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Research and Development
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993-94. [1915]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: Table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look of Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology" contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the EC budget in respect of research and development. The Scottish Office does not have policy responsibility for Community R and D expenditure and makes no direct contribution to the R and D budget.
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Criminal Appeals
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in each of the past four years the Lord Advocate has appealed a sentence passed on conviction on indictment which he is considered to be (a) unduly lenient and (b) wrong in law; of such appeals, how many led to the imposition of heavier sentences and how many were found to be wrong in law; and if he will make a statement. [1086]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: In terms of section 228A(a) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 the Lord Advocate was given the power to appeal against a sentence imposed in respect of an indictment on the ground that it is considered by him to be unduly lenient. This provision came into force on 1 October 1993. To date the power has been exercised as shown in the table.
| Appeals | Allowed | Refused or abandoned | Outstanding | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October 1993-31 December 1993 | Nil | -- | -- | -- |
| 1 January 1994-31 December 1994 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 1 January 1995-24 November 1995 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
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Procurators Fiscal
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what procurator fiscal staff and services are currently in Arbroath; and when he intends to fill any vacancies; [2333]
- (2) what were the numbers and locations of procurator fiscal staff in each Angus sheriffdom in each of the past five years; [2331]
(3) what consultations he has had and he intends having before finalising decisions about changes in the procurator fiscal system in Angus and Scotland; [2332]
(4) when he intends to appoint a procurator fiscal based in Arbroath. [2330]
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: There were four staff in the Forfar procurator fiscal's office between 1991 and 1993, and from 1994 to date there have been three. There are five staff in the procurator fiscal's office in Arbroath. There has been no change in the staffing level there in the last five years. The holder of the office of procurator fiscal, Arbroath, transferred to the procurator fiscal's office in Glasgow on 23 November 1995, and the procurator fiscal, Dundee, has been appointed procurator fiscal, Arbroath, ad interim.
The Lord Advocate is presently giving consideration to the future arrangements for staffing the Arbroath and Forfar offices. In the event that he proposes any change from previous arrangements which would have significant implications, he will consult relevant interests.
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Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of business undertaken by the procurator fiscal service in Arbroath in each of the past five years. [2235]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
The following table shows the number of reports received by the procurator fiscal from the police and other reporting agencies for the years 1990 to 1995, and gives details of court proceedings.
| Total reports received | Solemn Pleas | Courts trials | Summary pleas | Courts trials | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-91 | 3,076 | 13 | 15 | 1,520 | 179 |
| 1991-92 | 3,521 | 22 | 12 | 1,692 | 185 |
| 1992-93 | 3,767 | 16 | 15 | 1,439 | 198 |
| 1993-94 | 2,953 | 19 | 8 | 1,545 | 161 |
| 1994-95 | 3,133 | 15 | 6 | 1,184 | 125 |
Dry Stone Walls
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) grants and (b) other support will be available from his Department for the conservation and protection of dry stone walls from April 1996. [2327]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: Grant assistance for dry stone walling works in Scotland is available from the following sources:
- Objective 1 highlands and islands agricultural programme (agricultural business improvement scheme): 70 per cent. grant for dyking works on inbye and hill land, and for the provision of dykes to exclude livestock in association with conservation management;
Crofting counties agricultural grants scheme (Scottish Crofting Counties only): 55 per cent grant for the provision, substantial alteration, restoration and protection of dry stone walls for agricultural purposes;
Scottish Natural Heritage: grants up to a maximum rate of 50 per cent. for dry stone walling works which improve the character and attractiveness of the landscape, and contribute to conservation of biodiversity.
Depending on the nature of their management agreements, farmers in environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland can receive payments at varying rates, depending on location, for dry stone walling works. It is likely that this form of support will also continue beyond April 1996.
Departmental Contracts
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts have been awarded by him to the consultancy firm PIEDA in the past 10 years: at what cost and on what subjects. [1224]
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Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 22 November 1995]: Detailed information about all consultancy contracts let by my Department is not maintained centrally and a full reply could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. However, two surveys were carried out by my Department in February 1994 and August 1995 from which the following contracts have been identified:
1990-91 Appraisal of business plans
Aerial surveillance operations
1991-92 Housing initiative survey
Interim evaluation of Strathclyde integrated development operation Highlands and island interim evaluation of national programme of community interest.
1992-93 West Nerston retail impact study
Stirling Castle visitors centre study
1993-94 Evaluation of the crofters building grants and loans scheme
1994-95 Staffing and organisational review of sea fisheries inspectorate evaluation of the crofters building grants and loans scheme
1995-96 Staffing and organisational review of sea fisheries inspectorate Financial management review of Scottish Homes
Ambulance Service
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what performance targets are set for the Scottish ambulance service for non-emergency calls. [1226]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [Holding answer 22 November 1995]: Non-emergency patients are taken to routine hospital appointments by the patient transport service provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust. This service is purchased by NHS trusts to standards which are sensitive to local circumstances and are agreed as part of the contracting process. To monitor performance and identify possible improvements, each division of the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust conducts an annual patient satisfaction survey. In addition the accident and emergency service provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust also deals with calls classified by general practitioners or other health care workers as urgent. In such cases the target is for 95 per cent. of patients to arrive at hospital no later than 15 minutes after the time agreed with the caller, this is typically one to two hours but is determined by the caller's assessment of the patients clinical need.
DEFENCE
Bosnia
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the further deployment of British troops to the former Yugoslavia as part of the international peace plan. [2446]
27 Nov 1995 : Column: 481
Mr. Portillo: Contingency planning for a NATO-led force to help implement a peace agreement on Bosnia is well advanced. Britain will make a significant contribution.
Final decisions on the British contribution, and on the time scale of deployment, cannot be taken yet. They depend on the satisfactory outcome of a number of important issues, including signature of the peace agreement by the parties and equitable burden sharing among our allies. Details of the various national contributions to the force, including those from non-NATO countries, remain under discussion with NATO. The commitment of substantial US ground forces will be a pre-requisite for the involvement of our own forces. NATO plans to withdraw the force within 12 months.
Current planning envisages British forces operating in central and western Bosnia, with the headquarters located at Gornji Vakuf, in our present area of operations. In addition, we plan to contribute our existing sea and air assets in theatre, although we would expect our maritime forces to reduce as the embargoes are lifted.
The NATO operation will be run on the ground by the headquarters of NATO's ACE Rapid Reaction Corps, for which we have the lead alliance responsibility. That means that the United Kingdom will provide the commander, General Sir Michael Walker, and about 60 per cent. of the staff.
On top of that we are considering deploying a divisional headquarters--3 UK Division--and a brigade with armour, infantry and artillery elements, under Headquarters 4 Armoured Brigade, together with a number of supporting units.
The forces will incorporate units from our UN contingent already in Bosnia. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 22 November, Official Report, column 667, we expect the total land force contribution to be of the order of 13,000.
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