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|Number
----------------------------------
Forfar Infirmary |18.7
Stracathro Hospital |9.2
Arbroath Infirmary |12.6
Total |40.5
(c) Dundee
The impact on jobs is dependent on the extent of development required at Ninewells hospital to replace
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Dundee royal infirmary. Until decisions are reached on the board's review it is not possible to begin detailed work on assessing the implications for that hospital. As a result, the board is not yet able to assess future staff numbers in Dundee.Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the capital allocations made to Tayside health board in each of the past four years and the amount of additional allocation made this year ; and what is their relationship to Scottish health services revenue equalisation parity.
Mr. Stewart : The capital allocation to Tayside health board in each of the last four years was :
|£ million
------------------------------
1989-90 |11.144
1990-91 |11.856
1991-92 |16.607
1992-93 |18.928
In 1992-93 a supplementary allocation was made to health boards and, of this, Tayside was allocated £600,000.
Unlike revenue allocations to health boards capital allocations are not distributed on a "SHARE" formula basis. Health boards and NHS trusts submit their proposals for capital projects to the Scottish Office Home and Health Department. These are reviewed and
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allocations are made, primarily on the basis of local and national strategic objectives and priorities. The total capital programme for the NHS in Scotland in 1992-93 was £229.588 million.Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current numbers of ambulances and ambulance staff serving the Angus area ; and what increases are planned to meet the changes in hospital services proposed by Tayside health board.
Mr. Stewart : There are currently 17 ambulances and 35 ambulance staff serving the Angus area.
Until the board has made a decision on the future of acute services in the area it is not possible to determine what changes might be required to the ambulance service.
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had or plans to have with Tayside health board regarding provision of ambulance services in consequence of proposed changes in Angus hospital services.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Health and Home Affairs met the chairman and general manager of Tayside health board on 29 January. During the meeting, the board outlined the remaining work programme for its review of acute services, inlcuding its plans to hold discussions with the Scottish ambulance service. These were to establish the implications for the ambulance service in Angus of the board's options for acute services in that area.
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the services closed and reduced at (a) Stracathro and (b) Arbroath infirmary over the past 10 years, stating the reduction in manpower and buildings.
Mr. Stewart : The following changes have been introduced at Stracathro hospital and Arbroath infirmary during the last 10 years. Stracathro Hospital
In 1987 in-patient gynaecology services were withdrawn and replaced by a day-case only service. The resources were reallocated to another speciality and there was no effect on staff or buildings. During 1990 surgical paediatric bed numbers were reduced by eight ; orthopaedic surgery decreased by four to 96 ; and general surgery from 41 to 37. The changes had no effect on staff or buildings. In 1991, Grampian health board ceased referring patients to the orthopaedic service at Stracathro. This resulted in a reduction of 49 available orthopaedic beds at the hospital. This service change resulted in the following staff reductions :
|Reduction
|per cent.
----------------------------------
Physiotherapy |0.5
Catering |3.0
Cleaning |2.6
Nursing |<1>36.7
<1>Whole-time equivalents
Arbroath Infirmary
In August 1989, gynaecology day surgery services were withdrawn, but this had no effect on staff numbers.
In 1990 the number of maternity beds were reduced from 18 to 9, reflecting actual usage. There was no effect on staff numbers.
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Between 1985 and 1987 specialist gynaecology, general surgery and medical paediatrics services transferred to Dundee or Stracathro hospital and a day ward was created for minor surgery. The surgical bed complement was also reduced from 34 to 13 day beds.Some staff transferred to Stracathro along with general surgical beds, while others were redeployed at Little Cairnie, or lost through natural wastage.
All the above changes were carried out by redeployment of staff.
Local Enterprise Councils
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the budget for each local enterprise company in Scotland for 1992-93.
Mr. Stewart : The allocation of resources to the local enterprise companies is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairmen of these bodies to write to my hon. Friend.
Edinburgh University Dental School
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what representations he has received regarding the future of the University of Edinburgh dental school ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what arrangements have been made for specialist care and continuing education following the closure of the University of Edinburgh dental school ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart : 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 and for continuing dental education and to negotiate contracts for the provision of specialised dental services with prospective purchasing health boards.
