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SCOTLAND
"New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans"
Mr. Derek Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what costs quoted in the document, "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans", were prepared in his Department; what detailed assumptions and interpretations were provided to officials in his Department to enable preparation of each cost; and what was the total cost to public funds of preparing each estimate. [6346]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The Scottish Office, in conjunction with the Treasury, prepared factual material relating to costings published in "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans" numbered 81, 82, 83 and 89. The detailed assumptions and interpretations that were provided to officials are set out in the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary. It is not the normal working practice to keep a record of the time spent in providing factual information to Ministers and it is not therefore possible to offer a reliable estimate of the costs involved.
Publicity
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what promotional and public information campaigns his Department is (a) currently running and (b) planning to run during the next six months; and for each campaign (i) how much it will cost, (1) in total and (2) to his Department, (ii) what agencies or bodies are undertaking the work and (iii) what is its planned duration. [7411]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Details of current and planned promotional and public information campaigns by my Department are set out in the table.
| Campaigns currently running | Campaigns planned over the next six months | Cost | Agencies undertaking work | Planned duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (i) In total £ | (ii) To Department £ | ||||
| Fire Prevention Burning Christmas Tree | -- | 37,000 | Faulds Advertising | 3 weeks | |
| Fire Action Plan | -- | 164,000 | Faulds Advertising | 4 weeks | |
| Tackling Violence | (27)Still to be agreed | Faulds Advertising | 16 weeks | ||
| Severe Weather | (28)400,000 | (28)200,000 | Barkers Scotland | 14 weeks | |
| Pre-School Vouchers--procedures and processes | (27)Still to be agreed | Barkers Scotland | Phase 1--6 weeksPhase 2--3 weeks | ||
| Christmas Drink Driving | -- | 52,000 | Faulds Advertising | 3 weeks | |
| Food Hygiene | (27)Still to be agreed | Faulds Advertising | 4 weeks | ||
| Firearms Control | -- | 40,000 | Faulds Advertising | Still to be finalised | |
| Promotion of Historic Properties and Public Information(29) | (27)Still to be agreed | Marr Associates | 16 weeks | ||
| Absent Voters | -- | 47,000 | Faulds Advertising | 1 week | |
(27) Media schedules and costs have still to be finalised.
(28) The figures given are indicative. Final costs will be dictated by the frequency of the campaign which will be triggered by severe weather conditions.
(29) Historic Scotland.
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Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7536]
Mr. Forsyth: Details of expenditure on promotional or public information campaigns by my Department in each of the last five years, and estimated spend for the current and next financial year is as follows:
| Spend for each of the last five years | £ |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 1,220,000 |
| 1992-93 | 1,366,000 |
| 1993-94 | 1,058,000 |
| 1994-95 | 1,682,000 |
| 1995-96 | 1,819,000 |
| Estimated spend for current financial year | |
| 1996-97 | (30) 1,860,000 |
| 1996-97 | (31) 1,350,000 |
| Estimated spend for financial year | |
| 1997-98 | (32) 2,000,000 |
(30) This figure is the original estimate based on spend to date and proposed spend to the end of the financial year.
(31) This figure is an additional estimate based on spend to date and proposed spend for three new public information campaigns running in the latter part of the current financial year: tackling violent crime, food hygiene awareness and severe weather warning.
(32)Costs are estimated figures only. Departmental budgets for next financial year have not yet been agreed.
Locate in Scotland
Mr. Keith Hill: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total grant made by the Scottish Office to Locate in Scotland; and how much of this grant was spent in advertising in England to encourage companies to relocate in Scotland in the last year for which information is available. [8105]
Mr. Kynoch: In 1995-96 Locate in Scotland had a total budget of £8.9 million, none of which was spent on advertising to encourage companies in England to relocate to Scotland.
EU Institutions (Scottish Interests)
Mr. Bill Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the means by which the Government ensure that Scottish interests are effectively represented in the institutions of the European Union. [8934]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Scottish interests are effectively represented to the institutions of the European Union by being incorporated into the view of the United Kingdom. I am able to ensure that this is the case by my attendance at Cabinet, and at Cabinet Committees which discuss UK policy on EU issues. In addition, Scottish Office Ministers attend Council meetings as part of the UK delegation and when matters relevant to my responsibilities as Secretary
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of State are discussed. As at 11 December, Scottish Office Ministers have attended 13 Councils during the current year.
Nominations by the Government have ensured that five of the total of 24 UK members of the Committee of the Regions serve in Scottish local authorities, that the current UK judge in the Court of Justice is Scottish, and that two members of the Economic and Social Committee are Scots. My hon. Friend will be aware that Scotland is already served by eight MEPs, of whom one is a Vice President of the European Parliament. These arrangements ensure that Scottish interests are effectively represented in the institutions, and the advisory committees, of the European Union.
Prisoner Assaults
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were prisoner-on-prisoner assault rates in Scottish prisons in the most recent period for which figures are available. [8943]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. John McFall, dated 17 December 1996:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question relating to the number of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in Scottish prisons in the most recent period for which figures are available.
The most recent published figures are set out on page 9 of the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for 1995-96 (HMSO Cm 508). There were 108 such serious assaults. The figure for 1996-97 will be published in the Annual Report for that year in July 1997.
Landfill Tax (Exemptions)
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to permit a temporary exemption to landfill tax for those local authorities who have to dispose of unsold paper for recycling, having collected the paper to meet the Government's target for recycling waste by 2000. [8920]
Mr. Kynoch: The scope of the tax is a matter for consideration by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Erskine Bridge
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the location of the gas and water pipes on the Erskine bridge; and what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of them. [9071]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Two water pipes and one gas pipe are situated on each side of the Erskine Bridge, in the open, underneath the footways. The structure was designed to accommodate these services and they have been in place since the bridge opened in 1971.
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Following an incident on 4 August 1996 when an oilrig platform collided with the bridge, the pipes were inspected by the undertakers responsible and minor repairs carried out.
No specific assessment of the pipes has been made by the Health and Safety Executive although it has made a number of visits to the bridge since the incident in connection with the main structural repairs.
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many items of legislation relating to this Department have been repealed since January 1994; how many statutory instruments were introduced during the same period; and how many of the latter were (a) deregulatory and (b) fee orders. [9367]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General.
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