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Thin Capitalisation
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that the thin capitalisation proposals issued by the Inland Revenue on Budget day are intended to apply to the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement.
Sir George Young [holding answer 12 December 1994]: The thin capitalisation proposals were not intended to have an adverse effect on the voluntary sector. It is now apparent that, in some cases, they could do so. I therefore intend amending the provision at the Committee stage of the Finance Bill to exclude charities and their subsidiaries from its scope.
Occupation Pensions
Mr. Ingram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each of the occupational pension schemes covered by Government guarantees and give details of the main elements of each scheme.
Mr. Aitken [holding answer 12 December 1994]: Occupational pension schemes covered by Government guarantees are:
The National Rivers Authority (Closed Fund);
British Coal (Closed) Schemes and;
The Pensioners Sections of the Railways Pension Scheme. Details of the pension benefits are available from the schemes themselves.
SCOTLAND
Health Boards and Hospital Trusts (Property)
Mr. Galbriath: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses on their property were in private ownership for each health board and hospital trust.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 1 December at column 835.
Scottish Heart Transplant Centre
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the number of operations predicted for the year 1994 in the initial proposal for the Scottish heart transplant centre; (2) how many operations the Scottish heart transplant centre at Glasgow royal infirmary is contracted to do each year.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Greater Glasgow health board's bid in 1991 for the heart transplant service predicted an activity of 25 patients for year one, rising to 50 patients per annum in subsequent years.
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The contracted activity level for heart transplants in 1994 95 has been set at 25 based on the actual activity over the last two years--23 operations in each year.Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last Session of Parliament were not answered on the grounds that the information sought was not held centrally by the Department.
Mr. Lang: There was a total of 4,101 written and 425 oral parliamentary questions tabled for my Department between 26 November 1993 and 11 November 1994. Of these, 91 were answered on the basis that the information was not held centrally.
Schools Finance
Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total figure for the financial balances held by all (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information sought is not held centrally. Nor will such information be available generally until devolved school management--DSM--arrangements are fully in place. The target date for final implementation of the DSM arrangements in Scottish schools is April 1998.
Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Kynoch: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce his plans for funding the costs of local government reorganisation in 1995 96.
Mr. Lang: Following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, I have decided that, with one exception, all the provision for the costs of local government reorganisation which I expect will be incurred in 1995 96 should be allocated to the new shadow councils rather than to the existing authorities. I plan to allocate a total of £36 million to the shadow councils. This sum is entirely additional to the 1995 96 settlement for the existing local authorities which I announced on 29 November. In terms of section 25 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, the shadow councils may be funded either by grant or by borrowing consent. I am still considering which of these funding methods to use and I shall announce my decision as soon as possible. COSLA is being consulted about the distribution of the £36 million among the shadow councils. The one exception is provision of £5 million to cover the estimated cost of the elections of the shadow councils in April. That provision is included in the 1995 96 settlement for the existing authorities. A new grant-aided expenditure--GAE--assessment will be created for this amount and the GAE will be distributed among the nine regional councils on a basis agreed with COSLA.
It is clearly important that, in order to achieve as smooth a transition to the new structure as possible, the existing authorities play their full part during 1995 96 in helping the shadow councils to prepare for reorganisation. However, I would not expect the existing authorities to incur additional costs next year as a result of reorganisation. My impression is that the preparation work which is already under way in many authorities is, in the great majority of cases, being carried out by
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existing staff. I expect that that will also be the case next year. Where the existing authorities do incur costs next year in preparing for reorganisation, I would expect these to be offset by a rundown in their staffing and other activity as 1 April 1996 approaches. In other words, I would expect to see, in general, changes in one cancelling out changes in the other. But if a situation were to arise in which an existing authority had to undertake a major piece of preparation work which, for example, involved the recruitment of extra staff or the commissioning of consultants, I would expect such work to be undertaken only with the agreement of the relevant shadow council or councils and with the costs being met by that council or those councils concerned.I consider that the provision that I am making for reorganisation costs in 1995 96 and the approach which I have outlined with regard to its distribution will ensure that the process of reorganisation will proceed smoothly and efficiently in the lead up to the transfer to the new councils on 1 April 1996.
