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SCOTLAND
Land Ownership and Management
Mr. David Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the Government plan to take forward their commitment to initiate a study of land ownership and management in Scotland. [14189]
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Mr. Dewar:
I am establishing a land reform policy group, under the chairmanship of my noble Friend the Scottish Office Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Fisheries, which will have the following remit:
The group comprises senior officials from the Scottish Office and the Forestry Commission; and Professor John Bryden of Aberdeen university, who has long experience of land tenure issues, will act as external assessor. Over the next year the group will assess carefully the range of available options and I expect is report to provide a sound basis for early action by the new Scottish Parliament. Along with two related reports from the Scottish Law Commission on the abolition of feudal tenure and on reform of the law on real burdens, this should pave the way for early land reform legislation for the new millennium.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Crown Office has access to all the United States evidence relating to Lockerbie. [13212]
Mr. McLeish:
As has been repeatedly stated, there has been very full co-operation throughout between the Scottish and United States authorities. Appropriate arrangements have been made for sharing of information and evidence and many inquiries have been pursued jointly or in parallel with those of the United States authorities.
Mr. Maclennan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to issue guidance to social work departments on supporting pupils with medical needs. [13217]
Mr. Galbraith:
There are no plans to issue such guidance to social work departments. However, my officials are currently discussing with directors of education in Scotland draft guidance on legal and administrative issues related to the administration of medicine in schools.
Mr. Maclennan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend the work of the advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people in Scotland beyond the end of 1997. [13221]
Mr. Chisholm:
This is currently under consideration. My right hon. Friend expects to reach a decision shortly.
Mr. Maclennan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence the advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people in Scotland has received about the location and availability to travelling people of pitches within Highland council area. [13222]
Mr. Chisholm:
The advisory committee receives information on pitches across Scotland from its own members and, from time to time, from a range of other sources. In May 1997, the Scottish Office published a
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report on "Local Authority Sites for Travellers" intended to assist the advisory committee in its work. The report included a survey of all local authority sites then open, including those in Highland council's area. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Maclennan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by airport the Scottish Office grant made available to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. in (a) 1995-96 and (b) 1996-97. [13220]
Mr. Chisholm:
Scottish Office grant to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. is not hypothecated in respect of individual airports. The amount of deficit subsidy attributed by HIAL to each airport operated by the company was as follows:
to identify and assess proposals for land reform in rural Scotland taking account of their cost, legislative and administrative implications and their likely impact on the social and economic development of rural communities and on the natural heritage.
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Barra | 426,000 | 864,000 |
| Benbecula | 637,000 | 708,000 |
| Campbeltown | 899,000 | 856,000 |
| Inverness | 2,651,000 | 1,075,000 |
| Islay | 509,000 | 457,000 |
| Kirkwall | 2,722,000 | 926,000 |
| Stornoway | 430,000 | 408,000 |
| Sumburgh (non-oil(4)) | 340,000 | 270,000 |
| Tiree | 510,000 | 388,000 |
| Wick | 741,000 | 1,052,000 |
(4) Sumburgh's oil-related activities are not subsidised and in the years in question made a positive contribution to HIAL's overall finances of £1,475,000 in 1995-96 and £367,000 in 1996-97.
Woodland Sales
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list (a) the areas of Forestry Commission woodland that are currently being advertised for sale and (b) the steps being taken to safeguard public access in these areas. [13413]
Mr. Chisholm: We imposed a moratorium on the sale of Forestry Commission land when we took up office. The commission and its selling agents therefore explain to anyone making inquiries about buying woodlands that there are currently no Forestry Commission woodlands available for purchase.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Montserrat
Mr. Goodlad: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are her current plans for the development of Montserrat; and if she will make a statement. [13351]
Clare Short:
We have always made clear that we are committed to maintaining a viable community in the north of the island as long as it is safe for people to live there. This assurance means that essential facilities including health care, education, utilities and internal and external communications will be available for Montserratians who wish to remain on the island.
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As we have agreed with the Government of Montserrat, the next major step is the preparation and agreement--in consultation with the people of Montserrat--of a long-term sustainable development plan for the island to provide the level of services and infrastructure appropriate to the needs of the community. Work on the preparation of the SDP is now under way and is expected to be completed early in the new year.
Mr. Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are her plans for the future of the Commonwealth Development Corporation; and if she will make a statement. [13352]
Clare Short:
As the Prime Minister announced on 22 October, my intention is that the CDC should develop a new partnership with the private sector in order to increase the flow of investment into the least developed countries. This will require legislation to allow private investors to invest in the CDC. The Government will retain a substantial minority holding and a golden share and will continue to set a framework for the corporation's operations in order to preserve its developmental character and special skills.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are the (a) current activities and (b) future plans for expenditure arising from the proposal of the Commission of the European Community for the creation of an Africa, Caribbean and Pacific diversification and development programme for banana producers in Latin America in document COM(92) 496 and any subsequent measure; and if she will list for each state concerned (i) the finance committed and already expended and for what purposes and (ii) the authorising body and budget lines in the Community Budget. [13412]
Clare Short:
We understand the proposal of the Commission of the European Communities for a Council regulation--COM(92) 496--to introduce a diversification and development programme for certain banana-producing countries of Latin America in document COM(92) 496 was not taken forward. There are therefore no current activities or future plans for expenditure.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the suppliers to her Department who are owed outstanding amounts, indicating the amounts and the due date on which the account should have been settled. [13537]
Clare Short:
All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Such detailed information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Treasury will shortly be publishing a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97.
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Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to review its policy towards Kenya in respect of its human rights record. [12552]
Mr. Foulkes:
My Department will be reviewing Britain's development assistance programmes, including that for Kenya, in the light of the White Paper on international development. Our future policies towards Kenya will take account of the Kenyan Government's commitment to poverty eradication, which will include respect of human rights and the rule of law.
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