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Inspectors
Rev. William McCrea : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many inspectors are currently employed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Northern Ireland and how many were employed five years ago.
Mr. Ancram : There were 682 inspectors employed in 1988 and 490 in 1993. This includes a small number of officers who would not be regarded as wholly carrying out inspection duties.
Terrorist Suspects
Mr. Jim Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the statutory codes of practice in respect of terrorist suspects to come into operation.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : I have today laid before Parliament the draft codes of practice for the detention, treatment, questioning and identification of terrorist
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suspects in Northern Ireland, as I am required to do by section 61(3) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. I intend to make an order which will bring the codes into opertion from midnight on 31 December 1993. This short delay is to enable the RUC to ensure that all officers are fully conversant with the new codes of practice before they come into operation.The codes, which will replace part IV of the non-statutory "Guides to the Emergency Powers", have been based heavily on the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (PACE) codes of practice which apply to non-terrorist suspects. Adjustments have been made where necessary to reflect the relevant emergency legislation. The purpose of the codes is to enhance still further the already extensive safeguards available to those detained under the terrorism provisions and to provide clear and workable guidelines for the police.
SCOTLAND
Local Government
8. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has had regarding the proposed local government boundaries published in his White Paper.
31. Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received following publication of proposals for changes in local government boundaries.
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received from the general public about his proposals for the reform of local government.
Mr. Lang : Since the publication of the White Paper, "Shaping the Future--The New Councils" in July, about 1,300 individual letters commenting on the reorganisation proposals have been received. In addition, about 25,000 post cards, pro forma letters and petition signatures have been submitted.
14. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to improve the quality of local government in Scotland.
Mr. Lang : The creation of single-tier local government, changes to the internal management arrangements of authorities, the extension of compulsory competitive tendering and a range of other Government intiatives are all expected to improve the quality of local government in Scotland.
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
15. Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposed new Edinburgh royal infirmary.
Mr. Stewart : I understand that Lothian health board has almost completed consideration of its strategy for the provision of acute services and will submit its proposals to public consultation shortly. My right hon. Friend looks forward to seeing the proposals but cannot comment on them in detail until public consultation is complete and the board's proposals are formally submitted to him for approval.
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Scottish Enterprise
16. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met Scottish Enterprise to discuss its training budget.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend and I met regularly with the chairman and chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, where training budgets is one of a number of issues discussed.
A Partnership for Good"
17. Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to assess public opinion on the White Paper, "Scotland in the Union : A Partnership for Good" ; and what action he intends to take.
Mr. Lang : Responses to the White Paper, "Scotland in the Union : A Partnership for Good" have been generally very favourable. Many of the proposals in the White Paper have already been implemented and most will come into operation within the next few months.
Super-quarries
18. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the environmental impact of super-quarries being sited in the highlands and islands.
Sir Hector Monro : Under the EC directive on the environment it is likely that all super-quarry proposals will require a formal environmental assessment. This must be carried out and considered by the planning authority before it reaches a view on any application.
Western General Hospital
19. Mr. Chisholm : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the public response to the consultation exercise on the proposal that the Western general hospital become a trust.
Mr. Stewart : The majority of individuals and organisations who responded to the public consultation on the trust proposals for Lothian did so on a general rather than hospital specific basis. These responses, totalling 121, were carefully considered by my right hon. Friend before reaching his decisions on the applications.
Greenwich Mean Time
21. Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the total extra numbers of children and adults who have been injured or killed as a consequence of the use of Greenwich mean time for part of the year.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : It is estimated that total road casualties in Scotland might be reduced by just over 1 per cent. by the adoption of central European time, though the benefits would not be evenly spread with a possible increase in fatal and serious casualties in the northern half of the country.
Forestry
22. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make an announcement about the future management of forestry woodlands.
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Sir Hector Monro : Any announcement about the future management of Forestry Commission woodland would follow the conclusion of the work of the forestry review group, which is expected early next year. After receiving the group's advice, Ministers will need some time to consider it and decide what action, if any, should be taken.
27. Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to conclude his inquiry into the Forestry Commission.
Sir Hector Monro : The forestry review group is still continuing its work, and expects to present its advice in the new year. Thereafter, Ministers will need some time to consider the advice, and decide what action, if any, should be taken.
New Towns 23. Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the new towns development corporation boards to discuss the future of new towns.
Mr. Stewart : In the period between 1 June and 14 September this year I met with each corporation board. My right hon. Friend and I are due to meet the chairmen and senior officials of the five new town development corporations before the end of the year.
26. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with the wind-up of the Scottish new town development corporations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : Since the orders providing for their wind-up were made on 24 February 1992, East Kilbride and Glenrothes development corporations have made significant progress in winding-up their affairs. Full details of progress to 31 March 1993 are contained in reports on wind-up which were published by the corporations in July along with their annual reports for that year. Significant further progress has been made since 1 April and will be published in the reports to 31 March 1994.
The three other new towns are also progressing successfully towards maturity, as a direct result of the major investments by the public and private sectors in commercial and industrial development, infrastructure and housing ; and investment will continue. Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies have matured rapidly since their establishment in 1991, and are now ready to undertake the leading economic development role for all areas within their boundaries, including the New Towns.
Indeed, the process of transferring from New Towns to Scottish Enterprise strategic sites and premises for inward investment is already under way. Development corporations, in consultation with Locate in Scotland and the local enterprise companies, are taking active steps to ensure the continuity of provision of inward investment services and the retention, in either the public or private sector, of the expertise of new towns personnel in these areas.
In order to maintain continuity and an orderly transition of responsibility, as well as maintaining Scotland's ability to compete for inward investment, Locate in Scotland will assume, with effect from 1 April 1994, overall responsibility for the marketing, publicity and promotion
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of the new town areas as locations for inward investment. SEN and LIS will be responsible for ensuring the continuing provision of a supply of suitable property for inward investors in the new town areas. The Government's objective remains that the private sector should play a much more active part than hitherto in the process of property development for industrial and commercial purposes, and SEN with LIS will therefore liaise closely with the private sector to ensure a balanced, complementary and rational approach to industrial property provision across Scotland. In the interim, SEN will adopt the practice of the new towns to undertake a limited and controlled programme of building modern, high quality advance factory premises in order to meet the needs of inward investors.I shall shortly be bringing forward a Bill to create a new structure for local government in Scotland from 1 April 1996. I believe it is desirable that the new unitary authorities should have, so far as possible, the full range of their responsibilities from the outset of their existence. The responsibilities which Cumbernauld, Livingston and Irvine currently hold for planning and owning and maintaining certain community and environmental assets will be transferred, along with appropriate resources, to the new unitary authorities from 1 April 1996.
The corporations are actively pursuing the Government's policy of housing tenure diversification and this will continue until wind-up. I remain committed to giving tenants the right to choose their successor landlord and ballots will take place in each of the towns during 1996 with transfers to the new landlords completed by 31 December 1996.
It is now quite clear that preparations for wind-up in the new towns are well advanced--much more so than could have been envisaged four years ago, even on the most ambitious timetable. As a result, I am today initiating formal consultation on my proposal that the wind-up periods for Cumbernauld, Livingston and Irvine should be 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1966. The proposed wind-up timetable for Cumbernauld is as set out in the 1989 White Paper, The Scottish New Towns--The Way Ahead' (CM 711) ; while my proposal accelerates by two and three years respectively the provisional timetable for Livingston and Irvine set out in the White Paper. A further period of three months to March 1997 is envisaged for final dissolution of the three corporations as legal entities.
As well as making good sense in practical terms, the accelerated timetable will preclude the need to spend significant additional resources on maintaining the original wind-up timetable. Agreed plans for infrastructure and other developments will be resourced. The rationalisation of inward investment-related activities, outlined above, also allows some scope for efficiency savings.
The new town development corporations have an impressive track record achieved by the commitment of their corporation boards, and the skill, energy and dedication of their staff. I believe that by their wind-up dates all of the corporations will have provided successful and mature towns, capable of further growth and development within the broader framework for local government and economic development. I look to the corporations and their staff to adapt their customary commitment and skills to ensure that the wind-up process is completed smoothly and on time.
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In order to ensure the widest possible understanding of what the wind-up will mean in practical terms, a leaflet will be distributed to every household and business in each of the new towns.Sunday Trading
24. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the Sunday trading law.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Since November 1992 my right hon. Friend has received nine representations, including two letters from one individual, supporting the recent Shops (Amendment) Bill ; one letter against and one seeking assurance that the Government's Sunday trading proposals for England and Wales will not affect Scotland.
Environmental Objectives
25. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his environmental objectives for Scotland during the coming year.
Sir Hector Monro : The environmental objectives for the Scottish Office are set out in the Scottish Office publication, "Serving Scotland's Needs", published in February 1993. They cover action to protect and enhance the environment of Scotland for current and future generations.