Public Expenditure
Mr. Kynoch: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the provision that he has made in his public expenditure plans for Government-supported expenditure and aggregate external finance in 1996 97 and 1997 98.
Mr. Lang: My plans for Government supported expenditure--GSE--and aggregate external finance--AEF-- for 1996 97 and 1997 98 and the actual figures for 1995 96 which I announced on Budget day are shown in the following table. The plans for 1996 97 and 1997 98 will, in the normal way, be subject to review in future public expenditure surveys.
|1995-96 |1996-97 |1997-98
--------------------------------------------------
GSE |6,116.9 |6,211 |6,201
AEF |5,306.0 |5,336 |5,300
Community Care
The above amounts of GSE and AEF are inclusive of the following sums which are being transferred to local authorities in respect of their care in the community and the independent living fund responsibilities.
1995-96 |1996-97 |1997-98 £ million |£ million|£ million ---------------------------------------- 172.1 |211.6 |245.0
Local Government Reorganisation
In determining my plans for GSE and AEF for the two forward years, I have assumed that the new councils will incur local government reorganisation related costs of £70 million in 1996 97 and £20 million in 1997 98. The 1996 97 figure is £15 million greater than I assumed in my 1993 public expenditure plans. Twelve months ago I estimated that redundancy costs of £15 million would be incurred in 1995 96. I have now transferred this provision to 1996 97. In all, I am assuming that redundancy costs totalling £43 million will be incurred as a result of reorganisation. I am making provision for £40 million of
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these costs to be met in 1996 97 and £3 million in 1997 98. I expect other reorganisation related costs to amount to £30 million in 1996 97 and £17 million in 1997 98.The new local government structure will be cheaper to operate than the existing one and I estimate that savings of £40 million per annum will be achieved from 1997 98. I recognise, however, that this full level of annual saving may not be achievable in the first year of the new structure, given that councils are likely to require time to shed the surplus staff which they inherit from the existing authorities. My plans therefore assume a saving of £30 million in 1996 97. Overall, therefore, my plans assume reorganisation related net costs of £40 million in 1996 97 and net savings of £20 million in 1997 98.
Orthopaedic Consultants
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of vacant consultant orthopaedic posts; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: We are aware of two vacant consultant posts in orthopaedic surgery. The establishment of senior registrars in the specialty was increased from 21 to 23 earlier this year.
Forestry Commission Land
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to ensure that public access is maintained to Forestry Commission land which passes into private ownership.
Sir Hector Monro: We introduced arrangements in 1991 for securing continued public access to woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission. We have recently reviewed these arrangements and concluded that they should be strengthened. Further details are given in "Our Forests--The Way Ahead"--Cm 2644--a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Special Advisers
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the special advisers serving in his Department during the last five years were subject to positive security vetting.
Mr. Lang: During the last five years all special advisers in my Department have been subject to positive vetting.
Health (Revenue Allocations)
Mr. Kynoch: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what revenue allocations he has made to health boards, the Common Services Agency and the State hospital for 1995 96; what allocation provision he has made to those bodies for capital expenditure; and what provision for capital expenditure he proposes to make within the external financial limit for NHS trusts.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend has allocated £2,595.3 million to health boards to meet their revenue expenditure commitments on hospital and community health services in 1995 96. The Common Services Agency has been allocated £104.6 million and the State hospital £12.9 million.
Taken with health boards' own cash releasing efficiency savings these allocations give an increase in
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available resources of 5.1 per cent. for health boards, 0.7 per cent for the Common Services Agency and 4.62 per cent. for the State hospital.Capital provision of £18.4 million has been made for direct expenditure by health boards, the Common Services Agency and the State hospital. In addition, my right hon. Friend proposes to provide within NHS trusts' external financing limit for gross capital expenditure of some £212.4 million.
