with the respective local highway authorities. A number of major improvement schemes are receiving transport grant support from the Department and information is given in the Welsh Office departmental report published in February.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the north-south road links in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I have received a number of representations. The Government's policy is to upgrade the A483 and A470 by means of selective improvements. Details of planned schemes are set out in "Roads in Wales : Progress and Plans for the 1990s" published in 1989, and the supplement published in February 1991.
Column 260
Smoking
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to discourage tobacco smoking in Wales.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : In Wales the campaign against smoking is carried out on many fronts. In 1987 the Government established a special authority, the Health Promotion Authority for Wales (HPAW), to promote better health in the Principality. The authority has taken on the work of Heartbeat Wales in promoting programmes to stop smoking and to stop people from ever starting.
HPAW in association with other organisations has mounted a number of national and local campaigns including National No Smoking Day in Wales, the recent launch of a passive no smoking leaflet, two mobile life education centres which feature the effect smoking has on the body and which are currently touring primary schools in Wales, and initiatives for employers, public transport operators and the retail and catering trade to provide no smoking areas. Moreover, HPAW, ASH-in-Wales (which has Government support) and Tenovus are jointly funding the forthcoming Smokebusters Cymru project, partly through additional exchequer funding made available for the project. Recently the Department produced protocols for investment in health gain in the areas of cancer and cardiovascular diseases which acknowledge the health gain benefits of discouraging smoking. These protocols are aimed mainly at district health authorities (DHAs) and family health service authorities (FHSAs) to assist them to develop their local strategies for health. These strategies will cover local approaches to tackling heart disease, strokes, cancers, etc. and include a section on health promotion and influencing lifestyle factors detrimental to good health one of which is the incidence of smoking. Furthermore, many DHAs in Wales have a declared policy on non-smoking on NHS premises and whose health promotion units run anti-smoking programmes at local level. In the development of patient care GPs have been obliged by their terms of service to provide health promotion advice to their patients. GPs who organise and provide advice through health promotion clinics including anti-smoking clinics may be entitled to a special compensation fee.
Health Authority Funding
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the capital allocation to each of the health authorities in Wales for each year since 1985, at 1985 prices.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The information is given in the table.
Column 259
The discretionary capital allocations, notified to each health authority in Wales at the start of each financial year in the period 1985-86 to
1991-92 were as follows:
£ million 1985-86 prices
Health authority |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |2.697 |3.458 |3.747 |4.218 |5.555 |4.670 |6.023
East Dyfed |1.209 |1.550 |1.679 |1.891 |1.580 |2.384 |3.075
Gwent |2.823 |3.619 |3.922 |4.415 |5.871 |4.600 |5.933
Gwynedd |0.991 |1.270 |1.376 |1.550 |1.399 |1.272 |1.640
Mid Glamorgan |3.089 |3.960 |4.292 |4.831 |5.759 |5.991 |7.727
Pembrokeshire |0.573 |0.735 |0.796 |0.896 |1.577 |1.464 |1.888
Powys |0.584 |0.750 |0.811 |0.914 |1.277 |0.828 |1.068
South Glamorgan |1.482 |1.900 |2.059 |2.317 |2.870 |5.905 |7.616
West Glamorgan |2.692 |3.452 |3.741 |4.211 |5.409 |6.005 |7.744
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |16.140 |20.695 |22.423 |25.243 |31.298 |33.120 |42.714
Dog Bites
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) children under 16 years and (b) adults have been treated under the national health service for bites by dogs in each of the past five years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : This information is not held centrally.
Development Board for Rural Wales
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of the housing stock of the Development Board for Rural Wales.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : I shall be consulting shortly upon draft regulations to govern the disposal of Development Board for Rural Wales housing stock.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Development Board for Rural Wales houses there are ; and in what towns and villages they are situated.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The Development Board currently owns 1,259 dwellings located as follows :
Location ------------------------------------------- Newtown |1,186 Llandrindod Wells |20 Tywyn |26 Bala |10 Dolgellau |7 Abercrave, Ystradgynlais |10
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Development Board for Rural Wales houses have been sold in each of the past 10 years ; and what was the total income from house sales in each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The information requested is given in the following table :
|Number of |Income
|dwellings |(£000s)<1>
--------------------------------------------
1981 |12 |144
1982 |20 |230
1983 |27 |352
1984 |9 |111
1985 |11 |130
1986 |21 |250
1987 |35 |491
1988 |47 |710
1989 |58 |1,075
1990 |69 |1,339
Source: Development Board for Rural Wales
sales returns.
