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Computer Literacy
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to promote computer literacy among those aged 12 to 16 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 1 March 1993] : Under the five to 14 programme, national guidelines provide schools with guidance on the application of computer learning in each of the curricular areas. In this way pupils will develop knowledge of computers and relevant skills in using technology.
Also, as part of a series of reports on effective learning and teaching, the Scottish Office education department plans to publish a report covering computing later this year. This report will make recommendations to help ensure quality in provision.
Improving standards of attainment, including those in information technology, will also be central to our consideration of the way forward in relation to the Howie committee's proposals for the development of upper secondary education.
New Towns
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what position has been reached in the wind-up of Scottish new town development corporations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 1 March 1993] : Orders to wind-up East Kilbride and Glenrothes development corporations were made on 24 February 1992 with wind-up to be completed by 31 December 1995. These development corporations are due to make their first interim reports to the Secretary of State on progress towards wind-up by 30 June of this year. The dates planned for completion of the wind-up of Cumbernauld, Livingston and Irvine development corporations are 31 December in 1996, 1998 and 1999 respectively. Consultation about winding-up Cumbernauld development corporation will take place later this year with a view to an order being made in December. On 12 and 13 February 1992 my right hon. and learned Friend informed the new town development corporations of his decisions about successor arrangements for economic development and the disposal of the corporation's assets, including housing. Subsequently the Scottish Office industry department provided development corporations with detailed guidance on implementation of these decisions. Further guidance covering the financial arrangements relating to the disposal of housing, the transfer of planning and the disposal of environmental, civic and community assets is being prepared in light of comments from the new town development corporations and other interested parties, including Scottish Homes and
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local authorities. All of the guidance emphasises the importance of early and detailed consultation between the development corporations and Scottish Enterprise, local enterprise companies, Scottish Homes and local authorities. These discussions have begun and are at different stages in each town reflecting the different wind-up timetables.Some progress in the disposal of assets and liabilities has been made in all of the new towns and officials from the Scottish Office industry department are in regular contact to monitor progress.
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Schools
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which schools in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency will be inspected by Her Majesty's inspectorate for schools in the next five years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 1 March 1993] : Her Majesty's inspectorate inspects each year a representative sample of schools designed to ensure balance in terms of factors such as location, size, performance, date of previous inspection. An appropriate proportion of schools in the hon. Member's constituency will be included in the sample. The list of schools to be inspected is not published in advance ; schools and their education authorities are informed by letter when the inspection is about to commence.
English and Communication Skills
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the use of English and communication skills among those persons aged 12 to 16 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 1 March 1993] : A number of measures already in place are aimed at the improvement of the use of English and communication skills. The national guidelines "English Language 5-14" are designed to ensure that between these ages pupils learn to communicate effectively in written and spoken forms and that due attention is given to grammar and spelling. We have also recently published the report "Effective Learning and Teaching in Scottish Secondary Schools : English" as part of a series which describes good practice in a range of secondary school subjects.
Improving standards of attainment, including attainment in English, will also be central to our consideration of the way forward in relation to the Howie committee's proposals for the development of upper secondary education.
Gaelic
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he makes of the total number of persons domiciled in Scotland who speak Gaelic as (a) their first language and (b) their sole language.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 1 March 1993] : The information requested is not available. The 1991 census revealed, however, that there were 69,979 people in Scotland who could speak, read or write Gaelic.
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average age of persons domiciled in Scotland speaking Gaelic as a first language.
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Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 1 March 1993] : The information requested in not available.
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure by his Department in the promotion of the Gaelic language during the current financial year ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 1 March 1993] : The total expenditure on the promotion of Gaelic in 1992-93 is estimated to be £11.9 million. This comprises support for Gaelic education through a scheme of specific grants to local authorities and otherwise ; for the building of an extension to Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic college on Skye (alongside contributions from Scottish Television and Grampian Television) ; for Gaelic broadcasting ; and for organisations which exist to support the language and culture.
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected expenditure by his Department in the promotion of the Gaelic language in each year of the future public expenditure programme.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 1 March 1993] : The projected expenditure is as follows :
|£ million
------------------------------
1993-94 |12.095
1994-95 |11.936
1995-96 |12.173
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Prosecutions
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of cases referred to the Scottish Crown prosecution service in (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) July 1991 to June 1992 resulted in (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction, in each offence category.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 2 March 1993] : Information is not available in the form requested. Table 1 shows the total number of reports to the procurator fiscal for 1990-92, and the total number and percentage of these reports which resulted in court proceedings. Table 2 shows the number of persons proceeded against in 1990-91 by offence category and the number and percentage of these persons who subsequently had a charge proved against them.
Table 1
|1990 |1991 |1992
----------------------------------------------------------------
Reports to procurator fiscal |360,896|368,974|367,063
Reports resulting in court
proceedings |188,259|196,268|189,934
Other non-court proceedings<1> |131,824|137,380|141,542
No proceedings |40,813 |35,326 |35,587
Percentage of reports resulting
in court proceedings |52 |53 |52
<1> Non-court proceedings include, warning letters, conditional
offers for motor vehicle offences, fiscal fines and diversion.
