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C
Reported catches of salmon and grilse in England, Scotland and
Wales in 1991 by method of capture
|England |Scotland|Wales
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rod and line |9,452 |62,450 |4,522
Commercial nets<1> |34,631 |76,351 |3,044
(of which NE coast drift nets) |(22,463)
Total |44,083 |138,801 |7,566
<1>Includes reported catches of salmon by all methods other than
by rod and line.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Fraud
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions social security fraud was detected in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) West Yorkshire in the last year for which figures are available ; and how many prosecutions were undertaken in these areas.
Mr. Burt : The administration of fraud detection is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 15 March 1993 :
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As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking on how many occasions social security fraud was detected in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) West Yorkshire in the last year for which figures are available ; and how many prosecutions were undertaken in these areas.The last full year for which figures are available is the year ending 31 March 1992. During the year ending 31 March 1992 a total of 196,061 social security investigations into fraud were undertaken in England by officers of the Benefits Agency. Included in this figure are 23,179 cases in the Yorkshire and Humberside area. I regret that I am unable to provide figures for the West Yorkshire area as we do not have a distinct operational area there.
In the same year there were a total of 3,644 prosecutions undertaken in England and Wales. I am unable to provide separate figures for England alone or the West Yorkshire and Humberside area. All prosecution statistics for the year in question were compiled by our solicitors branch who do not operate within these distinct geographical areas.
It may be useful for you to know that from the year starting April 1992 we have compiled prosecution statistics for each of our operational areas. This will enable us to provide information for smaller geographical areas.
I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Target Times
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is (a) the target time and (b) the proportion of cases in which the target time was achieved over the past three months, for (i) attendance allowance claims and (ii) disability living allowance claims for those over 60 years of age.
Mr. Scott : The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Lady Olga Maitland, dated 15 March 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social security about (a) the target time and (b) the proportion of cases in which the target time was achieved over the past three months, for (i) Attendance Allowance (AA) claims and (ii) Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for those over 60 years of age.
You asked for the target time for clearing claims from DLA customers who are over 60 years of age. I should explain, however, that clearance times broken down to particular age bands of DLA customers is not routinely gathered.
The primary target set for the clearance of DLA claims is 60 per cent. of claims to be cleared in 30 days. The performance figures for the last three months are shown in the table below :
|Per Cent. in 30 days
---------------------------------------------------------------
December 1992 |55
January 1993 |49
February 1993 |61
It will perhaps be helpful if I explain a little about the changes which took place with the onset of the new adjudication structure. With the introduction of DLA from 6 April 1992, all outstanding AA claims, reviews and appeals in
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respect of people under 65 were transferred to DLA for processing under the new adjudication system introduced at the same time. This was because any award of AA spanning 6 April for people under 65 would automatically become the Care Component of DLA at that time. The primary target set for the clearance of AA claims is 60 per cent. of claims to be cleared in 35 days. The performance figures for AA for the last three months are shown in the table below :
|Per Cent. in 35 days
---------------------------------------------------------------
December 1992 |54
January 1993 |44
February 1993 |52
As you may know the success of the advertising campaign and the policy initiatives surrounding the launch of the benefits attracted a much larger number of applications in the early stages than was expected. Backlogs of work arose as a result and this has undoubtedly affected our ability to meet the clearance targets. However I am pleased to say that the firm actions which have been taken to reduce the backlogs are now resulting in significant improvements in clearance times. At the end of February the total amount of outstanding claims to DLA stood at around 50,000 and about 45,000 for AA compared with the over 124,000 DLA claims and 153,000 claims outstanding at the end of June 1992.
Finally, I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Disability Payments
Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of disability living allowance claims being completed per adjudication officer per day.
Mr. Scott : The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Jane Kennedy, dated 15 March 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for the latest number of Disability Living Allowance claims being completed per adjudication officer per day.
As at 26/2/93 adjudication officers dealing with new claims to Disability Living Allowance were clearing on average 15 cases per day.
It has to be borne in mind that because some cases are more complex than others this figure may vary week by week.
