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(b) Persons found guilty in NI of drug offences 1993 and 1994 Offence |1993 |1994 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Importing controlled drug |3 |3 Exporting controlled drug |0 |1 Producing controlled drug |15 |10 Supplying controlled drug |16 |27 Permitting supplying controlled drug |0 |1 Cultivating cannabis |3 |4 Possessing controlled drug with intent to supply |71 |68 Attempted possessing controlled drug with intent to supply |2 |2 Possessing controlled drug |305 |374 Attempted possessing controlled drug |1 |1 Permitting premises to be used for supply of drugs |1 |1 Permitting premises to be used for use of drugs |3 |1 Obstructing powers of search for drugs |3 |1
Fixed Penalty Tickets (Speeding)
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the average number of fixed penalty tickets issued for speeding on each of the main motorways in Northern Ireland over the three- year period till 31 August 1994; and what has been the monthly total for each month since. [16415]
Sir John Wheeler: Separate figures are not maintained in respect of motorways.
The following figures refer to the number of fixed penalty notices issued by police for speeding offences throughout Northern Ireland, during the relevant periods.
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|Number
-------------------------------------------------
1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992 |30,367
1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993 |23,323
1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994 |30,299
September 1994 |3,060
October 1994 |3,141
November 1994 |2,627
December 1995 |1,712
January 1995 |1,856
February 1995 |n/a
n/a = Not yet available.
Departmental Annual Report
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16588]
Sir John Wheeler: Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. The five editions of the Northern Ireland departmental report produced since 1991 have been published as Command Papers by HMSO, which has borne the printing and publishing costs with the aim of recovering these from the sales revenue.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of producing and circulating the last departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price. [16587]
Sir John Wheeler: Some 1,400 copies of the Northern Ireland departmental report, Cm 2816, were printed and published. In addition to those copies required by Parliament and the Government Departments and agencies concerned, just under 1,000 copies were produced to satisfy other sales at a price of £22.50 net. The cost of printing and publishing Cm 2816 were borne by HMSO, which aims to recover these costs from sales revenue.
Home Helps
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what policy guidelines are set out in relation to the provision of home helps on holidays such as St. Patrick's day. [16235]
Mr. Moss: Where an individual is assessed as needing the home help service, health and social services boards or trusts are expected to make the necessary arrangements for the service to be provided, including appropriate cover for holiday periods.
RUC Drug Squad
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the six-monthly change in full-time manpower resources deployed in the RUC drug squad till August 1993, February 1994, August 1994 and February 1995; and what are the projected figures for each six month period till February 1996. [16411]
Sir John Wheeler: Manpower figures are not available for all the dates specified. Figures for the nearest available dates are as follows:
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Drugs Squad
|Establishment|Actual
------------------------------------------------------------
31 March 1993
Chief Inspector |1 |1
Inspector |1 |1
Sergeant |5 |4
Constable |21 |32
30 September 1993
Chief Inspector |1 |1
Inspector |1 |1
Sergeant |5 |5
Constable |21 |31
28 February 1994
Chief Inspector |1 |1
Inspector |1 |1
Sergeant |5 |5
Constable |23 |32
31 August 1994
Chief Inspector |1 |1
Inspector |1 |1
Sergeant |5 |5
Constable |23 |32
28 February 1995
Chief Inspector |1 |1
Inspector |1 |1
Sergeant |5 |5
Constable |23 |34
It is not possible to provide forward projections in respect of manpower of particular branches.
Cross-border Councils
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consideration he has given to funding for cross-border councils. [16709]
Electricity Interconnector
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to receive the report of the planning inquiry into the electricity interconnector with Scotland. [16708]
Mr. Moss: As the scope of the public local inquiry is currently the subject of a judicial review, it is not possible to estimate when the Commissioner's report is likely to be received.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed in Northern Ireland (a) full-time and (b) part- time in 1993, 1994 and 1995. [16860]
Mr. Ancram: Estimates of the number of employees in employment in Northern Ireland are not yet available for 1995. The information for 1993 and 1994 is as follows:
Employees in employment at June of each year Year |Full-time|Part-time|Total -------------------------------------------------- 1993 |393,650 |150,080 |543,730 1994 |394,450 |156,240 |550,690
Child Care
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department and what is the breakdown in their use (a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15238]
Sir John Wheeler: The current policy is that Departments can contribute to staff child care costs where this is justified on value for money grounds. The following facilities are currently available.
