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Art Therapy
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grants the Scottish Office is awarding to Scottish students studying for the postgraduate diploma
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in art therapy in (a) English higher educational institutions and (b) Scottish higher educational institutions.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 27 May 1993] : The Scottish Office is supporting two Scottish students studying for the postgraduate diploma in art therapy at English higher education institutions in session 1992-93. There is only one similar course at a higher education institution in Scotland. It commenced only in session 1992 -93 and the arrangements were finalised too late for it to be considered for an allocation of awards. The position will be reviewed for session 1993 -94.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring he is carrying out of the factors influencing the drop out rate of first-year students on the postgraduate diploma in art therapy run by Edinburgh university settlement's school of art therapy.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 27 May 1993] : The Scottish Office Education Department does not monitor completion rates on individual courses at higher education institutions in Scotland. The Department recently published research into factors affecting non- completion rates in Scottish Universities and issued guidelines for promoting effective learning in higher education. Together with the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, the Department maintains a general interest in completion rates across the sector as a whole.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total EC funding available to the Edinburgh university settlement's school of art therapy.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 27 May 1993] : I understand that Edinburgh University Settlement's school of art therapy is to receive funding of the order of 294,000 ECUs (£230,000) in the three-year period 1991-1993 through the European Community's HORIZON initiative.
Self-build Housing
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the Scottish housing budget was allocated to self-build housing in percentage and money terms ; and what percentage was taken up in the latest year for which figures are available.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 27 May 1993] : Some £900 million is available to local authorities, Scottish Homes and new town development corporations for capital investment in housing in 1993-94. No separate budget for self-build housing is prescribed, and it is a matter for the individual authorities and agencies how to allocate the resources made available to them.
Food Poisoning
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics he has on the number of reported cases of food poisoning in Scotland in each of the last five years ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 27 May 1993] : The numbers of food poisoning cases notified in Scotland in each of the last five years are as follows :
|Number
---------------------------
1988 |2,998
1989 |3,197
1990 |3,024
1991 |2,938
1992 |<1>3,311
<1> provisional figure
A more detailed analysis of food-borne infection in Scotland, and a commentary on the trends, may be found in part II of the report of the Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food, the Richmond report. published in 1991. The report recommended that the current arrangements for national surveillance co-ordinators should be placed on a more formal basis and that is now in hand.
Deer Killing
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each forest in the Forestry Commission Inverness district for each year from 1990 (a) the culling targets for red and roe deer, (b) the numbers of red and roe deer actually culled and (c) the estimates of the red and roe deer populations.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 17 May 1993] : The information is as follows :
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Estimated populations of red and roe deer in Inverness forest district in May
each year
1990 1991 1992
Forest |Red<1> |Roe |Red<1> |Roe |Red<1> |Roe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Culloden |60 |270 |80 |300 |70 |300
Glenmore |110 |150 |100 |130 |90 |130
Inshriach |150 |300 |150 |250 |150 |200
Lael |20 |20 |20 |20 |20 |20
Torrachilty/Black Isle |400 |170 |350 |150 |300 |120
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |740 |910 |700 |850 |630 |770
<1> The population of red deer in a forest will vary considerably during the
year as the deer move from the open hill to the forest and back again. The
numbers in the forest in the winter are likely to be much higher than the
above population estimates made in May each year.
Estimated populations of red and roe deer in Inverness forest district in May
each year
1990 1991 1992
Forest |Red<1> |Roe |Red<1> |Roe |Red<1> |Roe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Culloden |60 |270 |80 |300 |70 |300
Glenmore |110 |150 |100 |130 |90 |130
Inshriach |150 |300 |150 |250 |150 |200
Lael |20 |20 |20 |20 |20 |20
Torrachilty/Black Isle |400 |170 |350 |150 |300 |120
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |740 |910 |700 |850 |630 |770
<1> The population of red deer in a forest will vary considerably during the
year as the deer move from the open hill to the forest and back again. The
numbers in the forest in the winter are likely to be much higher than the
above population estimates made in May each year.
Forestry Commission (Privatisation)
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what aspects of the privatisation of the Forestry Commission in respect of (a) the ownership of woodlands and (b) the regulatory functions of the commission will require primary legislation.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 18 May 1993] : Ministers have come to no decisions about the effectiveness of the current incentives for forestry investment or the ownership and management of Forestry Commission woodlands, which are the subject of review. Only once they have done so would they consider any consequent requirements for primary legislation.
