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Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the sources of funding of the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board. [6291]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 December 1995]: The Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board receives funding from the Secretary of State for Scotland and when operational will also receive registration fees from qualified conveyancers and executry practitioners.
Mr. Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current membership of the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board. [6292]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 December 1995]: The current membership is:
Professor Philip Love CBE (Chairman)
Ian Buchanan Esq
R. Gavin Burnett Esq
John Murray Esq
Mrs. Joyce Simpson
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- Hugh Torrance Esq
Duncan White Esq OBE.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 December 1995]: The Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board was established in June 1991 and the costs to public funds are as follows:
1991-92: 113,756
1992-93: 108,796
1993-94: 31,093
1994-95: 26,299
1995-96: 10,000.
Mr. Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if practitioners under the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board will be required to subscribe financially to a guarantee fund at their own expense; [6294]
(2) if practitioners under the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board will be required to take out professional indemnity insurance at their own expense. [6295]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 December 1995]: Yes.
Scottish National Heritage
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the budget for Scottish Natural Heritage for the financial years (a) 1994-95 (b) 1995-96 (c) 1996-97 (d) 1997-98. [7205]
Mr. Kynoch [holding answer 19 December 1995]: The information is set out:
£ million
1994-95: £39.9
1995-96: £40.3
1996-97: £36.0.
Skye Bridge
Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what surveys he has conducted into the popularity of the bridge to Skye among local residents. [5213]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Highland regional council conducted a survey among local residents in 1986 in which 70 per cent. of respondents supported the idea
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of a bridge replacing the ferries. Earlier this year, and prior to the bridge opening, further research was carried out on behalf of the Scottish Office by PA Cambridge Economic Consultants in liaison with the Transport Research Laboratory as part of a longer-term study of the impacts of the bridge. That work indicated varying perceptions of the bridge. Visitors to the area think the bridge will be of more benefit to residents of the area whereas residents of the area consider it likely to be more benefit to visitors. There have been no surveys since the bridge opened on 16 October.
Scottish Assembly
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received in favour of a tax-raising Scottish Assembly. [5229]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: In the past six months, I have received 16 representations in favour of a Scottish Parliament with tax-raising powers.
Balmoral Estate
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the contents of the memorandum of understanding relating to Scottish Natural Heritage in respect of the Balmoral estate; and if he will indicate the terms of the financial agreement. [5495]
Mr. Kynoch: The memorandum of understanding between Balmoral Estates and the former Nature Conservancy Council was drawn up in 1991. It is designed to cover the management of areas of special conservation interest on the Balmoral and Birkhall estates, bearing in mind that the statutory procedures for the notification of sites of special scientific interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 do not apply to Her Majesty's private estates in Scotland.
The provisions of the memorandum include measures for the identification of important sites, the formulation of management plans, dialogue on operations which might harm their special interest and steps which might be taken to enhance the interest.
There is no financial agreement within the terms of the memorandum. It does, however, contain provision for financial terms to be included within any voluntary agreement made in pursuance of the management plans for the site. To date, no such agreements have been entered into.
Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Forth road bridge was last painted; how many people were involved; what was the cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [5496]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
The Forth road bridge is the responsibility of the Forth road bridge joint board, a statutory body made up of members from Lothian regional council and Fife regional council. However, I understand from the joint board that painting of the Forth road bridge is a continuous process carried out in an eight-year cycle. Some 17 people are involved in painting the bridge, and these include both permanent and seasonal
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workers. In common with other expenditure on the bridge the costs are met from toll revenue. No public funds are used.
Ms Rachel Squire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if specific funding has been allocated for the replacement of the Kincardine bridge, the building of a bypass and an improved West Fife road network; [6724]
(2) what is the timetable for (a) the replacement of the Kincardine bridge, (b) the construction of a bypass and (c) the improvement of the West Fife road network; [6834]
(3) what plans he has for public consultation on all the options outlined by consultants for routes for a replacement Kincardine bridge and bypass; [6835]
(4) what is his preferred option for the replacement of the Kincardine bridge and bypass; [6836]
(5) when construction will begin on (a) the replacement of the Kincardine bridge and (b) the bypass; [6837]
(6) if he will make a statement on the funding of the Kincardine bridge and bypass. [6931]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
My right hon. Friend will be holding public consultation early in the new year on the conclusions drawn from studies of the various options at Kincardine. These studies consider the requirements of the crossing and the bypassing of Kincardine village. This will include a public exhibition in Alloa and Kincardine. A number of routes will be exhibited and information will be displayed setting out their relative merits. This will enable the options to be fully examined by the public, and individuals and local interests will be invited to give their views. At this stage my right hon. Friend has not come to any decision on the option which best meets local and national needs and careful account will be taken of all the views expressed.
When the responses to the consultation have been considered, further detailed studies will be undertaken on the preferred option to allow the preparation and publication of draft statutory orders. Subject to those responses and the progress made on that work publication is unlikely to be before mid-1997. No date is fixed for construction, and the further progress of the scheme will be dependent on the reaction of the public to the published orders and on the availability of finance in the light of other competing priorities.
The viability of an improved road between Kincardine and the M90, the West Fife regional road, has been examined as part of the Kincardine studies. However the Government's present view is that such a road could be provided only in the longer term.
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the United Kingdom's resources of water for domestic and individual supply is located in Scotland. [7269]
Mr. Kynoch:
Some 12.4 per cent. of the public water resources available for domestic and industrial purposes are located in Scotland.
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