Department |Facility
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environment |Introduced a Nursery Subsidy
|Scheme in May 1994. Thirty
|places were made available
|where the Department met 35 per
|cent. of the costs for children
|attending a registered nursery.
|The scheme is greatly
|over-subscribed and places were
|allocated by means of a ballot.
|A review is due in May 1995.
Finance and Personnel |No child care or nursery facilities
|at present but, offer membership
|of the NI Childminding
|Association's "Parent
|Partnership Scheme" for staff
|applying for maternity/paternity
|leave.
Agriculture |An emergency childcare pilot
|scheme, which involved
|reserving a small number of
|places in private nurseries,
|commenced 30 January 1995 for
|a 3 month trial period.
|Staff are required to pay for this
|facility.
Northern Ireland Office (HCS) |A 50 per cent. subsidy on four
|places provided at a private day
|nursery in Westminster.
(NICS) |Nil.
The Departments of Education, Health and Social Services and Economic Development offer no child care or nursery facilities.
Department |Facility
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Child Support |On 1 September 1993 the CSA introduced a
Agency |scheme to offer financial assistance to staff
|with child care costs. The assistance takes the
|form of a subsidy towards the cost of an
|employee placing a child in a nursery of the
|parents choice.
The breakdown of these schemes by grade and gender
is listed in
the following table:
|Number
----------------------------------------------------
Grade
Higher Executive Officer |3
Executive Officer |1
Social Security Officer 2 |1
Social Security Officer 1 |1
Superintendent Typist |1
Typist |1
Personal Secretary |2
Administrative Assistant |1
Administrative Officer |19
Executive Officer 2 |9
Executive Officer 1 |2
Staff Officer |1
Deputy Principal Officer |1
Senior Professional Technical Officer |3
Higher Professional Technical Officer |5
Professional Technical Officer |2
Senior Audit Assistant |1
Higher Scientific Officer |1
Gender
Male |17
Female |38
The Northern Ireland civil service also financially assists eight holiday playschemes which cater for the children of staff during school holidays. A breakdown in their use by grade and gender could be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, approximately 290 children per day attended in 1994.
Irish Language Schools (Inspections)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasions in each of the past 16 years, any inspector who has reported on an Irish-medium school has not been fluent in the Irish language. [17352]
Mr. Ancram: The information is available only for the past five years and is as follows:
|Number
|in |Number
|Date of |inspection |not fluent
School |inspection |team |in Irish
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaelscoil na bhFal |May 1990 |2 |1
Bunscoil an Iuir |May 1990 |2 |1
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste |October 1992 |3 |1
Bunscoil an tSleibhe Dhuibh |February 1994|2 |1
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste |March 1994 |3 |1
Bunscoil Luraigh |March 1994 |2 |1
Social Fund Discretionary Budget
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Northern Ireland social fund discretionary budget will be for 1995 96. [17951]
Mr. Moss: I am pleased to announce that the social fund gross discretionary budget for 1995 96 will be £31.84 million. £9.76 million will be allocated to grants, £21.98 million to loans and £0.1 million will be held as a contingency reserve. The new allocations represent an increase of almost £2 million over the gross budget set in April 1994.
Details of the individual district budget allocations, together with a note explaining the basis on which they
have been made, will be placed in the Library today.
Column 795
Cash Limits
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to announce any further changes to cash limits within his responsibility. [17952]
Sir John Wheeler [pursuant to his reply, 3 February, c. 919 20]: The cash limit for class XVI, vote 1--the Northern Ireland Office--will be reduced by £3,000,000 from £928,905,000 to £925,905,000. The reduction in the cash limit reflects a projected underspend in police costs and will be used to offset increases elsewhere within the Northern Ireland block.
SCOTLAND
The Union
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the changes which have been made to the government of Scotland following the publication of "Scotland in the Union: A Partnership for Good".
