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Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if records of achievement will be kept in respect of prison education ; and if these will have national accreditation.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 16 December 1992] : The terms and conditions of the contracts to be let for provision of educational services in prisons from 1 April 1993 will require providers to introduce nationally accredited records of achievement for prisoners.
Prison Disablement Officers
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disablement officers have been employed within the prison service ; and in which prisons they were serving in the last financial year for which details are available.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 16 December 1992] : The disabled persons liaison officer for the prison service is based in the headquarters directorate of personnel and finance--DPF3. There are no disablement officers employed in prison establishments.
SCOTLAND
Housing Maintenance, Dundee
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums have been allocated to the City of Dundee district council for housing repairs and maintenance in each of the past five years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The level of a local authority's expenditure on the repairs and maintenance of its housing stock is a matter for decision by the local
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authority concerned. The expenditure by the City of Dundee district council on the repairs and maintenance of its housing stock in each of the past five years, as recorded in returns made to the Scottish Office Environment Department, is as follows :
|£
---------------------------------
1987-88 |7,425,628
1988-89 |8,305,212
1989-90 |10,181,038
1990-91 |11,112,639
1991-92 |14,581,254
Hostel Schemes
Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance his Department is giving directly or through Scottish Homes to the development of foyer hostel schemes in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Scottish Homes is contributing to the funding of a feasibility study for a foyer in Kirkcaldy, in conjunction with Kirkcaldy district council, Fife regional council and the Historic Buildings Council ; and is examining the possibility of a feasibility study for a foyer in Glasgow.
Local Authority Housing
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what central Government mechanism exists for ensuring that council-owned houses are maintained in a windproof, watertight and fit condition ; and how many times these powers have been used over the past five years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Local authorities have an obligation at common law to keep their houses in a tenantable and habitable condition. In addition, section 17 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 imposes a duty on local authorities to manage their houses. Repairing obligations are a matter between landlord and tenant.
Kyle-Kyleakin Ferry
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the loss to Caledonian Mac- Brayne's annual revenues of the scheduled end to the Kyle to Kyleakin ferry.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend does not consider it justified to require Caledonian MacBrayne to make public commercially sensitive information about revenues, operating surpluses and deficits incurred on individual routes. The company's annual report and accounts for 1991, which were presented to Parliament on 27 May 1992, and are available in the Library, identified the operating deficits and surpluses realised by the company in respect of groups of services defined by area of operation.
Whitson Fairhurst Houses
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Government assistance is available for Whitson Fairhurst houses ; and what sums have been allocated to each district council this year.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Owners of Whitson Fairhurst houses and other house types designated as
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defective who bought them from a public sector authority before 26 April 1984 can require their local authority to repurchase or give grant to make good the house under part XIV of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. The Government issue supplementary capital allocations each year to local authorities, on the basis of authorities' returns, to meet in full their liabilities to incur capital expenditure under the Act.The supplementary capital allocations issued to local authorities in 1992- 93 on the housing revenue account--HRA--and non-HRA blocks to cover their expenditure under the Act in respect of all types of designated defective housing is set out in the following table. Allocations on the HRA block are in respect of the repurchase of defective houses and on the non-HRA block are to make available reinstatement grants for the repair of designated houses. Information is not held centrally in respect of individual types of designated defective housing such as Whitson Fairhurst.
Local Authority |HRA |Non-HRA
|£ million |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roxburgh |0.090 |-
Clackmannan |0.003 |-
Falkirk |- |0.040
Nithsdale |0.009 |-
Kirkcaldy |0.005 |-
Aberdeen |0.154 |-
Kincardine and Deeside |0.533 |-
East Lothian |0.050 |-
Edinburgh |0.221 |-
Midlothian |- |0.029
Argyll and Bute |- |0.030
Bearsden and Milngavie |0.023 |-
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |0.025 |-
Glasgow |0.296 |-
Dundee |0.017 |-
Perth and Kinross |0.503 |0.017
|--- |---
Scotland |1.929 |0.116
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what figures he has to show the life expectancy of Whitson Fairhurst houses in the City of Dundee district.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : When first built, the Whitson Fairhurst house type could reasonably have been expected to have a life of about 60 years. A defect subsequently discovered in the type may mean that some will last for a shorter period, but much depends on the condition of individual houses.