<1> Income figures are totals of the
selling prices of disposed dwellings and as
such no account is taken of mortgages
granted by the Board on any of these
dwellings: 6 such mortgages were granted
over the period.
I am sure that the hon. Gentleman, like me, welcomes the extension of home ownership that these sales represent.
Column 262
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Development Board for Rural Wales houses have been involved in the rents to mortgages scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The Board has received 105 formal applications and has completed sales of 23 dwellings. This represents almost 3 per cent. of the board's eligible stock and is as successful as the initial take-up under our right to buy policy.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult the tenants of Development Board for Rural Wales houses before he permits a change of status of such houses.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The draft regulations will include provision for tenants to express their wishes.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Development Board for Rural Wales housing stock is earmarked for housing association status.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : It will be for the board to formulate its proposals in the light of regulations to be made in due course. I shall in no way prejudge my response to such proposals.
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) trade unionists, (b) lawyers, (c) women, (d) men and (e) business men have been appointed to training and enterprise councils in Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : At May 1991, board members of the TECs in Wales included (a) three trade unionists, (b) one lawyer, (c) nine women, (d) 87 men and (e) 68 business men.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to enable road and rail traffic to have better access to the channel tunnel rail link.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The provision of rail links is a matter for British Rail, which published its plans for channel tunnel services in December 1989 as required by section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. British Rail is now working up its proposals. Planned road improvements are set out in "Roads in Wales : Progress and Plans for the 1990s', and the 1991 supplement. Further major schemes to improve communications in north- east Clwyd and south-east Wales were announced on 14 May.
SCOTLAND
Broadleaved Forest
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what area of Britain's broadleaved forest is at present productive for timber ; and what percentage of the United Kingdom's hardwood timber needs this satisfies.
Column 263
Mr. Michael Forsyth : There are 811,000 hectares of broadleaved woodland in Britain, of which 615,000 hectares are classed as productive for timber. Some 23 per cent. of our total hardwood timber consumption is at present met by broadleaves grown in this country.Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the management of Britain's broadleaved forest is being directed towards achieving a reduction in imports of socially and ecologically sensitive tropical hardwoods.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Government's broadleaves policy is successfully encouraging an increase in the area of broadleaved forest in Britain. In addition, the Government will be making management grants available from April 1992 under the Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme to encourage the improved management of existing woodlands. Taken together, these measures can be expected to lead in due course to a significant increase in the total production of timber from Britain's broadleaved forests. However, hardwood timber grown in Britain currently meets only a quarter of total consumption, and direct substitution of certain tropical hardwoods by domestic timber supplies may not always be feasible because of the different qualities of timber involved.
Column 264
Dogs
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has on the number of dogs in Scotland ; (2) if he will estimate how many (a) rottweilers and (b) pit bull terriers there are in Scotland.
Mr. Allan Stewart : This information is not held centrally.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dogs have been destroyed under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in each of the past five years ; and of these how many were (a) rottweilers and (b) pit bull terriers.
Mr. Allan Stewart : This information is not held centrally.