Mr. Lang: The measures outlined in the Government's White Paper "Scotland in the Union: A Partnership for Good" were part of a new and continuing approach to the government of Scotland. They have all been implemented or represent continuing commitments and taken together have made government in Scotland more accountable; emphasised the distinct nature of government policy in Scotland; and ensured that within the Union there is a full recognition, as well as greater understanding, of Scotland's status as a nation.
Statutory References
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [16095]
Mr. Lang: An analysis of all legislation introduced by this Department and its predecessors since 1965 for any reference to the type requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It would be extremely unlikely for reference to be made specifically to an individual hon. Member. Frequent references are made to officers of state, and occasional general references are made to persons who are Members of one or other of the Houses of Parliament.
Departmental Annual Report
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of producing and circulating the last departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold and at what price. [16624]
Mr. Lang: Some 1,400 copies of the Scottish Office departmental report, Cm 2814, were printed and published, the cost of which was borne by HMSO which aims to recover these costs from sales revenue. In addition to those copies required by Parliament, Government Departments and agencies, just over 1,100 were produced to satisfy other sales at a price of £18.10 net.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of producing and
Column 796
circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16625]Mr. Lang: The first Scottish Office departmental report was issued in March 1991. That and subsequent reports have been published as Command Papers by HMSO which has borne the printing and publishing costs with the aim of recovering these from the sales revenue.
Press Officers
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what the figure was in 1979. [16578]
Mr. Lang: At 1 April 1995, my Department, including all its executive agencies, employed 41 staff in the information officer grades. Of these, 21 were designated as "press officers". At 1 April 1979, there were 25 staff in information officers grades--the number designated as "press officers" was not recorded.
Dounreay
Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will examine the safety implications for employees and the public of radioactive contamination on and around the Dounreay shore and within the perimeter fence. [16052]
Sir Hector Monro: Detailed investigations of radioactive contamination of soil within the Dounreay site and on the adjoining shore are currently being undertaken by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The results of these investigations will be considered by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate and Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate, which will have regard to safety implications for the employees and public.
Young Offenders
Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds were in prison or young offenders's institutions (i) in 1993 94 and (ii) at the latest available date. [16055]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of this question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. A. Stewart to Mrs. Maria Fyfe, dated 30 March 1995:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton asked the Chief Executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to reply to your Question relating to the number of 16 year olds and 17 year old in prisons or young offender institutions in 1993 94 and at the latest available date. I am replying in his absence.
Information on the age categories of the prison population is presently collected only on the basis of young offender (less than 21) and adult. In 1993 94 the average daily remand young offender population was 348 and the sentenced young offender population was 804. The corresponding figures for Friday 24 March were 343 and 744 respectively.
More disaggregate information on age is collected when an individual is received under sentence. In 1993 94 there were 182 sentenced receptions involving 16 year olds and 727 sentenced receptions involving 17 year olds.
It should be noted that sentenced receptions do not equate to "persons received". For example, where a person has several custodial sentences imposed on him by one court in one day this is
Column 797
counted as a reception. Where custodial sentences are imposed on person by two or more courts in one day, however, two receptions are recorded. Also, if a person is reconvicted while serving a custodial sentence and a further custodial sentence is imposed, this is also regarded as a reception.Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend the areas to be covered by environmentally sensitive area schemes in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [16373]
Mr. Lang: There are no plans to designate any further areas at present.
Short-term Prisoners (Housing)
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what financial provision is to be made to local authorities to provide for funding homes for released short-term prisoners and their families following housing benefit reductions imposed upon them; [16429] (2) what guidelines he is issuing to local authorities regarding the reductions in housing benefit for short-term prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [16340]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: It is for local housing authorities in the first instance to consider housing need within their areas in conjunction with other relevant bodies. Similarly, social work authorities should assess the need for social work support and residential accommodation. The Department of Social Security issued guidance to local authorities on 10 March on the new benefit regulations affecting, among others, short-term prisoners.
Psychiatric Beds
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the annual cost of a psychiatric bed in hospitals in (a) Renfrewshire, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland in each of the past five years. [16431]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The following table has been derived from the Scottish health service costs book and contains the annual cost of a psychiatric bed in hospitals in (a) Renfrewshire, (b) health boards within the Strathclyde region area and (c) all Scotland. Prior to financial year 1991 92 this information was not collected centrally. The health boards within Strathclyde regional council's boundaries are: Ayrshire and Arran, Argyll and Clyde, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire.
