House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 Nov 1996 (pt 10)

Health and Personal Social Services

Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the per capita cost of public expenditure on (a) health and (b) personal social services in Scotland for each year since 1990. [5062]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 25 November 1996]: The information is set out in the table:

26 Nov 1996 : Column: 162

£ per head

Health Personal Social Services

1990-91 582 112

1991-92 654 122

1992-93 718 134

1993-94 738 152

1994-95 769 176

1995-96 795 194

	Health	Personal Social Services
1990-91	582	112
1991-92	654	122
1992-93	718	134
1993-94	738	152
1994-95	769	176
1995-96	795	194

26 Nov 1996 : Column: 163

Thomas Hamilton

Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the report commissioned by Lord Cullen into Thomas Hamilton, relating to his occupations and finances, produced by Inspector Paul Hughes of Central Scotland police and submitted to the Cullen inquiry. [5534]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 25 November 1996]: The police report in question was instructed on behalf of the Lord Advocate as part of the investigations carried out following the death of Thomas Hamilton. The report was submitted to the inquiry, but it was not introduced as evidence. Evidence given by Chief Inspector Hughes, which covered the subject matter of the report, is detailed in the transcripts of the inquiry proceedings--page 248--which are already in the Library.

Scottish Legal Aid Board

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many staff are employed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board; and what is the total wage cost; [5661]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 25 November 1996]: On 31 March 1996, the Scottish Legal Aid Board employed 268.6 full-time equivalent staff of whom eight were solicitors.

The total salary cost for the period 1995-96 was £4.8 million of which £0.3 million was paid to solicitors.

Ms Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the salaries paid to (a) members and (b) the chief executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board. [5663]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 25 November 1996]: The information is set out in the table:

Scottish Legal Aid BoardChairman and Board Members Remuneration as at 31 March 1996

Salaries and NI costs

£

Chairman Christine Davis 23,512

Member George Barrie 13,225

Member Kay Blair 13,225

Member Patricia Bolton 12,572

Member Pamela Bowman 13,776

Member Sheila Campbell 11,572

Member Jean Couper 13,776

Member Archibald Gilchrist 12,123

Member Peter Grinyer 13,776

Member David Leitch 13,776

Member Robert Livingstone 11,572

Member Colin McEachran 9,710

Member Robin McEwan Nil

Member Gillian Peebles 12,572

Member Alexander Wylie 8,057

Total 183,244

Chief Executive's remuneration as at 31 March 1996

Chief Executive Richard Scott 61,875

		Salaries and NI costs
		£
Chairman	Christine Davis	23,512
Member	George Barrie	13,225
Member	Kay Blair	13,225
Member	Patricia Bolton	12,572
Member	Pamela Bowman	13,776
Member	Sheila Campbell	11,572
Member	Jean Couper	13,776
Member	Archibald Gilchrist	12,123
Member	Peter Grinyer	13,776
Member	David Leitch	13,776
Member	Robert Livingstone	11,572
Member	Colin McEachran	9,710
Member	Robin McEwan	Nil
Member	Gillian Peebles	12,572
Member	Alexander Wylie	8,057

Total		183,244
Chief Executive's remuneration as at 31 March 1996
Chief Executive	Richard Scott	61,875

26 Nov 1996 : Column: 164

Ms Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of abatements from legal aid accounts submitted by solicitors to the Scottish Legal Aid Board in the years 1994-95 and 1995-96; if he will list the cases where the abatement was more than (i) 25 per cent., (ii) 10 per cent. but not more than 25 per cent., (iii) 5 per cent. but not more than 10 per cent. and (iv) 3 per cent. but not more than 5 per cent. of the account rendered; and if he will express in percentage terms the relationship between the abatements and the total fund paid to solicitors exclusive of outlays. [5664]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 25 November 1996]: The total value of abatements from legal aid accounts submitted by solicitors to the Scottish Legal Aid Board was £4.6 million in 1994-95 and £4.3 million in 1995-96.

Detailed information on abatement levels broken down by percentage is not available.

Excluded Pupils

Mr. Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils (i) were permanently excluded from school in 1995-96 and (ii) had fixed-term exclusions; and how many of those in (i) returned to mainstream education. [5587]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson [holding answer 25 November 1996]: Information on the number of primary and secondary pupils who were excluded from school on a fixed term--temporary--basis is not available. Nor is information on the number of pupils permanently excluded who returned to mainstream education.

The most recent available information, consistent with that set out in the report on attendance and absence in Scottish schools, 1994-95, published by the audit unit of HM inspectors of schools, is set out in the table.

