28 Mar 1996 : Column: 667
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 28 March 1996
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION
Frigate Procurement Study
Mr. George: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if he will establish the full cost of the National Audit Office study into the type 23 frigate and the common new generation frigate indicating what proportion of that cost is represented by the part of the study which was reported to Parliament in the NAO report "Procurement Lessons for the Common New Generation Frigate", HC 692, Session 1994-95. [21655]
Sir Peter Hordern: The National Audit Office's work on the type 23 frigate programme is not complete. Further information will be reported to the Public Accounts Committee later this year.
National Audit Office Defence Studies
Mr. George: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if he will estimate the cost of all NAO full studies into defence matters since 1987 which have not been reported to Parliament. [21654]
Sir Peter Hordern: The Comptroller and Auditor General reports to Parliament all National Audit Office defence studies when they are complete. In accordance with the long-standing and traditional practice of external auditors, he may also provide audit advice direct to audited bodies as subsidiary outputs to promote value for money and good stewardship of public resources.
SCOTLAND
Cytology Service (Inverclyde Royal Hospital)
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many women are pursuing legal claims against the Argyll and Clyde health board in respect of the mis-reading of cervical smear slides at the Inverclyde royal hospital; and if he will make a statement; [21663]
- (2) how many compensation claims against the Argyll and Clyde health board's cytology service at the Inverclyde royal hospital, Greenock (a) have been settled and (b) are still outstanding; and if he will make a statement. [22724]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: A total of 16 legal claims are being pursued by women against Argyll and Clyde health board as a result of the mis-reading of cervical smear slides at the Inverclyde royal hospital. Eight claims have been settled and negotiations are under way to achieve a settlement in the other eight cases, two of which have been, or will be, given interim settlements.
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The Government are committed to ensuring that a service of the highest quality is available to women as evidenced by the issue of three key documents in Scotland during 1995; "Guidelines on Fail-safe actions", "Guidance to Health Boards on Purchasing for Cervical Screening" and the "Report of the Working Party on Internal Quality Control for Cervical Cytopathology Laboratories". The then Minister of State also announced the establishment of a central co-ordinating unit for the breast and cervical screening programmes in Scotland, and a national co-ordinator was appointed in December 1995. Quality assurance guidelines for the cervical screening programme were issued this week, pulling together many of the initiatives which have been undertaken at a UK level.
This is being copied for information to the hon. Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mr. Graham).
Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which former public sector research establishments in his Department have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in his Department are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector.[21946]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
The Scottish Office has not privatised any public sector research establishments since 1979.
As part of their response in September 1995 to the report of the multi-departmental efficiency scrutiny of public sector research establishments, the Government announced their intention to conduct a series of prior options reviews of public sector research establishments. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced on 26 January 1996 the timetable for the reviews, which are due to be completed by the end of this year. The establishments covered include the five Scottish agricultural and biological research institutes--the Hannah research institute, the Macaulay land use research institute, the Moredun research institute, the Rowett research institute and the Scottish crop research institute--the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency and the Fisheries Research Services. Under the prior options procedure, all options, including privatisation, rationalisation or continuing with the current arrangements, have to be examined rigorously.
Mr. Gallie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about prior options reviews of the Hannah research institute and the Moredun research institute. [24066]
Mr. Robertson:
The Government's response to the report of the multi-departmental efficiency scrutiny of public sector research establishments announced a series of prior option reviews. As part of this series, the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department will conduct prior options reviews of the Hannah research institute and the Moredun research institute.
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The reviews will address the actual and potential relationship of the establishment to any others in similar or related fields, and will consider the potential for privatisation or rationalisation.
I would welcome comments from interested parties. They should be sent by 30 April to:
Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each European social fund and European regional development fund allocation by (i) name, (ii) expenditure and (iii) area made for objective 1 projects in the highlands and islands on 2 February. [22210]
Mr. Kynoch:
The list of approved projects has been provided with an indication of which local enterprise company area each project falls within. As the information requested is somewhat lengthy, I have arranged for the information to be placed in the House Library.
Mrs. Liddell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans exist for a fair play consortium in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [22538]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
A fair play consortium for Scotland was established early this year. The initiative is led by the Equal Opportunities Commission (Scotland) and supported by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average cost to public funds of each job created or protected in the tourist industry by grants awarded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise; [22658]
Mr. Kynoch:
As the information requested relates to the operational activities of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Tom Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the electorates of each of the new parliamentary constituencies in Scotland as at 16 February. [22652]
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Mrs. B. McGee
The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department
Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
EDINBURGH
EH14 1TY.
(2) what is the average cost to public funds of each job created or protected in the skiing industry by grants awarded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. [22659]
| Constituency | Number |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen Central | 56,162 |
| Aberdeen North | 54,580 |
| Aberdeen South | 60,877 |
| Airdrie and Shotts | 58,549 |
| Angus | 60,255 |
| Argyll and Bute | 49,869 |
| Ayr | 56,199 |
| Banff and Buchan | 59,128 |
| Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | 41,813 |
| Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley | 66,690 |
| Central Fife | 58,889 |
| Clydebank and Milngavie | 52,057 |
| Clydesdale | 63,338 |
| Coatbridge and Chryston | 52,663 |
| Cumbernauld and Kilsyth | 48,112 |
| Cunninghame North | 56,137 |
| Cunninghame South | 49,961 |
| Dumbarton | 56,858 |
| Dumfries | 63,259 |
| Dundee East | 58,659 |
| Dundee West | 57,131 |
| Dunfermline East | 51,630 |
| Dunfermline West | 53,399 |
| East Kilbride | 65,455 |
| East Lothian | 57,516 |
| Eastwood | 66,884 |
| Edinburgh Central | 62,521 |
| Edinburgh East and Musselburgh | 59,535 |
| Edinburgh North and Leith | 61,527 |
| Edinburgh Pentlands | 60,089 |
| Edinburgh South | 62,832 |
| Edinburgh West | 61,590 |
| Falkirk East | 57,104 |
| Falkirk West | 53,440 |
| Galloway and Upper Nithsdale | 53,380 |
| Glasgow Anniesland | 52,815 |
| Glasgow Baillieston | 51,159 |
| Glasgow Cathcart | 49,667 |
| Glasgow Govan | 49,600 |
| Glasgow Kelvin | 56,181 |
| Glasgow Maryhill | 51,589 |
| Glasgow Pollok | 49,403 |
| Glasgow Rutherglen | 51,127 |
| Glasgow Shettleston | 48,374 |
| Glasgow Springburn | 52,830 |
| Gordon | 59,033 |
| Greenock and Inverclyde | 49,964 |
| Hamilton North and Bellshill | 54,039 |
| Hamilton South | 47,019 |
| Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber | 65,424 |
| Kilmarnock and Loudoun | 62,359 |
| Kirkcaldy | 52,174 |
| Linlithgow | 53,948 |
| Livingston | 59,666 |
| Midlothian | 47,893 |
| Moray | 58,983 |
| Motherwell and Wishaw | 52,513 |
| North East Fife | 58,493 |
| North Tayside | 61,661 |
| Ochil | 57,141 |
| Orkney and Shetland | 32,635 |
| Paisley North | 49,905 |
| Paisley South | 53,909 |
| Perth | 60,217 |
| Ross, Skye and Inverness West | 55,653 |
| Roxburgh and Berwickshire | 47,520 |
| Stirling | 52,634 |
| Strathkelvin and Bearsden | 63,386 |
| Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale | 50,999 |
| West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine | 58,797 |
| Western Isles | 23,208 |
| West Renfrewshire | 53,066 |
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