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Suicides
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the number of suicides. [31061]
Mr. Boateng: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 10 November 1997, Official Report, column 437. The Green Paper, Our Healthier Nation, published in February 1998, makes clear the importance we place on reducing the burden of mental health problems. The Green paper proposes a target to reduce the suicide rate by one sixth by 2010 and sets out examples of what action needs to be taken at government, community and individual level. Consultation on the Green Paper proposals will last until 30 April 1998.
Mental Health
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to protect mentally ill patients from harassment within their community. [31060]
Mr. Boateng: We recognise the vital importance of tackling discrimination against mentally ill patients. The Department's impact strategy aims to increase knowledge and understanding about mental health among the general public, thereby promoting a positive image of mental health and combating stigma. We are adopting a variety of approaches to take forward the strategy including collaboration with the voluntary sector; the targeting of resources on key "at risk groups" such as young men; influencing the media; and expanding the Health Education Authority's World Mental Health Day campaign. This year, we are spending more than £1.4 million nationally on public health information and mental health promotion. Mental health services have a responsibility to proceed with sensitivity and adopt an informative, open approach in handling their plans for community developments in order to convince people that they have nothing to fear.
SCOTLAND
Conferences
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the conferences held by his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the (a) purpose and (b) estimated cost. [27769]
Mr. Dewar [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The information requested is as follows:
- Conference on Traditional Building Materials
- This conference was organised by Historic Scotland to raise awareness of the value of traditional building materials, to promote Scottish resources and to encourage revival of the skills needed for their manufacture, extraction and use. The cost of arranging the conference, which ran at a profit of £29,000, was £42,000.
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 266
- Safer Communities Through Partnership
- This conference was held at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan and involved The Scottish Office, local councils, the police and voluntary organisations. The cost was £2,000.
- Superhighways For Learning--Making it Happen
- The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, in association with the Scottish Council for Educational Technology, ran a series of 3 conferences. The main aims of the conferences were to promote the findings from the Education Department's Superhighways Initiative and to highlight the work of the newly formed Superhighways Task Force. The total cost to the Department of these 3 conferences was £25,000.
- Risk Assessment of Offenders
- This conference was sponsored by The Scottish Office Social Work Services Group under the auspices of the Association of Directors of Social Work. The aim of the conference was to inform the debate on offender risk assessment and its cost was £6,000.
- Scottish National Rural Partnership
- A series of 3 conferences was held on (1) Effective Partnership Working, (2) Tackling Rural Crime, and (3) Food, Local Communities and Rural Development. The conferences were aimed at those involved in Rural Scotland--Scottish Homes, Rural Forum, SCVO, Scottish Agricultural College etc.
- As an attendance charge was levied, there was no cost to the Department.
- Better Data Through Partnership and IT Conference
- The purpose of this conference was (1) to raise awareness of current developments and issues in the field of electronic information transfer, (2) to promote partnership between central and local government in relation to the exchange of information, and (3) to promote the use of information technology and information systems. The cost of the conference was £1,500.
- The NHS in Scotland Conference
- This is an annual conference held for the Minister of Health and officials to meet with a wide range of senior personnel throughout the NHS in Scotland to discuss policy, service and developmental change in the NHS in Scotland in the year ahead. This year's conference cost £25,000.
- Health Board and Trust Chairmen's Conference
- This is an annual conference where the Minister of Health and senior officials meet with Health Board and Trust Chairmen to discuss major policy and strategic issues for the NHS in the coming year. This year's conference cost £12,000.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of his officials attended conferences (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas; and how many and what percentage made (i) oral and (ii) written contributions to the matters under discussion in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [31169]
Mr. Dewar: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Official Hospitality
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on hospitality since 1 May 1997. [27770]
Mr. Dewar
[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Since 1 May 1997, expenditure on official hospitality by The Scottish Office and its departmental agencies has amounted to £52,330 and £16,916 respectively.
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 267
Information on hospitality spending by non- departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of British-registered foreign-owned fishing vessels at each Scottish fishing port. [30497]
Mr. Macdonald:
There are 38 vessels which are regarded as wholly or partly owned or controlled by foreign interests and administered by Scottish ports. These vessels' ports of administration are Ayr (23); Peterhead (10); Aberdeen (two); Buckie, Fraserburgh and Kirkwall (one each). Some may, however, operate predominantly out of foreign ports.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beam trawlers are based at each Scottish fishing port. [30530]
| Port of administration | Number of vessels in the beam trawl segment |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 2 |
| Ayr | 2 |
| Buckie | 3 |
| Fraserburgh | 2 |
| Peterhead | 11 |
| Total | 20 |
Scottish Parliament
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated total cost of acquiring the Holyrood site for the Scottish Parliament. [30854]
Mr. McLeish: The estimated total cost of acquiring and preparing the Holyrood site is approximately £4 million.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when (a) he and (b) his officials first became aware of the asbestos contamination on the Holyrood site. [30851]
Mr. McLeish: Neither the Department nor the Secretary of State are aware of any asbestos contamination at the Holyrood site.
Contamination would arise only if the asbestos was mishandled. The Secretary of State became aware on 16 February 1998 that Scottish and Newcastle plc had undertaken to remove asbestos from their building in Holyrood before transferring the property. Officials had been informed on 16 January 1998.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated cost of clearing the Holyrood site (a) at the time the contract for purchasing the site was agreed and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [30852]
Mr. McLeish:
The estimated cost of clearing the Holyrood site is about £500,000. This estimate has not changed since the purchase price was agreed.
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 268
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimated total cost of establishing the Scottish Parliament, separately identifying provision for temporary accommodation for the Parliament pending completion of the Holyrood Parliament building. [30855]
Mr. McLeish:
The estimated construction costs of the building at Holyrood will be around £55 million, including site acquisition costs and demolition costs, but not including fees and VAT. The actual costs will depend on the final design, the level of fees negotiated and the price of construction, which will be determined by competitive tender.
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