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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 February 1995]: There are as yet no operational fundholders in Inverclyde area. In 1992 93, of a total of 10 GP fundholding practices in Scotland, one fundholding practice, located in the Grampian health board area, spent in excess of its allocated fund. The overspend was £4,754, approximately 0.5 per cent. of the allocated fund.
In 1993 94, 12 GP fundholding practices of a total of 70 throughout Scotland spent in excess of their allocated sum. One of these practices was located in the Argyll and Clyde health board area within Strathclyde region. The average overspend was £17,840 which represented approximately 1 per cent. of the average fund allocated by the health board.
In each case, the health board reviewed the reasons for these small overspends and considered them acceptable under the regulations governing the scheme.
Scottish Early Music Consort
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State of Scotland how much Scottish Office sources contribute to the Scottish Early Music Consort; and what help he will give the Glasgow International Early Music Festival in 1996.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 10 February 1995]: The Scottish Arts Council, which is the main channel of Scottish Office support for the arts in Scotland, will contribute £15,600 to the Scottish Early Music Consort in 1995 96. It is for the Scottish Arts Council to determine whether it should support the Glasgow International Early Music Festival in 1996.
M77
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a copy of the informal letter of inquiry from the European Commission about the Ayr road route, M77, in the Library; and if he will make available the response to this letter.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 February 1995]: No. Correspondence between the European Commission and member states on infraction proceedings, including preliminary contacts of this sort, is regarded as confidential between the parties.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has undertaken in the Scottish water industry to compare build own and operate, and build own operate and transfer schemes with traditional methods of local government financing; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. George Kynoch [holding answer 8 February 1995]: In November 1994, a commentary on the benefits of build own and operate schemes was prepared by the
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Scottish Office in response to a study produced by Strathclyde regional council. A copy of the commentary is in the Library. It concludes that the private sector should offer terms which compare favourably with public funding costs. Under current rules, build own operate and transfer schemes would count as public expenditure.NORTHERN IRELAND
United Kingdom Integrity
10. Mr. Bill Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of his Department in the maintenance of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Ancram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold).
Public Bodies
11. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-departmental public bodies there are in Northern Ireland; how many people serve on two or more of them; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 6 February, Official Report, columns 44-5.
Criminal Justice
12. Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring the criminal justice system into line with that elsewhere in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler: We are preparing a range of measures to improve the working of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. They reflect Northern Ireland's circumstances, though drawing on experience in the rest of the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.
Town Centres
13. Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance his Department is giving to regenerate town centres in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Moss: In Belfast and Londonderry the urban development grant scheme encourages private sector investment in development projects. Regeneration in town centres other than Belfast and Londonderry is encouraged through grant assistance, totalling around £4 million annually, for comprehensive development, environmental improvement, pedestrianisation and conservation schemes. My Department also administers and co-funds with the international fund for Ireland, IFI, the community regeneration improvement special programme.
Benefit Applicants
14. Mr. Clifford Forsythe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Social Security Agency offices located in Northern Ireland administer
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cases for applicants residing in Great Britain in addition to applicants from Northern Ireland.Peace Process
15. Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further discussions he has had with the Dublin Government on the progress of the peace process.
Sir Patrick Mayhew: I met Mr. Spring in Belfast on 14 February. This was a regular meeting of the intergovernmental conference and we discussed a range of issues.
22. Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received about future prospects for peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.
Mr. David Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for hon. Members to further the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Canavan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had about furthering the peace process; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Patrick Mayhew: I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field).
Northern Ireland-Scotland Bodies
16. Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to create joint Northern Ireland-Scotland bodies with executive powers.
Tourism
17. Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the increase in tourism and visitor bookings in Northern Ireland since the ceasefire last year.
Mr. Ancram: It is estimated that since the ceasefire, visitor bookings have increased by 30 per cent. over the same period in 1993. During the period September to December 1994, hotel room occupancy figures rose by an
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average of 8 percentage points when compared with the same period in 1993. The occupancy figures recorded in October, November and December 1994 were the highest for those months since records began in 1973.The Northern Ireland tourist board's Dublin office has reported a 155 per cent. increase in bookings since the ceasefire.
Figures for travel to Northern Ireland have also risen since the ceasefire. Sea passenger movements have increased by 6.3 per cent. over the same period in 1993. Belfast international airport and Belfast harbour airport reported inward passenger increases of 3 per cent. and 6 per cent. respectively on the figures for December 1993.
Local Government Employees
18. Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are estimated to be currently employed in local government; in how many local authorities they are operating and at what overall cost per head of the population; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moss: The total number of people employed by the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland at 31 March 1994 was 8,607. The average cost per head of the total population of the Province, based on the salaries and wages for the financial year ended 31 March 1994, was £61.12. It is not possible to compare this figure with the position of local authorities in Great Britain in any meaningful way because of the much smaller range of functions undertaken by district councils in Northern Ireland.
Framework Document
19. Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how far the cross-border initiatives in tourism, health and the arts, announced by his Ministers in November last year, are a precursor for the all-Ireland bodies proposed in the framework document.