Market Testing
Mr Kynoch : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to the market testing of public services in Scotland.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has today placed in the Library guidance on the implications for market testing of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. I also refer my hon. Friend to the separate statements which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health are making on specific issues raised by the application of the regulations to their areas of responsibility. I hope that the guidance and statements will be helpful to all those involved in market testing, including compulsory competitive tendering, to the extent that they set out circumstances in which the regulations are, and are
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not, likely to apply, and explain their effect where they do. My Departments and the NHS in Scotland are pressing ahead with their extensive programmes of market testing. I am confident that innovative proposals will be produced, offering good value for money, whether or not the regulations apply.Local authorities, of course, must conduct compulsory competitive tendering according to the relevant legislation. If in the light of all the circumstances of any individual case, it appears to me that a local authority has behaved so as to unlawfully restrict, distort or prevent competition, I will consider taking statutory action.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions since 1991 compensation has been paid in respect of not planting conifers in sites of special scientific interest ; and what has been the sum paid out in each year.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 February 1993] : The information supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage is as follows :
Agreements Agreements Interest
involving lump sum involving annual
payments payments
Year<1> |No. |Amount |No. |Amount |paid<2> |Total
|£ |£ |£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |15 |1,085,773|2 |18,060 |450,159 |1,553,992
<3>1992-93 |5 |674,014 |3 |8,800 |158,298 |841,112
<1> Financial year, April to March inclusive.
<2> Interest on the agreed compensation is payable over the period during which
the arbitration agreement is concluded.
<3> Year to date. The final outturn is not expected to be substantially
different.
Prison Escapes
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inmates have escaped from Scottish prisons each year since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 2 March 1993] : The information is as follows :
Year |Number of inmates
|escaped
------------------------------------------------------
1979 |38
1980 |41
1981 |61
1982 |45
1983 |39
1984 |27
1985 |46
1986 |18
1987 |40
1988-89 |96
1989-90 |67
1990-91 |42
1991-92 |35
<1>1992-93 |41
<1> to 28 February.
Note: Figures from 1979-87 are for calendar years.
The 1988-89 figure represents a transitional period
of 15 months.
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Prison Statistics
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the prisons in Scotland, giving the number of inmates and prison officers at each for each year since 1979.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : [holding answer 2 March 1993] : The information requested is included in reports "Prisons in Scotland" and for 1991-92 "Scottish Prison Service" presented to Parliament annually by my right hon. Friend. Details are as follows :
Year |Command No. |Average Daily Number|Staff (Full-Time and
|of Prisoners or |Part-Time)
|Inmates
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |8037 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 20
1980 |8421 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 14
1981 |8618 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 17
1982 |8980 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 17
1983 |9400 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 7
1984 |9670 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 7
1985 |1 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 7
1986 |223 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 7
1987 |551 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 7
1988-89 |998 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 9
1989-90 |1499 |Page No. 13 |Page No. 23
1990-91 |1633 |Page No. 20 |Page No. 24
1991-92 |2143 |Appendix No. 1 |Appendix No. 8
Potatoes
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to obtain comparative information about EC member state intervention into the potato market ; and if he will give figures showing assisted purchases of potatoes in 1992 for the United Kingdom, France and Spain.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 March 1993] : Information about EC member state intervention in the potato market is not formally obtained by my Department.
We are aware that certain other member states--for example, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal--may operate ad hoc intervention and other support measures in times of over-supply. In addition, the Netherlands operates a seed support scheme. Specific figures of assisted purchases by France and Spain are not however available. The amount of the United Kingdom Government contribution towards the Potato Marketing Board's joint support buying scheme during 1992-93 has not yet been determined, but a contribution will be made in accordance with the terms of the Government's financial agreement with the board.
Winter Deaths
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of excess winter deaths in Scotland in each year since 1987.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993] : The information available is given in the table.
Column 715
Number of deaths
---------------------------------------------------
1987 1 |16,881
2 |14,925
3 |14,096
4 |16,112
1988 1 |16,533
2 |15,300
3 |14,252
4 |15,872
1989 1 |16,427
2 |15,165
3 |14,134
4 |19,291
1990 1 |16,933
2 |15,105
3 |13,737
4 |15,752
1991 1 |16,278
2 |14,891
3 |13,814
4 |16,058
1992 1 |16,510
2 |14,673
3 |14,030
4 |15,732
The 1992 figures are still provisional.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to amend the advice offered by his Department on 1 December 1992 to Ayrshire and Arran health board in connection with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 ;
(2) what advice he has given to health boards on the effect of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 in relation to the transfer of services to opt-out trusts.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 5 March 1993] : Advice was given on 1 December by the central legal office for the national health service in Scotland, which is a division of the Common Services Agency. That advice was given to Ayrshire and Arran health board and was intended to offer general guidance in relation to the regulations. The National Health Service Act (Scotland) 1978, as amended, makes express provision in relation to the transfer of health board staff to NHS trust on existing terms and conditions of their employment.