Number of pupils permanently excluded from schools in 1994-95 Number of half days of temporary exclusions from schools from January to July 1995

Primary pupils 47 20,115

Secondary pupils 296 157,958

	Number of pupils permanently excluded from schools in 1994-95	Number of half days of temporary exclusions from schools from January to July 1995
Primary pupils	47	20,115
Secondary pupils	296	157,958

North of Scotland Water Authority

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of indebtedness was acquired by the North of Scotland Water Authority on 1 April from (a) Shetland islands council, (b) Orkney islands council, (c) Western Isles islands council, (d) Highland regional council, (e) Grampian regional council and (f) Tayside regional council. [5974]

Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 25 November 1996]: The level of indebtedness acquired by the North of Scotland Water Authority on 1 April 1996 was:

Area Total £ million

Shetland 3.6

Orkney 10.2

Western Isles 9.8

Highland 46.7

Grampian 129.4

Tayside 94.7

Total 294.4

Area	Total £ million
Shetland	3.6
Orkney	10.2
Western Isles	9.8
Highland	46.7
Grampian	129.4
Tayside	94.7

Total	294.4

26 Nov 1996 : Column: 165

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expected level of capital expenditure by the North of Scotland Water Authority on (a) sewerage works and (b) water scheme works in 1996-97 and 1997-98 in (i) Orkney and (ii) Shetland. [5976]

Mr. Forsyth [holding answer 25 November 1996]: The expected level of capital expenditure in Orkney and in Shetland on sewerage works and water scheme works in 1996-97 is:

£ million

Sewerage Water

Orkney 1.25 3.15

Shetland 1.5 1.0

	Sewerage	Water
Orkney	1.25	3.15
Shetland	1.5	1.0

The programme for 1997-98 has not yet been finalised.

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount was spent on capital works in respect of (a) water schemes and (b) sewerage schemes undertaken by (i) Orkney islands council and (ii) Shetland islands council in each financial year from 1992-93 to 1995-96. [5975]

Mr. Forsyth [holding answer 25 November 1996]: The information is set out in the table:

Expenditure on capital works£000

Service Year Gross payments not funded from revenue Gross payments funded from revenue Total gross capital payments

Water

Orkney 1992-93 1,306 78 1,384

1993-94 1,477 -10 1,467

1994-95 1,463 1 1,464

1995-96 931 325 1,256

Shetland 1992-93 0 1,467 1,467

1993-94 746 0 746

1994-95 783 0 783

1995-96 1,517 0 1,517

Sewerage

Orkney 1992-93 2,193 55 2,248

1993-94 3,313 0 3,313

1994-95 1,611 27 1,638

1995-96 1,996 2 1,998

Shetland 1992-93 0 1,483 1,483

1993-94 0 481 481

1994-95 1,130 0 1,130

1995-96 3,124 0 3,124

Service	Year	Gross payments not funded from revenue	Gross payments funded from revenue	Total gross capital payments
Water
Orkney	1992-93	1,306	78	1,384
	1993-94	1,477	-10	1,467
	1994-95	1,463	1	1,464
	1995-96	931	325	1,256

Shetland	1992-93	0	1,467	1,467
	1993-94	746	0	746
	1994-95	783	0	783
	1995-96	1,517	0	1,517
Sewerage
Orkney	1992-93	2,193	55	2,248
	1993-94	3,313	0	3,313
	1994-95	1,611	27	1,638
	1995-96	1,996	2	1,998

Shetland	1992-93	0	1,483	1,483
	1993-94	0	481	481
	1994-95	1,130	0	1,130
	1995-96	3,124	0	3,124

Source:

Capital payments and receipts returns by local authorities.

Note:

Information for 1995-96 is provisional as it is based on unaudited returns.

Non-domestic Rates

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the non-domestic rate poundage for 1997-98. [6633]

26 Nov 1996 : Column: 166

Mr. Michael Forsyth: Yes. I propose that the Scottish non-domestic rate poundage for 1997-98 should be 45.8p. An order prescribing the poundage will be laid before Parliament in due course.

This decision maintains the link between the Scottish and English poundages. It ensures that Scottish business will continue to benefit from the Government's unified business rate policy. If the power to set poundages had not been removed from local authorities by 1994-95, the last year before full harmonisation, businesses in Scotland would have been paying around £500 million more a year in non-domestic rates than was in fact the case, and indeed a good deal more had authorities increased business rates by more than the rate of inflation.

The total cost to the Government of UBR policy over the five years to April 1995 was in the region of £1,400 million. These figures show the extent of the Government's commitment to ensuring that business in Scotland have a guarantee of stability and are not disadvantaged as compared with their competitors south of the border.

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