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Table 2
Main crime or Persons called tCharge proved Percentage of
offence court persons called to
court with charge
proved
|1990 |1991 |1990 |1991 |1990 |1991
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total crimes and offences |197,532|190,246|175,947|170,492|89 |90
Homicide |103 |101 |87 |87 |84 |86
Serious assault |1,563 |1,304 |1,162 |968 |74 |74
Handling offensive weapons |1,411 |1,355 |1,011 |1,010 |72 |75
Robbery |841 |790 |637 |614 |76 |78
Other non-sexual violence |514 |418 |402 |317 |78 |76
Sexual assault |229 |177 |165 |124 |72 |70
Lewd and libidinous practices |431 |397 |355 |326 |82 |82
Other indecent |1,150 |889 |1,115 |864 |97 |97
Housebreaking |7,345 |6,617 |6,084 |5,429 |83 |82
Theft by opening l'fast places |3,562 |3,529 |2,832 |2,818 |80 |80
Theft of motor vehicle |3,195 |3,139 |2,322 |2,282 |73 |73
Shoplifting |7,061 |7,116 |6,402 |6,409 |91 |90
Other theft |10,621 |9,033 |9,128 |7,689 |86 |85
Fraud |3,709 |3,211 |3,329 |2,883 |90 |90
Other dishonesty |4,371 |4,280 |3,630 |3,541 |83 |83
Fire-raising |213 |177 |174 |144 |82 |81
Vandalism, etc. |6,673 |6,069 |5,810 |5,232 |87 |86
Crimes against public justice |6,985 |6,602 |5,718 |5,333 |82 |81
Drugs |3,417 |4,022 |3,016 |3,474 |88 |86
Other crimes |41 |43 |24 |30 |59 |70
Simple assault |16,080 |14,124 |13,086 |11,389 |81 |81
Breach of the peace |23,291 |19,805 |20,219 |17,115 |87 |86
Drunkenness |2,898 |2,162 |2,820 |2,092 |97 |97
Other miscellaneous offences |18,157 |18,650 |16,726 |17,645 |92 |95
Reckless and careless driving |8,778 |7,748 |8,073 |7,159 |92 |92
Drunk driving |8,835 |8,452 |8,607 |8,227 |97 |97
Speeding |18,175 |21,790 |17,946 |21,547 |99 |99
Unlawful use of vehicle |21,016 |21,677 |19,603 |20,415 |93 |94
Vehicle defect offences |5,029 |4,490 |4,587 |4,091 |91 |91
Other motor vehicle offences |11,838 |12,079 |10,877 |11,238 |92 |93
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Schools Expenditure
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure on each (a) primary school pupil, (b) secondary school pupil and (c) average for all pupils, for the last financial year for which information is available.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 1 March 1993] : The information is given in the table. It does not include the cost of home to school transport, school meals, education authority central administration and loan charges.
Net current expenditure
per pupil in 1990-91
|£
------------------------
Primary |1,508
Secondary |2,675
All schools |2,098
Note: These figures
have been compiled from
local authority
financial returns. The
"All schools" figure
relates to nursery,
primary, secondary and
special schools.
Business Rate
Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many business rate appeals are currently outstanding in each Scottish region and in total.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 2 March 1993] : Not all the valuation areas are coterminous with Scottish regions. The information in the form that it is recorded is set out in the table.
Outstanding business rate appeals as at 25
February 1993
Valuation areas |Appeals
------------------------------------------------
Borders |Nil
Central |63
Dumfries and Galloway 29
Fife |298
Grampian |135
Highland/Western Isles 900
Lothian |445
Orkney/Shetland |6
Strathclyde |450
Tayside |1,068
|-------
Total |3,394
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Hospitals
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions his Department has had with the University of Edinburgh and Lothian health board with regard to the replacement of the dental hospital in Edinburgh ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) if it is still his policy to build a replacement for the Royal infirmary in Edinburgh ; and when he expects to make an announcement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 2 March 1993] : Discussions between the University of Edinburgh and Lothian health board and the Scottish Office Home and Health Department about the proposed new Edinburgh dental hospital continue. My right hon. Friend remains fully committed to providing such capital investment as is necessary to establish the dental hospital. It will be for the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary NHS trust, if its application for trust status is approved, to take forward plans for a new dental hospital in consultation with prospective purchasing health boards.
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is still his policy to build a new dental hospital in Edinburgh ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 2 March 1993] : Policy on the distribution of acute hospitals in Edinburgh is a matter primarily for Lothian health board, in consultation with the Scottish Office Home and Health Department and subject to the approval of my right hon. Friend. Consultations are continuing and proposals will be issued for public consultation in due course.
Civil Legal Aid
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change there has been in the cost of civil legal aid between 1991-92 and 1992-93 ; and if he will publish the figures on that matter supplied to him by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and its commentary on those figures.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 2 March 1993] : Gross expenditure on civil legal aid in 1991-92 was £16.58 million. Figures provided by the Scottish Legal Aid Board show that actual expenditure to the end of January 1993 was £20.54 million. The board estimates that expenditure for the full financial year 1992-93 will be £23.45 million--a projected increase of 41.4 per cent. over the 1991- 92 outturn. In the view of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, the rise is caused by an increasing number of grants and by grants being claimed and paid more quickly.
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