I hope you will find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Homelessness
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made of the comparative living costs of homeless families placed in permanent accommodation with self- contained cooking facilities and homeless families who are placed in temporary accommodation and who are reliant on the purchase of take-away food.
Mr. Burt : None. Such an assessment would be difficult with neither a practicable definition of self-contained
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cooking facilities nor an accurate assessment of the number of people with access to other cooking facilities and the use they make of them.Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has undertaken into the impact of introducing VAT on take-away food on the weekly household budgets of homeess families living in temporary accommodation who are without access to self-contained cooking facilities.
Mr. Burt : None. Such research would not take account of families with access to facilities that were not self-contained. It would also require a practicable definition of the term "self-contained cooking facilities".
Abandoned Children (Mothers)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to ensure that fathers cite the name of mothers who abandon their child, so that they can be made to pay maintenance towards the upkeep of their child ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : The provisions of the Child Support Act 1991 apply equally whether it is the mother or the father who is the parent with care of the children. Therefore, where a father who is the parent with care of the child is in receipt of income support, family credit or disability working allowance, he will be required to co-operate with the Child Support Agency in obtaining maintenance from the mother, unless this would cause harm or undue distress to the parent with care or to any children living with him.
Pensioners (Consumer Goods)
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the acquisition and ownership of consumer goods by pensioners for (a) 1979 and (b) the most recent year for which information is available, in respect of personal computers, typewriters, and word processors.
Miss Widdecombe : It is estimated that in 1991, the latest year for which information is available, 1.3 per cent. of retired households had a home computer . This information is not available for 1979. No information on ownership of typewriters is available.
Notes :
retired households consist of single retired adults or households with one man and one woman where the head of household is retired. the term "home computer" covers personal computers and word processors.
Free School Meals
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Social Security Act 1986 to restore to local authorities the discretion to make available free school meals to children whose parents are not on income support.
Mr. Burt : There are no plans to extend the availability of free school meals. Families who cannot claim income support because a parent is working 16 hours or more a week can claim family credit. In setting the child rates used in calculating family credit entitlement, allowance is made for the non-availability of free school meals.
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Independent Tribunal Service
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases the Independent Tribunal Service has cleared in 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mr. Scott : I have been informed by the office of the president of the Independent Tribunal Service that the total number of cases cleared in the years in question was as follows :
Appeal Tribunal |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93<1>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Security (SSAT) |118,902 |131,835 |117,660
Medical (MAT) |23,521 |23,319 |18,948
Disability (DAT) |- |- |2,811
|------- |------- |-------
Total |142,423 |155,154 |139,419
Note 8
<1>Year to 31 January 1993.
These figures cover a complex and fast-changing state of affairs. If the hon. Member is aware of any specific problems, he may wish to contact the president's office.
Departmental Spending
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage share of total departmental spending was accounted for by non- departmental public bodies in each year since 1979.
Mr. Scott : The percentage share of total departmental spending accounted for by non-departmental bodies attached to the Department of Social Security is as follows :
Year |Per Cent --------------------------- 1992-93 |1.78 1993-94 |2.31
However, the details for earlier years are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Lone Parents
Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the population of the Warrington South constituency were (a) male lone parents or (b) female lone parents, at the latest available date.
Mr. Burt : Information is not available for the Warrington, South constituency. The 1990 Labour Force Survey shows that 8 per cent. of all women in the north-west region were lone parents.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated turnover rate of maintenance cases by the Child Support Agency in Warrington South.
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Mr. Burt : In 1992-93 the child support unit in Warrington, South handled just under 1,300 maintenance cases. Estimates for 1993-94 are not available.
Appeals Tribunals
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to reduce delays in cases being heard by social security appeals tribunals in (a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) what plans he has to reduce delays in cases being heard by medical appeals tribunals in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : Responsibility for the administration and organisation of social security and medical appeal tribunals lies with the president of the Independent Tribunal Service, His Honour Judge Thorpe, and the hon. Member may wish to write to his office direct.
