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Ferry Services

Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much subsidy was paid to Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services to (a) Dunoon, (b) Rothesay and (c) Rhubodach in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the disparity of fares between Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services to Dunoon and the Island of Bute. [2854]

Mr. Chisholm: The Government pay subsidy to Caledonian MacBrayne on its total operating loss rather than on individual routes. Although an aggregate revenue target is set as part of that process, the setting of fares on individual routes is a matter for the commercial judgment of the company. I will ask the chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne to write to the hon. Member about fares on the Gourock-Dunoon and Wemyss Bay-Rothesay routes.

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has offered Caledonian MacBrayne an opportunity to tender for the passenger service franchise on the ferry services to Orkney and Shetland; and if he will make a statement. [2842]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 11 June 1997]: Ministers are currently considering the report of Scottish Office officials on the evaluation of tenders submitted in the competitive tendering process for the Northern Isles passenger ferry services contract, and will decide in the light of the tenders received whether to conclude now a contractual agreement with one of the ferry operators who have submitted tenders or whether to re-open the tendering process.

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Schools (Internet)

Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with BT concerning proposals to link Scotland's schools to the Internet; which areas of Scotland he assesses will be linked to the Internet; what form it is anticipated any link will take; if the link will be through ISDN or digital connection; what is the expected cost per pupil of the proposed link; and if he will make a statement. [3184]

Mr. Wilson: The Government are discussing with BT how they can best fulfil their commitment to link Scotland's schools to the information superhighway. The details of these plans, including the capacity of the link, are not yet finalised.

Cable companies already provide a free link to schools passed by their networks. They offer schools a competitive flat monthly fee for unlimited internet access. Additionally, ISDN or equivalent high speed connection is available also at competitive rates. An estimated 45-50 per cent. of Scottish schools could benefit from this service by the turn of the century when cabling in current franchise areas is completed.

Loch Lomond National Park

Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to create a Loch Lomond national park; and if he will make a statement. [3260]

Mr. Chisholm: We are committed to put in place a proper system for the management of our areas of outstanding beauty, of which Loch Lomond is a prime example, which is both tailored to Scottish circumstances and consistent with the highest international standards. The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Steering Committee consulted earlier this year on future management arrangements for the area. My noble Friend the Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Fisheries in Scotland is to meet representatives from the Steering Committee to discuss their proposals for the establishment of a Joint Committee. We are also currently considering the many responses received to the Discussion Paper issued at the end of last year, following the Review of Natural Heritage Designations, before reaching decisions on the need for changes to the present system, such as the introduction of National Parks in Scotland.

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Television Masts

Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review planning procedures as they relate to the erection of television masts under 15 feet in height; and if he will make a statement. [3455]

Mr. Chisholm: My right hon. Friend has no plans to review planning procedures relating to television masts. All television masts, regardless of their height, require full planning consent. The Scottish Office is, however, reviewing planning controls over telecommunications masts under 15m in height, which benefit from permitted development rights. If any proposals to change planning legislation result from this review, a consultation paper will be issued.

Departmental Documents

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage and how many documents in 1996 he estimates were (a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by his Department in full, (d) retained by his Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of, and (g) otherwise unaccounted for. [2515]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 11 June 1997]: The records of my Department are specifically exempted from the Public Records Act 1958, and therefore are not passed to the Public Records Office. However similar procedures apply to the transfer of records to the Scottish Record Office (SRO). The procedures oblige my Department to ensure that all documentary records are properly preserved with a view to possible selection and transfer to the SRO and eventual release to the public. Statistics relating to records retained and passed to the SRO are not available in the precise categories requested; however for 1996-97 the numbers of files by broad category are as follows:

Records processed: 54,131

QuestionCategoryNumberPer cent.
(a)Intact Records to Scottish Record Office2,2094.1
(b)Censored Records to Scottish Record Office00
(c)Full Records retained by the Scottish Office3,2245.9
(d)Part Records retained by the Scottish Office00
(e)Records destroyed by the Scottish Office48,69890
(f)Records otherwise disposed of00
(g)Records unaccounted for00

Public Service Task Force

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made for representation of local authorities in the islands areas on the task force established to develop a best value system in the delivery of local public services; and if he will make a statement. [2841]

16 Jun 1997 : Column: 56

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 11 June 1997]: Local authority representation on the task force is a matter for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

Breast Cancer

Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women in Inverclyde have been diagnosed as suffering from breast cancer and have been treated for this complaint in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [2766]

Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 12 June 1997]: The number of registrations for breast cancer among Inverclyde residents and the number of discharges of women with breast cancer for the period 1991-95 are as follows:

Inverclyde residents

Year19911992199319941995
Number of registrations6267372579
Number of discharges1451288173143

The registration figures for 1995 are provisional. The figures for discharges relate to all Inverclyde residents with a primary diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the breast. Discharges include inpatient and day cases. There may be more than one discharge per woman.

The annual changes over the last five years in the number of registrations and discharges among Inverclyde women with breast cancer may reflect the timing of the screening programme. The mobile unit of the Scottish Breast Screening Programme visited the Inverclyde catchment area from January 1992 until October/ November 1992. It then visited the Inverclyde catchment area again in November/December 1994. This may explain the fall in registrations and discharges in 1993 and 1994 and their rise in 1995.

Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the specialist breast cancer units in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [2767]

Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 12 June 1997]: The Macmillan Directory of Breast Cancer Services lists the following Breast Cancer Units in Strathclyde:


The Macmillan Directory also lists the following Breast Cancer Units in other areas of Scotland:


16 Jun 1997 : Column: 57

In recent years there has been a significant trend towards increased specialisation in the provision of care and treatment for patients with cancer, including breast cancer. Following publication in 1996 of the report on Commissioning Cancer Services in Scotland, Health Boards and Trusts were asked to review their cancer services, and to prepare plans for improving services to ensure that all patients have access to high quality care. The plans which Health Boards have developed in collaboration with NHS Trusts should ensure continuing improvements in the high standards of care already available throughout Scotland to patients with breast cancer.

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