Mr. Ancram: The initiatives announced in November were made on their own merits. I will not be drawn on the proposals likely to be contained in the joint framework document, except to reiterate that they will be for the consideration and agreement of the parties. Obviously if there has already been a declared mutual interest, these might be suitable subjects for north -south co-operation.
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Unemployment
20. Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently unemployed; and what was the figure in December 1992.
Mr. Ancram: The latest available seasonally adjusted figures show that at January 1995 there were 91,100 people unemployed in Northern Ireland. The corresponding figure for December 1992 was 105,900.
Irish Republic
21. Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding relations between his Department and the Government of the Irish Republic.
Sir Patrick Mayhew: I am glad to say that relationships are close and constructive.
Environment Protection Agency
23. Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration is being given to the establishment of an environment protection agency in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moss: The Environment Service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has responsibility for the control of pollution, the conservation of the natural environment and the protection of the man-made heritage. The service is currently the subject of a prior options study. The Government will decide whether any proposals for change in the implementation of environmental policy in Northern Ireland should be made when the results of the study are known shortly.
Scottish Transport Links
24. Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland about transport links between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mr. Moss: In view of the satisfactory arrangements for discussing these matters at official level I have not needed to discuss the subject of transport links between Northern Ireland and Scotland with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Firearms
25. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of firearms currently illegally held by terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland.
Sir John Wheeler: Terrorist organisations have access to a considerable quantity of weapons and equipment of various types; however, it would not, on security grounds, be appropriate to provide detailed estimates. The Government continue to regard substantial progress on the question of decommissioning paramilitary arms as a vital element in advancing the political process in Northern Ireland.
Housing
26. Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are his priorities for action to improve housing conditions and prospects in Northern Ireland.
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Mr. Moss: The Government's housing priorities for Northern Ireland are set out in Command Paper No. 2516 "Expenditure Plans and Priorities", a copy of which is available in the Library. The Government are committed to building on the significant progress made over the last 20 years in terms of increasing home ownership, improving housing conditions and meeting housing need.
27. Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums he is making available for housing grants in Northern Ireland in the current financial year.
Mr. Moss: Government, through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, is making £32.5 million available for housing grants to the private sector in this financial year.
Training Courses
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list each training and tuition course with a total cost exceeding £5,000 paid for by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies during the last 12 months, showing the title and objectives of each course, the name of the organisations engaged, the total cost of each course, a summary of the responsibilities of staff members taking part and the process for course evaluation by the Department or agency.
Sir John Wheeler: The information has been placed in the Library.
Generating Companies
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the level of efficiency improvements achieved in generating companies since privatisation; and what consideration he has given to requiring these companies to absorb more costs rather than pass them on to electricity consumers.
Mr. Ancram: None. Following the privatisation of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland efficiency improvements achieved in generating stations are matter for the private company concerned. The absorption of the costs of generating electricity is a matter for negotiation and contractual agreement between the generating companies and Northern Ireland Electricity plc.
The Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland has responsibility for ensuring that consumers' interests as regards price and quality of service are protected.
Islander Marine
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the contracted crew from Islander Marine Strangford, on the Portaferry-Strangford ferry service, is operating to the satisfaction of the Marine Safety Agency; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moss: Crewing arrangements on the Portaferry-Strangford ferry service have been approved by the Marine Safety Agency.
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the postal address of Islander Marine in the village of Strangford; if the premises are occupied; and if he will make a statement about the
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contribution of Islander Marine to the operation of the Portaferry-Strangford ferry.Mr. Moss: The registered postal address of Islander Marine (Ireland) Ltd is 1 the Slip, Strangford, County Down, BT30 7NE. The Department is not aware if these premises are occupied. Islander Marine (Ireland) Ltd provides part of the crew of the
Strangford-Portaferry service.
Transport Companies
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the studies which have been conducted into the re-organisation of the transport companies in Northern Ireland including Northern Ireland Railways, Ulsterbus and Citybus; and when a report is due to be published.
Mr. Moss: My Department commissioned a study into the scope for introducing a private element into the management and operation of Northern Ireland Railways and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 11 January, Official Report , column 146 . In addition, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company commissioned a study into the potential for the co-ordination of bus and rail services in Northern Ireland and any necessary restructuring required for this to be achieved.
Following consideration of a report of that study, and of the study into Northern Ireland Railways, I announced in Belfast on 17 January 1995 plans for co-ordinating bus and rail services; restructuring the boards of Northern Ireland Railways, Ulsterbus and Citybus on the basis of common membership; unifying the senior management structure of these companies; and selling their non-core services and applying market tests and contracting out where appropriate. There are no plans to publish reports of either study.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Public Appointments
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, Official Report , column 400 , how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: Seventy-five appointments have been made to Cabinet Office and Office of Public Service and Science public bodies in the last year. Of these, 57 were to the new research councils announced in the White Paper "Realising Our Potential".