Unemployment Benefit
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what changes he will make to end the rule whereby workers over the age of 55 years who receive an occupational pension of £35 or more per week suffer a reduction in unemployment benefit ;
(2) how many people over the age of 55 years suffer a reduction in unemployment benefit because they receive an occupational pension of more than £35 gross per week.
Mr. Burt : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 10 March at col. 625-26 .
Regulations
Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report , columns 499-500 , if he has now finished compiling and has checked for accuracy and consistency of definition the comprehensive provisional list of regulations which have an impact on business for which his Department is responsible ; and when he intends to place the list in the Library.
Miss Widdecombe : A list of the Department's regulations affecting business has been checked and a consolidated list of such regulations for all Departments will be compiled by the central deregulation unit of the DTI and placed in the Library shortly.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 February, Official Report, columns 710-17, how many housing benefit claimants, were (a) local authority tenants, (b) housing association tenants and (c) other private tenants, for England, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain as a whole for the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Burt : The available information is in the table :
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Average number of Housing Benefit cases<1> Region |England |Wales |Scotland |Great Britain -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Local Authority tenants |2,419,600 |153,200 |459,600 |3,032,400 Housing Association tenants |314,600 |16,200 |21,000 |351,800 Other private tenants |859,300 |49,600 |60,300 |969,300 <1>Numbers given are the averages of the May, August and November caseload counts for 1992 and include estimates for non responding authorities.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in which areas cold weather payments are to be paid for any period in February and early March.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is in the Library.
Care Homes
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of claimants with preserved rights to income support who will be in receipt of benefit towards the cost of their care in residential or nursing homes on 1 April.
Mr. Burt : The number is estimated to be 295,000. There are also residents currently self-supporting who will have preserved rights to the income support higher limits.
Allowable Fees
Mr. Pickthall : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the £10 increase in allowable fees, for people in nursing homes, due in April, to sufferers from Alzheimer's disease and those judged to be suffering from terminal illness.
Mr. Burt : No. The terminal illness limit is not necessarily paid only to those who are terminally ill within the accepted definition of that term. Resources are better directed to the other limits. From April 1993, under the community care scheme, all new residents of nursing homes who need public support will have their needs assessed by the local authority, which will contract with individual homes for their fees.
SCOTLAND
Marriage Counselling
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to make the same percentage increases in funding of Marriage Counselling Scotland as are proposed for Relate (England and Wales).
Mr. Lang : No. Decisions on grants are made according to local needs and priorities.
TUPE Regulations
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 8 March, column 411, if he will now publish in the Official Report the two letters giving a legal view on the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 issued to Tayside health board.
Mr. Stewart : No. The letters are between a legal adviser and a client and it is a matter for them.
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Caledonian MacBrayne
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Caledonian MacBrayne passenger ferry fleet by way of (a) names, (b) gross registered tonnage and (c) age of construction.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is set out in the table :
Vessel |Gross registered|Built
|tonnage
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruernish |69 |1973
Canna |69 |1975
Claymore |1,631 |1978
Coll |69 |1974
Eigg |69 |1975
Hebridean Isles |3,040 |1985
Iona |1,324 |1970
Isle of Arran |3,296 |1984
Isle of Cumbrae |201 |1977
Isle of Mull |4,719 |1988
Loch Tarbert |211 |1992
Juno |854 |1974
Jupiter |849 |1974
Keppel |213 |1960
Loch Dunvegan |549 |1991
Loch Fyne |549 |1991
Loch Linnhe |206 |1986
Lochmor |1,989 |1979
Loch Ranza |206 |1987
Loch Riddon |206 |1986
Loch Striven |206 |1986
Lord of the Isles |3,504 |1989
Loch Buie |295 |1992
Morvern |64 |1973
Pioneer |1,071 |1974
Raasay |69 |1976
Rhum |69 |1973
Saturn |851 |1978
Suilven |1,908 |1974
Nursery Education
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of children aged under five years in (a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole attend privately funded nursery schools.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not held centrally.
Terrorism
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average length of sentence imposed by the courts since 1970 on a terrorist convicted of a Northern Ireland-related homicide in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not available centrally.