£
|Annual
|cost per
|bed
|1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94
----------------------------------------------------
a) Renfrewshire |26,607 |28,111 |29,871
b) Strathclyde |27,198 |30,394 |33,824
c) Scotland |28,340 |32,010 |36,035
Gas Pipeline
Dr. A. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place with Premier Transco concerning the trenching or burying in traditional demersal fishing grounds of the proposed gas pipeline
Column 798
between Scotland and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [16694]Sir Hector Monro: Officials of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department have been party to discussions involving Premier Transco, representatives of the local fishermen's organisations and the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the issue of a DTI works authorisation for this proposed gas pipeline. I understand that Premier Transco has agreed to trench the proposed pipeline along its entire length and that in areas where trenching alone is regarded as insufficient, the pipeline will be covered with crushed rock profiled to reduce interference with fishing operations.
Well Woman Centres
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each well woman centre; and if he will indicate those that are presently part-funded by health boards and trusts. [16695]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: This information is not collected centrally.
Local Government Reform
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff currently employed by Strathclyde regional council will be re- deployed to (a) the new Inverclyde unitary authority, (b) the new East Renfrewshire unitary authority and (c) the new Glasgow unitary authority. [16697]
Mr. Kynoch: This information is not currently available. Redeployment of staff presently employed by both regional and district councils to the new authorities will be for discussion between existing and new authorities in due course.
Mentally Ill Prisoners
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to create special prisons for mentally ill prisoners who do not warrant transfer to Carstairs hospital, which would be staffed by prison officers with the appropriate training skills and knowledge to deal with such inmates; and if he will make a statement. [16698]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 30 March 1995:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the creation of special prisons for mentally ill prisoners who do not warrant transfer to Carstairs Hospital. We have no plans to create special prisons for those prisoners suffering from mental illness. Prison medical officers are responsible for the medical treatment as necessary of such prisoners and can draw on the services of psychiatrists and psychologists. Prisoners may also be transferred to appropriate hospitals if necessary. The Scottish Prison Service is, however, conscious of the special needs of mentally disturbed offenders and will be drawing up guidance for their management in the light of best practice in the community.
Mental Health Treatment
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assurance he can give that the resources
Column 799
currently allocated to mental health treatment and care will be retained and not allocated to other parts of the national health service; and if he will make a statement. [16818]Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Allocations are made to health boards, as purchasers of health care services, on a weighted capitation basis to enable them to meet the care needs of their resident population. It is for individual boards to decide their priorities for expenditure within the amount available to them.
Chiropody Services
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of waiting time for a chiropody appointment in (a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland; what proposals he has to reduce (i) the waiting time for such appointments and (ii) the return
Column 800
dates for domiciliary visits by chiropodists; and if he will make a statement. [16817]Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: This information is not held centrally.
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the staffing levels of departments of chiropody and podiatry in (a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland and the number of chiropody appointments carried out in each of these departments in the past three years. [16819]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Statistics on chiropody staffing levels in Inverclyde are not held centrally. Table A shows the staffing levels in departments of chiropody and podiatry in Strathclyde and Scotland in 1992 94.
Table B shows the numbers of chiropody appointments carried out in Iverclyde, Strathclyde and Scotland over the last three years.
Column 799
Table A: Staff working in chiropody departments<1>,<2> by qualification; at 30 September
|1992 |1993 |1994<4>
|Headcount|WTE |Headcount|WTE |Headcount|WTE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Strathclyde<3> |282 |253.5 |295 |265.4 |306 |271.6
Chiropodist |275 |247.9 |288 |259.9 |294 |261.1
Footcare assistant |7 |5.6 |7 |5.5 |12 |10.5
(c) Scotland |617 |555.5 |650 |583.0 |664 |593.6
Chiropodist |596 |536.4 |624 |559.1 |632 |564.5
Footcare assistant |21 |19.1 |26 |23.9 |32 |29.1
<1> Staff of both hospital and community chiropody services are included.
<2> Footcare assistants are not qualified chiropodists.
<3> Comprises Greater Glasgow, Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran and Lanarkshire
Health Boards.
<4> Data are provisional.