KS Properties Ltd.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he was consulted about the write-off of money due to the Scottish Development Agency by KS Properties Ltd ; what steps he is taking to recover the money ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart : The Scottish Office approved in June 1990 a request by the then Scottish Development Agency to write off the sum of £40, 084, being the balance of a loan owed to the agency by KS Construction Limited. The agency earlier wrote off £4,900 in interest accrued on the loan. These actions followed the company entering into receivership. Writing off of debt is a step taken only where the debt is judged irrecoverable.
If my hon. Friend requires further details about this matter, which was essentially an operational matter for the
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Scottish Development Agency, I am sure that the chairman of the agency's successor body, Scottish Enterprise, would be pleased to attempt to assist him.Wool Production
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the effect of removing the wool price guarantee from 1 May 1993 upon (a) Scottish wool production, (b) wool production in the crofting counties and (c) crofter and sheep farmer incomes from wool production.
Mr. Hector Monro : Removal of the wool price guarantee should not significantly affect wool production in the crofting counties, nor in Scotland generally, wool being essentially a by-product of the sheepmeat industry.
The effect on the incomes of individual producers will vary but returns from wool account for less than 5 per cent. of total producer returns from sheep.
Fluoridation
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the chief dental officer will issue a statement on water fluoridation ;
(2) what considerations led to the issuing of the statement on fluoridation of water by the chief medical officer ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart : In the light of newspaper articles which did not adequately represent his views on fluoridation, the chief medical officer wrote on 3 December to the chairman of Greater Glasgow health board to clarify the position. Copies of his letter were sent to the chairmen of Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran and Lanarkshire health boards. The letter explained his views and summarised the scientific evidence that fluoridation is a safe and highly effective means of reducing dental decay, particularly in children. The chief dental officer fully concurs with the terms of the letter and has no plans to issue a separate statement. Copies of the letter are being placed in the Library of the House.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce the outcome of the current applications for NHS trust status in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : I have received 14 applications from hospitals/units interested in becoming NHS trusts in April 1993. These were submitted by Caithness and Sutherland, Raigmore, Moray Health Services, Grampian Healthcare, Dundee General Hospitals, West Lothian, Monklands and Bellshill, Stirling Royal infirmary, Royal Alexandra hospital, the North Ayrshire and Arran general hospitals, Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare and, in Glasgow, the Southern General, Yorkhill and the Victoria infirmary. Public consultation on the applications has been carried out by the appropriate host health boards who have submitted to me reports on the comments made. As previously, all applications are being considered against the published criteria of benefits for patients, management competence, the involvement of professional staff, and the financial viability of the applicant unit. I have completed my consideration of the applications for
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Moray Health Services, Dundee General Hospitals, Grampian Healthcare, Stirling royal infirmary, the Royal Alexandra hospital, Yorkhill, Southern General and Victoria infirmary. I have concluded that these applications meet the criteria and consequently should be approved. My decision in respect of Glasgow hospitals is without prejudice to the review of acute services currently being undertaken by Greater Glasgow health board.I expect to complete my consideration of the outstanding six applications shortly and will announce my decisions as early as possible in order that successful candidates can get ahead with the work required before becoming operational on 1 April 1993. The establishment as NHS trusts of the successful candidates offers a further opportunity for improving services which are already of a high standard. The experience of the two Scottish trusts currently operational is of more patients being treated, greater innovation in the services being offered, and in general a service which is endeavouring to be more responsive to the needs of patients. Those promoting the current applications have indicated a commitment to achieving similar outcomes for their patients. This is to be welcomed and, I believe, augurs well for the NHS in Scotland and of course patient care.
Shipping Subsidies
Mr. Kynoch : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for shipping subsidies for sea transport services in the Highlands and Islands in 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : Subject to parliamentary approval of the estimates, I propose to make available in 1993-94 total subsidy provision of £15.129 million as compared with £13.657 million in 1992-93. This represents an increase of 10.8 per cent. over last year's level of provision. The deficit subsidy for Caledonian MacBrayne will be £7.165 million. For services to Orkney and Shetland, tariff rebate subsidies of up to £6.679 million will be made available. Up to £1.285 million will be available for other coastal shippers operating on the west coast of Scotland.