Forestry Commission (Land)
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to whom the Forestry Commission has disposed of any land notified as a site of special scientific interest since 1986.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Forestry Commission sold 36 areas of land containing sites of special scientific interest in the period from 1 April to 31 March 1991. Permission from the purchasers to divulge their names has been given in respect of 17 of these areas, details of which are given in the following table :
Column 263
County |Property |Year |Purchaser
|sold
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England
Bedfordshire |Marston Thrift |1987 |Bedfordshire county council
Buckinghamshire |Hog and Hollowhill |1987 |Buckinghamshire county council
Cumbria |Pool Bank |1988 |Nature Conservancy Council
North Yorkshire |Little Beck Wood |1986 |Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
North Yorkshire |Stapleton Park |1986 |Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Northumberland |Biddlestone Lot 1 |1986 |P. Burgess
Northumberland |Briarwood Banks |1988 |Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Warwickshire |Knavenhill and Boundary |1988 |Mr. Hodgkinson
West Sussex |Kings Park Plaist |1988 |Southern Water
Wales
Dyfed |Panteg, Pencelli, Pontbren |1988 |Dyfed Wildlife Trust
Dyfed |Coed Rheidol |1990 |Nature Conservancy Council
Scotland
Borders |Pease Dean |1988 |Scottish Wildlife Trust
Borders |Gamescleugh (pt) |1989 |Mr. and Mrs. Watson
Highland |Beinn Eighe |1989 |Nature Conservancy Council
Highland |Glenspean |1988 |A. E. Reader and others
Highland |Loch Insch Plantations |1989 |Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Strathclyde |Tiroran/Scobull |1989 |D. M. Holman
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all lands owned by the Forestry Commission which have been notified as SSSIs.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : A list of the 393 areas of Forestry Commission land notified as SSSIs has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all land in England and Wales which was owned by the Forestry Commission and has been sold ; and if he will show in his answer the name of the purchaser.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 14 March 1991, Official Report, column 691. A list of the areas of forest land sold by the Forestry Commission in the period from 27 July 1981 to 31 December 1990 has now been placed in the Library. It includes the names of those purchasers who have given their consent to such information being made public.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all land in England and Wales which was owned by the Forestry Commission and has been sold, for which local authorities have been able to enter into an access agreement.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth : No such agreements have been entered into pending the introduction of the procedures outlined by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) in the answer he gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 21 November 1990, Official Report, columns 164-6. The Forestry Commission has prepared draft guidelines setting out the details of these procedures which are currently the subject of consultation with a wide range of public and private bodies concerned with public access to the countryside, forestry and land management. The new arrangements will be introduced as soon as these consultations have been concluded.Speech Therapists
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of unfilled speech therapy posts in Greater Glasgow health board for the Southern general hospital, the Western infirmary and Gartnavel hospitals, the Victoria infirmary, the Royal infirmary and Stobhill hospital.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : There is one full-time speech therapist vacancy at Gartnavel general hospital and one full-time vacancy at the Southern general hospital. Both posts were advertised on 30 May.
Forestry
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to produce a new set of objectives for forestry policy in England and Wales, covering (a) environmental needs (b) public enjoyment and (c) timber products.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth : The objectives of the Government's forestry policy have evolved in recent years to reflect the increasingly diverse role perceived for forestry in Britain, with a greater emphasis being placed on social and environmental benefits as well as on timber production. There are no plans to produce a new set of objectives at this stage.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he plans to control the commercial afforestation of hilly areas in England and Wales.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Forestry Commission's consultations with local authorities and other statutory bodies in relation to grant-aid applications act as an effective control over new planting schemes. The consultation procedures have been strengthened by the introduction of arrangements whereby the Forestry Commission may require grant applicants to carry out an environmental assessment of new planting proposals where these are likely to have significant effects on the environment. In addition, the Forestry Commission continues to operate a presumption against the large-scale planting of predominantly coniferous species in the English uplands. Taken together, these measures represent an effective system of regulating planting in the uplands.
Birds of Prey
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number, species and cause of death of birds of prey discovered in 1990.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information is as shown in the following table :
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Cause of death
Species |Number |Trauma |Disease |Starvation|Poisoned |Unknown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barn owl |1 |1 |- |- |- |-
Buzzard |34 |4 |5 |4 |13 |8
Eagle |6 |- |- |1 |4 |1
Goshawk |1 |- |- |- |- |1
Hen harrier |2 |- |- |- |2 |-
Kestrel |12 |3 |- |3 |- |6
Merlin |2 |- |- |- |- |2
Peregrine falcon |4 |1 |1 |2 |- |-
Red kite |2 |- |- |- |- |2
Sparrow hawk |17 |8 |1 |2 |- |6
Tawny owl |4 |3 |- |- |- |1
|-- |-- |-- |-- |-- |--
Total |85 |20 |7 |12 |19 |27
Health Board Contracts
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts for hospital and health board services awarded so far under the competitive tendering process by Ayrshire and Arran health board, including successful tenderer and value of contract.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth : Contracts awarded in the Ayrshire and Arran health board area are expected to release savings of over £2.5 million. These savings release resources for reinvestment in direct patient care.
