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Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many swimming pools are attached to British missions abroad ; how many have been built in the last 10 years ; at what cost to the taxpayer ; and what is the monthly maintenance cost.
Mr. Goodlad [holding answer 8 February 1993] : There are 135 swimming pools at Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts overseas. Twenty swimming pools have been built in the last 10 years, at a total cost of about £750,000. The estimated monthly maintenance cost of an average pool is about £200.
SCOTLAND
Castle Fraser Estates
155. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide extra funds for Scottish Homes under the rural housing initiative to accommodate tenants to be evicted by Castle Fraser Estates ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No, Scottish Homes' total resources for 1993-94 already allow for a significant increase of 9 per cent. over its original programme for 1992-93. It is for Scottish Homes to decide on the relative
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priority of particular projects within its programme. The responsibility for dealing with any individuals who become homeless rests with local authorities which have a duty in terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 to provide advice and assistance to people in their area who become homeless.Tied House Tenants
156. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce legal protection for long-standing tenants of tied houses on estates ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : These tenancies are private arrangements between the tenants and their employers, and the conditions of tenure are known to the tenants when they enter into their contract of employment. However, tied tenants cannot be removed from their homes without a court order.
Drug Prescribing
157. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the savings achieved in Scotland in each of the seven therapeutic categories covered by the limited list regulations of 1985 in each of the years 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 ; and what were the total savings achieved in each year.
Mr. Stewart : In 1985-86, the first year of its operation, the selected list scheme saved £8.1 million on the Scottish NHS drugs bill. The savings in each of the therapeutic categories within the scheme were as follows :
|£ thousands
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Analgesics for mild to moderate pain |2,400
Antacids |465
Benzodiazepine tranquillisers and sedatives |1,995
Cough and cold remedies |2,301
Laxatives |105
Tonics and bitters |35
Vitamins |772
It is not possible to make meaningful estimates for subsequent years, but we have no reason to doubt that significant savings will continue to be made.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prescription items per person in Scotland there have been each year since 1985.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 9 February 1993] : From the Scottish health service statistics the number of prescription items per person in each year since 1985 has been :
Year |Number ---------------------- 1985 |6.96 1986-87 |7.04 1988 |7.33 1989 |7.59 1990 |8.00 1991 |8.22 1992 |8.63
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the general practitioners drugs bill in Scotland has been each year since 1985 ; if he will provide a breakdown by health board ; and what has been (a) the expenditure on NHS medicines and (b) the total NHS drugs bill in Scotland in each year.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer of 9 February 1993] : The following are the cost of drugs dispensed in the community by health boards for each year since 1985 and the cost of drugs supplied to hospitals for the same years. Over 99 per cent. of the costs for drugs dispensed in the community relate to prescribing by GPs.
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Ingredient cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community
£ million
Health Board |1991-92 |1990-91 |1989-90 |1988-89 |1987-88 |1986-87 |1985-86
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde |26.47 |23.54 |21.31 |19.09 |16.93 |15.34 |13.70
Ayrshire and Arran |23.98 |21.47 |19.54 |17.25 |15.41 |13.98 |12.45
Borders |5.82 |5.21 |4.76 |4.28 |3.85 |3.49 |3.12
Dumfries and Galloway |8.70 |7.61 |6.84 |6.02 |5.39 |4.98 |4.40
Fife |18.25 |16.32 |14.80 |13.10 |11.50 |10.58 |9.40
