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Landfill Sites
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of landfill sites in which contaminated soil is deposited and is proposed to be deposited in each of the counties of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [29631]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: This information is not held centrally.
Unemployment
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many people were unemployed in Wales (a) in May 1979 and (b) at the last date for which figures are available. [29629]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The seasonally adjusted number of persons on the claimant unemployment count in Wales was 68,700 in May 1979 and 106, 800 in May 1995.
Low Flying
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Defence what measures need to be put in hand to monitor and deal with incidents of low flying by military aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [28481]
Mr. Redwood: If there are complaints about possible violation of the low flying regulations they should be referred to the MOD for investigation. Compensation is payable where military activity leads to an identifiable and agreed loss.
Hospital Costs
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, (1) what is the average cost of providing one doctor hour in Powys hospitals; and if he will make a statement; [29053]
(2) what is the average cost of providing one doctor hour in Welsh hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [29056]
Mr. Richards: This information is not held centrally.
Community Hospitals, Powys
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total annual cost of maintaining extended community hospitals in Powys; and if he will make a statement. [29055]
Mr. Richards: The information requested is not held centrally.
GP Fundholding
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners in Wales work in independent fundholding practices; what proportion of general practitioners in Wales this represents; what is the annual cost of funding these general practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [29050]
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Mr. Richards: There are 649 general practitioners, about 35.5 per cent. of all GPs, working in 146 GP fundholding practices in Wales. The level of expenditure from fundholder management allowances between 1990 91 to 1993 94 was as follows:
|£
------------------------------
1990-91 |111,630
1991-92 |519,556
1991-93 |1,622,538
1993-94 |2,904,934
Expenditure figures for 1994 95 are not yet available but provisional accounts suggest that the total sum amounted to sum £3.8 million
NHS Hospital Staff
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) administrators and (d) other non-medical staff are employed by Welsh hospitals; and if he will make a statement; [29052]
(2) what is the number of (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) administrators and (d) other non-medical staff employed in extended community hospitals in Powys; and if he will make a statement. [29054]
Mr. Richards: Information is not available in the precise from requested. Details are collected only on a NHS trust, directly managed unit or health authority basis, and for non-medical staff the information does not differentiate between hospital and other staff, such as community based staff. The available information is given in the following table:
|Whole-time
|equivalent staff
|Powys Health Care
|NHS Trust |Wales<1>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doctors<2> |20 |2,723
Nursing and midwifery staff<3> |946 |24,702
Administrators<4> |212 |7,540
Other non-medical staff<5> |471 |13,610
Notes:
<1> Excluding staff directly employed by ambulance trust (and ambulance staff
employed by other Trusts/authorities), health purchasers (except one for which
separate figures disaggregated from its constituent directly managed units are not
available), family health service authorities and the Welsh Health Common Services
Authority.
<2> Hospital medical staff, excluding hospital practitioners and clinical
assistants. At 30 September 1994.
<3> Excluding pre-registration nurse learners. At 31 March 1995.
<4> Includes managers and all other administrative and clerical staff. At 31 March
1995.
<5> Professional and technical, works, maintenance and ancillary staff. At 31 March
1995.
Hip Replacement Costs
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of a hip replacement operation undertaken in Powys; and if he will make a statement. [29057]
Mr. Richards: Hip replacement operations are not undertaken within Powys. The service for residents of Powys is purchased from several hospitals in England and Wales.
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Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of a hip replacement operation in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [29062]
Mr. Richards: Information on treatment costs in contracts is not held centrally. Tariffs for treatment outside of contracts are published. Of the published tariffs specifically for hip replacements procedures, the average is £3,466.
Prescriptions
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost of administering the present prescription and exemption charges system in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [29058]
Mr. Richards: The information is as follows:
|Cost
Item |(£ million)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of prescription forms for supply to
doctors and dentists<1> |0.08
Pricing of prescriptions dispensed by community
pharmacists, appliance contractors and doctors<2> |3.2
<1> Expenditure by family health service authorities, 1994. Other FHSA
administration costs associated with the NHS prescription system and the
charge exemption and remission arrangements are not separately identified.