The information is as follows :
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Hospital Unit |Service Type |Contractor |Previous cost|Tender value
£000s |£000s
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crosshouse |Catering |In-house |813 |779
Crosshouse |Domestic |In-house |808 |765
Ayrshire Central |Catering |In-house |525 |516
Ayrshire Central |Domestic |In-house |430 |401
Head Office |Hotel |In-house |38 |34
North Clinics and Health Centres |Hotel |In-house |56 |55
Kirklandside |Hotel |In-house
401
Ballochmyle/Holmhead |Hotel |In-house |1,286 |1,142
Ailsa |Hotel |In-house |1,474 |1,399
Ayrshire Central/Ravenspark |Hotel |In-house |1,013 |947
Biggart/Thornyflat |Hotel |In-house |599 |537
Davidson Cottage |Hotel |In-house |111 |100
Crosshouse |Hotel |In-house |777 |692
South Clinics and Health Centres/Maybole Hospital |Hotel |In-house |51 |43
Arrol Park Resource Centre |Hotel |Mediguard |new service |359
All Board Vehicle maintenance In-house 136 121
All board |Painting |<1> |309 |195
|<2> |170 |114
|<3>- |196 |168
<1> Moss Painting
<2> Baxter/Gillespie
<3> Baxter/Gillespie
Note: In this context "hotel" means a combined contract including cleaning, portering, security and telephonists.
Sports Grounds (Safety)
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals, in relation to section 15A of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, to introduce mandatory, all-seating facilities to football stadia and other sports grounds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The grounds of 31 Scottish football clubs and the national rugby stadium at Murrayfield are designated under the 1975 Act. The Scottish football authorities have set up the Scottish stadia committee to monitor the progress made by the owners of designated football grounds and the committee will be reporting progress annually to my right hon. Friend. The Scottish Office Education Department circular number 10/1991 of 28 March 1991 made it clear that, should progress on a voluntary basis be inadequate, we would consider seeking statutory enforcement powers.
Caledonian MacBrayne
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance has been given in each of the past five years by the European Community to Caledonian MacBrayne to operate essential public passenger ferry services between the mainland and the islands and among the islands ; what sums are to be provided by the European Community for this purpose in 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The financial assistance provided to Caledonian MacBrayne by the European regional development fund through grants towards new ships, piers and shore terminals for essential ferry services over the past five years is as follows :--
Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1986-87 |1.45 1987-88 |1.79 1988-89 |2.19 1989-90 |2.69 1990-91 |3.35
It is not possible to predict the amounts for the years 1991-92 to 1993-94 as Caledonian MacBrayne, like other bodies, will require to make applications in respect of
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proposed capital expenditure. Such applications will be considered on their merits by a programme monitoring Committee which includes representatives of central and local government, the European Community and other organisations. However, grants from the European regional development fund will cease to be available in their present form in 1993. No guarantee can, therefore, be given that individuals applications which may be approved in principle will receive grant.Licensing Legislation
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines he has issued to local authorities about the changes in licensing legislation brought about by the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Office Home and Health Department issued a circular to local authorities, licensing boards and other interested parties on 12 December 1990 explaining the changes to be made to liquor licensing law by part III of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990, which came into force on 1 January 1991. A copy of the circular has been placed in the Library.
Lothian Regional Council
Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet hon. Members representing Lothian constituencies to discuss Lothian regional council's financial problems.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 17 May 1991] : I met representatives of Lothian regional council on Friday 17 May to hear their representations against my proposed reduction of £50 in their personal community charge.
I remain satisfied that Lothian's planned expenditure for 1991-92 is "excessive and unreasonable". However, since the financial year is well under way, I have indicated my willingness not to pursue capping action if the council agrees to reduce its charge by £37, the equivalent of a £18.5 million cut in expenditure.
In view of this meeting, during which council representatives raised a number of financial problems, I see no need for a further meeting with hon. Members.
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