Forth Valley |15.83 |13.74 |12.29 |10.94 |9.69 |8.82 |7.93
Grampian |24.00 |21.36 |19.36 |17.40 |15.48 |13.95 |12.57
Greater Glasgow |54.64 |48.79 |44.50 |39.54 |35.45 |32.21 |28.84
Highland |10.19 |8.97 |7.99 |6.98 |6.13 |5.49 |4.84
Lanark |35.03 |30.99 |28.24 |24.99 |21.99 |19.82 |17.62
Lothians |38.42 |34.48 |31.68 |28.51 |25.66 |23.27 |20.75
Orkney |0.93 |0.82 |0.72 |0.64 |0.59 |0.54 |0.50
Shetland |0.94 |0.85 |0.75 |0.66 |0.60 |0.54 |0.48
Tayside |24.33 |21.68 |19.47 |17.28 |14.92 |13.35 |11.85
Western Isles |1.37 |1.26 |1.17 |1.03 |0.95 |0.87 |0.77
|---- |---- |---- |---- |---- |---- |----
Scotland |288.91 |257.09 |233.42 |207.70 |184.54 |167.23 |149.22
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Ingredient cost supplied to hospitals
£ million
Health Board |1991-92 |1990-91 |1989-90 |1988-89 |1987-88 |1986-87 |1985-86
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde |3.59 |2.79 |2.64 |2.29 |2.03 |1.59 |1.63
Ayrshire and Arran |2.95 |2.36 |2.01 |1.75 |1.66 |1.44 |1.40
Borders |0.73 |0.62 |0.59 |0.43 |0.33 |0.29 |0.30
Dumfries and Galloway |1.35 |0.99 |0.88 |0.74 |0.70 |0.60 |0.53
Fife |2.42 |2.09 |1.91 |1.69 |1.53 |1.36 |1.20
Forth Valley |2.24 |1.97 |1.82 |1.61 |1.53 |1.45 |1.27
Grampian |5.15 |4.60 |4.23 |3.86 |3.42 |3.11 |2.75
Greater Glasgow |14.66 |13.34 |12.27 |16.70 |10.05 |9.52 |9.52
Highland |1.58 |1.47 |1.22 |1.07 |1.02 |0.87 |0.74
Lanarkshire |4.47 |4.24 |3.88 |3.47 |3.08 |2.86 |2.74
Lothian |9.60 |8.80 |8.79 |7.70 |6.79 |6.24 |5.98
Orkney |0.10 |0.08 |0.08 |0.07 |0.08 |0.06 |0.06
Shetland |0.12 |0.12 |0.09 |0.09 |0.08 |0.07 |0.08
Tayside |5.44 |4.72 |4.19 |3.97 |3.68 |3.04 |3.02
Western Isles |0.20 |0.11 |0.15 |0.12 |0.11 |0.10 |0.09
|---- |---- |---- |---- |---- |---- |----
Scotland |54.60 |48.30 |44.75 |45.56 |36.09 |32.60 |31.31
Scotland-community and hospital 343305.39 278.17 253.26 220.63 199.83 180.53
Holyrood House (Entrance Fees)
159. Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of the entrance fees for Holyrood house for the latest year for which figures are available ; and to what purposes the revenues are applied.
Sir Hector Monro : My right hon. Friend has no responsibility for the presentation of the Palace of Holyrood house to the public. The amount collected in entrance fees, which is directed towards the administrative and conservation costs of the royal collection, is a matter for the director of the royal collection, to whom the hon. Member may wish to write.
Tourism
160. Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of "Tourism in the UK : Realising the Potential" as it applies to his Department's responsibilities ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : In respect of the tourism issues relating to Scotland, the following action has been taken. The work of the task forces charged with improving arrangements for training in the tourist industry, developing arts-based tourism and implementing environmental tourism management schemes have been advanced. A new initiative to help tourists with disabilities has been launched. The Scottish tourist board has fully committed itself to the principles of the citizens charter. In addition, we have set in train a fundamental review of the structure of arrangements under which support is provided to the industry.
Skye Bridge
161. Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of the construction of the bridge to Skye what changes have been made relevant to the planning inquiry to (a) the design of the secondary bridge, (b) the route of the approach road and (c) the construction of the prefabrication plant on the Plock of Kyle ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The changes made relevant to the public local inquiry held into the Skye bridge in early 1992 were : (a) the design of the secondary
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bridge was confirmed as a cast in-situ single spine beam deck launched incrementally on to single elliptical piers ; and (b) the level of the approach road was lowered in front of Lochalsh road. The reporter was advised and took into consideration (a) and (b) before making her recommendation to the Secretary of State. This information therefore formed part of the inquiry and decision-making process.The method of construction of the secondary bridge requires a temporary facility, to launch incrementally the deck of the bridge. The "cast and push" facility is contained within the boundaries of the confirmed road line and is a matter of construction for the contractor.
