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Skye Bridge (Explosives)

Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement into circumstances surrounding the discovery and subsequent controlled detonation of explosive material in the vicinity of the Skye bridge on 30 April; and what steps he has taken to require a full search of the bridge and its environs to ensure the removal of any other similar items. [28176]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The Scottish Office has recently taken receipt of a report on the incident by the Miller Group safety department following its request for an inquiry. Details of the circumstances of the incident are described in the report. I have therefore arranged to have a copy lodged in the Library.

The report concludes that the condition of the explosive material was such that its potential for causing harm was remote. It further concludes that the blasting sub-contractor had not encountered this problem before. As a consequence, the sub-contractor intends to amend his procedures to eliminate the possibility of such an incident recurring. The report will now be forwarded to the Health and Safety Executive for its attention. Both the sub-contractor and main contractor have carried out a thorough search of the area and have given their assurance that no similar items are present.

Corncrake Initiative

Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish countryside premium scheme will take the value of the corncrake initiative into account; and if he will make a statement. [28197]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The content of the proposed countryside premium scheme has yet to be finalised following the consultation period which ended on 30 April. Our proposals include specific measures to encourage the protection of ground nesting birds, including corncrakes.

Funding for the countryside premium scheme is separate from any support given by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to their corncrake initiative.

Eaglesham Bypass

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from East Renfrewshire council concerning the Eaglesham bypass; and what response he has given. [27844]

Mr. Michael Forsyth: To date no representations have been received from East Renfrewshire council on this matter.

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the east Renfrewshire council concerning an Eaglesham bypass; and if he will make a statement. [28328]

14 May 1996 : Column: 428

Mr. Forsyth: No representations have been received from east Renfrewshire council on this matter. Guidance has now been issued to councils about a transport challenge fund which will operate from 1997-98. It is open to the council to submit a bid for challenge funding for the Eaglesham bypass if it wishes to do so.

Mearnskirk Hospital Site

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future of the Mearnskirk hospital site in Newton Mearns; and if he will make a statement. [28336]

Mr. Michael Forsyth: Following full public consultation, Greater Glasgow health board will invest an estimated £4 million in a 60-bed elderly continuing care facility on the Mearnskirk hospital site. Surplus land on the site will be used for housing.

The board's plans will match local services to local needs.

Brain Search Facilities

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the (a) centres and (b) hospitals which provide minute brain search facilities; and if he will make a statement. [28635]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The majority of acute hospitals in Scotland are able to access neurological services. Neurosurgical services are provided at Aberdeen royal infirmary, Western general hospital in Edinburgh, Dundee royal infirmary and the Southern general hospital in Glasgow.

Traffic Flows (A78)

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what traffic flow surveys his Department has carried out on the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston stretch of the A78; and if he will publish the results. [28609]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Traffic flow counts have been carried out at several locations on the A78 between Ardrossan and Saltcoats over 10 and 12-hour periods on the dates shown as follows:

Date	Location	Recorded traffic flows
26 May 1994	200 metres west of Dalry Road, Saltcoats	7260 Eastbound (12 hours)
26 May 1994	As above	7480 Westbound (12 hours)
21 April 1995	Eglinton Road (At Seafield Drive), Ardrossan	4832 Southbound (12 hours)
21 April 1995	As above	4347 Northbound (12 hours)
16 November 1995	Loanhead Road, Ardrossan	5049 Westbound (10 hours)
16 November 1995	As above	5507 Eastbound (10 hours)
25 January 1996	As above	5277 Westbound (10 hours)
25 January 1996	As above	5030 Eastbound (10 hours)
29 February 199	Parkhouse Road (High Tide Bar), Ardrossan	5205 Northbound (10 hours)
29 February 1996	As above	5413 Southbound (10 hours)

14 May 1996 : Column: 429

There is also a census point on the route within Saltcoats which was last counted on 26 May 1994. The total two-way traffic flow recorded was 17,150 vehicle movements over a 24-hour period of which 7 per cent. were heavy goods vehicles.