Details of the allocations are contained in the following table.
NHS in Scotland Allocations: 1995-96
Health Board |Revenue allocation |Capital allocation |Capital provision
|for trusts by board
|area
|£000 |£000 |£000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde |217,251 |970 |9,261
Ayrshire and Arran |179,324 |0 |17,906
Borders |57,702 |110 |2,731
Dumfries and Galloway |79,674 |160 |5,634
Fife |163,893 |180 |16,039
Forth Valley |128,578 |15 |7,213
Grampian |249,500 |90 |15,138
Greater Glasgow |517,977 |565 |45,080
Highland |108,180 |270 |7,276
Lanarkshire |249,373 |0 |16,008
Lothian |380,652 |110 |33,835
Orkney |11,993 |4,845 |N/A
Shetland |13,310 |2,960 |N/A
Tayside |217,552 |220 |23,405
Western Isles |20,895 |2,250 |N/A
CSA |104,565 |8,300 |N/A
State Hospital |12,938 |5,685 |N/A
Scottish Ambulance Service |N/A |N/A |9,840
Unallocated |N/A |N/A |3,000
|-------- |-------- |--------
Scotland |2,713,357 |26,730 |212,366
Travelling People
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with the representatives of travelling people in Scotland concerning those sections of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which relate to trespass; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 7 December 1994]: None. My right hon. Friend has an advisory committee on issues concerned with travelling people, on which the traveller community in Scotland are represented.
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people will draw up guidelines relating to those sections in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which relate to trespass; how they may be administered by local authorities and police forces; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 7 December 1994]: It would not be appropriate for the advisory committee to issue guidelines on those sections of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which relate to trespass in Scotland. The Scottish Office has, however, recently issued a guide which gives basic information on the provisions of the Act as it affects
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Scotland. This has been sent to chief executives of local authorities, chief constables and to other interested parties. Interpretation of the new powers on trespass is essentially a matter for the police and the courts to determine. Notwithstanding the new provisions on trespass in the Act, the policy of toleration of illegal encampments will continue to apply where local authorities have not achieved the targets set by the Secretary of State for traveller site provision.Hospital Construction, Lanarkshire
Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet received plans from Lanarkshire health board for the construction of a new hospital; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 5 December 1994]: No. Lanarkshire health board is currently considering plans for the facility that will afford future occupants maximum privacy and dignity.
Chapter 10.5 Scheme
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will continue to support the chapter 10.5 scheme;
(2) what recent representations he has received concerning the review of the chapter 10.5 scheme by the Scottish Office; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 8 December 1994]: Representations have been received recently from the Scottish General Medical Services committee and from a number of general medical practitioners.
The chapter 10.5 payments scheme--so called because it derives from chapter 10.5 of the 1989 White Paper "Working for Patients"--was introduced by the then Secretary of State in April 1990. Its purpose was to safeguard the position of doctors in the less populated parts of Scotland who it was thought might be unable to maintain or increase their income under the revised remuneration arrangements of the new GP contract which placed more emphasis than previously on capitation-based payments. A fund of £1.204 million per annum was established in Scotland. There is no equivalent scheme in England. In the event there has been less of a move towards capitation-based remuneration than expected. The position is currently under review.
Deprivation
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what recent representations he has received concerning the change in calculation of deprivation payments from an 8 Jarman index to a 7 Jarman index; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will assess the effects of the change in calculation of deprivation from an 8 Jarman index to a 7 Jarman index on the incomes of general practitioners in Scotland; and what comparisons he has made with the incomes of general practitioners in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 8 December 1994]: Representations have been received recently from the Scottish General Medical Services committee and from a number of general medical practitioners.