Suckler Cow Premium
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many suckler cow premium application forms were processed during each month of 1992 ; and what was (a) the shortest period and (b) the longest period to elapse between receipt of the application and payment of the claim.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 10 February 1993] : The number of suckler cow premium applications processed for payment during each month of 1992 is set out in the following table. The information on the shortest and longest periods between receipt of application and payment of claim is not available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
1992 |Number of claims
|processed
---------------------------------------------------
January |1,075
February |777
March |233
April |134
May |31
June |39
July |0
August |594
September |2,253
October |1,834
November |1,305
December |1,709
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many late applications were received for suckler cow premium in respect of 1990 and 1991 ; and how many of these were (a) paid in full, (b) paid in part and (c) refused.
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Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 10 February 1993] : Under the 1990 suckler cow premium scheme a total of 80 late applications were received. All these were received between the closing date of 31 January 1991 and 14 February 1991, thereby qualifying for the 70 per cent. of premium specified by the European Community rules of the scheme.
Under the 1991 scheme a total of 67 late applications were received. Of these 62 were received between 31 January 1992 and 14 February 1992, qualifying for a 70 per cent. rate of premium. Five claims received after 14 February 1992 were refused as required by the rules of the scheme.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many late applications for suckler cow premium in respect of 1992 he has received to date.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 10 February 1993] : A total of 101 applications have been received since 15 December 1992, the closing date for the 1992 suckler cow premium scheme.
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations and discussions he has had about the continuation of the less favoured areas supplement to the suckler cow premium ; and what plans he has to continue the less favoured areas supplement to the suckler cow premium.
Sir Hector Monro : [holding answer 8 February 1993] : I announced on 12 November 1992 that the rate of suckler cow premium from 1993 onwards would be limited to that part of the premium which is entirely funded by the European Community. In 1993 the rate will be £65.73, which represents an increase of 10 per cent. on the rate currently payable in the less-favoured areas.
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the beef special premium in each year since 1979 ; and what was the less favoured areas supplement to the suckler cow premium in each year since 1990.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer of 9 February 1993] : The beef special premium scheme commenced in the United Kingdom in April 1989. Throughout the period 2 April 1989 to 31 December 1992 the premium was 40 ecu, but the amount paid to farmers varied with the value of the green pound on the date of receipt of their claims. The beef special premium increased to 60 ecu on 1 January 1993. The sterling value of the premium since its introduction is shown in the following table :
Date of Change |Rate
|£
------------------------------------------------
2 April 1989 |28.42
1 May 1989 |29.19
11 January 1990 |29.32
14 May 1990 |31.81
17 June 1991 |31.82
17 September 1992 |32.33
22 September 1992 |32.76
19 November 1992 |35.22
26 November 1992 |35.90
1 January 1993 |56.34
The LFA supplement to the suckler cow premium was £4.26 in each year from 1990 to 1992.
Criminal Justice
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to amend section 80 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 so as to substitute the age of 16 for the age of 21 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to amend section 80 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has, following the issue of Crown Office circular No. 2025/1, on 20 December 1991, to amend the law relating to offences listed under statute or under common law ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to amend the law in this area.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on his prosecution policy in relation to prosecution of offences under section 80 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980, and similar offences under the common law.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Prosecution policy is a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. A review of prosecution policy in relation to such offences which was instructed by the Lord Advocate in December 1991 is continuing.
