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Housing
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what remedy in law is available to Scottish local authorities seeking to improve the condition of a residential property under the ownership of an individual who is allowing it to fall into a state of disrepair; and what responsibilities and duties the different legislative provisions place on the local authority in relation to the property which is the subject of any action. [16599]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The Building (Scotland) Act 1959, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 give local authorities power in specified circumstances to serve notices on persons having control of houses which are in disrepair or likely soon to be so. The powers under the 1959 Act apply to houses or other buildings which are considered dangerous, those under the 1982 Act are commonly used to require repairs to the exterior of buildings in common ownership, and those under the 1987 Act apply to houses which are considered to be in a state of serious disrepair or are likely to deteriorate rapidly or to cause material damage to another house. In each of these cases, the notice will require the owner to take remedial action within a specified time; if it is not complied with the authority may carry out the works and recover the cost. Similar powers may be available also under local legislation.
Mixed-sex Wards
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to eliminate mixed-sex wards in Scottish national health service hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [16676]
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
There are no such proposals at present. However, during 1995, we instructed all trusts and health boards to review current practice in relation to mixed-sex accommodation and to draw up action plans to ensure that patients' concerns are addressed.
In addition, we introduced a new charter commitment from September 1996, so that all patients in Scotland receive prior notification of the type of accommodation in which they will be treated and can defer admission until single-sex accommodation is available if they so wish.
Subsequent checks have confirmed that the issue is being addressed effectively and sensitively by the Scottish health service so that patients' rights and dignity are respected. We continue to monitor closely progress on this issue.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what public resources have been made available for care and repair projects in (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96 and (c) 1996-97; [16677]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
Comprehensive information is not held centrally. The available information, relating to projects jointly funded by Scottish Homes and local authorities, is set out in the table.
(2) how many houses have been improved in (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96 and (c) 1996-97 with assistance from care and repair projects. [16678]
| Revenue funding (estimate)(1) | LA capital grant contribution(2) | Number of homes covered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (£ million) | (£ million) | ||
| 1994-95 (outturn) | 0.8 | 3.1 | 616 |
| 1995-96 (outturn) | 1.0 | 3.7 | 794 |
| 1996-97 (planned) | 1.2 | 3.2 | 750 |
Source:
Scottish Homes.
Notes:
(1) Total revenue funding for salaries and other running costs of projects estimated by grossing up from Scottish Homes contribution, which is normally matched equally by local authorities.
(2) Contributions are in the form of improvement and repair grants for works costs. Other costs are met from care and repair client's own resources, and charitable and other funding. Scottish Homes does not contribute to these costs.
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring takes place by his Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16751]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Non-departmental public bodies are established to operate at arm's length from Government, often under specific statutory powers. An NDPB's governing body is responsible for the management and control of the body's functions.
Ministers and their Departments are responsible for monitoring the performance of the NDPBs which they sponsor, and for ensuring that they operate within the
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framework of controls set out in the Treasury and Cabinet Office guidance "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments."
A Scottish Office booklet, "The Hiring and Managing of External Consultants", which draws on the recommendations of an efficiency scrutiny "The Government's Use of External Consultants"--published in November 1995--gives guidance on best practice in the procurement and management of external consultants. This booklet is available to all Scottish Office NDPBs.
Mr. Wilson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the occasions on which Scottish Office Ministers have met Mr. Alan Lewis in an official capacity since 1987; and what subjects were discussed on each occasion. [15664]
Mr. Kynoch
[holding answer 13 February 1997]: The Department's records indicate that my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, the then Minister of State at the Scottish Office, met Mr. Lewis in an official capacity on 7 July 1988 to discuss industry matters.
Mr. Wilson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of the public support provided to Messrs Kynoch of Keith; and how many jobs have been created or protected in Scotland as a result of that support. [15667]
Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 13 February 1997]: The public financial support which the Kynoch Group plc, formerly G. and G. Kynoch, has received has been through the investment by the former Scottish development agency which has passed to Scottish Enterprise as its successor body. Scottish Enterprise's investment in Kynoch Group plc is an operational matter within the delegated authority of Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Mr. McLeish:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions his Department held with (a) Crombie Mills of Aberdeen and (b) Illingworth Morris between 1988 and 1993; [15812]
Mr. Kynoch
[holding answer 17 February 1997]: The Department's records indicate that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, then Minister of State for Industry at the Scottish Office, met Mr. Lewis on 7 July 1988 to discuss industry matters. Subsequently on 5 September 1989 he visited J. and J. Crombie, Grandholm Mills, Aberdeen.
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The Department's records also indicate a discussion between an official of the Department and a representative of J. and J. Crombie on or around 3 June 1991, to establish information about the closure of Grandholm Mills, which had just been announced.
Mr. McLeish:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance was provided from public funds to (a) Crombie Mills of Aberdeen and (b) Illingworth Morris between 1988 and 1993. [15813]
Mr. Kynoch
[holding answer 17 February 1997]: None.
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were on council house waiting lists in Scotland in (a) each Scottish local authority and (b) Scotland as a whole in each year from 1990 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15893]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
[holding answer 17 February 1997]: Reliable information is not held centrally.
Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of (a) motorway and (b) trunk roads have been constructed in Scotland for each year since 1992; and what percentage in each year was in rural areas. [16272]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
The information set out as follows is the motorway and trunk road milage constructed on major schemes completed in Scotland in each year since 1992. This information is not held centrally for minor schemes.
(2) what discussions (a) he and (b) his Department held with Mr. Alan Lewis about (i) Illingworth Morris and (ii) Crombie Mills of Aberdeen in the period 1988 to 1993. [15811]
| Miles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Motorway (length) | Trunk road (length) |
| 1992 | 12.5 | 9.5 |
| 1993 | 6.3 | 16.4 |
| 1994 | 16.5 | 5.5 |
| 1995 | 16.1 | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 9.2 | 4.5 |
At least 80 per cent. of this total mileage over the five-year period was constructed in rural areas.
Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of (a) motorway and (b) trunk roads he proposes to construct in (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [16273]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
It is not possible to give a precise figure of mileage to be constructed in any future year. In 1997, a total of 20.7 miles of motorway and 12 miles of trunk road major schemes will be under construction or will commence construction. In 1998, a further 13.7 miles of motorway and 3.9 miles of trunk road is programmed for construction.
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Mrs. Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the total expenditure on (a) motorway and (b) trunk road construction in Scotland since 1992. [16295]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Major scheme expenditure on motorways and trunk roads in Scotland since 1992 is set out in the following table. As it is not practical to attempt to extract and allocate the expenditure on minor schemes over this period to either motorway or trunk road, this has been listed separately.
| £ million | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Motorway | Trunk Road | Minor Schemes |
| 1992-93 | 90 | 25.1 | 17.1 |
| 1993-94 | 56.5 | 45.1 | 9.9 |
| 1994-95 | 151 | 8.4 | 17.2 |
| 1995-96 | 86 | 12.8 | 12.9 |
| 1996-97(3) | 53 | 26 | 13.0 |
(3) Forecast outturn 1996-97.
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