Forestry
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount spent in each of the last 10 years on supporting British forestry in both cash and real terms ; what is his estimate of future costs ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 8 March 1993] : The bulk of public funding for forestry is channelled through the Forestry Commission. Figures showing the Commission's total net expenditure for the past 10 years, and estimates for the next four years, are given in the table. These include the net cost of managing the commission's forests, the net cost of forestry research, and grants paid to private forest owners. They do not take account of the Government's support for forestry through tax relief,
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which will no longer be available after the end of the current tax year, nor the income from disposals of Forestry Commission land.
Year ended 31 March |Cash £ million |Real £ (1992-93)
|million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983 |55.7 |97.5
1984 |56.8 |94.7
1985 |54.0 |85.1
1986 |51.4 |77.3
1987 |51.2 |74.5
1988 |48.1 |66.3
1989 |53.4 |68.7
1990 |58.2 |70.4
1991 |74.4 |82.9
1992 |76.5 |79.8
1993 |<1>98 |-
1994 |<1>94 |-
1995 |<1>96 |-
1996 |<1>96 |-
<1> Estimates.
Hazardous Waste
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with other member states of the European Community concerning the draft directive on the incineration of hazardous waste ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 8 March 1993] : None. In accordance with normal practice it is my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment who has the lead in discussions and negotiations with other member states in connection with this directive.
Qualifications and Skills
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet representatives of the Engineering Employers Federation, the Confederation of British Industry, or the Manufacturing and Construction Industries Alliance to discuss ways in which his policies can more effectively encourage individuals in Scotland to improve their qualifications and skills.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 9 March 1993] : My right hon. Friend will continue to hold frequent meetings with industry representatives to discuss policies relating to skills and qualifications, and the way individuals might make best use of them.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement giving the details of those policies which have been introduced by his Department in each of the last five years in order positively to encourage individuals in Scotland to improve their skills and qualifications.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 9 March 1993] : The Government have taken a number of significant steps in the last five years to encourage individuals to improve their skills and qualifications. These steps include : introduction of youth training and youth credits ; introduction of employment training which merges, with employment action, into training for work from 1 April 1993 ; continued rapid development of the system of Scottish vocational qualifications and other measures to secure parity of esteem with academic
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qualifications ; and introduction of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and their networks of local enterprise companies.Further details for each year can be found in the relevant departmental reports and from the period from April 1991 from the annual reports of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Fishing Industry
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been (a) the tonnage of landings for first sale and importing and (b) the levy collected by the Sea Fish Industry Authority on these landings in respect of (i) white fish, (ii) pelagic fish, (iii) shellfish and (iv) roe and other fish products at Peterhead in each of the last five years.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 March 1993] : The information on landings by fishing vessels and imports into Peterhead is set out in the following tables :
Tonnes
|1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
------------------------------------------------------
Landings
Whitefish |87,012|75,858|69,481|71,592|64,828
Pelagic |29,922|24,329|33,092|46,853|45,043
Shellfish |196 |607 |633 |762 |860
Livers/Roes |42 |53 |36 |48 |51
Imports
Whitefish |314 |704 |103 |121 |267
Pelagic |- |- |- |3,119 |2,709
Shellfish |- |- |- |- |153
Livers/Roes |- |- |- |- |-
The question of the levy collected by the Sea Fish Industry Authority on these landings and imports is a matter for the chief executive of the authority and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.
Legal Aid and Advice
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the proportion of the adult population of Scotland which after 1 April will be eligible for (a) legal advice and assistance and (b) legal aid, for civil purposes on a nil contribution ; what is his current estimate of the proportion of the adult population of Scotland which after 1 April will be eligible for (i) legal advice and assistance and (ii) legal aid for civil purposes irrespective of the level of contribution ; what is the current proportion of the adult population of Scotland currently eligible for (1) legal advice and assistance and (2) legal aid for civil purposes on a nil contribution ; and what current proportion of the adult population of Scotland is eligible for (y) legal advice and assistance and (z) legal aid, for civil purposes irrespective of the level of contribution.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 10March 1993] : Given the variations over time in individuals' circumstances it is not possible to estimate with any precision the proportion of the adult population eligible for legal aid.