Legal Aid
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he has taken of research by the Law Society of Scotland into the differing levels of remuneration for civil legal aid work by solicitors in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales in assessing proposed changes to legal advice and assistance in civil legal aid in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has considered the comparisons made on behalf of the Law Society of Scotland in November 1990. These comparisons are not, however, directly relevant to the proposed changes to eligibility for advice and assistance and civil legal aid. Legal aid fees in Scotland are set to take account of the circumstances of the Scottish legal and legal aid systems.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the cost of administration of the civil legal aid system by the Scottish Legal Aid Board for each financial year since 1987-88 ; and if he will show this as a percentage of the net payments from the civil legal aid fund in respect of each year.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is set out in the table :
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£ million
|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative costs for civil legal aid |2.915 |3.138 |3.479 |3.796 |3.850
Net civil legal aid payments |11.694 |11.379 |10.769 |11.715 |12.343
Administrative costs as a percentage of net civil legal aid payments |24.400 |27.600 |32.300 |32.400 |31.200
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in each of the past five years his permission has been sought prior to legal proceedings being instituted by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : None. There is no statutory requirement for the Scottish Legal Aid Board to obtain my right hon. Friend's permission before instituting legal proceedings.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number and source of representations he has received from the individual members or committees of the Scottish Legal Aid Board in relation to changes to legal advice and assistance and to civil legal aid to be instituted on 1 April.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has received no such representations from individual
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members of the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The board itself and its legal aid committee submitted advice to my right hon. Friend on the proposed changes to eligibility for advice and assistance.Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the gross payments for civil legal aid in each financial year since 1987-88 ; and if he will show each year's figure in real terms, using 1987- 88 at base 100.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The table shows (a) the gross expenditure on civil legal aid in each year since 1987-88, including actual expenditure in 1992-93 to January 1993 and estimated expenditure for the full year 1992-93 ; and (b) the same figures revalued where appropriate in line with the GDP deflator and expressed on a 1987-88 base of 100.
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£ million
|1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |<1>1992-93|<2>1992-93
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross civil legal aid payments |15.697 |15.273 |14.729 |15.679 |16.581 |20.535 |23.449
Gross civil legal aid payments adjusted to
a 1987-88 base of 100 |15.697 |14.237 |12.883 |12.699 |12.562 |14.924 |17.041
<1> Actual to January 1993.
<2> Estimate.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the net sum met from civil legal aid in each financial year since 1987 -88 after deducting from gross payments those amounts recovered.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information is set out in the table.
Net civil legal aid payments
|£ million
------------------------------
1987-88 |11.964
1988-89 |11.379
1989-90 |10.769
1990-91 |11.715
1991-92 |12.343
MV Braer
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the aftermath of the grounding of the MV "Braer".
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 3 February 1993] : Follow-up action to the Shetland oil spill received the highest priority. The Government's bridging fund for businesses facing economic hardship is now in place ; the health survey of people living in the vicinity has started ; the remit and chairman, Professor William Ritchie, of the ecological steering group have been announced and the remaining membership will be shortly ; and the fishery exclusion zone has been extended. The Government will continue to ensure that all necessary steps are taken.
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Crime Statistics
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) business frauds, (b) cheque, credit and cash card frauds, (c) thefts from companies, (d) thefts from employees, (e) offences of shoplifting, (f) offences of vandalism against business and (g) assaults at the workplace were committed (i) in Scotland and (ii) in each police force area in 1991.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 4 February 1993] : The only available information collected centrally is given in the table.
Number of cases of theft by shoplifting
recorded by the police in Scotland, 1991
Police force |Number
------------------------------------------------
Northern |905
Grampian |2,329
Tayside |2,918
Fife |1,064
Lothian and Borders |5,750
Central |1,723
Strathclyde |14,862
Dumfries and Galloway |547
|----
Scotland |30,098
Scottish Record Office
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future organisation of the Scottish Record Office.
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Mr. Lang : I have decided that, under the next steps initiative, the Scottish Record Office should be considered for executive agency status.
Sports Council
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, on a parliamentary constituency basis, all the projects in which the Scottish Sports Council has made a financial contribution in the current year and for the years 1991-92 and 1990-91.