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Regulations
Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 12 February, Official Report , column 863 , if he has now finished compiling and has checked for accuracy and consistency of definition the comprehensive provisional list of regulations for which his Department is responsible ; and when he intends to place the list in the Library.
Mr. Lang : Amendments have been made to my Department's list of regulations affecting business and submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry. A consolidated list of regulations for all Departments, including mine, will be compiled by the central deregulation unit of the Department of Trade and Industry and placed in the Library as soon as possible.
Consultants
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to (a) Cooper and Lybrand management consultants, (b)
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Touche Ross management consultants, (c) Price Waterhouse management consultants, (d) Ernst and Young management consultants, (e) Chrichton Roberts Ltd., (f) KPMG management consultants and (g) Leopold Joseph management consultants, with the total cost of the contracts with each contractor, for (i) the past 12 months and (ii) 1991-92 ;(2) how many contracts for consultancies were awarded by his Department over (a) the last 12 months and (b) 1991-92.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 February 1993] : My Department does not hold centrally records of all work commissioned from external consultants. Details are, however, held centrally of my Department's use of management consultants ; information for the year 1991-92 and for the current financial year to 31 January 1993 is set out in the table. Also set out are the total costs of all contracts with the named consultants. In two cases, only one project was undertaken and because of the need to maintain commercial confidentiality the contract cost has been withheld.
Column 221
Management consultancies awarded by the Scottish Office
Consultant 1991-92 |Project
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CEAS Consultants |Review of Livestock Improvement Schemes
Price Waterhouse |Unit Costing-Further Education Colleges
Price Waterhouse |Management Information Systems-Further Education Colleges (Phase 1)
PE International |Business Review of Directorate of Telecommunications
Castle Consultants |Customer Care and Communication
Ernst & Young |Business Review of Financial Information Systems
Ernst & Young |Public Expenditure Survey Feasibility Study
Coopers & Lybrand |Market Testing in the Scottish Office
CCTA |Education Department Information Systems Strategy Study
CCTA |Social Work Services Group
|Information Systems Strategy Study
Peter Hyde |Strategy for Change Information Systems Policy
Office Futures |Office Information Systems
SRU Ltd |Strategic Framework for NHS in Scotland
Touche Ross |Procedure Manual on Contracts
PE International |Review of Scottish Office
|Office Superannuation Division
Peat-Marwick |Scottish Office Superannuation Division-Administration and
|Information Technology Support Systems
PA Consulting Services |Scottish Criminal Record Office
|Automatic Fingerprint Recognition System
Quality Consulting Services |Scottish Prison Service BS5750 Quality System
Marketing Initiatives |Scottish Prison Service-Strategic Planning
HEDRA |Scottish Prison Service-Management Planning System
Coopers & Lybrand |Scottish Prison Service-Organisation Review
HEDRA |Prison Board Workshop
HEDRA |Scottish Prison Services-Information Services Strategy Study
Price Waterhouse |Commissioner and Provider Roles
PA Consulting Group |Local Authority Services
Peat Marwick McLintock |Scottish Natural Heritage Pay and Grading
Investment Property Databank |Financial Performance of New Towns Development Corporation Property Assets
PIEDA |Housing Initiatives Survey
Coopers & Lybrand |Local Development Companies
|Disposal of Industrial and Commercial Assets
G. Stobbs |Management and Maintenance Review
Price Waterhouse |Valuation of East Kilbride Direct Labour Organisation
Coopers & Lybrand |Debt Write Off
PIEDA |Interim Evaluation of Strathclyde Integrated Development Operation
PIEDA |Highlands and Islands Interim Evaluation of National Programme of Community
|Interest
Goddard Kay Rogers & Associates Limited and |Recruitment of Director of Human Resources for NHS-Management Executive
Recruitment & Assessment Services
Hay Management Consultants Ltd |Development of new pay system for NHS Managers
KPMG Management Consultants |NHS Trust Application-Financial Evaluation
CSL Group Ltd |NHS Management Executive-Accountancy Support
CSL Group Ltd |Review of Contracts in NHS
Capita |Scottish Office Market Testing Programme
Coopers and Lybrand |Staffing Structure of Scottish Higher Education Funding Council
PIEDA |Interim Evaluation of Strathclyde Integrated Development Operation
PIEDA |Highlands & Islands: Interim Evaluation of National Programme of Community
|Interest
MVA |Oil Related Employment Survey
HFA/PACEC/St Andrew's Economic Consultants |Impact of Ferry Subsidies paid to CalMac on the Western Isles
Solid Solutions |Scottish Electricity Privatisation-Collection of Final Instalment
MacKay Consultants |Evaluation of Agricultural Development Programme for Scottish Islands