Sick Leave
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February, Official Report , columns 125 28 , what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Department of Social Security in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the Secretary of State for Social Security to the hon. Member for Eastleigh of 23 January,
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Official Report , column 85 ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham on 7 February represents the average number of days sick leave taken by staff in DSS headquarters--excluding staff in DSS agencies. The figure given in the answer of 23 January by the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People to the hon. Member for Eastleigh represents the average number of days sick leave taken by staff throughout DSS.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February, Official Report , columns 125 28 , what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Office of Public Service and Science in 1993 and the figure given in his answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh of 2 February, Official Report , column 754 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The sickness absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh on 2 February inadvertently used an incorrect figure for staff in post. The correct figure for OPSS excluding any weekends and public holidays which occurred within a single period of sickness absence is as given in my answer of 7 February to the hon. Member for Eltham. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February, Official Report , columns 125 28 , what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Treasury Solicitor's Department in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the Attorney-General to the hon. Member for Eastleigh on 27 January, Official Report , column 409 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham on 7 February is based upon working days lost-- excluding weekends and public holidays--solely due to sickness. The figure given in the answer of 27 January by the Attorney-General was calculated including weekends, public holidays and certain absences which were not attributable to sickness.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February, Official Report , columns 125 28 , what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Department of Transport in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the Secretary of State for Transport to the hon. Member for Eastleigh on 31 January, Official Report , column 585 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The calculations which produced the figures given in the answer of 31 January by the Secretary of State for Transport inadvertently omitted one category of sickness absence. The correct figure for sickness absence at the Department of Transport in 1993 is given in my answer of 7 February.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February, Official Report , columns 125 28 , what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the
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Department of Trade and Industry in 1993 and the figure given in the answer from the President of the Board of Trade of 30 January, Official Report , column 477 ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The sickness absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham on 7 February is based on working days lost-- excluding weekends and public holidays. The figure given in the answer of 30 January by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Eastleigh was calculated using data which for reasons of administrative control, included both weekends and public holidays.
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) of 7 February, Official Report , columns 125 28 , what factors underlie the disparity between the figure given for sick absence at the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency in 1993 and the figure given in his answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh of 2 February, Official Report , column 755 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The sickness absence figure given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 7 February is based upon working days lost--excluding weekends and public holidays. The figure given in my answer of 2 February was calculated including both weekends and public holidays.
EDUCATION
Learning Difficulties
Mr. Butcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she keeps central statistics about the specific details of individual learning difficulties in accordance with the recommendations of the Warnock committee.
Mr. Forth: A key recommendation of the Warnock report in 1978 was that statutory categories of handicap should be abolished. Central statistics giving details of pupils' individual learning difficulties are not collected.
Departmental Employees
Ms Estelle Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) full-time employees and (b) part-time employees were employed in her Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Forth: The number of staff in post at 1 April was as follows:
|Full-time|Part-time|Total
--------------------------------------------------
1990 |2,514 |155 |2,669
1991 |2,607 |182 |2,789
1992 |2,645 |186 |2,831
1993 |1,962 |148 |2,110
1994 |1,915 |150 |2,065
These figures include throughout staff in post in the Teachers Pensions Agency. The figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 include HMI and staff responsible for science and sport. Those responsible for science and sport transferred respectively to the Cabinet Office and the Department of National Heritage in July 1992. The majority of Her Majesty's inspectorate and their support staff transferred to the Office for Standards in Education in September 1992.
Further Education Funding Council
Ms Estelle Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) full-time employees and (b) part-time employees were employed in the Further Education Funding Council for each quarter since it commenced operation.
Mr. Boswell: The questions raised by the hon. Member are matters for the funding council. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Funding Agency for Schools
Ms Estelle Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) full-time employees and (b) part-time employees were employed in the Funding Agency for Schools in each quarter since it commenced operation.
Mr. Robin Squire: This is a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Ministerial Travel (Hong Kong)
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.
Schools, London
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the actual spending per child at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the London boroughs of(i) Camden, (ii) Southwark, (iii) Westminster and(iv) Haringey for (i) 1993 and (ii) 1994.
Mr. Robin Squire: The table shows expenditure by these local education authorities on pre-primary and primary pupils combined, and on secondary pupils, for 1992 93, and provisional figures for 1993 94. Equivalent information on grant-maintained schools is not available.
F
Net institutional spending per pupil cash terms
|Nursery/ |Nursery/
|Primary |Primary |Secondary|Secondary
|1992-93 |1993-94 |1992-93 |1993-94
|£ |£ |£ |£
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Camden |2,067 |2,047 |2,726 |2,721
Southwark |1,846 |1,806 |2,506 |2,421
City of Westminster |2,292 |2,592 |2,486 |2,739
Haringey |2,102 |2,236 |2,897 |3,041
School Teachers Review Body
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will estimate the cost to her Department's budget in 1995 96 of implementing in full the recommendations of the School Teachers Review Body, assuming no changes in staff numbers; and how much of the cost would be borne by (a) direct expenditure by her Department and (b) grants and loans to local authorities.
Mr. Robin Squire: The School Teachers-Review Body has recommended an increase of 2.7 per cent. in teachers' pay for 1995 96. The cost of this to local authorities in England is likely to be in the order of £275 million. There will be no costs borne directly by the Department.
Oxford and Cambridge Universities
Mr. Bryan Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to change the system of the payment of college fees to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
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