Sir Hector Monro : I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Mr. Muir Russell
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how often Mr. Muir Russell of his Department has met representatives of Stagecoach Holdings plc, in connection with his official duties, in each of the past five years.
Mr. Lang : Prior to the first discussion of his possible appointment as a non-executive director, which was held on 1 December 1992, Mr. Russell had no meetings with representatives of Stagecoach Holdings plc.
Under-age Drinking
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to deal with under-age drinking in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 5 February 1993] : The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Scotland Act 1990 prohibited the unsupervised sale of alcoholic liquor by under-age persons ; required the sale of alcoholic liquor in wholesale quantities by under-age persons to be specifically authorised by responsible adults ; and made it an offence to sell alcohol by wholesale to an under-age person. These provisions complemented existing legislation under which it is an offence for a licensee to allow a person under 18 to consume liquor in a bar and for alcoholic liquor to be sold to people under 18 or to be purchased on their behalf. The impact of experimental byelaws prohibiting drinking in public places in parts of Motherwell, Dundee and Galashiels is currently being assessed. If found to be effective my right hon. Friend will consider applications for the introduction of similar byelaws elsewhere.
The Government encourage schools to tackle alcohol education. Two conferences for student teachers were held in Scotland last year to increase teachers' awareness of the levels of alcohol misuse among young people and the ways in which alcohol education can be integrated into the school curriculum.
Much of the work of the Health Education Board for Scotland focuses on the young drinker. Further initiatives, bearing particularly on young people, are envisaged for 1993-94.
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National Portrait Gallery
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to intervene in the proposed closure of the Scottish national portrait gallery ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) what representations he has received on the importance of the Scottish national portrait gallery as a scholarly resource and to Scottish life ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 2 February 1993] : When the trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland first announced, in August 1991, that they wished to establish a gallery of Scottish art, one member of the public wrote to my right hon. Friend expressing concern that such a proposal could lead to the demise of the Scottish national portrait gallery.
My right hon. Friend has not received from the trustees a firm and costed proposal for a Scottish gallery and has given no commitment to funding for such a proposal. The trustees have been specifically asked to examine the effect of the proposed gallery on the existing grouping of the national collections and on the buildings in which these are currently housed.
Severely Disadvantaged Areas
Dr, Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many regular full-time hired farm workers are employed on farm holdings in the severely disadvantaged areas according to the most recent figures for each year since 1978.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 8 February 1993] : Figures for severely disadvantaged areas are not readily available. However, the employment information requested for holdings within the Scottish less- favoured areas is set out in the table below. Information for the years prior to 1982 is not available.
|Number
---------------------
1982 |10,109
1983 |9,993
1984 |9,544
1985 |9,393
1986 |8,607
1987 |8,133
1988 |7,855
1989 |7,609
1990 |7,264
1991 |6,916
1992 |6,658
Source: Scottish
June Agricultural
Census. Figures are
hired male and
female full time
regular staff who
are not members of
the occupier's
family.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the level of indebtedness among mostly sheep farmers and sheep and beef farmers, respectively, in the severely disadvantaged areas for each year since 1978.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 8 February 1993] : The information requested is set out in the table. Figures are available only since 1986-87.
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LFA mainly sheep LFA sheep and
farms cattle farms
|Total<1> liabilities|Total liabilities as|Total<1> liabilities|Total liabilities as
|a percentage of |a percentage of
|total assets<2> |total assets<2>
|£ per farm |£ per farm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |19,000 |13.5 |32,000 |16.8
1987-88 |21,000 |12.7 |36,000 |18.1
1988-89 |16,000 |10.5 |33,000 |15.1
1989-90 |18,000 |10.6 |35,000 |16.7
1990-91 |22,000 |13.3 |34,000 |15.7
1991-92 |21,000 |11.6 |36,000 |16.3
Source: Scottish Farm Accounts Scheme: Owner-occupied and tenanted farm results weighted together.
<1>Liabilities include bank loans, overdrafts and other long and short term loans.