Dr. A. Rowley |Scottish Agricultural Science Agency-Quality Assurance
Coopers & Lybrand |Computer Migration-Historic Scotland
Touche Ross |Pay and Performance Review-Historic Scotland
Touche Ross |Structure of Local Government in Scotland-Advice on Financial and Qualitative
|Appraisal of Options for Change
KPMG Management Consultants |Specification of Scottish Office Superannuation Division. Future Administrative
|and Information Technology Support Systems
KPMG Management Consultants |Scottish Police College-Training and Information System Strategic
Touche Ross |Scottish Police College
|Training Needs Analysis for Sergeants and Inspector Ranks
Price Waterhouse |Police Service in Scotland-Activity Analysis Presentation
Faulds Advertising |Evaluation of Campaign on Car Crime
Criminology and Law Research Group |Identification of all non-police led crime prevention community initiatives in
|Scotland
MVA Consultancy |Evaluation of Scottish Office Funded Drugs Helpline
The Arkle Organisation |Scottish Prison Service-Strategic Planning (2)
The Learning Centre |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Industrial Relations
Anderson Lyall |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Prison Officer Training
QTAC Business Services |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Pilot Accreditation Study
Centre for Action Learning |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Governor 5 Training
Marketing Initiative |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Total Quality Management
Savage Young and Associates |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Quality Programme
Open Learning Centre-Perth College |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Training for Trainers
PA Consultants Ltd |Scottish Prison Service Training College-Governor Development
Hoskyns Group Plc |Scottish Prison Service-Information Network-Full Study
MMM (Consultants) |Scottish Prison Service-Procurement Review
Marketing Initiative |Scottish Prison Service-Review of Regime Activities
W. Marshall |Scottish Prison Service-Review of Sex Offenders
Marketing Initiative |Scottish Prison Service-Strategic Planning
Marketing Initiative |Scottish Prison Service-Migration Workshop
Marketing Initiative |Scottish Prison Service-Management Development
HEDRA |Scottish Prison Service-Strategic Planning
Marketing Initiative |Scottish Prison Service-Strategic Planning Workshop
PA Consultants Ltd |Scottish Prison Service-Strategic Planning Workshop
Ernst Young |Public Expenditure Survey: Phototype Development
Dr. Shelia Clarke |Study and Review of Further Education Colleges Development Plans
Coopers & Lybrand |Further Education Colleges Development Plans
Price Waterhouse |Further Education College Implementation Planning Phases 2 and 3
Newell & Budge |Service Level Management-Information Technology Services
LOGICA |Data Communications and Cabling Strategy
SPEC Systems |Scottish Teachers Superannuation Scheme
|Softwear for the Calculation of Transfer Values
Dun and Bradstreet |Purchasing software Modifications (2)
Castle Consultants |Information Systems-Policy Workshops
Peter Hyde |Consultancy Skills-Training
LOGICA |Information Systems Full Study
CCTA |Information Systems Strategy Study
LOGICA |Technical Support for the The Scottish Office Technical Strategy
PA Consultants Ltd |Information Systems Full Study
Office Futures |Preparation of Briefing for The Scottish Office Technical Strategy
SEMA |Quality Assurance of The Scottish Technical Strategy
CCTA |Support for Technical Strategy
Peter Hyde |Policy Implementation Review
Value of contracts awarded by The Scottish Office to certain
management consultants
Year and consultant |Total cost of all
|contracts
|£
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92
Price Waterhouse |119,000
Ernst and Young |49,800
Coopers and Lybrand |196,000
KPMG Management Consultants |92,500
1 April 1992-31 January 1993
Price Waterhouse |464,400
Coopers and Lybrand |107,500
KPMG Management Consultants |134,000
Touche Ross |80,700
Community Transport Association
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider providing funding for the Community Transport Association's advice and information service to Scotland, to allow it to advertise its existence throughout Scotland.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 4 March 1993] : The Community Transport Association applied for funding from the Scottish Office Industry Department in January 1992 to extend their advice and information service to Scotland. The application was carefully considered but was not approved. While consideration was given to the possible scope for paying a grant, there are no grant schemes at present which would have been suitable for the purpose. While I am sympathetic to the association's wish to expand in Scotland, it cannot be a priority at the present time to provide new funds for new schemes of grant. Any future application which the association may make to the Scottish Office under transport or social work legislation would be considered on its merits and would depend on the strength of the case and the level of funding sought. I hope that the Association will continue to monitor the level of inquiries for advice and information which it receives from Scotland against the possibility of any future application being made.