<2> Expenditure by Prescription Pricing Services,April 1994-March 1995.
The following are excluded from the above:
(1) fees paid to doctors, dentists and pharmacists for professional services and expenditure on the drugs bill;
(2) costs of operating the NHS low income scheme in Wales, which are not separately identified. The scheme provides remission of prescription charges and help with other NHS costs to eligible claimants and their dependents.
Health Service Expenditure
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will express health service expenditure in Wales as a proportion of Welsh gross domestic product for (a) 1990 91, (b) 1993 94 and (c) 1994 95; and if he will make a statement. [29059]
Mr. Richards: The available information for Wales is given in the following table. Information for 1994 95 is not yet available.
|$|£ million at current prices
|1990-91|1993-94
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Net National Health Service expenditure |1,491 |1,988
(b) Gross domestic product<1> |20,033 |22,761
(a) As a percentage of (b) |7.4 |8.7
<1> Gross Domestic Product is available for calendar years only (
1990 and 1993).
Salaried GPs
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners in Wales are salaried; what proportion of general practitioners in Wales this represents; what is the annual cost of employing these salaried general practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [29060]
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Mr. Richards: There are no general medical practitioners in Wales whose salaries are paid directly by family health service authorities.
There were nine, out of 1,710, unrestricted principal GPs in Wales at 1 October 1994 who were "salaried partners": that is, their salary was paid by the partnership for whom they worked. The salaries of all assistant and trainee GPs--138 at 1 October 1994--are paid by the partnership for whom they work. Information on the cost of employing these staff is not available centrally.
NHS Salaries
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of NHS expenditure in Wales goes on salaries; what proportion of the salaries bill is accounted for by non-medical staff; and if he will make a statement. [29061]
Mr. Richards: The following is the information:
NHS Expenditure (Wales) |£000 |Percentage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NHS revenue expenditure in 1993-94 was: |1,443,652 |- The amount spent on salaries was: |951,937 |66 The proportion of salaries bill accounted for by non-medical staff was: |262,894 |28 Source: Annual Accounts/Financial returns of DHAs, SHAs, FHSAs, NHS Trusts and Welsh Office records. Notes: 1. 1993-94 data is provisional and the latest available. 2. Expenditure on non-medical staff includes the salaries and wages of general and senior managers, administrators and clerks, ancillary, maintenance, ambulance and "other non-specified" employees in health authorities, SHAs, FHSAs and NHS trusts. The chairmen's and non-executive members remuneration is also included. The costs of GPs' administrative staff are not included in the "non-medical" calculation as this information is not separately collected. 3. Non NHS staff (agency etc) are excluded from the non-medical staff proportion at this expenditure is not analysed by staff category.
Welsh Assembly
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library all work undertaken by his Department on the subject of a Welsh Assembly since 1974. [30224]
Mr. Redwood: I do not have access to any departmental papers relating to that period of the Labour Government between 1974 and 1979. Such papers are subject to the provisions of the Public Record Acts 1958 and 1967. Consequently, those files selected for permanent preservation will normally be available for inspection at the Public Records Office, Kew, from January 2004.
For the period since 1979 I am advised that no studies or other substantive work has been undertaken.
West Wales Task Force
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the next meeting of the strategy group of the West Wales task force is to be held. [30249]
Mr. Richards: The next meeting of the West Wales task force will be held on Monday 24 July.
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Strategic Development Scheme
Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce his plans for the strategic development scheme in 1996 97. [30936]
Mr. Redwood: A circular inviting local authorities to bid for support under the strategic development scheme is being issued today. I am making two important changes to the scheme following detailed consultations with the Council of Welsh Districts and the Assembly of County Councils: local authorities are being given full responsibility for approving and administering smaller schemes--I am setting aside approximately £13 million in 1996 97 for the purpose. I am introducing a new community strategy initiative specifically designed to tackle the most severe social problems in targeted areas. A copy of the circular has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Correspondence
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when Councillor Handel Morgan of Gwynedd county council can expect to receive a reply to the letter he wrote to the Under-Secretary of State on 6 February, regarding his comments on officials of Gwynedd county council, or to his subsequent reminder on 7 March; and if the length of time taken to reply is in accordance with the provisions of the citizens charter. [28480]
Mr. Richard [holding answer 19 June 1995]: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing my attention to this matter. I have written to Cllr Morgan today, and have copied my reply to the hon. Gentleman.