Scottish Parliamentary Business
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Scottish National party to discuss procedure relating to Scottish parliamentary business ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 20 May 1993] : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 5 May 1993 at columns 178-79.
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Hearing Aids
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who is responsible for the provision and maintenance of radio hearing aids for (a) pre-school children, (b) children at school and (c) students in further and higher education in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 May 1993] : Where a radio hearing aid is specified as special educational provision in the record of needs of a pre-school child or a child attending a school, it is the duty of a responsible education authority to arrange for the provision and maintenance of such aids.
Boards of management of further education colleges have a duty to ensure that their college provides suitable and efficient further education. They have a power to provide to students such assistance of a financial or other nature as they may consider appropriate. In exercising their functions they must have regard to the requirements of those with learning difficulties. Education authorities' bursary arrangements provide a discretion to provide allowances for students with special educational needs.
Within higher education it is for individual higher education institutions to consider the arrangements necessary to meet the additional learning support needs of such students. Eligible students in higher education may be entitled to disabled students' allowances, including provision for the purchase of specialist equipment as part of their student award.
Bail
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average sentence imposed for breach of the Bail etc. (Scotland) Act 1980, in the sheriff court and the High Court in each of the past five years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 27 May 1993] : The available information is given in the table :
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Persons with a charge proved where the main charge was for the breach of the Bail etc (Scotland) Act 1980Number of persons by disposal Average sentence
Year Custody Community service
order Probation Fine Caution/
Admonished Other Total Custodial sentence (days) Fine
High Court
1987 2 -- -- -- 2 -- 4 456 --
1988 5 -- -- -- 3 3 11 572 --
1989 5 1 2 -- 2 -- 10 548 --
1990 8 -- -- -- 2 2 12 201 --
1991 4 -- 2 1 1 1 9 91 500
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Sheriff Court1987 401 61 70 650 228 8 1,418 71 120
1988 499 114 108 661 246 16 1,644 79 128
1989 574 119 161 711 235 12 1,812 73 125
1990 534 149 169 677 320 11 1,860 76 127
1991 487 181 213 560 286 10 1,737 78 122
Community Charge
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of people in Scotland exempted from payment of the community charge on the grounds of severe mental impairment in each year of its existence.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 25 May 1993] : For each of the years in question the table shows the numbers of persons in Scotland aged 18 or over recorded on the community charge register as exempt from the community charge by reason of severe mental handicap.
|Number
-----------------------------------
As at September 1989 |10,289
As at July 1990 |14,794
As at June 1991 |15,866
As at June 1992 |17,720
DEFENCE
Allivane Ltd.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 October 1992, Official Report, column 610, when the 1988 contract with Allivane Ltd. was signed ; for how long ammunition was stored in his Department's facilities for Allivane ; when the consignment of ammunition was removed from this Department's storage facilities ; and at what facilities the ammunition was stored.
Mr. Aitken : A contract between my Department and Allivane Ltd. for the short-term storage of ammunition was signed on 2 June 1988. The ammunition was stored at the central ammunition depot Longtown for a period of 10 days from 7 June until 16 June 1988.
Mr. John Anderson
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the legal basis of the arrest by his Department's police, of Mr. John Anderson, in Scotland, on 24 April 1990 ; where and by whom the arrest warrant was issued ; if he will place in the Library the findings of the board of inquiry into the subsequent road accident on the A249 near Dettling, during the afternoon of 24 April involving Mr. Anderson ; what legal action resulted from the road accident ; who covered the costs of the repairs to the respective vehicles involved in the road accident ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Mr. John Anderson was arrested by Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) on 24 April 1990 in
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connection with the giving of a corrupt gift contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. He was interviewed and subsequently released without charge. The warrant for his arrest was issued by a justice of the peace at Ramsgate magistrates court, Kent. Whilst under arrest the MDP vehicle in which Mr. Anderson was travelling was hit by a private car. There was no board of inquiry into this matter, but a road accident report was undertaken by Kent police who decided that legal action was not appropriate. The MDP vehicle was written off and my Department received £2,000 from the third party insurance of the other vehicle involved which was at fault.Departmental Buildings
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the buildings currently owned or rented by his Department, together with (a) the estimated value, (b) the annual rent and (c) the annual maintenance cost of each building in the current financial year.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Select Committee Recommendations
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since April 1989.
