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Funicular Railway, CairnGorm
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase his Department's contribution to the CairnGorm funicular railway following agreement of the level of the Objective 1 grant. [31240]
Mr. Wilson: The Scottish Office it not making a direct financial contribution to the CairnGorm funicular railway project.
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will ask Highlands and Islands Enterprise to publish the option appraisal regarding the proposed funicular railway on CairnGorm referred to by the Scottish Office Minister of State in his recent letter to Aberdeenshire Council; [31229]
- (2) what provisions have been made by Highlands and Islands Enterprise for expenditure that may be incurred under Clause 10(d) of the S.50 agreement relating to the proposed funicular railway on CairnGorm; [31231]
(3) what projects will receive a reduction in support as a result of proposed HIE expenditure on the proposed funicular railway. [31238]
Mr. Wilson: These are operational matters for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the Chairman of that organisation to write to the hon. Member.
Unpasteurised Milk
Dr. Moonie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many outbreaks of food poisoning in each year between 1986 and 1996 were related to the consumption of unpasteurised milk, broken down by infective agent, if known; and if he will make a statement. [30726]
Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 24 February 1998]: Sixteen outbreaks attributed to unpasteurised cows milk were reported to the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health between 1986 and 1996. Thirteen were of salmonella infection and three of campylobacter infection. None have been reported since 1992.
- 1986: Two outbreaks: salmonellosis.
- 1987: Five outbreaks: two salmonellosis, three campylobacteriosis.
- 1988: One outbreak: salmonellosis.
- 1989: None.
- 1990: Two outbreaks: salmonellosis.
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- 1991: Four outbreaks: salmonellosis.
- 1992: Two outbreaks: salmonellosis.
- 1993: Two outbreaks: campylobacteriosis.
- 1994: None.
- 1995: The outbreak surveillance system did not operate in 1995.
- 1996: None.
In addition to the above there was one case of food poisoning (E.coli 0157) associated with raw goats' drinking milk in 1996. The question of pasteurisation of milk from goats and sheep was the subject of a recent consultation. No decisions have yet been taken on this.
Dr. Moonie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will assess the advantages of extending the compulsory pasteurisation of milk to milk from (a) goats and (b) sheep; and if he will make a statement. [30730]
Mr. Galbraith
[holding answer 24 February 1998]: These issues were considered in the consultation exercise on the sale of raw sheep and goats' milk in Scotland, conducted during the Autumn 1996. The consultation paper included a number of possible options for the course of future policy. No decisions have yet been taken on this policy.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will (a) institute research into and (b) review the usage of earnings arrestments introduced by the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987. [31015]
Mr. McLeish:
My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has commissioned a study into the operation of the procedures introduced by the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987. This research includes a review of the usage of the earnings arrestment procedure. The final results of this study are expected imminently.
The Government will give consideration to the study report when it is available and will consider whether further legislation on the earnings arrestment procedure is desirable.
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Mr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent research he has evaluated on the correlation between the incidence of cancer and related illnesses and methods of production and working practices in the electronics and information technology industry; and if he will make a statement. [30774]
Mr. Galbraith:
The Chief Scientist's Office at The Scottish Office Department of Health has not funded any research projects on the correlation between the incidence of cancer and related illnesses and the electronics industry.
The Health and Safety Executive will, however, be publishing on 4 March 1998 a report of its investigation into the risk of miscarriage for women working in the UK semiconductor industry.
Mr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the incidence of (a) cancer and (b) related illnesses in communities which provide the labour force for companies engaged in the electronics and information technology industry; and if he will make a statement. [30773]
Mr. Galbraith:
None. I am aware however of recent media coverage in Scotland about the incidence of miscarriages among women working in the electronics industry. The Health and Safety Executive, which has responsibility for workplace issues, has recently completed a five year study into miscarriage rates in the semiconductor industry. The findings of the study will be published on 4 March 1998.
Mr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the incidence of cancer and related illnesses in the Inverclyde Council area in each of the past 10 years; what is the average incidence for similar-sized populations elsewhere in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [30775]
Mr. Galbraith:
The table shows the incidence of cancer in Inverclyde and selected other local government districts in the west of Scotland between 1986 and 1995.
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25 Feb 1998 : Column: 271
| Year of diagnosis | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | Total 1986-95 | |
| Inverclyde | |||||||||||
| Males | |||||||||||
| Incidence | 204 | 216 | 214 | 234 | 212 | 201 | 218 | 245 | 235 | 250 | 2,229 |
| Incidence rate | 439.7 | 470.8 | 473.7 | 524.1 | 481.1 | 459.2 | 500.9 | 568.6 | 549.2 | 588.5 | 504.5 |
| Females | |||||||||||
| Incidence | 204 | 202 | 223 | 228 | 242 | 233 | 261 | 221 | 218 | 263 | 2,295 |
| Incidence rate | 406.0 | 405.9 | 454.0 | 469.7 | 502.7 | 487.4 | 549.8 | 471.2 | 467.9 | 569.1 | 477.3 |
| Renfrew | |||||||||||
| Males | |||||||||||
| Incidence | 365 | 432 | 424 | 446 | 404 | 399 | 480 | 472 | 475 | 470 | 4,367 |
| Incidence rate | 370.8 | 442.5 | 436.2 | 459.1 | 414.7 | 412.5 | 496.6 | 487.4 | 488.7 | 479.4 | 448.7 |
| Females | |||||||||||
| Incidence | 397 | 407 | 434 | 419 | 449 | 445 | 512 | 571 | 500 | 467 | 4,601 |
| Incidence rate | 374.7 | 387.8 | 415.2 | 401.0 | 428.0 | 427.2 | 491.8 | 547.4 | 478.6 | 444.4 | 439.5 |
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 271
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