Drug Education
28. Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he plans to improve drug education in Scottish schools following the latest report on this subject from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : We are studying the Council's report and thished under the chairmanship of my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State will also be reviewing drug prevention and education activities in Scotland. As part of that review, the task force will be examining the current arrangements for drug education in schools and considering what further practical measures might be taken.
Home Insulation Grants
29. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on home insulation grants.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The home energy efficiency scheme provides grants for loft, tank and pipe insulation, draughtproofing and energy advice to low income households in receipt of certain social security benefits. Housing authorities have powers to give improvement and repairs grants to householders, which can include works for energy efficiency measures. Scottish Homes can also provide grants in certain designated areas.
Open Government
30. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made to date under the terms of the open government initiative ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Lang : My Department is taking steps to implement the proposals set out in the Government's recent White Paper, "Open Government" (Cm 2290). In particular, consideration is being given to the arrangements which will be needed to comply with the principles of the code of practice on access to Government information which comes into effect on 4 April 1994.
Meanwhile, thought is being given to the possible early release of blocks of records less than 30 years old ; and a review of previously withheld material over 30 years old is being undertaken.
Regional Development Fund
32. Sir David Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value of grants that Scotland has received from the European regional development fund since its inception.
Mr. Stewart : Since the inception of the European regional development fund in 1975, Scotland has benefited from awards totalling almost £1.2 billion.
A77
33. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report progress on upgrading the A77 between Kilmarnock and the M8.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Office and Strathclyde regional council are examining whether the planned new section of motorway from the existing link to the M8 in Glasgow to the south of Newton Mearns can be undertaken as a single joint contract. If this proves feasible and funds are available, tenders for this scheme could then be sought.
South of this, preparation work is underway for extending the motorway between Newton Mearns and Kilmarnock and it is hoped that draft statutory procedures will be published early next year.
House Condition Survey
34. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities relating to the recent publication of the Scottish house condition survey.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : COSLA was represented on the survey steering group.
Services Provision
35. Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss the provision of services.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend and I will be meeting representatives of COSLA on Friday of this week as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters.
Economy, Lanarkshire
36. Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the Lanarkshire economy.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations regarding the Lanarkshire economy.
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Trust Hospitals
Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current situation as regards NHS trust hospitals in Scotland.
Mr. Stewart : Seventeen NHS trusts are currently operational in Scotland. Most of these have been in existence for only six months but evidence is already emerging to confirm the experience of Aberdeen Royal hospitals and South Ayrshire trusts who in their first year treated more patients then ever before, improved facilities, and provided services more suited to patient needs.
European Transport Links
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the Government's response to the main conclusions and recommendations contained in the Scottish Affairs Committee's first report of 1992-93, on the future of Scotland's transport links with Europe.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has today published "The Future of Scotland's Transport Links with Europe : Government Response" (Cm 2335). The Government have welcomed the consideration given by the Committee to this important subject. The Government's response reflects the very careful attention which has been paid to the Committee's recommendations. We have assured the Committee that its views will be taken fully into account by the Government in addressing future transport priorities.
Workplace Nurseries
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many workplace nursery facilities have been financially assisted from Government resources ; and if he will list where each is located.
Mr. Stewart : The provision of welfare benefits at the workplace is a matter for the employer concerned. However, in the 1990 Budget we introduced tax relief under the normal business tax rules for an employer's day-to-day expenditure on child care provision for employees' children. This was a carefully targeted measure, aimed at encouraging employers to increase the supply of good quality nursery care and to help them meet expected changes in workforce patterns over the 1990s.
In Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise has provided £440,000 for the Glasgow development agency to establish The Partnership Nurseries Company which aims to provide additional nursery places in and around the city centre. Sixty-four such places will be provided initially when the company starts operations.
Private Rented Accommodation
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of (a) young single people, (b) other single people, (c) couples and (d) couples with children who are looking for privately rented accommodation.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : This information is not available.
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NHS Trusts
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the comments received on each application for NHS trust status ;
(2) if he will list all those who have responded to each trust application, and give the number of responses in favour and against in each case.
Mr. Stewart : Copies of all comments received in response to the public consultations on the third wave NHS trust applications have been retained by the relevant health board and are available for inspection. In due course copies will also be available for inspection in the library of the Scottish Office at New St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh. Three hundred and eighty responses were made to the trust applications covered by the announcement by my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State on 15 October. The numbers expressing explicit support or opposition or offering comments are shown in the table.