Mr. Hanley : Since April 1989, the Defeeports have appeared either as command papers, or have been published as special reports by the Defence Select Committee itself. My Department has contributed to the work of other Select Committees as requested ; any reports reflecting these contributions are also available in the Library. The "Sessional Information Digest" lists Select Committee reports and provides reference numbers to Government responses up to the start of the current Session. Similar information for the current Session may be found in the House of Commons "Weekly Information Bulletin". Alternatively, Select Committee reports and the Government responses relating to them may be traced through the POLIS data base in the Library.
Cadet Corps
Mr. Jonathan Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial resources have been devoted by his Department towards the running of the (a) Air Training
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Cadet Corps, (b) Army Cadet Force, (c) Combined Cadet Force and (d) Sea Cadet Corps in each year since 1988.Column 128
Mr. Hanley : Information in the form requested is available only from financial year 1991-92 and is as follows :
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/$/£ million
Financial year |Sea Cadet Corps<1>|Army Cadet |Air Training Corps|Combined Cadet
|Force<2><3> |Force<2><3>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |4.0 |20.0 |25.1 |5.8
1992-93 |4.8 |16.5 |27.5 |6.5
<1> Excludes the cost of the Harbour Training Ship HMS Bristol (about £1 million).
<2> Includes an element of capital works expenditure.
<3> For 1991-92 Earnings Related National Insurance Contributions for Combined Cadet Force Army personnel are
included in the Army Cadet
Force figure.
Polaris
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 May, Official Report, columns 81-82, if he will explain the differences between his answer and the evidence given to the Defence Committee on the annual operation and maintenance costs of Polaris on 30 January 1985, HC 37 (1984-85), p. 159, Q 935 ; and what items are included in the figure given in the evidence.
Mr. Hanley : The figures given in the answer of my right hon. Friend the member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton) of 17 May ( Official Report, columns 81-82 ) represent the best available estimate of the average annual operating cost of the Polaris system in the individual years 1991-92 and 1992-93. Figures given to the Defence Select Committee in 1985 are likely to have covered similar items, but were derived from a defence-wide cost- attribution system which is no longer in use. This system was largely reliant on contemporary judgments on the attribution of costs which were refined over time. It would not be possible to carry out a more detailed examination of the basis for the figures given in 1985 without incurring disproportionate cost.
Relocation and Amalgamations
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sections and organisations within his Department for which there are plans for relocation or amalgamation.
Mr. Hanley : Reorganisation plans have an impact within my Department and throughout the armed forces. It would not be possible to list every section and organisation for which there are plans without disproportionate cost. A number of changes have already been announced and announcements will continue to be made as and when decisions are taken.
Search and Rescue
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what will be the reduction, in square miles, between the European waters area currently covered by a one-hour response time for search and rescue helicopters as illustrated in annex A of "The Future Provision of RAF Search and Rescue Helicopters" and that illustrated in annex B in (a) the south-west approaches, St. George's channel Irish sea area, (b) southern North sea and Dover straits and (c) the North sea area between Peterhead and Flamborough head ;
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(2) what was the total area in square miles in the United Kingdom search and rescue region outside the standard one- hour response time (a) as illustrated in annex A of the defence open government document, "The Future Provision of RAF Search and Rescue Helicopters" and (b) as illustrated in annex C of the same document ; (3) how large an area in square miles will be outside the standard one-hour response time within the United Kingdom search and rescue region for search and rescue helicopters as a result of redeploying Sea King flight 202 to RAF Chivenor from RAF Brawdy ;(4) how large an area, in square miles, and how many miles of coastline, his Department calculated would be outside the standard one-hour response time for search and rescue helicopters when considering whether to transfer Sea Kings from RAF Boulmer to RAF Leuchars.
Mr. Hanley : The information required is not readily available within the timescale requested and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
RAF Equipment
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when results of the RAF equipment supply study will be announced.
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of cost effectiveness and value for money in the RAF study into equipment supply.
Mr. Aitken : Cost effectiveness and value for money in defence procurement are central to this study.