This substantial increase in financial support for shipping services clearly affirms the Government's continuing commitment to assist essential sea transport services to the western and northern isles.
Nuclear Fuel, Torness
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all papers deposited by his Department at the public inquiry into the application to build a dry store for spent nuclear fuel at the Torness nuclear plant ; how many officials from his Department are expected to attend the inquiry ; and what budget has been made available to cover the costs of the inquiry.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 11 December 1992] : Two statements have been deposited by the Scottish Office Environment Department. One is a brief resume of radioactive waste management policy and the other gives a detailed statement of the regulatory regime operated by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate in Scotland. Scottish Office officials will attend the inquiry as necessary ; thus far two officials from the Scottish Office Environment Department have given oral evidence. No specific budgetary provision has been made for this inquiry.
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Ewe and Suckler Cow Premiums
Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider organising appeals on ewe and suckler cow premiums to be heard consecutively when an appeal so constituted would provide a new entrant to farming with a stocking requirement best suited to the land on which he operates.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 16 December 1992] : We are currently considering the detailed arrangements which will be necessary to manage quotas under the sheep annual premium scheme and the suckler cow premium scheme. It is too early to specify what these will be.
EC Structural Funds
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which regional and island councils have made applications concerning the inclusion of areas eligible for assistance in relation to objective 1, objective 2, objective 3, objective 4 and objective 5 of the European Community's structural funds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 December 1992] : Regional and island authorities wholly or partly within the existing Highlands and Islands objective 5b area have presented a detailed case for objective 1 status. All other regional authorities, as well as Grampian and Strathclyde, have made representations regarding either objective 2 or objective 5b status for all or part of their respective areas. Objectives 3, 4 and 5a are not limited geographically.
Housing
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new homes will be provided by Inverclyde district council in (a) 1992-93 and (b) 1993-94 ; what is the total provision from Scottish Office funds which will be received by the council in support of capital expenditure on housing ; and what capital expenditure he expects the council to incur in each of the next two years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 December 1992]: Information on the number of dwellings completed in 1992-93 and 1993-94 is not yet available.
Inverclyde district council's gross housing capital allocations for 1992-93 total £11.805 million. I plan to announce provisional allocations for 1993-94 before Christmas.
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums of money have been given to the Inverclyde district council for housing maintenance and repairs in each of the last seven years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 December 1992] : Local authority expenditure on housing maintenance and repairs is financed mainly from rental income. Expenditure on housing maintenance and repairs by Inverclyde district council in each of the last seven years, as recorded in returns made by the council to the Scottish Office Environment Department, is as follows :
|£
------------------------------
1985-86 |4,115,765
1986-87 |5,176,806
1987-88 |5,550,497
1988-89 |5,875,281
1989-90 |6,296,113
1990-91 |8,866,330
1991-92 |7,856,574
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses were completed in Strathclyde in each year since 1979 ; and if he will publish an analysis of those figures by local authority district and between private, local authority and housing association ownership management.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 December 1992] : Information on the number of dwellings completed in each district and islands council area for private, local authority, and housing association ownership or management is contained in the quarterly statistical bulletins published by the Scottish Office entitled "Housing Trends in Scotland", or prior to 1983 "Scottish Housing Statistics", copies of which are in the Library.
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new homes were provided by Inverclyde district council in each of the past 10 years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 December 1992] : Information on the number of local authority dwellings completed in each district and islands council area is contained in the quarterly statistical bulletins published by the Scottish Office entitled "Housing Trends in Scotland", or prior to 1983 "Scottish Housing Statistics", copies of which are in the Library.
Fisheries Protection
Ms. Rachel Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a decision has now been made on the future of the Scottish fishery protection patrols run by the Royal Navy from Rosyth.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer of 15 December 1992] : The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency expects to reach agreement shortly with the Ministry of Defence on a contract to provide fisheries protection patrols in Scottish waters in 1993-94. No decision has been taken on arrangements for 1994-95 and future years.
