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Transport Funding

Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amounts of objective 1 funding has been approved in the Highlands and Islands so far for (a) roads and road transport, (b) airports and air transport, (c) ferries and (d) railways. [19327]

Mr. Kynoch: The information is set out in the table:

Sector	Number of projects	European Regional Development Award £ million
Roads	32	14.35
Ferries	2	1.75
Airports	1	0.32
Railways	0	0

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 454

Lothian Health Board

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds the last general manager of Lothian health board left that position. [19345]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The last board general manager of Lothian health retired early on grounds of ill health.

European Structural Funds

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the resourcing and administrative arrangements for the secretariat dealing with the distribution of European structural funds in Scotland; on what date the independent secretariat was established; what is the number of full-time equivalent employees involved in its administration; and what

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 455

representations he has received from infrastructure providers and others in relation to the present arrangements. [19361]

Mr. Kynoch [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Of the seven structural fund programmes operating in Scotland, four are administered by programme executives. Infrastructure providers and others in areas with programme executives appear to be generally content with the arrangements; and any discussions about their operation have tended to focus on various detailed points. Details of the resourcing and administration arrangements for dealing with the funds in Scotland are as follows:

Programme executives
The Strathclyde European Partnership
Established--June 1989
Staff number--16 full-time equivalent--FTE
Highlands and Islands Partnership
Established--February 1994
Staff number--eight FTE
Eastern Scotland European Partnership
Established--January 1995
Staff number--8.8 FTE
Dumfries and Galloway European Partnership
Established--November 1994
Staff number--3.5 FTE.

European Social Fund

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for changing the administration of the European social fund in Scotland; what is the number of full-time equivalent employees required to administer the funds under (a) present and (b) future arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [19362]

Mr. Kynoch [holding answer 7 March 1996]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland accepted responsibility for the administration of the European social fund on 1 January 1994 for objective 1, 2 and 5b programme areas. Responsibility for the objective 3 programme and EC community initiatives was transferred on 1 April 1995. These major changes have required new administrative arrangements, which we are keeping under review to ensure that they are as effective as possible.

Presently, there are 12 full-time equivalent employees, in the Scottish Office and nine full-time equivalent employees in the four programme executives involved in the administration of the funds.

Falkirk Football Club

Mr. Canavan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the reporter to expedite the report of the public inquiry on the planning application by Falkirk football club for a new stadium, to enable the club to meet the deadline for implementation of the Taylor report requirement for all-seater stadia. [15543]

Mr. Kynoch [holding answer 29 February 1996]: The reporter is aware of the requirements of the Taylor report for all-seater stadia. For that reason, this case has been given--and will continue to receive--priority.

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 456

Mr. Canavan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the public inquiry on the planning application by Falkirk football club for a new stadium. [15544]

Mr. Kynoch [holding answer 29 February 1996]: Depending on the extent, nature and content of comments received following circulation to parties of part I of the report, my right hon. Friend expects to receive the final report by the end of the first week in May.

NORTHERN IRELAND

School Pupils (Strangford)

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils there (a) are this year and (b) were last year at each primary school in the constituency of Strangford. [18932]

Mr. Ancram: The information requested is as follows:

Strangford

School name	(a) 1995-96	(b) 1994-95
Abbey PS	590	558
Alexander Dickson PS	215	216
Andrews Memorial PS	522	523
Ballykeigle PS	59	61
Ballyvester PS	92	97
Ballywalter PS	153	141
Belvoir Park PS	394	383
Braniel PS	417	409
Cairnshill PS	474	457
Carrickmannon PS	82	79
Carrowdore PS	133	126
Castle Gardens PS	408	414
Comber PS	394	398
Cottown PS	--	23
Donaghadee PS	479	459
Greyabbey PS	70	72
Killinchy PS	243	233
Killyleagh PS	146	157
Kircubbin PS	68	58
Kirkistown PS	58	54
Leadhill PS	206	201
Londonderry PS	315	317
Lough View Integrated PS	93	51
Loughries PS	89	88
Millisle PS	172	180
Moneyrea PS	136	126
Newtownards Model PS	388	376
Newtownbreda PS	230	232
O'Neill Memorial PS	41	36
Portaferry PS	54	43
Portavogie PS	132	143
Regent House School	165	175
St. Anne's PS	49	37
St. Finian's PS	161	174
St. Mary's PS, Portaferry	281	308
St. Mary's PS, Comber	39	32
St. Mary's PS, Ballygowan	50	54
St. Mary's PS, Kirkcubbin	224	228
St. Patrick's PS	104	98
Victoria PS (Newtownards)	553	543
Victoria PS (Ballyhalbert)	106	104
West Winds PS	181	194

Cottown Primary School closed 31 August 1995.

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 457

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils there (a) are this year and (b) were last year at each secondary school of all categories in the constituency of Strangford. [18934]

Mr. Ancram: The information requested is as follows:

School Name	(a) 1995-96	(b) 1994-95
Comber High School	422	424
Donaghadee High School	254	283
Glastry High School	560	573
Lagan College	933	917
Movilla High School	834	799
Regent House School	1,444	1,445
Scrabo High School	309	325
St. Columba's High School	348	342

Regent House Grammar School, Newtownards

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils there are at Regent House grammar school, Newtownards; how many temporary classrooms there are at the school; how many applicants there were for entry into form 1 in the current year; how many pupils were enrolled into form 1 in the current year; what proposals there are to provide permanent classrooms at the school; and if he will make a statement. [18936]

Mr. Ancram: Regent House school has 1,444 pupils in its secondary department and 165 pupils in its preparatory department. The school has 31 temporary classrooms. It had 217 applicants for entry into form 1 for 1995-96--figures for 1996-97 are not yet available--and has 215 pupils in form 1 this year.

I understand that the south-eastern education and library board is developing plans to extend and refurbish the existing premises.

Leadhill Primary School

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the enrolment in each of the past five years at Leadhill primary school; what is the expected enrolment at the school in each of the next five years; when was the last capital investment for extra accommodation at Leadhill primary school; what proposals there are for the provision of further accommodation at this school; and if he will make a statement. [18933]

Mr. Ancram: The information is as follows:

1990: 175
1991: 172
1992: 179
1993: 187
1994: 201
1995: 206.

Enrolments over the next five years are expected to be around 220.

The last capital investment for extra accommodation at the school was in 1984: and I understand that the south-eastern education and library board is currently considering the provision of a purpose-built three classroom block for the school.

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 458

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