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There was no change in overall expenditure on deprivation payments to GPs in Scotland as a consequence of the move from a Jarman 8 index to a Jarman 7 index in 1991. The change was designed to be cost neutral. The use of enumeration districts--around 300 people--as the basis of payment rather than post code sectors--around 5,000 people-- allows for better targeting of payments.I am satisfied that GPs in Scotland are not disadvantaged by the application of a Jarman 7 index in relation to their colleagues in England where the Jarman 8 index continues to be applied at electoral ward level of around 5,000 people.
In 1993 94 GPs in Scotland received some £3.8 million under the scheme which is currently based in 1981 census data. Negotiations are under way with the profession about updating the scheme using data from the 1991 census.
Astronomer Royal
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to fill the position of Astronomer Royal for Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 12 December 1994]: Advice will be given shortly to Her Majesty the Queen on an appointment to the Office of Astronomer Royal for Scotland.
Forth Bridge
Mr. Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what provision he has made for public expenditure in each of the years 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 in connection with the planning for and construction of all approach roads and other building operations in connection with the proposed second Forth road bridge; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what financial provision he has made for all expenditure in connection with the proposed second Forth road bridge in 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 12 December 1994]: My right hon. Friend's spending plans include provision for further expenditure on the proposals under examination in the "Setting Forth" studies amounting to £4 million, £2 million and £2 million in the years 1994 95, 1995 96 and 1996 97 respectively. The deployment of these provisions will be dependent on decisions yet to be taken in relation to these proposals and it may be necessary to make additional provision in respect of land claims which may occur in the years in question. My right hon. Friend is currently considering detailed feasibility studies into all aspects of the proposals and the comments received on these studies.
WALES
Single-sex Wards
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will direct health districts to move to the provision of single-sex wards; and if he will make a statement.
Column 601
Mr. Richards: Hospitals are already required to provide services which take account of an individual's privacy and dignity. The issue of single-sex wards is one that my right hon. Friend and I will consider when the present edition of the patients charter for Wales is reviewed.
Dual-sex Wards
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dual-sex wards exist in each of the health districts of Wales; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Richards: The information requested is not held centrally.
Cot Deaths
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cot deaths there have been in Wales for each of the last 10 years, broken down by county.
Mr. Richards: The information requested is given in the table.
Column 601
Cot deaths<1>-infants, and children under 5: Wales 1983-92
|1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |7 |7 |8 |12 |20 |12 |5 |3 |8 |2
Dyfed |7 |0 |8 |13 |5 |11 |5 |11 |8 |1
Gwent |9 |9 |12 |7 |13 |14 |14 |8 |6 |6
Gwynedd |6 |5 |2 |4 |5 |4 |5 |7 |7 |3
Mid Glamorgan |15 |10 |19 |16 |23 |15 |17 |17 |10 |8
Powys |3 |4 |7 |3 |5 |3 |0 |4 |2 |2
South Glamorgan |14 |12 |16 |12 |14 |10 |12 |7 |10 |4
West Glamorgan |4 |3 |5 |8 |13 |14 |12 |5 |4 |7
|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------
Wales |65 |50 |77 |75 |98 |83 |70 |62 |55 |33
Source:
OPCS.
Note:
<1> All sudden infant deaths where sudden infant death syndrome, cot death or similar term was entered on the
death certificate even when other causes were also given. Deaths of children aged one to four are included; there
were 29 over the 10-year period.
1993 data for Wales will be published in an OPCS monitor on 15 December; data for counties will be made available
on request from OPCS after that date.
Energy Expenditure
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Mr. Redwood: The required information for my Department is:
|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
|£ |£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welsh Office |622,399|553,262|513,016
ADAS agency Wales |<1>- |70,126 |49,229
Planning Inspectorate agency |<1>- |2,298 |2,348
Cadw agency |N/A |N/A |N/A
<1> Agencies not established.
N/A. Figures not available.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on energy for each property owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Mr. Redwood: My Department has no properties for sole use by Ministers. Ministers have rooms in properties in Cardiff and London. Total Welsh Office expenditure on energy for each of these properties for the last three years was:
|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
------------------------------------------------------
Cathays Park, Cardiff |283,155|293,810|298,807
Gwydyr house, London |9,179 |7,219 |9,456
The Welsh Office is withdrawing from other buildings, saving money on energy in those as it does so.