Earnings
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing the proportion of part-time female manual workers, part-time female non-manual workers and all female part-time workers with earnings excluding overtime less than (a) £3, (b) £4.50 and (c) £5.20 per hour in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (ii) Strathclyde, (iii) Fife, (iv) Grampian and (v) Scotland as a whole ;
(2) if he will publish a table giving the proportions of full-time male manual workers, full-time male non-manual workers and all full-time male workers with earnings excluding overtime less than (a) £190 per week and (b) £200 per week in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (ii) Strathclyde, (iii) Grampian, (iv) Fife and (v) Scotland as a whole ;
(3) if he will publish a table showing the proportions of full-time female manual workers, full-time female
Column 462
non-manual workers and all full-time female workers with earnings excluding overtime of less than £190 per week in (a) Strathclyde, (b) Grampian, (c) Fife and (d) Scotland as a whole.Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 December 1992] : Information on the level of details requested is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member giving the requested information--where sample sizes allow- -as soon as possible. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
Edinburgh Summit
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the total cost to (a) Edinburgh district council, (b) Lothian regional council and (c) the Scottish Office of the staging of the Edinburgh summit of the European Council ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 December 1992] : The main costs of organising the European Council and associated media
facilities--estimated at £6.4 million--will be met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The policing costs--estimated by Lothian and Borders police at £2.5 million--will be met in the usual way : 51 per cent. by central Government, in this case the Scottish Office through police specific grant ; and 49 per cent. by the relevant local authority, in this case Lothian regional council. In addition, a number of organisations, including the Scottish Office, have staged events or offered hospitality to mark the holding of the European Council in Edinburgh. The cost to the Scottish Office of the eve-of-Council concert, associated hospitality and media activity is estimated at £150,000. The cost of other events, including those for which Edinburgh district council and Lothian regional council were responsible, is a matter for the organisations concerned.
Ambulance Service
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ambulance service cover operated through the night in (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Strathclyde as a whole ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 December 1992] : The level of ambulance service in Renfrewshire and Strathclyde is an operational matter for the general manager of the Scottish ambulance service. Cover in these areas has been reorganised to ensure that staff and vehicles are deployed in the most efficient manner using a system which has improved performance in other areas. The general manager will continue to monitor the level of night-time cover provided to ensure the most effective service.
A1
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the most recent data on traffic volume and flows on sections of the A1 road in Scotland which have been prepared by the A1 steering group.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 16 December 1992] : Traffic flows on the A1 are being continuously monitored. The annual average daily flows during 1991 which are the most recently collated figures are listed.
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2
|Number
--------------------------------------------------
Edinburgh city bypass |19,900
Bankton to Tranent |12,500
Tranent to Haddington |14,800
Haddington to East Linton |12,000
East Linton to Dunbar |10,700
Dunbar to Lothian regional boundary |7,100
Lothian regional boundary to Ayton |5,700
Ayton to national border |7,700
Clyde Report
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate which recommendations made by Lord Clyde in the Orkney inquiry report he has (a) accepted, (b) already implemented, (c) rejected or (d) is still considering ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 16 December 1992] : Lord Clyde's recommendations cover a wide range of issues. Not all were directed to my right hon. Friend. Action to follow-up the recommendations can be summarised as follows :
Recommendations
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1, 2, 3 |Accepted
4 |Accepted, subject to consultation with
| training agencies, social work
| authorities and the police
5, 7-14, 19-23, 27, |Accepted, drawn to attention of social
28 | work authorities for action
8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, |Accepted, drawn to attention of
18 | education authorities for action
5, 7-14, 19, 22, 23, |Accepted, drawn to attention of chief