Financial Management Policy Reviews
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 18 May Official Report, column 373, if he will list any previous examples of financial management policy reviews not being completed; if he will list the civil service guidelines for the carrying out of financial management policy reviews with specific respect to their non-completion; if he will list the principal reasons for non-completion; what proposals he has for strengthening the guidelines for the conduct of such reviews with regard to aborted reviews and the procedure for dealing with them; and if he will make a statement. [27012]
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 6 June 1995]: General guidance on the conduct and coverage of financial management policy reviews is contained in "Non--Departmental Public Bodies. A Guide for Departments", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The guidance states that all reviews should be conducted in two distinct stages. Only after agreement has been reached on the recommendations of the first stage--the prior options review--will a review proceed to a second stage.
As I announced in response to the question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Sir W. Roberts) on 3 November 1994, Official Report, column 1329, the prior options review of the Countryside Council for Wales indicated that there could be scope for elected bodies to play an increased role in the delivery of certain of the council's functions. The second stage of the financial management policy review was therefore overtaken by a review of the council's functions.
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SCOTLAND
Scottish Ambulance Service
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met Mr. Freemantle of the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss relations between the service and right hon. and hon. Members; what was the outcome of his discussions; and if he will make a statement. [28534]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend has had no recent discussions with the chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust, but the chief executive has met a number of right hon. and hon. Members this year and welcomes the opportunity for such meetings. If the hon. Gentleman has particular concerns regarding relations between the service and right hon. and hon. Members he should detail them and I shall ensure that they are investigated.
Renfrew District Elderly Forum
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet Renfrew district elderly forum to discuss local government reform, water and sewerage services, concessionary travel schemes, standing charges on utilities and other topics of concern; and if he will make a statement. [28570]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet Renfrew district elderly forum. He is, however, aware of its concerns, many of which have recently been raised with him or his Ministers by organisations that represent older people, including elderly forums. I met Strathclyde elderly forum in January to discuss concerns about concessionary travel schemes.
Care in the Community
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his willingness to support and fund (a) community and (b) staff-led co-operatives to provide care in the community in Scotland. [28531]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Direct financial support from the Scottish Office is generally provided to national voluntary organisations to assist with headquarters running costs and for innovative projects with potential national significance. Locally organised projects may be eligible for funding under the urban programme. Local authority social work departments have been given the responsibility and financial resources to develop and purchase high-quality, cost-effective services from a range of providers in response to local need. This could include staff-led co- operatives.
Conservation Areas
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations underlie the difference between planning application fees for minor developments within conservation areas for flatted dwellings and dwelling houses; and if he will amend regulations to equalise the fees. [29205]
Mr. Lang: Where a planning authority has, under the relevant legislation, removed permitted development rights in a conservation area, owners of dwelling houses
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and flatted dwellings must submit a planning application for minor proposals. A planning fee is payable in the case of a dwelling house, but not in the case of a flatted dwelling. This accords with the position outwith conservation areas where a dwelling house would, subject to certain limitations, enjoy permitted development rights but planning proposals in flatted dwellings require planning permission and, accordingly, payment of a fee.The reason for the distinction is that alterations to flats are more likely to affect neighbouring interests and are not therefore granted the permitted development rights available to dwelling houses.
