| Previous Section | Home Page |
|Number
--------------------------------------
Shetland |280
Orkney |563
Western Isles |257
Highland |1,887
Grampian |4,963
Tayside |3,255
Fife |1,550
Lothian |1,639
Borders |2,303
Central |942
Strathclyde |5,030
Dumfries and Galloway |3,630
|-------
Scotland |26,299
Troon Housing Office
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Kyle and Carrick district council spent on the refurbishment of its Troon housing office ; and how much this project was originally budgeted for.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for Kyle and Carrick district council.
Veterinary Services
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when officials in his Department last met representatives of the British Veterinary Association to discuss future arrangements for the highlands and islands veterinary services scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : Officials from my Department met a representative of the British Veterinary Association in May to discuss the future arrangements for the highlands and islands veterinary services scheme. Following that meeting we are giving future consideration to what changes need to be made to the scheme.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received since 1 January regarding the future of the highlands and islands veterinary services scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : Since 1 January 1994, representations have been received from the president of the British Veterinary Association and from the Outer North Isles action group.
Road Improvements
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his proposals for road improvements between Cutty Sark bridge and Newhouse in the Strathclyde region.
Mr. Lang : The line orders and compulsory purchase order for the section of the M8 motorway between Baillieston, to the west of Cutty Sark bridge, and Newhouse were published in November 1993 and May 1994 respectively. These proposals are being taken forward in phases and, subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of
Column 545
finance, it is provisionally planned that the first of these between Drumpark junction and Chapelhall will start between April 1995 and March 1997.Suilevan Ferry
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in the past two years the Suilevan ferry has been loaded to maximum freight capacity on the Stornoway to Ullapool service.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Office does not hold detailed operational information of this nature. I understand that Caledonian MacBrayne does not have the information requested in a readily available form. I have, however, asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member to explain what information is available on this subject.
Housing Waiting Lists
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out a study of the length of time on waiting lists for local authority, housing association and other accommodation for rent experienced by ethnic minority households.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
St. Andrew's Day
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the designation of St. Andrew's Day as a public holiday in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Public holidays in Scotland are not defined in statute, but by long tradition and practice are determined by individual local authorities in consultation with local interests. My right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in this process.
Drug Abuse
Mr. Kynoch : 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 Session 1993-94 on drug abuse in Scotland, HC 52.
Mr. Lang : I have today published "Drug Abuse in Scotland : Government Response", Cm 2629. The Government have welcomed the wide- ranging inquiry carried out by the Committee into this complex and serious problem. Many of the issues covered by the Committee are being addressed by the drugs task force led by my noble and learned Friend, the Minister of State and will be reflected in its report. As the Government's response indicates, the Committee's report, with the work of the task force, will help provide a clear and robust framework within which drug misuse in Scotland can be vigorously and comprehensively tackled.
Council Tax
Mr. Kynoch : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to make regulations which will prevent council tax payers from having to pay arrears of council tax when their property banding has been altered upwards due to an inaccuracy in the original list.
Column 546
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend proposes to make regulations later this year which will ensure that in future any increases in council tax banding resulting from the correction of an error in the original list will come into effect only from the date on which the list was altered.
Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Kynoch : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he intends to make for the provision of advice to local authorities on staffing issues which arise out of the Government's proposals for local government reorganisation.
Mr. Lang : The proposed restructuring of local government will have significant implications for local authority staff. Clause 12 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill provides for the establishment of a staff commission to exercise functions in relation to the staff and the staffing of authorities. In advance of the commission being established, I have appointed a staff advisory committee, chaired by Mr. Robert Peggie, who took up his appointment on 1 April 1994. The advisory committee has, in the course of its work, had discussions with a number of local authorities. As a result of those discussions it has become clear that additional work is required and in particular that there is a pressing need from authorities for advice on the staffing issues which they need to consider. There is a need also for the preparation of advice for local authorities on individual staffing issues, some of which are very complex. I therefore intend to establish the staff commission in shadow form before the Bill receives Royal Assent.
It is also my intention formally to designate the existing chairman and members of the staff advisory committee as a shadow staff commission. The shadow commission will continue the excellent work begun by the advisory committee as well as advising local authorities and making preparations for the establishment of the full commission following Royal Assent.
Parliamentary approval for this expenditure was sought in the 1994-95 main estimates for housing and environmental services Scotland vote, class XIV, vote 7. This expenditure was subject to the passage of both the Appropriation Act and the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill. Pending Royal Assent of both Bills urgent expenditure estimated at £150,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund.
Inquiry Reporter
Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what percentage of appeals to the Scottish Office inquiry reporter is initiated by industry ;
(2) how long it takes on average for the Scottish Office inquiry reporter to notify him of his decision ;
(3) what percentage of appeals to the Scottish Office inquiry reporter are initiated by private citizens.