27 | constables for action
6, 35, 180, 181, 182 |Accepted, drawn to attention of Child
| Protection Committees
24 |Already considered by Child Care
| Law Review subject to further
| consideration
25, 26 |Under consideration by the Scottish
| Office and Crown Office
29, 30, 31 |Accepted, revised guidance in preparation
32 |Accepted
33, 34, 36 |Under consideration by The Scottish
| Office and the Association of
| Directors of Social Work
37, 38, 41, 45, 42- |Broad thrust accepted but subject
80, 138-148, 164 |to separate consultation on emergency
| protection legislation, regulations
| and guidance in view of complex
| procedural issues involved
40, 42, 43, 44, 57, |Accepted, social work authorities
61-68, 77-79, 85, | asked to review practice and
89, 91, 93, 97, 98, | procedures
99, 101, 102, 105,
106, 109, 111,
112, 114-120, 123-
130, 132, 134, 135
100 |Accepted
101-3, 105-6 |Accepted, drawn to attention of
| health boards for co-operation with
| social work authorities
81-84 |Under consideration; survey of
| safeguarders being conducted and
| subsequent conference planned by
| the Scottish Office
95-99 |Under consideration by the Scottish
| Office and the Association of
| Directors of Social Work
108-137 |Majority accepted; working party
| established to produce guidance on
| joint investigation and interviewing
| and consider recommendations in
| detail
149 |Accepted for inclusion in revised
| Children's Hearings Rules
150-152 |Accepted
153-155 |Consideration to be given subject to
| consultations with hearings, profes-
| sional and press interests
156-157, 167 |Under consideration in context of
| report on "Role and Functions of
| the Reporter" (Finlayson Report)
168, 169 |For consideration by the Association
| of Directors of Social Work and
| Covention of Scottish Local
| Authorities
39, 171, 175 |For consideration in the light of
| consultation with professional in-
| terests and training organisations
172, 176 |Not possible for the present on
| grounds of cost
173 |Accepted
174 |For consideration by the Association
| of Directors of Social Work
177 |Accepted, Open University course on
| investigative interviewing and guid-
| ance being prepared by working
| group on joint investigation and
| interviewing
178 |Already accepted as priority area in
| The Scottish Office specific grant
| scheme
170, 179, 185 |Management issues for consideration
| by social work authorities
183, 184 |Accepted, to follow monitoring The
| Scottish Office specific grant
| scheme
186, 187 |Accepted, drawn to the attention of
| Chief Constables
188-192 |For consideration by The Scottish
| Office, local authorities and the
| Association of Directors of Social
| Work
94, 193, 194 |Drawn to attention of Orkney Islands
| Council for action
Column 465
Community Charge
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in which regional and island areas the community charge registration officer has undertaken an annual canvass of premises since April in order to maintain the accuracy of the community charges register ; and what information he has regarding the estimated costs of such canvasses in 1992-93.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 16 December 1992] : I understand that all Scottish community charges registration officers have, since April, conducted the annual canvass, required by the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, in order to maintain the accuracy of their community charges registers. No information is collected centrally about the cost of this exercise.
A96
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current road improvement projects on the A96, giving details of expenditure in each case.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 16 December 1992] : Under the route action plan for the A96 trunk road, the following schemes are currently under construction or being prepared :
|Estimated cost
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Major Schemes |£ million
Bucksburn Diversion (under construction) |6.9
Lhanbryde Bypass |2.6
Keith Bypass |12.0
Kintore Bypass |14.5
Blackburn Bypass |9.6
2. Minor Improvements |£
Huntly/Dufftown Stacking Lane (under construction) |200,000
Ardgilzean Stacking Lane (under construction) |200,000
Alves Stacking Lane} |1 million
Alves/Ardgye Climbing Lane}
Colpy Stacking Lane |300,000
East Road, Elgin Improvement |650,000
Banff Stacking Lane |150,000
Newtongarry/Adamston Climbing Lane |1.5 million
Central Reserve Safety Fencing, Tyrebagger Hill |150,000
Morayston to Tornagrain Improvement |950,000
3. Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) Schemes |£
Tertowie Junction, North of Blackburn |1,000
Mosstodloch |14,000
Bends West of Lhanbryde |3,000
Bends East of Ardgilzean |7,500
Kintore Primary School |15,000
Coachhouse Inn Junction Improvement |1,800
Smithton-Culloden West Junction |20,000
Smithton-Culloden East Junction Stacking Lane |100,000
Inverness-Hardmuir Junction |6,000
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce the commencement date for the Llanbryde bypass on the A96.
