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Mr. Lang [holding answer 21 November 1994]: Between 1 January and 30 June 1994, Ministers in my Department made 11 overseas visits in their official capacity. Fund-raising activities for the Conservative party are not part of our official duties.
Exports
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was Scotland's share of United Kingdom exports in each year since 1974; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 November 1994]: As shown in the table, Scottish exports continue to rise. The Scottish Council Development and Industry's survey of Scottish manufactured exports revealed that, in 1993, exports reached a new high of almost £11.5 billion. The growth rate of 19.2 per cent. from the previous year indicates that the opportunities presented by a competitive currency and lower interest rates over the past two years have been grasped by Scottish industry.
Scottish manufactured exports have grown faster in the last two years than in the previous six
Scotland's share of United Kingdom exports 1994-95 Year |Per cent. share|Year |Per cent. share -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1974 |10.4 |1984 |9.6 1975 |11.2 |1985 |9.6 1976 |12.3 |1986 |8.9 1977 |11.5 |1987 |9.6 1978 |9.5 |1988 |10.0 1979 |9.1 |1989 |9.4 1980 |9.0 |1990 |9.5 1981 |9.8 |1991 |9.6 1982 |9.3 |1992 |10.1 1983 |9.6 |1993 |10.3
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of Scottish exports to the Scottish economy in (a) absolute terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product in each year since 1979.
Mr Lang [holding answer 24 November 1994]: As Scottish gross domestic product is not calculated on an expenditure measure, it is not possible to make direct comparisons with this data.
Value of Scottish Exports
1979-93
|Value
|Current Prices
Year |£ million
---------------------------------------------
1979 |3,410
1980 |3,762
1981 |4,024
1982 |4,065
1983 |4,532
1984 |4,953
1985 |5,522
1986 |5,300
1987 |6,393
1988 |7,166
1989 |7,664
1990 |8,574
1991 |8,833
1992 |9,682
1993 |11,540
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the value to Scotland's economy of exports from the (a) food and drink, (b) chemicals, (c) oil and gas, (d) engineering, (e) electronics, (f) financial services and (g) tourism sectors; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 November 1994]: Strong growth recorded in all Scotland's major exporting industries over the period.
Sectoral performances in 1993 reveal food and drink exports were worth some £2.5 billion, of which £2.1 billion is whisky; chemicals worth £1.3 billion; engineering, including mechanical, transport equipment and motor vehicle parts £1.4 billion; electronics, including computers, £4.9 billion; tourism £670 million provisional figure- -financial services worth £285 million, rising to around £393.7 million if legal and accountancy figures are included.
Oil and gas sector exports in the period were estimated to be worth some £850 million. This figure relates to exports generated by service sector and supply companies in the world marketplace. Such Scottish companies export around 20 per cent. of their annual turnover.
North Lanarkshire Council
Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he makes of the cost to his Department of setting up the new North Lanarkshire council; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 28 November 1994]: The cost to my Department of setting up the new Lanarkshire council has not been quantified but is likely to be minimal.
Road Safety
Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to regional and islands councils on the gritting of roads leading to schools which are not designated bus routes; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: No specific advice has been given to regional and islands councils on the gritting of roads leading to schools which are not designated bus routes. Regional and islands councils determine their own priorities for gritting roads for which they are responsible.
Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to education authorities on school bussing in adverse weather conditions and where access to a school requires school buses to travel on roads other than designated bus routes; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: None. Under sections 50 and 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, responsibilities for the
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provision of school transport are placed on individual education authorities.M80 Motorway
Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects construction to commence on the proposed M80 motorway between Stepps and Haggs; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: After widespread consultation, a decision will be taken shortly on the proposed route for the M80, followed in due course by initiation of the appropriate statutory procedures. The construction
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timetable will be dependent on completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of finance.National Vocational Qualifications
Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full national vocational qualifications have been awarded in the current year and in each year since 1992; at which levels these awards were made; and how many, at each level, were awarded in construction, engineering, manufacturing, health and social care, business administration, accounting and financial services and management, respectively.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: The available information on Scottish vocational qualifications is set out in the table.
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|SVQ |SVQ |SVQ |SVQ |SVQ
Standard |Level 1 |Level 2 |Level 3 |Level 4 |Level 5
occupational
classification
group
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Constructing |- |44 |6 |- |-
Engineering |42 |- |44 |- |-
Manufacturing |- |91 |- |- |-
Providing health, social care and protective services |248 |225 |1 |- |-
Providing business services |589 |684 |43 |10 |8
Other |648 |879 |- |- |-
Total |1,527 |1,923 |94 |10 |8
Source:
Data files supplied by SCOTVEC.
Refugees (College Fees)
Mr. Dunnachie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the current practice whereby colleges charge asylum seekers and political refugees the home student rates of fees for part-time study; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: The Scottish Office Education Department is currently consulting further higher education institutions about the possibility of allowing them to charge part-time students from overseas a different rate of fees from home students. It is not our intention to change how individuals granted refugee status are treated. Institutions have specifically been asked as part of the consultation if they are likely to offer concessions to students who have applied for refugee status. Their responses will be taken into account in taking any proposals forward.
Community Care
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations led him to favour the private sector for the development of a mixed economy of community care; what consideration he gave to the use of the voluntary sector or direct local provision; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: Prior to 1 April 1993 local authorities purchased no community care services from the private sector. Since then the Government have transferred considerable resources to local authorities which under previous arrangements would have been used to purchase residential and nursing homes care from the private and voluntary sectors. The new arrangements are based on local authorities undertaking an enabling role. They should commission services offering quality and value for
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money. That involves not only arranging care in their own provider units but purchasing care from providers in the private and voluntary sectors.While many authorities have taken on this role on an even-handed, basis some appear to wish to use the additional resources to favour their own provider units even when these do not offer best value for money. The Secretary of State has encouraged authorities to make best use of the resources available to meet the care needs of the people in their areas.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what priority he gives to (a) quality and standards, (b) accessibility and affordability for all and (c) cost-efficiency in the development of a mixed economy of community care.
Lord James Douglas Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: The Government, in their guidance to local statutory and independent sector agencies, have pointed to the importance of all these factors. Local authorities are responsible for evaluating the relative importance of each of these factors as they relate to individuals' needs. In doing so they must also take full account of individuals' choice.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce an inspection and registration procedure for domiciliary care in the community.
Lord James Douglas Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the evidence he has that the development of the mixed economy of community care has been unsatisfactory.
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Lord James Douglas Hamilton [holding answer 28 November 1994]: The Scottish Office publishes a range of annual indicators on community care, including the development of the mixed economy.
Forests
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date Her Majesty's Treasury was invited to comment on the Forest Enterprise framework document.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 28 November 1994]: HM Treasury is assisting with the preparation of the framework document and a draft was discussed with it on 21 October.
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to present the Forest Enterprise framework document to Parliament and to publish it for public consultation.
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Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 28 November 1994]: The finalised framework document will be published and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the areas of land identified by the Forestry Commission or Forest Enterprise for sale since 1981 but which have not been sold, with the size of those areas, the county or, if in Scotland, region in which they are situated and the year in which they were identified for sale.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 28 November 1994]: The Forestry Commission keeps records of all the land it has sold and of land it currently has on the market. It does not, however, retain records on cases where land was put on the market and then later withdrawn, for whatever reason. The information requested is therefore not available.
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