Mr. Lang : I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the allocated budget for the environmentally sensitive area schemes in Scotland for each year since 1989.
Column 547
Mr. Lang : The information is given in the following table :
-
Financial year |Approved
|estimate
|£ million
---------------------------------------------
1989-90 |1.000
1990-91 |1.150
1991-92 |1.500
1992-93 |3.905
1993-94 |5.283
1994-95 |4.500
Burley Healthcare
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Ayrshire and Arran health board has now concluded a contract with Burley Healthcare.
Mr. Stewart : Ayrshire and Arran health board and Speciality Care plc, previously known as Burley Healthcare plc, are currently in the process of finalising a legal contract for care provision.
Consultants
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines are currently in operation by his Department relating to the employment of public sector bodies by consultancy firms.
Mr. Lang : There are no guidelines on the employment of public sector bodies by consultancy firms.
Sheep Quotas
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about outstanding sheep quota applications to the national reserve ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 19 July 1994] : The Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department met recently with the National Farmers Union of Scotland to discuss the allocation of sheep annual premium quota to those producers who had applied to categories 3 to 7 of the 1993 national reserve. Allocations to category 1 and 2 producers have already been made in full.
Column 548
The Department received over 1,800 applications of which 1,600 were applications to categories 3 to 7. A large number of these applications did not contain the documentation necessary to support the claims and the Department wrote to the producers concerned giving them an additional period of time to provide this documentation. Provided these producers respond timeously to the Department's request it is anticipated that producers will receive notification of the quota allocations during September 1994.Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider a partial sheep quota allocation and partial payment to those sheep producers with outstanding applications to the national reserve.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 19 July 1994] : I have considered the possibility of making partial allocations of sheep annual premium quota from the 1993 national reserve to allow partial payments of premium to be made. With more than half the applicants to the reserve still having to establish the validity of their claims it is impossible to estimate whether allocations will have to be scaled back and if so, what that scaling factor will be. Any partial allocations at this stage would therefore have to be very small, and since we currently expect to make the final allocations in two months' time I do not propose to make this additional step, which could in fact delay those final allocations.
Nurse Training and Education
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the spending on nurse education and training for the years 1990-91 to 1993-94 identifying the spending allocated to (a) pre- registration education, (b)
post-registration education and (c) nurse teacher training and support.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 19 July 1994] : The following table sets out the funding of pre-registration nursing and midwifery education and training and of teacher training and support for the years 1990-91 to 1993-94. Funding of post-registration education is not identifiable separately.
Column 547
£ million
|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-registration funding |22,876 |24,012 |26,350 |26,370
Funding of teacher training and support |1,331 |1,786 |1,330 |950
Police Access to Records
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many subject access requests were received by his Department involving access to national insurance records in the last year; how many subject access requests were received by each Scottish police force in the last year; what estimate he has as to the percentage of those requests which were enforced subject access requests; and if he will make a statement concerning his policy towards enforced subject access.
Column 548
Mr. Lang : I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
Prisons
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the prisons that had surplus cell capacity as of 30 June; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James-Douglas Hamilton : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Column 549
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman Godman, dated 20 July 1994 :Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the prisons that had surplus cell capacity as of 30 June. During any year a number of cells are unavailable for use for a variety of reasons, including redecoration or damage repair
Column 550
work, refurbishment (including in some cases, to provide night sanitation) or for other policy reasons (e.g., being retained in the event of an emergency). Against this background the information you requested--reflecting the position as at Friday 1 July--is set out in the attached table.Column 549
(1) |(2) |(3) |(4) |(5)
Establishment |Design capacity |Cells available |Prisoner |Cells not in use
|for use |population |(3) (4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aberdeen |142 |136 |183 |6
Barlinnie |939 |861 |1,154 |78
Castle Huntly |144 |144 |64 |-
Dumfries |139 |129 |125 |10
Dungavel |135 |135 |120 |-
Edinburgh |508 |506 |631 |2
Friarton |56 |56 |77 |-
Glenochil |668 |538 |517 |131
Greenock |172 |172 |281 |-
Inverness |79 |68 |99 |11
Longriggend |177 |177 |198 |-
Low Moss |396 |396 |394 |-
Noranside |137 |137 |125 |-
Penninghame |85 |81 |54 |4
Perth |426 |408 |465 |18
Peterhead |271 |209 |210 |62
Polmont |414 |366 |374 |48
Shotts |535 |490 |460 |45
Cornton Vale |312 |179 |188 |34
|--- |--- |--- |---
Totals |5,637 |5,188 |5,719 |449
PRIME MINISTER
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months ; if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring ; and if he will set out his targets to help small businesses in the next year.
The Prime Minister : The Government continue to help small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and, when appropriate, through specific programmes of support and assistance. The recently published White Paper on competitiveness has clear implications for small firms and will encourage the growth of the sector through a series of well targeted initiatives.