Third wave NHS trust applicants (batch 1)-Public consultation responses Trust applicant |For |Against |Comments ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Services |9 |7 |8 Dundee Healthcare |6 |7 |10 East and Midlothian } Edinburgh Child Health } Edinburgh Priority } |<1>17 |<1>47 |<1>57 Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh } Western General } Falkirk Royal Infirmary |8 |5 |41 Forth Valley Healthcare |6 |5 |18 Fife Healthcare |2 |6 |9 Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health |6 |9 |29 Hairmyres and Stonehouse |3 |10 |7 Law |3 |7 |9 Perth and Kinross |7 |7 |9 <1> Responses cover all five Lothian applications.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the applications for the establishment of an NHS trust for Mid and East Lothian.
Mr. Stewart : The public consultation covering the five Lothian trust applications attracted 121 responses. Most were general rather than hospital specific but 54 referred to the East and Mid Lothian application. Ten expressed explicit support, 26 opposition and 18 offered comments.
Farming
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the reason for, and consequences of, the discrepancy between the arable base area declared by his Department to the European Commission, and the actual area revealed through the integrated administration and control system on non-less favoured area farms in Scotland ;
(2) what representations he has made to the European Commission about the impact of penalties to be imposed on arable farming businesses in the non- less favoured area of Scotland as a consequence of the failure of his
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Department to give accurate information about arable areas before 1993 ; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of such representations.Sir Hector Monro : The original base areas provided on 16 September 1992 for the arable area payments scheme (AAPS) introduced this year were based on agricultural census data. In the light of information subsequently available from claims submitted under the AAPS as part of the integrated administration and control system it became apparent that these data understated the amount of land on which non-less favoured area rates of subsidy were payable.
As soon as it became apparent that an adjustment to the base area figures originally submitted to the Commission was necessary, my right hon. Friend personally pressed the Commission to agree to a technical adjustment of the Scottish base areas. The Commission has now agreed to the necessary technical adjustment of the less favoured area and the non-less favoured area elements within Scotland's total base area ; this adjustment has not altered the total base area originally provided. My right hon. Friend and I are most grateful to the Commission for agreeing to that readjustment.
There remains an overshoot in the non-LFA area which reflects an increase in cropping in that area. The EC regulations governing the arable area payments scheme stipulate that the effect of this overshoot is to reduce arable aid payments within the non-LFA area proportionately in the current year and to increase the set-aside requirement in the coming year by the percentage by which the regional base has been exceeded, that increase being uncompensated. My right hon. Friend and I fully recognise that any penalty will be unwelcome to arable farmers. We cannot however vary the total Scottish base area, which reflects data already formally submitted to the Commission ; nor can we adjust the area base control regime in mid- stream. The scheme is designed to penalise areas in excess of base areas on which aid is claimed ; and we cannot simply ignore the problem of over- cropping and the resultant penalty and additional one-year set-aside requirement.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the basis for the non-less favoured area arable acreage declared by his Department to the European Commission ; what was the difference between that figure and the actual figure in 1993 ; and what assessment he has made of his Department's analysis of figures provided by farmers in agricultural returns before 1993.
Sir Hector Monro : The non-less favoured area arable areas declared to the Commission for the purposes of the arable area payments scheme were based on those declared in the annual agricultural census averaged over the three years 1989 to 1991, adjusted to take account of the difference between the statistical basis of the census and the subsidy basis of the arable area payments scheme. The difference between the area claimed in 1993 and the area declared is 23,247 hectares. The arable area payments scheme regulations specify the basis on which declared areas had to be determined.
Lead Pipes
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects lead piping to have been removed from all domestic premises.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Private owners must decide for themselves if and when to replace lead plumbing within their homes. Grant assistance, at a preferential rate, may be available from the local authorities for such work. Availability is dependent on the priority the local authorities attach and the resources available to them and is also subject to the applicant's means. Local authorities determine their own priorities for their stock and the rate of removal depends on the priority they attach and the resources available to them.
Accommodation Agencies
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make it his policy to license accommodation agencies.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No.
Balerno Corridor
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from people in West Lothian, Midlothian, Prestonpans and Musselburgh about the Balerno corridor.
Mr. Stewart : We have received about 60 individual letters and around 400 postcards and petition signatures from these areas specifically about the proposed Lothians authority.
Learning Disabilities
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people with learning disabilities who need residential care are living at home with carers over 60 years old in each health board area.
Mr. Stewart : This information is not held centrally.
Scottish Enterprise Network
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women have (a) entered newly-created jobs and (b) entered training for non- traditional jobs in the past year as a result of Scottish Enterprise Network's activities.
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