Burtonwood Air Base
Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future use of Burtonwood air base and his Department's surrounding land ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : We are currently considering alternative defence uses for RAF Burtonwood once it is vacated by the United States army later this year and hope to take a decision on the site's future as soon as possible. In parallel we are discussing prospects for the site's development with the local authority should it be declared surplus to defence requirements ; in this context a planning application for development of some of the land surrounding the main site has recently been submitted to Warrington borough council.
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Bosnia
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to provide support on the ground to their commitment of safe havens in Bosnia ; what British forces are to be provided in support of this concept ; and what rules of engagement they are being given.
Mr. Hanley : Security Council resolution 836 calls on United Nations member states to contribute forces to facilitate the implementation of the safe areas. The United Kingdom is proposing to continue the deployment of 2,100 ground troops serving with UNPROFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina command, which constitutes the largest national contribution to that command. A total of 173 of these troops are based at an airfield adjacent to the town of Tuzla. Tuzla and it surroundings is one of the safe areas designated by Security Council resolution 824. The troops will remain there, structured and equipped as at present. They will continue to operate under rules of engagement issued by the United Nations commander.
Married Quarters
Ms Coffey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the availability of housing including married quarters in the Stockport and Glasgow areas ; and what is the estimated cost of each area for the location of additional personnel for the new Army personnel centre.
Mr. Hanley : The housing supply in both the Greater Manchester and Glasgow conurbations is adequate to meet the requirement likely to be generated by the Army personnel centre. Although some existing married quarters near to the locations could be used, extra quarters would need to be acquired in each case. Because there are currently fewer married quarters in the Stockport catchment area than in Glasgow, provision of married quarters for an Army personnel centre at Stockport would cost nearly £1,000,000 more than allowed in the investment appraisal for the Glasgow option.
Ms Coffey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of providing additional parking facilities at Kentigern house for the proposed increase in full-time staff for the new Army personnel centre.
Mr. Hanley : It is not proposed to add to the 96 car parking spaces currently available at Kentigern house ; Glasgow has a most efficient public transport system which is the normal method of commuting into the city.
Parachute Regiment
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action has been taken against those members of the Parachute Regiment who were bound over to keep the peace for 18 months in a recent court action arising out of incidents in Coalisland, Co. Tyrone.
Mr. Hanley : The soldiers were brought before the magistrates court for various charges relating to the alleged offences committed in Coalisland. No separate disciplinary action may now be taken against them for the same or substantially the same offences.
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Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated legal costs incurred by his Department in respect of the recent court action against members of the Parachute Regiment arising out of incidents in Coalisland, Co. Tyrone.
Mr. Hanley : The costs of this action will not be determined until solicitors' bills have been received for consideration and approval by the Crown Solicitor's Office, Northern Ireland, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior and junior barristers were employed by his Department in the recent court action against members of the Parachute Regiment arising out of incidents in Coalisland, Co. Tyrone.
Mr. Hanley : On legal advice, four leading counsel and four junior counsel were employed to represent the particular interests of the individual soldiers concerned.
Belize
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now review his policy in respect of the proposed withdrawal of British military forces from Belize ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Plans for the evolution of the British military presence in Belize were announced on 13 May. We see no reason to change these plans.
Maralinga Nuclear Test Site
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet his Australian counterpart to discuss outstanding matters in regard to United Kingdom obligations to clean up the radioactive contamination at the Maralinga nuclear test site in Australia.
Mr. Hanley : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, plans to meet the Australian Ministers for Foreign Affairs and for Primary Industries and Energy on 17 June 1993 to discuss this subject.
WALES
Forestry Commission
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on the subject of the future of the Forestry Commission ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend and I have received five written representations on this matter during the last year.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was (a) the number of people employed, (b) the area owned and (c) the amount of timber produced by the Forestry Commission in each year since 1987 ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The information is as follows :
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Forestry Commission in Wales
Year ending 31 March |Number<1> employed |Area managed ('000s |Timber produced
|Hectares) |('000s Cubic
|metres)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 |1,700 |145 |761
1988 |1,650 |144 |753
1989 |1,445 |143 |736
1990 |1,410 |141 |689
1991 |1,160 |140 |626
1992 |1,290 |139 |733
<1> This includes directly employed contractors.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet the trade unions of the employees of the Forestry Commission to discuss the commission's future ; and if he will make a statement.
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Sir Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet representatives of the employees of the Forestry Commission. I understand that representatives of all the trade unions concerned are being kept informed of matters affecting their interests through meetings with the Director General of the Forestry Commission.
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