Specific measures to assist small firms are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends, the President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales. For details of specific programmes, I refer my hon. Friend to their replies today.
War Widows
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions over the past two years a Minister has met representatives of the War Widows' Association in order to discuss the needs and interests of war widows.
The Prime Minister : Over the past two years the Minister with special responsibility for war pensions, my hon. and noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
Column 550
of State at the Department of Social Security, has met formally with representatives of the War Widows' Association of Great Britain at four meetings of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions ; he also met a deputation from the association on 12 April 1994. He has also discussed with representatives of war pensions committees--which may include members of the War Widows' Association--matters concerning the needs and interests of war widows ; over the past two years there have been nine such occasions.Military Medals
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 January, Official Report , column 361 , if he will reconsider his policy on whether a medal should be issued specifically for those who did national service.
The Prime Minister : We have no plans to institute an award specifically for those who served a period of national service in the armed forces. They were eligible for the range of official awards approved by the sovereign at the time.
Ex-service Men and Women
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to meet representatives of the Royal British Legion to discuss the implications of the resolution passed by the House of Commons on 1 July that called for the appointment of a Minister for ex-service men and women ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I have of course noted the resolution passed on 1 July, but I must draw the hon. Member's attention to the remarks made in the House by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, on 19 July, Official Report, columns 163-64. The services that ex-service men and women require are varied and are
Column 551
the responsibility of more than one Government Department. Ministers from those Departments can and do meet representatives of veterans' organisations, and I am sure that those arrangements will continue. I do not believe that the interests of veterans would be well served by the creation of an additional tier of bureaucracy in the form of a Ministry for Veterans' Affairs.I have received a request to meet representatives from the Royal British Legion, which I am currently considering.
Proscripted Organisations
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to extend the proscription of the Ulster Defence Association to Great Britain and to the Ulster Young Militants in Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister : The Ulster Defence Association, like a number of other terrorist groups, is proscribed in Northern Ireland where it operates. The situation in Great Britain is kept under review. It should be remembered, however, that as a proscribed organisation in Northern Ireland the UDA already comes within the financial provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, and that it is therefore an offence to contribute funds to the UDA in Great Britain, as well as in Northern Ireland.
The question of the proscription of the Ulster Young Militants is also kept under review, as explained by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, in his answer of 16 March 1994, Official Report, column 706.
Lloyd's
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Prime Minister, what revisions have been made to the guidance in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" in the light of the introduction of members' agent pooling arrangements in Lloyd's
The Prime Minister : The relevant paragraphs in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" dealing with membership of Lloyd's have been revised to take account of recent developments in the way in which Lloyd's business is conducted, including the introduction of members agent pooling arrangements. The Secretary to the Cabinet circulated them to all Ministers on 5 July. The revised paragraphs, replacing paragraphs 118-123 of the latest version of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers", which I published on 19 May 1992, are as follows : "Membership of Lloyd's
118. A Minister holding office as Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer or as President of the Board of Trade (Secretary of State for Trade and Industry), or a Minister holding office as a Minister in the Treasury who is responsible under the Chancellor of the Exchequer for taxation matters relating specifically to Lloyd's, or as a Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry responsible under the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for insurance matters relating specifically to Lloyd's, should not become an underwriting member of Lloyd's. Such a Minister, if already a member of Lloyd's on appointment, should cease underwriting during tenure of that office.
119. Apart from those Ministers covered by the specific requirements of paragraph 118 above, any Minister who is an underwriting member of Lloyd's should not take an active part in the management of the affairs of syndicates of which he/she is a member, and should on appointment as a Minister withdraw from any such active participation in management. Ministers who are underwriting members of Lloyd's should arrange their syndicate participation solely through a Members Agent Pooling
Column 552
Arrangement. This requirement will operate from the 1995 year of account, or from the first year of account after appointment for newly appointed Ministers, subject to time being available for the procedures for joining a MAPA.120. No Minister who is a current underwriting member of Lloyd's should take part in any departmental or collective discussions or decisions affecting Lloyd's whether directly or indirectly (e.g., the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to questions concerning marine, aviation and transport insurance, the Secretary of State for Employment on questions concerning employers' liability insurance, Treasury Ministers on tax issues affecting Lloyd's).
121. Some Ministers have ceased underwriting but still have open syndicate commitments in respect of past membership. Such Ministers should take no part in those departmental or collective discussions or decisions affecting Lloyd's (whether directly or indirectly) if their continuing benefits or liabilities in respect of the period before cessation might thereby be affected, and might therefore make them vulnerable to reasonable suspicion of exerting or being in a position of undue influence.