In addition to this, my consulting engineers employed to plan the proposed Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston bypass have undertaken a number of traffic surveys during 1992 and 1993. This information will be contained in the environmental assessment stage 3 report which will be available for inspection by interested parties upon publication of the order.

Peter William Hurtt

Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the convictions of Peter William Hurtt; on what date such representations were received; and when he expects to reach a decision. [28905]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Representations on Mr. Hurtt's behalf were sent to my right hon. Friend on 22 May 1989, on 1 September 1992, on 4 May 1993 and on 29 August 1994. The three earlier representations have already been dealt with. The most recent representations allege that new scientific evidence has come to light which casts doubt on the safety of Mr. Hurtt's conviction. My right hon. Friend hopes to reach a decision on the latest petition as soon as may be possible.

Traffic Flows (A737)

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what traffic flow surveys his Department has carried out on the volume of traffic flowing along the A737 at its junction with the A738; and if he will publish the results. [28610]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: No traffic surveys have been carried out at this location by the Scottish Office. However, a traffic survey was carried out about 1 mile south-east of this location on 13 June 1994 by the former Strathclyde regional council. The traffic survey produced an annual average daily flow of 10,522, of which 8 per cent. were heavy goods vehicles.

NHS Management

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 581, if he will list those chief executives who were employed by one NHS employer in Scotland and who resigned to take up employment with another NHS employer in Scotland since 1 September 1994; and if he will name in each case the NHS employing organisations they (a) left and (b) took up employment with. [28604]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Mr. G. Buchanan, who resigned employment with Caithness and Sutherland NHS trust and took up employment with Moray Health

14 May 1996 : Column: 430

Services NHS trust, is the only chief executive to resign employment from one NHS employer in Scotland and become employed by another since 1 September 1994.

Head and Deputy Head Teachers

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) staff and (b) female staff were employed at (i) head teacher, (ii) assistant head teacher and (iii) deputy head teacher levels for (1) secondary and (2) primary schools for each education authority within Scotland in September 1994. [28613]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The information requested is given in the table.

Number (full-time equivalent) of headteachers, assistant headteachers and deputy head-teachers in education authority primary and secondary schools in Scotland at September 1994

	Head teacher		Deputy head teacher		Assistant head teacher
	Total	Female	Total	Female	Total	Female
Secondary schools
Scotland	394	18	395	47	1,031	250
Borders	9	0	9	1	27	5
Central	17	1	20	1	49	5
Dumfries and
Galloway	16	0	16	0	32	4
Fife	19	0	18	4	69	18
Grampian	38	1	37	5	98	24
Highland	26	0	26	1	42	6
Lothian	44	3	44	6	123	30
Strathclyde	167	11	174	22	490	126
Tayside	30	1	30	4	86	28
Orkney	6	0	2	0	5	1
Shetland	8	1	8	1	3	1
Western Isles	14	0	12	2	7	2
Strathclyde Divisions
Argyll and Bute	10	0	10	1	22	2
Ayr	29	2	27	3	80	12
Dunbarton	23	1	27	4	77	30
Glasgow	40	3	44	5	120	36
Lanark	37	3	36	2	111	26
Renfrew	28	2	30	7	81	20
Scotland	2,256	1,658	708	629	775	706
Borders	73	48	14	14	6	5
Central	113	86	51	46	39	36
Dumfries and
Galloway	109	70	24	22	12	8
Fife	144	103	57	55	43	40
Grampian	265	181	80	70	59	52
Highland	193	138	29	27	14	11
Lothian	231	154	131	114	85	77
Strathclyde	864	696	257	226	445	415
Tayside	183	119	62	53	51	43
Orkney	19	15	1	1	1	1
Shetland	27	19	2	1	8	7
Western Isles	34	29	1	1	11	10
Strathclyde Divisions
Argyll and Bute	71	52	8	7	6	6
Ayr	146	106	45	37	73	67
Dunbarton	114	96	44	40	66	62
Glasgow	222	186	63	60	109	103
Lanark	205	170	45	38	106	97
Renfrew	106	86	52	44	86	81

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