Further analyses of data from the family expenditure survey have been undertaken since my reply of 20 January, Official Report, column 228, to the hon. and learned Member. These suggest that in Scotland the percentage of households which would be eligible for civil legal aid under
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the new proposed changes to eligibility criteria, as announced in my reply of 17 February, Official Report, column 226, to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr.Robertson), would be in the range of 50 to 60 per cent., with between 15 to 25 per cent. free of contributions. A similar number would be eligible for advice and assistance, with between 25 to 30 per cent. free of contributions. This represents no substantive change in the total numbers eligible, but a drop of between 5 and 10 per cent. of households currently eligible for free civil legal aid or advice and assistance.Community Care
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements and decisions remain to be finalised in connection with the transfer of community care responsibilities to social work departments.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993] : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly make statutory directions on consultations on plans and on choice of residential accommodation. He will issue the following regulations relating to the funding arrangements for people in residential care and nursing homes : 1. The National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) Regulations 1993.
2. The Residential Accommodation (Relevant Premises, Ordinary Residence and Exceptions) Regulations 1993.
3. The Charging Order (Residential Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 1993.
My right hon. Friend will also issue guidance on these regulations and on sections 21 to 24 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 and the successor arrangements to the independent living fund.
Training
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of young people eligible for the Government's youth training guarantee in each local enterprise company area ; and what is the number of young people receiving youth training.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993] : Information about the number of young people eligible for the youth training guarantee in each local enterprise company area is unavailable. Local enterprise companies estimate demand in their areas for the purpose of planning provision and keep in touch with demand through liaison with the careers service, so that supply can be adjusted to ensure that the guarantee is met. The number of young people receiving youth training in Scotland as at December 1992 was 34,332.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish information on the meeting of the youth training guarantee by local enterprise company area.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993] : Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have assured Ministers that within their respective networks each local enterprise company is meeting the youth training guarantee ; and will continue to meet it. More detailed information about supply and demand in relation to youth training is being refined, in consultation with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and
Column 719
the careers service. It is my intention that appropriate information should be published once that process is complete.Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people qualify for employment training ; and how many are receiving employment training in Scotland.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993]: Given that the unemployed are eligible for a wide range of assistance from Government- funded sources, within which employment training is one option, it would not be meaningful to seek to identify the number of people in Scotland who qualify for employment training. As at December 1992 there were 14,813 people receiving employment training in Scotland.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has conducted into the quality and range of youth training and employment training schemes in Scotland ; and if he will publish the results.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993] : The Scottish Office does not conduct such research at its own hand. The long-running evaluation studies of the effectiveness of youth training and employment training organised by the Department of Employment continue to cover Scotland. In addition it has been, since 1991, the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to keep under continuous review the suitability and adequacy of training provided under these schemes.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the comparative expenditure per youth training and employment training place in each year since the commencement of these schemes.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993] : Expenditure in Scotland per youth training and employment training participant is as follows :
|1991-92 (actual) |1992-93 (estimated
|outturn)
|£ |£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Youth Training |2,671 |2,791
Employment Training |5,902 |6,291
Note: No separate Scottish data exist prior to 1991-92.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what citizens charter provisions apply to the rights of youth training, employment training and employment action participants.
Column 720
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 10 March 1993] : Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have drawn up statements of charter standards which they aim to apply to all their dealings with members of the public ; and local enterprise companies have either adopted statements of charter standards or are considering doing so. In addition, the Government have stated clearly their commitment to fulfilling the youth training and employment training guarantees and to ensuring that those groups at which the training for work scheme is aimed receive an appropriate standard of treatment.
Staphylococcus Aureus
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reported staphylococcus aureus cases have occurred in each health board area in the past five years ; and what advice his Department gives as to how cases should be dealt with.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 9 March 1993] : The number of cases of multiple-resistant staphylococcus aureus confirmed by microbiological testing and reported to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit in each of the last five years was as follows :
Health Board Number of cases
reported
|1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde |2 |4 |8 |33 |43
Ayrshire and Arran |3 |6 |7 |18 |29
Borders |- |- |4 |1 |3
Dumfries and
Galloway |- |1 |1 |1 |1
Fife |- |- |- |- |-
Forth Valley |- |- |- |- |15
Grampian |- |- |1 |12 |6
Greater Glasgow |89 |45 |49 |163 |185
Highland |- |1 |- |- |4
Lanarkshire |11 |22 |28 |35 |83
Lothian |10 |13 |8 |15 |22
Orkney |- |- |- |- |-
Shetland |- |- |- |- |-
Tayside |7 |19 |26 |62 |73
Western Isles |- |- |- |- |-
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Totals |122 |111 |132 |340 |464
The hospital infection manual, which has been made available for use in both the national health service and the private sector in Scotland, includes detailed guidance on procedures for dealing with any outbreak of this infection in hospitals. I have arranged for copies of the manual to be placed in the Library.
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