Oriel Bookshop
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council its intention to sell off the Oriel bookshop in Cardiff to HMSO; and if he will seek to ensure that, in any such change the role of the bookshop as a main outlet of Welsh language publications and music in Cardiff will be safeguarded.
Mr. Richards: The Arts Council of Wales issued invitations to tender for the management of the book selling operations at the Oriel bookshop in Cardiff on 9 September 1994. The Arts Council will be considering the report of its project board at its meeting on 15 December; some aspects of the report have been submitted to the Welsh Office for approval, and these are under consideration. It will be a matter for the Arts Council as to whether the project board's recommendations are accepted.
The successful tenderer will need to provide services at least equal to those provided by Oriel, including the provision of Welsh language books and periodicals.
Since the Arts Council is conducting the contracting-out process in accordance with Government guidance on market testing, and the choice of tenderer rests with the Arts Council, my right hon. Friend and I do not intend to meet the chairman to discuss the matter.
Column 603
NHS Trusts
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people currently serve on the boards of each of the NHS trusts as lay appointees; and what is the total cost of their emoluments.
Mr. Richards: The information requested is included in "Appointments by the Secretary of State for Wales", which is held in the Library of the House and is regularly updated.
Consultants
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was his Department's expenditure on (a) management and (b) other consultants in each year from 1990 to 1993; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood: Expenditure on management and other consultants engaged by the Welsh Office is as follows:
Year |Total payments
|£000
---------------------------------------------
1990-91 |229
1991-92 |1,109
1992-93 |1,416
1993-94 |1,454
1994-95<1> |427
<1> year to date
Since 1993, my Department has significantly reduced its use of consultants which is reflected in the year to date figure 1994 95.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide figures for 1993 94 and 1994 95 to date for the number of occasions on which management or other consultants have been engaged (a) by his office and (b) by non-departmental public bodies in Wales; and what were the total amounts of authorised payments for those consultants in both years.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 21 November 1994]: Details of management and other consultants engaged by the Welsh Office are as follows:
|Number of occasions|Total payments-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993-94 |87 |1,454
1994-95<1> |37 |427
<1> Year to date.
Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Home Tuition
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how long it takes on average for each local education authority to arrange home tuition for children; what is the greatest and least time recorded by each local education authority to provide home tuition; and if the speed of provision has improved over the last three years;
(2) what has been the average time provided for home tuition by each local education authority in each of the last three years; and what was the greatest and least amount of time provided for children in each local education authority;
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(3) how many children received home tuition in each of the last three years; and if he will list the numbers by local education authority, distinguishing between primary and secondary school pupils.Mr. Richards: This information is not available centrally.
Pupil Exclusions
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children have been excluded in each of the last three years from school (a) temporarily and (b) permanently, listing the schools by local education authority area.
Mr. Richards: Figures for each of the last three years are not available. Information on permanent exclusions from maintained schools in Wales was collected by the Welsh Office over a two-year period, starting with the summer term 1990, under the national exclusions reporting system. A total of 192 permanent exclusions were reported during this period. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the figure because of assurances given as to confidentiality.
Hospital Tuition
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children received hospital tuition in each of the last three years, if he will list (a) the hospitals where it was provided and (b) the amount of time provided on average along with the greatest and least time provided for children in each hospital.
Mr. Richards: Information on the education of children in hospital classes is not held centrally. There is presently one hospital school in Wales, the Harvey Jones adolescent unit, maintained by South Glamorgan local education authority. There are currently 13 children between the ages of 11 and 16 in the unit.
Wrexham Maelor Hospital
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps were taken to ensure work on phase 2 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital, Wrexham, was carried out according to schedule; and what checks were made on the subcontractors.
Mr. Richards: The project management of phase 2 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital was carried out by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority in accordance with the mandatory health building procedural guidance.
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