Column 799
Table B: Chiropody Services number of attendances<1>
|1992 |1993 |1994<3>
-----------------------------------------------------------
(a) Inverclyde |n/a |27,370 |32,968
(b) Strathclyde<2> |820,487 |845,849 |877,398
(c) Scotland |1,664,948|1,706,604|1,799,017
<1> Both hospital and community chiropody services are
included.
<2> Comprises Greater Glasgow, Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire
and Arran and Lanarkshire Health Boards.
<3> Data are provisional.
n/a = Not available.
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with the chairman of the Renfrewshire health care national health service trust concerning the staffing of the department of chiropody and podiatry; and if he will make a statement. [16815]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: None.
Prisoners (Release under Licence)
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of prisoners eligible for release under licence were successful in achieving release in the last year for which figures are available. [16826]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: This information is published annually in the reports of the Parole Board for Scotland, copies of which are available in the House Libraries.
Column 800
Prisons
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisons are currently assessed to be overcrowded; and if he will list them, indicating the number of places by which they exceed their quota. [16827]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 30 March 1995:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about those prisons currently assessed as overcrowded. During any year a number of cells are unavailable for use for a variety of reasons, including redecoration or damage repair work, refurbishment (including, in some cases, to install night sanitation) or for other policy reasons (eg being retained in the event of an emergency). The position on utilisation of available places varies between establishments, taking into account, among other things, that "local" prisons require to hold prisoners for short periods on remand from the Courts; that some establishments are suitable only for low security categories; and that there is a need to house separately various prisoner groups (such as those serving long sentences, or young offenders).
Against that background the information you requested--reflecting the position as at Friday 17 March--is set out in the table attached.
Column 801
|Excess
|Places |(+)/shortfall
|Design |available |Prisoner |(-) ((4)-
Establishment |capacity |for use |population |(3))
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) |(2) |(3) |(4) |(5)
Aberdeen |142 |134 |179 |+45
Barlinnie |939 |852 |1,154 |+302
Castle Huntly |144 |144 |79 |-65
Dumfries |139 |129 |133 |+4
Dungavel |135 |135 |119 |-16
Edinburgh |508 |508 |637 |+129
Friarton |56 |56 |80 |+24
Glenochil |669 |537 |475 |-62
Greenock |172 |172 |258 |+86
Inverness |79 |68 |100 |+32
Longriggend |177 |177 |186 |+9
Low Moss |396 |396 |376 |-20
Noranside |135 |132 |124 |-8
Penninghame |85 |85 |50 |-35
Perth |426 |426 |460 |+34
Peterhead |271 |209 |204 |-5
Polmont |414 |366 |398 |+32
Shotts |535 |452 |451 |-1
Cornton Vale |213 |179 |172 |-7
Totals |5,635 |5,157 |5,635 |+478
Psychiatric Hospitals
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the costing of the closure programme for psychiatric hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [16814]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Closures of psychiatric hospitals normally result from a joint assessment of patients needs involving both the local authority and the health board. Where reprovision in the community is proposed, appropriate financial resources towards the cost of that provision transfer from the NHS to the local authority.
Value for money is, of course, taken into account in the health board's overall planning.
Mental Illness Specific Grant
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his proposed level of funding for the mental illness specific grant in the financial year 1996 97; and if he will make a statement. [16816]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The level of the grant in 1996 97 will depend on estimates of the need for services, the adequacy of existing levels of service, the capacity of organisations to arrange services, possible sources of alternative funding and what can be afforded. Estimates for planning purposes will be provided to local authorities in the summer. Final figures will be announced later in the year.
Water Authorities
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures have so far been carried out regarding the appointment of chief executives for the three new Scottish water authorities; if the successful candidates have been offered appointments; if any of those offered an appointment are senior officials of the Scottish Office; when he expects to make a public announcement about the appointments; and if he will make a statement. [17300]
Column 802
Mr. Kynoch: An executive search consultancy, Andrew Rait Ltd., was appointed in August 1994 to assist in identifying suitable candidates. Advertisements appeared in the Scottish and UK press in November 1994.
A short list of candidates has been interviewed and my right hon. Friend expects to make formal offers of appointment to the successful candidates in the near future. An announcement will follow.
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