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Electoral Roll
34. Mr. David Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average number on the electoral roll of each Scottish parliamentary constituency. [15819]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Based on the 1995 electoral register, the number is 55,022.
University of the Highlands and Islands
36. Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his statement at the Scottish Grand Committee of 5 February in Inverness, Official Report, Scottish Grand Committee, column 28, what further discussions he has held into the possibility of the establishment of a university of the highlands and islands; and if he will make a statement. [15821]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: My right hon. Friend plans to meet the chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Sir Graham Hill, an academic adviser to the university of highlands and islands project, to discuss this and other matters. Officials have met with the director of the university of the highlands and islands project and representatives of colleges in the highlands and islands for a preliminary discussion.
Crime
37. Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crimes were committed (a) in 1979 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available. [15822]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland was 346,680 in 1979 and 527,064 in 1994.
Failing Schools
38. Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what policies he is pursuing in respect of failing schools in Scotland. [15823]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: Examples of the policies we are following to raise standards and improve quality include:
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the requirement on all schools to draw up school development plans; and
the publication of extensive information for parents on schools' performance.
Higher Education
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students are currently in higher education and at what cost; what was the number in 1979 and at what cost in 1995-96 prices; and if he will make a statement. [15797]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: There are nearly twice as many students in higher education since we took office and funding provided by the Government has gone up by £160 million to £400 million.
Prisons
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration is being given to allowing prison staff to bid for the management contract to run any future private finance initiative prison. [15805]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: It is an option which my right hon. Friend has not ruled out.
Glenochil Prison Riot Trial
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take in response to statements made by the advocate depute at the Glenochil prison riot trial in respect of the quality of evidence given by prison officers. [15722]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of the question relates 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 E. W. Frizzell to Mr. John McFall, dated 28 February 1996:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the comments made by the Advocate Depute at the Glenochil Prison riot trial.
We are considering jointly with the Crown Office what lessons might be learned from this particular trial. Within the SPS, we are also reviewing the guidance given to prison staff on recording details of incidents and on preparing to be a witness in court.
Grants
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what tests are applied to business plans submitted to him or his agencies by private companies or others requesting grants or other public money to establish whether such support represents value for money. [16271]
Mr. Kynoch: The appraisal process for any application for grant or other public funds will depend on the particular programme or scheme under which such an application is made. The tests applied will vary according to the purpose of the programme or scheme concerned, but value for money will normally be a key criterion.
Prison Transfers
Mr. Mallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the policy of the Prison Service in relation to applications for prison transfers to prisons in the country of origin of the applicant; [16234]
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(3) how many applications for prison transfers from prisons in Scotland to (a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Republic of Ireland and (c) elsewhere, are currently under consideration; and in each category how many applications have been (i) approved and (ii) denied in each of the past 10 years. [16236]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
[holding answer 21 February 1996]: The subject of the question relates 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 E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Seamus Mallon, dated 28 February 1996:
At 23 February there were 2 outstanding applications for Northern Ireland, none for the Republic of Ireland and 29 for elsewhere. They will be determined on their individual merits.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Lord Advocate will meet Libyan lawyers concerned with the destruction of Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbie. [16061]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has no plans to do so.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the remuneration levels which can be claimed by the members of the boards of each of the East, West and North of Scotland water authorities;
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and how much time the members of the boards of these organisations are expected to spend on water authority duties in respect of these levels of remuneration. [17576]
Mr. Kynoch:
The chairmen of the North and West of Scotland water authorities are paid £40,000 per annum and expected to devote approximately two and a half days per week; the chairman of the East of Scotland water authority is paid £24,000 per annum and expected to devote approximately one and a half days per week. The members of each of the three water authorities are paid £6,000 per annum for a minimum of two to three days per month, and the chief executives £80,000 per annum for full-time employment.
Additionally, the chief executives are eligible to receive a performance-related bonus which is limited to a maximum of 10 per cent. of salary in the first year rising to a maximum of 20 per cent. in subsequent years.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase in fishing efforts he estimates will take place after the lifting of the ban on the use of large mesh monofilament nets by Scottish boats. [17606]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
No substantial increase in effort is anticipated.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for which target species he expects Scottish boats to set large mesh monofilament nets when their use becomes legal; and in what ways this will be monitored. [17608]
Mr. Robertson:
Fishermen are expected to target large flat fish, such as brill, turbot and various rays, as well as anglerfish, if Parliament approves the use of these nets in Scottish waters. Catches will be monitored in the same way as catches made with other static net gear.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring will take place in respect of the impact of large mesh monofilament nets on marine birds species when the ban on their use by Scottish boats is lifted. [17610]
Mr. Robertson:
The nets, which fishermen are expected to use as bottom set tangle nets, are unlikely to pose a threat to these species. Their operation will be kept under review nonetheless.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) in what circumstances he will close areas to monofilament nets; [17612]
Mr. Robertson:
Once approved by Parliament, fishermen are expected to operate these nets as bottom set tangle nets which pose no additional threat to wildlife. The selective use of such nets by area is not proposed. Their operation will be kept under review nonetheless.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what efforts he will be making to ensure that bycatch of marine wildlife in fishing gear is (a) prevented or (b) minimised; [17605]
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Mr. Robertson:
The Government apply arrangements under the agreement on conservation of small cetaceans of the Baltic and North seas and have no plans to introduce additional measures.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the voluntary reporting scheme of marine mammal bycatch to assess the impact of large mesh monofilament nets. [17609]
Mr. Robertson:
The Government are satisfied that large mesh monofilament nets, if approved by Parliament for use in Scottish waters, pose no greater threat than similar sized nets made from other synthetic materials. The effectiveness of the scheme is kept under review and additional scientific research has been commissioned to aid that process.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consultation he has conducted regarding the use of large mesh monofilament nets. [17613]
Mr. Robertson:
I am satisfied that all those with a direct interest in this matter were consulted fully.
(2) if he will approve outstanding prison transfer applications for Irish prisoners wishing to return to prisons in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; [16235]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your 3 questions about the transfer of prisoners.
There is statutory provision for the transfer of prisoners from one United Kingdom jurisdiction to another in certain circumstances, should the individual prisoner request it. The factors taken into account include the prisoner's domestic circumstances, place of domicile prior to conviction and length of sentence left to serve. Both jurisdictions must agree to the transfer. Revised criteria for inter-United Kingdom transfers were announced in the Official Report dated 23 November 1992, Columns 476-477. For prisoners seeking repatriation, applications are considered under the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners.
The information on the number of prisoners who applied for transfer to Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the past 10 years is as follows:
Northern Ireland
Elsewhere
Agreed Refused Agreed Refused
1985 2 2 not available not available
1986 1 -- not available not available
1987 1 3 not available not available
1988 2 1 51 not available
1989 -- 1 56 not available
1990 2 2 44 not available
1991 1 1 27 not available
1992 3 2 62 50
1993 5 -- 51 73
1994 -- 1 47 22
1995 2 1 31 16
(2) if he will bring forward measures to restrict the use of large mesh monofilament nets by Scottish boats, in areas where they could cause problems of entanglement of wildlife before lifting the ban on their use. [17607]
(2) if he will introduce a monitoring scheme to assess the impact upon marine wildlife when the ban on the use of large mesh monofilament nets by Scottish boats is lifted. [17611]
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