Lord James Douglas Hamilton [holding answer 16 December 1992] : A public local inquiry was held on 3 November 1992 to consider outstanding objections to the draft statutory orders for this scheme and the report of the inquiry is awaited.
If the reporter recommends that the orders should be made the outstanding preparation work will be completed
Column 466
in the summer of 1993. Within the A96 route action plan funds are being made available for various improvements to upgrade the route. The Lhanbryde bypass is well placed to compete for such funding.Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce the route and commencement date for the Keith bypass on the A96.
Lord James Douglas Hamilton [holding answer 16 December 1992] : Draft orders and a draft compulsory purchase order have recently been published.
In the statement which I made on 5 March setting out the forward roads programme, I announced that, subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of funds, it was the Government's intention to start this scheme in the year 1994-95.
EC Initiatives
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been received by (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole under each of the approved European Community initiatives to date ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 16 December 1992] : Three Community initiatives operate in Scotland with specific allocations for the period 1990-93. These are :
Total Allocation Total Allocation
Scotland Strathclyde
|mecu |£ million|mecu |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------
Renaval |24.43 |19.86 |21.04 |17.11
Rechar |20.02 |16.28 |4.00 |3.26
Leader |7.21 |5.86 |1.39 |1.13
In addition, Scotland benefits from allocations to Great Britain programmes under other Community initiatives. The details of the amounts committed to successful Scottish projects are :
0
|Scotland |Strathclyde
|£ |£
------------------------------------------------
Stride |1,493,103 |<1>n/a
Now |999,411 |142,336
Horizon |3,178,742 |992,772
Euroform |2,794,124 |383,875
<1> Beneficiaries are spread throughout the
Objective 2 areas in Scotland. A separate
figure for Strathclyde is not available.
For 1993, objective 2 and 5b areas in Scotland will be able to bid for a Great Britain programme under the RETEX Community initiative. As yet, no allocations under RETEX have been made.
Note : The authentic figures for allocations are those expressed in ecu. Equivalents expressed at the current exchange rate of £1=1.23 ecu are for illustrative purposes only. For most initiatives part of the allocation has already been received from the Commission at a previous exchange rate. The final sterling sums available to the programmes will depend on the exchange rates at the time the various payments are received.
Column 467
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
RECHAR
Mr. Illsley : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to relax capital spending controls for those local authorities entitled to bid for European Community RECHAR programme moneys to enable them to bid for a fair entitlement of the money available under the scheme.
Mr. Robin Squire : I have been asked to reply.
On 30 June 1992 my Department issued details of the 1992-93 arrangements for the treatment of European regional development fund--ERDF--grants to local authorities through the "other services" block, which covers the generality of ERDF grants for which this Department is responsible. These will ensure that local authorities will receive supplementary credit approvals to provide 100 per cent. public expenditure cover for ERDF receipts for RECHAR projects. From 1993-94 onwards, public expenditure cover will be provided at 100 per cent. for all forecast ERDF receipts.
In addition, although there are no plans to relax the capital finance rules specifically for those local authorities which are eligible for ERDF, from 13 November 1992 to 31 December 1993, every authority will be able to spend virtually all of the capital receipts they receive.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he has taken to attract and secure a second RECHAR programme ;
(2) what response he has made to the report on proposals for a second phase of the Community's RECHAR programme for the regeneration of coal mining areas ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) if the will support local authority attempts to secure a second RECHAR programme of EC aid for coal areas.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 16 December 1992] : The present RECHAR initiative is only one of 13 Community initiatives financed by the European structural funds.
The Edinburgh European Council decided that after 1993 : "The allocation for Community Initiatives should be between 5 and 10 per cent. of total resources committed under the Structural Funds. They should mainly promote cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation and assistance for the outermost regions, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity".
Detailed decisions on future Community initiatives, including the possibility of a second RECHAR initiative, will not be taken until after next year's review of all the regulations on the structural funds.
Tropical Timber
Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 808, if he will publish an estimated number of forest dwellers that are dependent directly upon the trade in tropical timber ; and if he will outline the benefits derived by the forest people from such trade.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I have been asked to reply.
Reliable global estimates of the numbers of forest dwellers dependent upon the tropical timber trade are not available. the main benefit is likely to be employment.
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