122. A Law Officer who is an underwriting member of Lloyd's, or who still has open syndicate commitments in respect of past membership, should not tender advice on the formulation, application or enforcement of legislation relating to Lloyd's, or take part in any collective discussion or decision on any matters affecting Lloyd's and should, as far as is practicable, avoid taking enforcement decisions relating to Lloyd's.
123. A Minister in whom powers under legislation relating to Lloyd's are vested should not delegate the exercise of those powers to any other Minister who is an underwriting member of Lloyd's or who still has open syndicate commitments in respect of past underwriting.
123A. Every Minister is required, on appointment to a first Ministerial office, to obtain the Prime Minister's permission before continuing a connection with Lloyd's, however nominal. Any Minister wishing to establish or re-establish any such connection during his term of appointment should likewise obtain the Prime Minister's permission to do so. Before granting permission, the Prime Minister will need to be satisfied that the conditions indicated above will be met.
123B. In addition, the Secretary of the Cabinet is required to keep a list of Ministers who are members of Lloyd's. He will ask all Ministers on appointment for the first time to Ministerial office whether they are a member of Lloyd's and if so whether they propose to continue or suspend underwriting while they hold that office. He will also ask those Ministers who are members of Lloyd's and who are appointed to a subsequent Ministerial office whether they propose to continue or suspend underwriting while they hold that office. 123C. Where a Minister has a shareholding in an investment trust or any other entity which holds a corporate membership of Lloyd's, that shareholding should be treated on the same basis as any other by a Minister (see paras 109-117 of the May 1992 issue of QPM)."
Special Advisers
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Prime Minister how many special advisers have (a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 20 July 1994] : The figures requested are as follows :
Year |Special
|Advisers
---------------------------
(a) 1989 |2
1990 |3
1991 |4
1992 |5
1993 |0
<1>1994 |1
(b) 1989 |2
1990 |6
1991 |1
1992 |4
1993 |2
<1>1994 |1
<1> To date.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants ;
(2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years. The Prime Minister [holding answer 20 July 1994] : There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers on leaving Government service, or thereafter.
Electricity Companies
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Prime Minister what role his Office has played in negotiations over pay rises, share options and pension rights for the senior staff of electricity companies ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 20 July 1994] : None.
DEFENCE
Military Criminal Justice
Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many district courts martial there were in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
Mr. Hanley : The number of district courts martial convened in the Army and RAF in 1991, 1992 and 1993 is as follows :
|1991|1992|1993
-------------------------
Army |716 |664 |630
RAF |140 |131 |123
The Navy do not hold district courts martial, but rather give commanding officers greater powers of punishment than their Army and RAF counterparts.
Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are made for soldiers posted abroad to have access to legal advice when an accused is questioned by the military police.
Mr. Soames : In overseas commands, arrangements are made for suspects to be advised by service lawyers. Where no service lawyer is available to give advice, the suspect is allowed to make a free telephone call to a lawyer in the United Kingdom. In rare circumstances--due to geographical location, the availability of a legal adviser or time, for example--it will not be possible for a suspect either to consult a legal adviser or to have one present at an interview.
Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the military criminal justice system.
Mr. Soames : The services' system of discipline and criminal justice is governed by the Service Discipline Acts. The main purpose of the quinquennial Armed Forces Bills is to give authority, when they are enacted, for the Services
Column 554
Discipline Acts to continue in force for a further five years, but they are also an opportunity to review the Services Discipline Acts. The next Armed Forces Bill is due to be introduced in the 1995-96 Session.Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in how many courts martial cases the accused pleaded guilty in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
Mr. Soames : In 1991, about 675 guilty pleas were made at courts martial, across the three services, and 650 in 1992. Figures are not yet available for 1993.
Mr. Gerald James
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds the documents and diaries of Mr. Gerald James, the former chairman of the British Manufacturing and Research Company, were taken by the Ministry of Defence police ; what information of relevance was gleaned from them ; when they will all be returned to him ; and if he will make a sttement.
Mr. Soames : In April 1990 as part of a wide-ranging MOD police corruption investigation, the BMARC premises at Grantham were searched with the consent of the managing director of Astra Holdings, the parent company of BMARC. At the time of this search, Mr. James had ceased to be employed by BMARC/Astra Holdings.
Documents were found in the office that Mr. James had previously occupied. These were handed over to MOD police by the financial director of the company. On examination, they were considered to be relevant to the police inquiries. In 1993 at the conclusion of all aspects of the MOD investigation, the documents were returned to Astra Holdings' officially appointed receiver, Cork Gully. These documents were considered to be company documents and at no time were any documents taken into police possession directly from Mr. James.
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the privatisation of the NAAFI ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : No representations have been received about the privatisation of NAAFI. The way in which the organisation operates is intimately linked to the services, particularly in war, and offers advantages to the armed forces which could not be readily provided by a private sector company.
| Next Section
| Home Page |