European Regional Development Fund
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with Scottish local authorities and other eligible infrastructure-providing bodies concerning the levels of (a) base and (b) supplementary credit approvals with a view to the provision of matching Government funding to maximise successful applications for European regional development fund assistance.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 2 March 1993] : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has discussed on three occasions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities the new arrangements for the treatment of grants from the European regional development fund. These come into effect on 1 April 1993 and fulfil the agreement reached with the European Commission for making it clear that ERDF grants confer additional spending power on Scottish local authorities. In common with all other bodies eligible to receive ERDF
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assistance. local authorities will continue to meet their contribution to approved expenditure from their own resources. In addition to the basic and supplementary allocations which the Secretary of State provides, authorities can enhance their spending by the use of capital receipts and by revenue and private sector contributions.Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total amount of money received for (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland from the European regional development fund in each year since1986 -87 ; and what are the expected amounts for each year until 1995-96.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 March 1993] : The European Commission allocates moneys on a calendar year basis. The Commission has not yet announced what funds will be made available for Scotland beyond 1993. It is not therefore possible to provide estimates for 1994-95 and beyond. the table sets out the information available on awards to Scotland and, of those, on awards to Strathclyde since 1986.
Total amount of awards for Strathclyde Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1986 |9.4 1987 |13.1 1988 |42.0 1989 |48.1 1990 |50.6 1991 |54.2 1992 |49.4 1993 |72.3
Total amount of awards for Scotland Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1986 |84.0 1987 |93.0 1988 |95.0 1989 |68.0 1990 |84.0 1991 |124.5 1992 |86.5 1993 |111.5 Note: The authentic figures for allocations are expressed in Ecu. The totals expressed here in sterling are for illustrative purposes only. The final sterling sums available to the programmes will depend on the exchange rates at the time payments are received.
Ambulance Crews
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that all offers of voluntary overtime by ambulance crews aimed at filling gaps that would otherwise occur in scheduled duties are not constrained by budget considerations.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 March 1993] : The scheduling of duties and overtime arrangements are operational matters to be decided by the general manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Hospital Shops
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what surveys have been commissioned by the Home and Health Department into the number and estimated percentage of hospital shops which sell cigarettes and similar products.
Column 229
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 March 1993] : No surveys of hospital shops have been commissioned, but all health boards are committed to having policies in place to create a virtually smoke-free national health service as from 31 May 1993 and progress will be monitored by the NHS management executive in Scotland.
Renaval Programme
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report, columns 168-69, if he will indicate the amounts of money paid by (a) the Scottish Office, (b) Strathclyde regional
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council, (c) Inverclyde district council, (d) the European Community and (e) the Renfrewshire enterprise company to those projects in Inverclyde which received aid by way of the European Community's Renaval programme.Mr. Stewart [holding answer 15 March 1993] : This information is not held centrally. My Department reimburses each project sponsor for that part of a project's defrayed expenditure eligible for European funds as awarded by the Renaval programme monitoring committee. The amount of EC funding paid out to date is given in the following table :
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