Agricultural Grants
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the mean, median and standard deviation for the length of time between receiving a claim and the payment of a claim for each agricultural grant handled by his Department. [29455]
Sir Hector Monro: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at
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disproportionate cost. Targets for the payment of claims for grants and subsidies are set out in the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department's charter standard statement entitled "Serving Scottish Farmers". A second edition was published on 21 June. In 1993 94, the Department attained a performance rate of 90 per cent. or above for the majority of the targets set out in the first edition of "Serving Scottish Farmers". I will report on performance for 1994 95 later this year.Residential Care
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure in 1993 94 by each local authority from placements of old people in (a) registered and (b) unregistered independent residential care and nursing homes, inside and outside the local authority area and from placements in local authority homes for older people; and if he will break down by income from (1) Government grants, inside aggregate external finance and outside aggregate external finance, (2) sales, (3) fees and charges, (4) other income and (5) joint arrangements. [28992]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The available information is shown in the following table:
Column 421
Identifiable Local Authority Expenditure relating to fully staffed residential homes for older people:
1993-94 (provisional)
£ thousand
|Dumfries
|and
|Borders |Central |Galloway|Fife |Grampian|Highland
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenditure
Employee costs |2,720 |5,151 |4,330 |6,155 |9,936 |3,377
Operating costs |- |- |- |- |- |-
Third party payments to private persons or
companies |410 |942 |486 |- |- |945
Third party payments to voluntary bodies |- |76 |- |- |18 |215
Other third party payments |- |136 |- |- |- |-
Other operating costs |740 |1,188 |993 |1,268 |2,057 |802
Total (operating costs) |1,150 |2,342 |1,479 |1,268 |2,075 |1,962
Transfer payments |- |- |- |- |- |-
Grants to private persons or companies |- |- |- |- |- |-
Grants to voluntary bodies |- |- |- |- |- |-
Other transfer payments |- |- |- |- |- |-
Total (transfer payments) |- |- |- |- |- |-
Total gross expenditure |3,870 |7,493 |5,809 |7,423 |12,011 |5,339
£ thousand
|Lothian |Strathclyde|Tayside |Orkney |Shetland |W Isles |Scotland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenditure
Employee costs |11,711 |34,343 |8,283 |902 |1,258 |1,617 |89,783
Operating costs |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Third party payments to private persons or
companies |1 |7,924 |1,355 |- |312 |- |12,375
Third party payments to voluntary bodies |2,370 |205 |270 |- |- |- |3,154
Other third party payments |- |7,148 |- |- |5 |- |7,289
Other operating costs |2,655 |10,029 |2,330 |191 |0 |603 |22,856
Total (operating costs) |5,026 |25,306 |3,955 |191 |317 |603 |45,674
Transfer payments |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Grants to private persons or companies |26 |- |- |- |- |- |26
Grants to voluntary bodies |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Other transfer payments |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Total (transfer payments) |26 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Total gross expenditure |16,763 |59,649 |12,338 |1,093 |1,575 |2,220 |135,483
Source:
Local financial returns made by local authorities to Scottish Office.
Sand-eel Fishery
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vessels are employed in monitoring the sand-eel fishery around Shetland and in the west of Scotland waters. [29344]
Mr. Lang: The Scottish Office marine laboratory would normally deploy one of its research vessels to help with any necessary stock assessment. In addition, the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency deploys a number of vessels on surveillance and enforcement duties. These include four offshore fishery patrol vessels augmented by a similar Royal Navy vessel and two inshore launches. Their tasking covers the sand-eel fisheries but is not exclusively so.
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to monitor the age, composition and size of fish in each catch of sand-eels around Shetland. [29343]
Mr. Lang [holding answer 19 June 1995]: The Scottish Office marine laboratory in Aberdeen is analysing daily samples from the Shetland fishery on the basis of age and length composition.
Wild Mink
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the damage done to marine birdlife by wild mink. [29624]
Sir Hector Monro: My right hon. Friend has received advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on the impact of mink on Scottish wildlife. The species is an active predator and established itself in the wild after escaping from mink farms as long ago as 1929. Research results indicate that the mink has generally not had a serious effect on our wildlife although there remains concern about its possible effect on some colonies of ground-nesting seabirds.
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance his Department has issued to relevant authorities on the control of wild mink populations; what controls are already in place; and where they are being carried out. [29621]
Sir Hector Monro: Guidance on the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 was issued in 1991 in a circular to local authorities and other relevant organisations. Under that Act it is an offence to release mink or to allow mink to escape into the wild. The Mink (Keeping) Regulations 1975 also apply strict requirements to mink farming to prevent escapes from adding to the wild mink population. In addition there are voluntary efforts to trap mink by groups such as the Argyll bird club and the Harris and Lewis mink control group.
