| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Civil Justice System
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proposals exist to initiate a consultative inquiry into the Scottish civil justice system with a similar remit to that of the recent Woolf inquiry in England and Wales; [12086]
- (2) if he will make it his policy to instigate a fundamental review of the civil justice system in Scotland. [12087]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The civil justice system in Scotland is kept under constant review through standing groups such as the sheriff court rules council and the Court of Session rules council and takes account of initiatives by ministerial and judicial interests.
The rules of both the Court of Session and sheriff court have recently been reviewed and reforms were introduced into both during 1994. The effects of these changes are being monitored by a research programme and it would be premature to initiate a further fundamental review of the whole system at this time.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make additional resources available to housing associations to install carbon monoxide detectors in their housing stock; and if he will make a statement; [12219]
1 Feb 1996 : Column: 877
(3) if he will make additional resources available to Scottish Homes to install carbon monoxide detectors in their housing stock; and if he will make a statement. [12217]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
Substantial resources have been made available to local authorities and Scottish Homes for investment in public sector housing stock. Decisions about the installation of carbon monoxide detectors are for local authorities and Scottish Homes in the light of their assessments of priorities. Similarly, decisions about the installation of detectors in housing association properties are a matter for each association, but they would be expected to fund such work from their own resources.
Mr. McAllion:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the recipients of supplementary allocations from underspend on the NHS budget in each of the past three years; and if he will publish the rules pertaining to the application for an award of such allocations. [12009]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
The recipients of the supplementary allocations from underspend on the NHS budget in each of the past three years are as shown in the following table:
(2) if he will make additional resources available to local authorities to install carbon monoxide detectors in their housing stock; and if he will make a statement; [12218]
| Recipient | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argyll and Clyde health board | 2,600 | 1,815 | 1,414 |
| Ayrshire and Arran health board | 2,000 | 871 | 1,198 |
| Borders health board | 750 | 443 | 363 |
| Dumfries and Galloway health board | 900 | 885 | 517 |
| Fife health board | 1,950 | 2,393 | 1,074 |
| Forth Valley health board | 1,500 | 884 | 842 |
| Grampian health board | 2,850 | 2,367 | 1,527 |
| Greater glasgow health board | 6,100 | 5,111 | 3,115 |
| Highland health board | 1,400 | 796 | 685 |
| Lanarkshire health board | 3,000 | 1,719 | 1,671 |
| Lothian health board | 4,200 | 3,330 | 2,310 |
| Orkney health board | 300 | 329 | 68 |
| Shetland health board | 200 | 197 | 74 |
| Tayside health board | 2,450 | 1,914 | 1,319 |
| Western Isles health board | 650 | 196 | 124 |
| State Hospital | -- | 220 | -- |
| Common Services Agency | -- | 280 | -- |
| Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education | -- | 185 | -- |
| Total | 30,850 | 23,935 | 16,301 |
There are no rules pertaining to the application for an award of such allocations. The allocations made to enable health boards to meet national and local priorities are generally made on a weighted capitation basis.
1 Feb 1996 : Column: 878
Mr. McFall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the timetable for introducing the next two tiers of the full costs recovery programme in civil actions raised in the sheriff court; and what mechanisms exist to monitor the impact of each tier of full cost recovery on the numbers of actions raised in the sheriff court and its effect on access to justice. [120088]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
The current fee structure is design to recover 100 per cent. of administrative costs and one-third of judicial costs in civil proceedings in the sheriff courts and the supreme courts. There is no set timetable for introducing any further tranche of judicial costs and any such proposal would be laid before the House for approval. The Department regularly monitors the level of business coming before the courts. There is no evidence that fee levels are a deterrent to those wishing to raise actions.
Mr. McFall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has (a) to pilot a court-annexed mediation project in the Scottish courts and (b) to introduce a state-funded mediation agency related to court matters. [12091]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
My right hon. Friend has no such plans. There are existing rules of court which allows cases to be referred for mediation in relation to family actions and these are used approximately 1,000 cases per annum. The sheriff court rules council is currently considering the procedure rules in relation to mediation and conciliation and considering whether there is any need to strengthen these rules.
Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the publicly funded support schemes available to farmers and growers in Scotland giving the amount paid under each scheme for the most recent year for which figures are available. [11966]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
Information for the latest complete financial year--1994-95--is set out in the table. In 1995-96, organic aid, heather moorland, habitats and set-aside access schemes commenced.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Sheep Annual Premium | 90 |
| Suckler Cow Premium | 49 |
| Beef Special Premium | 26 |
| Arable Area Payments | 121 |
| Milk Quota--Surrender or Reduction | 1 |
| Environmental Sensitive Areas | 1 |
| Farm Woodland Schemes | 2 |
| Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances | 40 |
| Rural Enterprise Programme | 4 |
| Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants | 3 |
| Cofters etc. Building Grants and Loans | 5 |
| Farm and Conservation Grant Schemes | 5 |
| Other minor Schemes | 1 |
| Total | 348 |
1 Feb 1996 : Column: 879
Judiciary
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to (a) allow pursuers/defenders to choose an appropriate member of the judiciary to hear their case, (b) ensure that the judge in each case has an appropriate expertise in the areas of law raised by that case and (c) initiate a wide consultation on the level of judicial salaries. [12089]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: In relation to parts (a) and (b) of the question, there are no plans to alter the current arrangements whereby the allocation of judges and sheriffs to particular cases is entirely a matter for the Lord President of the Court of Session or the appropriate sheriff principal. Within our current system there are opportunities for individual sheriffs and judges with particular expertise to be allocated to specific items of business. On part (c), judicial salaries are determined by the Senior Salaries Review Body and there are no plans to change these arrangements.
Water Authorities
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names of those current local authority councillors who are members of the East, West and North of Scotland water authorities; how much time each annually will spend on each body; and what is the salary paid in respect of each position. [12432]
Mr. Kynoch: The following current local authority councillors are members of the water authority indicated:
East: Councillor Ian J. Berry, Councillor Ann Dickson, Councillor Ian Galloway, Councillor Tom Kerr and Councillor Pat McCafferty.
West: Councillor Mungo Bryson, Councillor William Petrie, Councillor Robert R. Reid, Provost Leslie Rosin and Councillor Ian R. Young.
North: Councillor Raymond Bisset, Councillor Joan Easten, Councillor Nigel J. O. Graham, Councillor Olwyn J. Macdonald and Councillor Donald I. Nicholson.
Nuclear Industry (Accidents)
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the requirements for insurance to cover the risk of accidents involving radioactive materials following privatisation of the nuclear industry; what assessment he has made of whether appropriate cover is available from commercial insurance sources; what contingency plans have been drawn up for the Government to continue to cover such risks in the absence of commercial insurance; and what charge would be made to the privatised industry for such state insurance. [12239]
Mr. Kynoch:
I refer the hon. Member to answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Industry and Energy, Department of Trade and Industry, on 30 January, Official Report, column 657.
1 Feb 1996 : Column: 880
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |