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Creagan Bridge

Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) who he has consulted on the subject of a Creagan road bridge; and what plans he has to further consultations; [8544]

(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of the construction of the Creagan bridge; [8585]

(3) what is the timetable for the construction of the Creagan bridge; and if he will make a statement; [8542]

(4) what public funds will be made available for the construction of the Creagan bridge. [8543]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: We have consulted extensively on plans for the Creagan bridge with statutory consultees in line with schedule 1 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. All directly affected landowners were visited by representatives from the National Roads Directorate. Plans were available for inspection locally at the time the draft road orders were published. On 1 May 1992, a compulsory purchase order was published under the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Scotland Act 1947 and on 5 February 1993 main line and side road orders were confirmed. Arrangements are currently being made for a public local inquiry to consider one unwithdrawn objection from a local landowner to the compulsory purchase order.

The cost of the scheme is currently estimated at £6.22 million. Given a satisfactory outcome at the public inquiry, and the continuing availability of resources, it is anticipated that construction will start in 1997-98, as a publicly funded project.

Flood Prevention (Strathclyde)

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has given (a) in writing or (b) verbally to Strathclyde regional council in respect of capital projects concerned with flood prevention. [8485]

Mr. Kynoch: No recent approaches have been made by Strathclyde regional council to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in respect of capital projects concerned with flood prevention. Indeed, no approaches have been made since the Brock burn/leven water flood prevention scheme was confirmed in 1993. This scheme was completed in late 1994 and grant assistance at 50 per cent. of eligible costs has been paid.

However, I am aware that Strathclyde has now commissioned flood studies of some of the areas affected in December 1994. This will assist the unitary councils in determining their flood prevention strategies. I welcome this initiative by Strathclyde regional council.

Munitions Dumping

Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold an inquiry into the condition of munitions deposited in deep water, as marked on the relevant charts, just south of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement. [9186]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The Scottish Office has no plans to hold an inquiry.

16 Jan 1996 : Column: 544

Mr. Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in respect of sea bed munition dumping, as marked on the relevant charts, in the vicinity of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement. [9187]

Mr. Robertson: No representations have been received by the Scottish Office in respect of munition dumping in that vicinity.

Skye Bridge Toll

Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest available total number of cases referred to the local procurator fiscal in respect of non-payment of the Skye bridge toll; when he expects the procurator fiscal to report further; if such alleged offences will be subject to civil or criminal proceedings; and if he will make a statement. [8677]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The latest available figures relating to non-payment of the Skye bridge toll in contravention of section 38(1) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 are as follows:

There have been 466 instances of non-payment which have been reported to the procurator fiscal; these instances involve 186 separate individuals. The procurator fiscal has been instructed by the Lord Advocate to institute criminal proceedings in respect of all instances where there is a sufficiency of evidence and the charges are now in course of preparation. The procurator fiscal will report the results of these proceedings to the Crown Office.

Private Finance Initiative

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) guidelines and (b) other advice has been issued by his Department to (i) NHS bodies and (ii) other organisations regarding the extension of the private finance initiative to the operation of health services. [9081]

Lord James Douglas Hamilton [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The "Private Finance Guide", issued to the NHS in Scotland, is the main source of guidance on PFI. In it, it is stated that the NHS would

"manage and provide all the core health services, while the private sector partner could provide a fully serviced building. The precise division of responsibilities between the Trust and its private partner would need to be determined on the basis of whatever arrangement would offer best value for money and least risk". No other guidelines have been issued on this subject. It is for trusts and boards to make this decision. The model so far has been that trusts will continue to operate core health services, with the private sector operating support services.

Beaufort's Dyke

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1995, Official Report, column 817, if he will now agree to extend the nature and coverage of the follow-up survey of Beaufort's dyke (a) to include more sophisticated sonar and laser equipment and (b) to cover a wider geographic area, including depths below 30 m; and if he will make a statement. [8576]

16 Jan 1996 : Column: 545

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson [holding answer 15 January 1996]: Full particulars of the further Government survey work announced at a press conference on 8 January in Aberdeen will be made available in due course.

Prisons (Education)

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards education in Scottish prisons. [9276]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 January 1996]: As a recognised regime activity, education for prisoners is provided on the basis of need subject to prisoners' willingness to participate in what is a voluntary activity and resources being available. Courses range from literary and numeracy to degree level with a sizeable proportion focusing on recognised qualifications such as the Scottish Vocational Education Council modules to help prisoners find employment and to continue with their studies on release.

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list those prisons in Scotland which provide educational courses leading to recognised qualifications for prisoners; [9273]

(2) if he will estimate the level of public expenditure that has been devoted to education in Scottish prisons over the last five years and the levels projected to be spent over the next three years; [9274]

(3) how many prisoners in Scottish jails are currently studying on courses leading to educational qualifications; [9275]

(4) what studies his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated to investigate the effect of education in Scottish jails on recidivism rates; [9277]

(5) what plans he has to set up a Scottish prison education trust to assist in promoting education in Scottish prisons; [9278]

(6) what estimate he has made of the proportion of prisoners in Scottish prisons who would be willing to undertake education while serving prison sentences if appropriate courses were available. [9279]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 15 January 1996]: The subjects of the questions relate 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 Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 16 January 1996:

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked the Chief Executive to reply to your questions about listing those prisons which provide educational courses leading to recognised qualifications for prisoners, the level of public expenditure devoted to education in prisons, the number of prisoners currently studying on courses leading to educational qualifications, what studies have been carried out to investigate the effect of education on recidivism rates, what plans there are to set up a Scottish Prison Education Trust and what estimate has been made of the proportion of prisoners who would be willing to undertake education if appropriate courses were available. In absence of the Chief Executive form the office, I am replying on his behalf.

16 Jan 1996 : Column: 546

All prison establishments in Scotland provide educational courses leading to recognised qualification for prisoners save, for the present, the recently formed Peterhead Unit and National Induction Centre at Shotts and Longriggend Remand Unit where the average length of stay for those on remand is relatively short.
Expenditure on education for prisoners for each of the four years to 31 March 1995 together with the budget for the current financial year is as follows:

Year	£000
1991-92	1,273
1992-93	(8)1,674
1993-94	1,545
1994-95	1,657
1995-96 Budget	1,678




(8) Payment pattern skewed by incorporation of colleges of further education on 1 April 1993.

Budget allocations for establishments for 1996-97 (including budgets for education) are still in the process of being agreed. Budgets for 1997-98 and 1998-99 will be set in due course.
In terms of the number of prisoners currently studying on courses leading to educational qualifications a recent snapshot showed that there are approximately 1,100 prisoners in this category.
On the topic of education and recidivism rates, no specific research studies have been undertaken to investigate the effects of education on recidivism. However, the recent computerisation of the system of prisoner records in Scotland will provide an opportunity, in future years, to examine the impact of a range of prisoner programmes, including education on recidivism.
The Scottish Prison Service has no plans to set up a Scottish Prison Education Trust.
An estimate of the proportion of prisoners willing to undertake education is not held centrally. Each establishment keeps under review the appropriate mix of regime activities, including education, in the light of the needs of prisoners.

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