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated population of wild mink in (a) Scotland (b) Argyll and Bute for the years (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994. [29623]
Sir Hector Monro: It was estimated recently that there are some 50,000 wild mink in Scotland. Further details requested are not available.
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Fatal Accident Inquiry
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be in a position to state whether there is to be a fatal accident inquiry into the death of a constituent of the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow in a traffic accident in East shaw street, Greenock on 21 April; and if he will make a statement. [29306]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The death to which the hon. Member refers has been reported to the procurator fiscal at Greenock, and he is inquiring into the circumstances. Members of the deceased's family were interviewed on 7 and 8 June. The procurator fiscal anticipates that his inquiries will be completed by the end of June.
Boundary Commission Review
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures there are for changing the name of a parliamentary constituency between Parliamentary Boundary Commission reviews; and if he will make a statement. [30292]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Recommendations as to the names of parliamentary constituencies in Scotland are a matter for the Boundary Commission for Scotland alone. The commission is empowered to undertake interim reviews of constituencies, between general reviews, as it sees fit.
Police
Mr. Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of police officers per 1,000 population in Grampian region and in Gordon district. [30012]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The regular police establishment per 1,000 population in Grampian region is 2.21 as at 31 March 1995. The information for Gordon district is not available.
Mr. Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the average number of police officers per 1,000 population in Scotland. [30011]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The authorised regular police establishment per 1,000 population in Scotland is 2.77 as at 31 March 1995.
Mr. Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the location and number of rural police stations in Scotland that have been closed over the past 10 years. [30013]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: This information is not held centrally. Closure of police stations is a matter for the chief constable and police authority of the force area concerned.
Farmwatch
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by region the number of farmwatch schemes operating in Scotland; and what provision his Department has undertaken to encourage farmers to join this scheme. [30014]
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Information by region is not held centrally, but the number of schemes by police force area is as follows:
)
-----------------------------------------
Central Scotland police |-
Dumfries and Galloway constabulary |14
Fife constabulary |-
Grampian police |34
Lothian and Borders police |8
Northern constabulary |1
Strathclyde police |-
Tayside police |58
Farmwatch schemes, in common with a wide range of other watch schemes, continue to increase in number and operate in close co-operation with individual police forces. The demand for, and development of, such schemes are essentially driven by farming communities in the light of their perception of local circumstances.
Ayr County Hospital
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for how long the old Ayr county hospital building has been empty; what action has been taken to protect its fabric; what action has been taken to find a new use for it; when he expects it to be re-occupied; and if he will make a statement. [30023]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Ayr county hospital was closed on 31 October 1991 and has been empty since that date. The fabric of the building has been maintained throughout this time in a wind and watertight condition. The hospital has been deemed surplus to requirements by Ayrshire and Arran health board and an offer has been accepted from a property developer who should take possession of the property in December 1995.
Granny Flats"
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the effect of the English High Court decision by Mr. Justice Ognall on the separate valuation for council tax purposes of annexs set aside for elderly relatives in respect of Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [30024]
Mr. Kynoch: In Scotland, this matter is regulated by section 72 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which defines a chargeable dwelling for council tax purposes. Although each case is assessed on its merits, it is our understanding that assessors generally enter such dwellings separately in the valuation list. Any dispute or question over an assessor's interpretation of section 72 is a matter for the relevant valuation appeal committee and ultimately for the courts.
Electoral Ward Names
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures there are for changing an electoral ward name in a new unitary authority; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kynoch: There are no statutory procedures for changing the name of an electoral ward. The usual practice is that names of electoral wards are included by local authorities in any proposals made in the course of a review
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of local government electoral arrangements by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. Proposals for changes to electoral areas, including the name of electoral wards are subject to wide public consultation. The first review of electoral arrangements in respect of the new unitary authorities will commence as soon as practicable after 1 April 1996 with the aim of completing the review in time for the next election in 1999.Crofters
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to amend the crofter building grants and loans scheme; and if he will make a statement. [30040]
Sir Hector Monro: My Department has no plans at present to introduce changes to the assistance available through the crofters building grants and loans scheme.
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