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Mr. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance is provided by his office on the circumstances under which child abusers may or may not apply for access to the children they have abused.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : When a child is referred to a children's hearing and grounds which include abuse have either been accepted or found proved by the sheriff, the hearing has responsibility to determine in the light of the information before them whether the child needs compulsory measures of care to protect him or her from harm. If the hearing decides to make a supervision requirement, it has discretion to regulate access to the child according to its view of the child's best interest. It is open to the parents or the child to appeal to the sheriff against the terms of a supervision requirement.
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to end plea bargaining in cases of child abuse.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Decisions as to which pleas, if any, to accept in criminal cases, including cases of child abuse, are a matter for Crown counsel and procurators fiscal in the exercise of their independent discretion and having regard to all the circumstances. It would not be proper for the Secretary of State to attempt to interfere with the exercise of this discretion.
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide guidance to social workers on avoidance of coercion when attempting reconciliation between victims of abuse and the offenders.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Cases of child abuse are often complex and give rise to conflicting interests and emotions, but social workers have to give primary consideration to the best interests of the child and to take account of the child's wishes and views. My right hon. Friend has recently established a working party to produce practice guidance to assist social workers engaged in all aspects of child protection.
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the application of interdicts preventing access of abusers to child victims in order to estimate how successful they have been in protecting their safety.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Law Commission has considered the working of section 14 of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 relating to matrimonial interdicts in their Report on Family Law (Scot Law Com No. 135). Among other matters the commission recommends extension of the circumstances in which matrimonial interdicts and powers of arrest under the 1981 Act can provide protection for an applicant spouse or child of the family against domestic violence. The commission's recommendations are being considered.
Special Advisers
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the salaries of special advisers in his Department are determined ; how this relates to the civil service pay structure ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : The salaries of the special advisers in my Department are determined from guidance set out by the Cabinet Office and approved by HM Treasury. They do not relate to the civil service pay structure.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of his special advisers are engaged in other remunerated employment outwith the civil service.
Mr. Lang : Two special advisers have been appointed to my Department ; neither is engaged in other remunerated employment outwith the civil service.
Indigenous Plants
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to make available additional resources for the planting of indigenous species along the M8 corridor ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : It is the policy of the roads directorate of the Scottish Office Industry Department to appoint landscape consultants as part of the design team on motorway and trunk road schemes to ensure that all environmental aspects are considered and that, as far as possible, the planting is harmonious with the natural character of the local area. A strategy for enhancing the landscape of the M8 corridor between Newbridge and Newhouse was prepared in 1988. The roads directorate in partnership with a wide range of interests, including the local authorities, the Central Scotland Countryside Trust and Scottish Enterprise implemented a phased annual planting programme of predominately indigenous species. It is planned to spend £160,000 in Phase V in spring 1993. Further expenditure will be determined by the outcome of the "Future Strategy for the M8" study commissioned in December 1992.
Following consultation with the Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland and the local district council it has been decided to significantly expand the planting programme on the M8 to the west of Glasgow at the St. James interchange scheme. Detailed proposals have yet to be finalised but it is anticipated that indigenous species will be included where these are compatible with the aims of the design philosophy. The estimated cost is £500,000 and will be funded by the roads directorate and Strathclyde regional council.
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Construction Industry (Taylor Report)
Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many jobs have been created in the construction industry in Scotland as a result of implementation of the recommendations of the Taylor report on football stadium safety.
Sir Hector Monro : This information is not available centrally.
MV Braer
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has carried out an environmental impact study of the sinking of the MV Braer.