<2>Total assets includes land and buildings, machinery, vehicles and breeding livestock, and current assets.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes there have been in the proportion of mostly sheep and sheep and beef farmers in severely disadvantaged areas in relation to the number of mostly sheep farmers and sheep and beef farmers in total for Scotland since 1978 ; and if he will chart the change.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 8 February 1993] : Information for severely disadvantaged areas is not readily available. The information requested comparing sheep and cattle and sheep holdings within the Scottish less-favoured areas with such holdings in Scotland as a whole is set out in the table. Information prior to 1982 is not available.
Percentage of mainly sheep
and cattle and sheep holdings
in the
Scottish LFA in relation to
the numbers of such holdings
in Scotland
as a whole
|Per cent.
------------------------------
1982 |60.1
1983 |60.6
1984 |62.8
1985 |64.0
1986 |69.2
1987 |69.7
1988 |70.1
1989 |69.2
1990 |68.6
1991 |70.3
1992 |71.5
Source: Derived from Scottish
June Agricultural Census.
Caledonian MacBrayne
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, Official Report, column 232 , how many Caledonian MacBrayne ferry routes are unprofitable ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 9 February 1993] : My right hon. Friend does not consider it desirable to indicate which Caledonian MacBrayne's routes are profitable or unprofitable or to require the company to make public commercially sensitive information about operating surpluses and deficits incurred on individual routes.
Column 850
Forestry Commission
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in support of separating the two branches of the Forestry Commission into separate organisations ; and what discussions have taken place.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 February 1993] : The House of Commons Agriculture Committee, in its report "Land Use and Forestry", published in February 1990, recommended that the Forestry Commission's forestry authority and forest enterprise functions should be divided between separate departments. The Government did not accept this recommendation, but subsequently agreed that the Forestry Commission should carry out an internal reorganisation to distinguish clearly between its functions as a Government Department and its role in managing publicly owned forests. This reorganisation took place with effect from 1 April 1992.
The Government have since received some representations in support of splitting the two parts of the Forestry Commission into separate organisations, most notably from the Centre for Policy Studies and the Adam Smith Institute. No discussions have taken place.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public access in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England has been lost since 1981 when Forestry Commission land was sold to the private sector.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 February 1993] : The Government have retained no direct interest in such land following its sale by the Forestry Commission and no official statistics on the provision of access by the new owners have therefore been collected.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Forestry Commission land in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England has been sold to the private sector each year since 1981 ; and how much money has been raised in each case.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 February 1993] : The areas of land sold by the Forestry Commission in each year since 1981 are shown in the following table. These include woodlands and other land such as agricultural land and residential properties. The total receipts from these sales are also shown. A breakdown of the receipts by country is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Forestry Commission land sales
Scotland Wales England Great Britain
Year ended March |(hectares) |(hectares) |(hectares) |(hectares) |Receipts (£ million)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982 |7,371 |1,743 |1,309 |10,423 |6.9
1983 |8,135 |1,450 |2,523 |12,108 |14.6
1984 |36,543 |3,347 |4,680 |44,570 |23.6
1985 |18,359 |3,522 |6,976 |28,857 |22.1
1986 |10,555 |3,229 |2,789 |16,573 |17.0
1987 |6,220 |1,950 |2,786 |10,956 |14.7
1988 |3,359 |977 |4,593 |8,929 |13.1
1989 |4,286 |1,760 |1,629 |7,675 |12.4
1990 |4,620 |1,242 |1,989 |7,851 |13.0
1991 |4,754 |1,118 |1,556 |7,428 |12.0
1992 |3,517 |1,657 |1,737 |6,911 |14.5
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken or intends to take, to introduce legislation which will ensure public access before and after Forestry Commission land is sold.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 February 1993] : I refer the hon. Member to the announcement made on this subject by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Scotland on 21 November 1990, Official Report, columns 164-66. The Government have no plans to introduce legislation.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hectares of land the Forestry Commission has held in each of the years since 1979 in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England ; and what percentage of total land this is.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 February 1993] : The information is given in the following table :
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