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Student Awards Agency

Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the annual report and accounts of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for 1994-95 and the agency's key targets for 1995-96. [18325]

Mr. Michael Forsyth: I have today arranged for copies of the agency's annual report and accounts to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

I have set the following key performance targets for the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for 1995-96:

Service
To process 75 per cent. of applications within 28 days of receipt.
To respond to 95 per cent. of general correspondence within 15 working days of receipt.
To respond to all Chief Executive and Ministerial correspondence within 15 working days of receipt.
To answer all complaints within 14 calendar days of receipt.
Agency Management
Average unit cost to process each successful application--(based on current costs) target £35.
Efficiency gains--3.79 per cent.

The chief executive will be directly responsible to me for ensuring that these targets are achieved and full details will be published in the agency's annual report and accounts.

28 Feb 1996 : Column: 602

Beaufort's Dyke

Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce details of further survey work at Beaufort's dyke. [18326]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The Government have arranged for the marine laboratory, Aberdeen to undertake further surveys of Beaufort's dyke and the surrounding area. The principal objective of this work, which will be undertaken in May and July, will be to map the densities and distribution of any dumped munitions, particularly those located outwith the Beaufort's dyke explosives disposal site.

The survey work will encompass:

an area to the north, including the territory to be covered by the proposed electricity interconnector;
the area to the east between the deep trench and the Scottish coastline;
and an area to the south and east up to and including the natural gas pipeline between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

The final limits of the investigation will be determined by the distribution and densities of dumped munitions. A map of the areas to be covered by the survey has been placed in the House Library.

The MLA investigations will utilise its research vessel's hull-mounted transducer interfaced to RoxAnn©, high resolution side-scan sonar, towed sledge, ROV-mounted and drop frame--suspended from the survey vessel--underwater television systems, and a magnetometer, or pulse induction or resistivity system. A boomer system may also be used to investigate sub-surface sea bed sediments.

Sea bed sediment and fish and shellfish samples will again be collected, particularly from those areas which were not sampled earlier, to confirm whether dumped munitions have had an effect on the quality of the marine environment or commercially exploited species.

Assisted Places Scheme

Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for the proposed expansion of the assisted places scheme in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [18327]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The assisted places scheme has been an important element in the Government's policies to extend choice in Scottish education, and to raise quality and standards. It provides the opportunity for parents to choose the education which they think best suits the needs of their children, regardless of their financial circumstances. Since the scheme was introduced in 1981, it has helped over 11,000 children to attend independent schools in Scotland who would not otherwise have had the opportunity.

My right hon. Friend's announcement on 13 October 1995 of plans for a phased doubling of the present annual target of 3,000 assisted places in Scotland has received a very positive response from parents and schools. This clearly confirms the success of the scheme and the benefits to be derived from it. In line with our expansion plans, my right hon. Friend is making provision to increase the number of pupils who benefit in 1996-97 to around 3,500 and this will include for the first time pupils of primary school age. Fifty-three schools across Scotland

28 Feb 1996 : Column: 603

will participate in the scheme. It is possible that one or more additional schools may become eligible to participate later in 1996-97. Some £12.48 million will be available for fee remission in the 1996-97 school session, almost 17 per cent. more than was made available for the 1995-96 session.

The increased resources being made available for the 1996-97 school session mark the first phase of expansion of the scheme, and will ensure its growing contribution to excellence and diversity in Scottish education. My right hon. Friend will also be drawing up proposals in consultation with the Scottish Council of Independent Schools and others for the future development and expansion of the scheme.

My right hon. Friend announced in December 1995 that assistance will now be extended to pupils undertaking primary education at participating secondary schools with integrated primary departments. The minimum age for assistance, previously 10 years of age, will therefore be lowered to five years of age from the start of the 1996-97 session.

My right hon. Friend proposes in due course to lay regulations before the House providing for progressive parental contributions for the 1996-97 school session for one pupil assisted under the assisted places scheme. As in previous years, we shall be seeking to ensure that about half of all pupils receiving an assisted place should receive full remission of their fees. Accordingly, parents earning less than £9,873 a year will not have to pay anything towards fees. The regulations will provide for the following contributions in relation to family income:

Part of relevant income to which the specified percentage applies	Parental contribution (percentage)
That part (if any) which exceeds £9,707 but does not exceed £10,555	9
That part (if any) which exceeds £10,555 but does not exceed £11,417	12
That part (if any) which exceeds £11,417 but does not exceed £13,127	15
That part (if any) which exceeds £13,127 but does not exceed £15,760	21
That part (if any) which exceeds £15,760 but does not exceed £19,194	24
That part (if any) which exceeds £19,194	33

The relevant income scale is open-ended, but the remission can, of course, be given only where the parental contribution is less than the school tuition fee.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Child Support Agency (DNA Testing)

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the DNA tests performed for the Child Support Agency have been (a) positive (b) negative. [14958]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

28 Feb 1996 : Column: 604

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 27 February 1996:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about DNA testing under Child Support Agency arrangements.
The discounted DNA scheme was introduced in July 1995. This provided alleged absent parents with a means of resolving a paternity dispute without the need to go to court.
In the period July 1995 to 25 January 1996 the paternity of 500 children has been the subject of completed DNA tests. Positive results were obtained for 433 of the children (86.6%). The alleged absent parent tested was excluded from being the father in 67 instances. (13.4%).
I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost of DNA tests available via the CSA: and in how many cases DNA testing has been used before a paternity case has been referred to court. [12807]

Mr. Mitchell [pursuant to his reply, 1 February 1996, c. 987-91]: I am advised that Ann Chant, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency, is writing again to clarify her reply of 1 February. I am arranging for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library with the additional information.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 27 February 1996:

I am writing to you pursuant to my letter of 1 February 1996. This was in response to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about DNA tests. I believe there is a need to clearly set out the make up of the 904 DNA tests I referred to.
Up to the end of November 1995 some 352 cases had been referred for discounted DNA testing. In addition 552 cases were subject to a DNA test as a result of Court direction.
A discounted DNA test comes about as a result of an alleged absent parent availing himself of the option to go for a DNA test either as a result of responding to a suggestion from the Agency or requesting a test himself. As before, I am not aware that any of these cases have been referred for Court action.
The only other means of a DNA test arising is as a result of Court direction. This would be after an initial Court hearing.
I hope this information is helpful.

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