Sir Hector Monro : A range of specialist studies on the environmental effects is already underway. I understand that the Shetland Islands council is undertaking a substantial impact assessment. My right hon. Friend announced on 26 January the setting up of an ecological steering group under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Ritchie. One of its tasks will be to oversee these studies.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many veterinary checks have been carried out on Shetland livestock following the MV Brear oil spillage.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : A number of sheep which have been on contaminated grazing have been acquired for slaughter and laboratory examination for hydracarbon residues in the flesh.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the number of livestock affected and the number destroyed as a result of oil contamination in Shetland.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : My Department has estimated that some 2,000 sheep were on grazings contaminated by oil from the MV Braer ; the majority have been moved to cleaner grazing or out of the affected area altogether ; the remainder are being fed hay or other fodder ; and none have had to be destroyed.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has commissioned on the aftermath of the Shetland oil spill.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : Work has begun on the systematic monitoring of fish, shellfish, seawater, soils, herbage, crops and livestock. Shetland Health Board and the Environmental health (Scotland) unit have in hand a detailed health survey, which includes the offer of a general clinical examination to some 600 people living near the wreck, with funding from the Scottish Office. Among the other bodies already active in this field are the Scottish agricultural colleges, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Royal Botanic Gardens (Edinburgh), the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology and Shetland Islands council. All these strands will be drawn together by the ecological steeing group which my right hon. Friend announced on 11 January.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what long-term studies of the ecotoxicology of oil are planned by his Department in relation to birds, fish, invertebrates, marine mammals and others.
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Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : My right hon. Friend announced on 11 January that he intends to set up an ecological steering group to oversee studies of the ecological effects of the oil pollution caused by the wreck of MV Braer on the coast of Shetland. The chairman and terms of reference of the group will be announced shortly. It will certainly be taking an expert view on what long-term studies should be undertaken.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sites of special scientific interest affected by the Shetland oil spill and the species found in them.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : The information is set out in the table. Many common species are found in these sites in addition to those which led to their notification. St. Ninian's is a site notified for its physiographical interest. Site affected and species for which the site has been notified Lochs of Spiggie and Brow
Neomysis integer (crustacean)
Potamopyrgus jenkinski (gastropod)
Diaptomus wierzejskii (zooplankton)
Chara aspera (macrophyte)
Potamogeton iliformis (macrophyte)
Nitella opaca (stonewart)
Fontinalis antipyretica (moss)
Whooper swans
Goldeneye
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Pool of Virkie
Arenicola marina (lug-worm)
Seabirds and seaduck
Waders
Sumburgh Head
Kittiwake
Guillemot
Puffin
Shag
Arctic Tern
Quendale
Marram
Moonwart
Curved Sedge
Felwort
Potamogeton friesii (pondweed)
Water Crowfoot
Waterfowl
St. Ninian's Tombolo
Physiographical features only
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the risk of pollutants from the MV Braer oil spillage being passed via livestock to human beings through the food chain.
Sir Hector Munro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : The livestock in the affected area are cattle and sheep. The cattle are housed indoors at this time of year and it is unlikely that any contamination will reach them. However, the milk and the water supplies to the dairy farms are being regularly sampled and analysed and to date these results show that there has been no contamination. Very few, if any, of the sheep in the area would normally be going for slaughter at this time of year, and farmers have been advised not to send sheep for slaughter at present. In any case, post mortem inspection at the abattoir would reveal any pronounced taint in the meat and would be grounds for condemnation. In order to ascertain whether significant hydrocarbon residues remain
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in the tissues of sheep exposed to this contamination a sample number of animals have been obtained for slaughter and laboratory examination.Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his best estimate of how long it will be before pasture vacated following oil contamination may safely be used for grazing.
Sir Hector Munro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : It is not yet possible to provide such an estimate. Much will depend on the extent of the contamination and the information arising from the programme of testing of sheep, herbage and soil samples now in progress. Monitoring and testing will continue as long as is necessary. The Scottish Office agriculture and fisheries department will provide advice with regard to safety in the light of the scientific evidence.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to date, and what action he intends to take, to set up ecological studies into the short and long-term effects of the oil spill from the MV Braer oil tanker.
Sir Hector Munro [holding answer 15 January 1993] : My right hon. Friend announced in his statement to the House on 11 January that an ecological steering group was being established. He announced the terms of reference of that group, under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Ritchie, on 26 January. The group's immediate task will be to develop urgently the best strategies, both in the short and longer terms, for dealing with the implications of the incident for the natural environment of Shetland. The group will oversee special studies of the ecological effects of the incident and will advise on more general lessons which may be drawn for the future.
Mr. Heppell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what precautionary measures are being taken by his Department to ensure that foodstuffs are not being sold to the public which have been contaminated by the oil spill in the Shetland Islands.
Sir Hector Monro : The primary responsibility for the safety of foodstuffs on Shetland rests with Shetland Islands Council, as food authority. My Department has maintained contact with the Islands Council continuously since the grounding of the MV Braer, and I am satisfied that the council has taken all necessary steps within its power, for example by ensuring that contaminated vegetable crops do not reach the market and that milk supplies are monitored. In addition the Government has made an order under Part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 defining an area within which fishing and harvesting of farmed fish are prohibited. This designated area is constantly being kept under review on the basis of test results from water and fish sampling.
My Department has advised farmers not to send sheep for slaughter meantime, and has purchashed a sample number of sheep for slaughter and laboratory examination to assess whether any significant hydrocarbon residues remain in their tissue.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to protect wildlife sites in the Minches against possible oil contamination.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : Coastal local authorities have agreed emergency contingency plans with the marine pollution control unit at the
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Department of Transport to deal with contamination by sea borne oil. In addition Scottish Natural Heritage stands ready to provide advice and practical assistance in any case where wildlife and wildlife habitats are affected by oil pollution. Similar help would also be available to those voluntary bodies who assist with the recovery and rehabilitation of wildlife in such circumstances. The Ecological Steering Group which is being established by my right hon. Friend following the grounding of the MV Braer will study the effects on wildlife habitats in the Shetland Islands of that incident and advise on the lessons to be learned which could be applied should a similar incident take place in future in the United Kingdom.Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans have been drawn up for compensation payments in the event of delay in the slaughter of fatstock due to contamination by toxic residues arising from the MV Braer oil spillage.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : The Government have made available assistance to producers who are suffering economic hardship through a bridging fund, which will be operated for the Government by Shetland Islands council. Details of the Fund's operation were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in answer to a question from the hon. Member from Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson) on 21 January.
Sandeels
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will continue the ban on the industrial fishing of sandeels in Shetland waters into the 1993 season ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 26 January 1993] : The decision on whether to continue the closure of the Shetland sandeel fishery will be taken on the basis of the latest scientific analysis of the state of the stocks. I expect to receive the scientific advice within the next few weeks. We shall also have to take account of any implications of the recent oil spill from the MV Braer. The final decision will be taken after full consultation with all interested parties.
KPMG Management Consultants
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 25 January 1993] : Two contracts were awarded by The Scottish Office to KPMG Management Consultants in the 12 months to 31 December 1992 :
Evaluation of NHS trusts ; and
Advice on future administrative and information technology systems and procurement of IT systems for the Scottish Office superannuation division.
Scotland in Bloom Competition
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what support and assistance he provides to the Scotland in Bloom competition ; and if he will make a statement.
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Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 January 1993] : The Beautiful Scotland in Bloom competition is run by Keep Scotland Beautiful and is funded through commercial sponsorship.
EMPLOYMENT
Disabled People
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements are in place to monitor the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 ; how many complaints there have been in each year since 1985 alleging contravention of section 9(5) of the Act ; how many of these have led to prosecutions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The provisions of the 1944 Act are monitored in a number of ways :
(i) by a rolling programme of inspections of employers quota records ;
(ii) by undertaking an annual postal survey into the quota position of employers ;
(iii) by reminding employers of their duties and obligations ; (
(iv) by maintaining records locally of employers who are subject to quota and of their quota positions ;
(v) as part of the work helping people with disabilities find suitable employment and by promoting the employment of disabled people generally.
The employment service receives a small number of complaints each year from registered disabled people who consider that their dismissal contravenes section 9(5) of the 1944 Act. Precise figures are not available. All complaints are investigated and, in the period since 1985, none have led to the prosecution of an employer. The employment service continues to administer the quota scheme in accordance with legal requirements. It is generally accepted that the scheme is not working as originally intended and we are keeping the position under review.
Employment Training
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of people with disabilities in (a) London and (b) the south -east, found jobs on leaving employment training in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. McLouglin : The percentage of people with disabilities going into jobs after leaving employment training was 16 per cent. in London and 23 per cent. in the south-east. These figures are for all leavers who said they had a disability in the period April 1991 to March 1992, the latest period for which information is available.
Partially Sighted People
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she next plans to meet representative of the Partially-Sighted Society to discuss the needs and rights of the partially sighted ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of States has no plans at present to meet the Partially-Sighted Society.
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