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Education Expenditure
Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average per capita spending (a) in each education authority and (b) in Scotland in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools on (1) books, (2) computer equipment and (3) other education materials and equipment in the most recent three years for which figures are available. [62647]
Mrs. Liddell:
The available information is given in the following tables which have been compiled from local authority financial returns. Details for 1994-95 and 1995-96 are under the council areas then applicable, whereas the table for 1996-97 reflects the current local authority structure. There can be variations in the recording of expenditure under the two headings. It is, therefore, possible that some expenditure on books may be included
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under expenditure on equipment or vice versa. Expenditure on computer equipment is not identified separately in local authority returns to The Scottish Office for the years in question.
| Year 1994-95 | Primary | Secondary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Books | Equipment | Books | Equipment |
| Borders | 0.00 | 68.18 | 0.00 | 153.75 |
| Central | 0.65 | 34.63 | 2.60 | 91.87 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 16.30 | 65.44 | 10.99 | 135.84 |
| Fife | 21.44 | 5.91 | 58.77 | 19.47 |
| Grampian | 0.00 | 56.30 | 0.00 | 132.05 |
| Highland | 32.58 | 33.16 | 54.43 | 47.46 |
| Lothian | 19.65 | 31.76 | 10.68 | 76.75 |
| Strathclyde | 3.04 | 39.02 | 3.83 | 79.39 |
| Tayside | 12.70 | 33.73 | 10.80 | 84.01 |
| Orkney | 0.00 | 58.12 | 0.00 | 111.19 |
| Shetland | 0.00 | 89.65 | 0.00 | 188.78 |
| Western Isles | 29.57 | 69.12 | 55.31 | 85.19 |
| £ (outturn prices) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1995-96 | Primary | Secondary | ||
| Region | Books | Equipment | Books | Equipment |
| Borders | 0.00 | 52.39 | 0.00 | 152.73 |
| Central | 0.69 | 34.32 | 2.65 | 90.92 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 13.49 | 57.87 | 8.51 | 121.30 |
| Fife | 24.88 | 4.88 | 67.13 | 24.97 |
| Grampian | 0.00 | 61.01 | 0.00 | 135.61 |
| Highland | 32.23 | 26.48 | 54.89 | 40.52 |
| Lothian | 19.85 | 40.87 | 12.20 | 80.89 |
| Strathclyde | 2.09 | 49.18 | 4.70 | 91.56 |
| Tayside | 12.81 | 32.37 | 9.55 | 67.31 |
| Orkney | 0.00 | 66.52 | 0.00 | 100.07 |
| Shetland | 0.00 | 92.30 | 0.00 | 178.47 |
| Western Isles | 32.07 | 71.78 | 50.35 | 83.92 |
Notes:
1. Not all education authorities distinguish on a consistent basis between the two headings.
2. Where expenditure under one of the headings is shown as £0.00 it should be assumed that the expenditure has been allocated to the other heading.
Notes:
1. Not all education authorities distinguish on a consistent basis between the two headings.
2. Where expenditure under one of the headings is shown as £0.00 it should be assumed that the expenditure has been allocated to the other heading.
8 Dec 1998 : Column: 166
Scottish Members of Parliament
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on his proposal to reduce the number of hon. Members for Scottish constituencies; and if he will make a statement. [61270]
Mr. McLeish: We recognise that the creation of the Scottish Parliament means that the present level of Scottish representation at Westminster cannot be maintained, a view which has received very broad support.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
China
Mr. Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in China; and what has been the impact of United Kingdom and European Union policy. [63146]
Mr. Fatchett: We continue to have many serious concerns about human rights in China. During his visit to China earlier this year my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised these concerns with Chinese leaders, as did my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Recently, the Chinese Government has taken some positive steps in this field, which we have welcomed, while repeating our desire to address issues of concern through the continuing bilateral and EU/China Human Rights Dialogues.
Since the commencement of the bilateral UK/China Dialogue, and the resumption of the EU/China Human Rights Dialogue, last year, China has taken several positive steps which will bring about its closer integration into the UN human rights system, and should in time help to strengthen protection of human rights in China. It has signed the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic Social and Cultural Rights; agreed to report to the UN on Hong Kong under these two Covenants; admitted the UN High Commissioner for
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Human Rights, Mrs. Robinson, as well as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and welcomed a possible visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
In addition, China has allowed a visit by a delegation of EU Troika Ambassadors to Tibet and accepted the participation in the Dialogue of critical NGOs such as Amnesty International. It is also noteworthy that the Dialogue has allowed us to discuss privately and frankly with the Chinese authorities a range of concerns from Tibet, to the death penalty, freedom of association and torture.
Both Britain and the EU have now established substantial co-operation programmes with China, funded respectively by DFID and the Commission, and these seek among other things to promote judicial exchanges and legal reform.
We shall encourage the Chinese Government to ratify the International Human Rights Covenants, with as few reservations as possible, as soon as possible. We want to see further reform in China's capital punishment regime, leading ultimately to abolition, as well as improvements in its systems of detention. At the same time we shall continue to raise the cases of individuals, as we did on 2 December, when we expressed our concern to the Chinese Government at the recent detention of Mr. Xu Wenli, a prominent dissident. We look forward to discussing these and other points with the Chinese Government.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he takes to ensure that former MI6 personnel who take up private sector posts do not utilise information gained whilst employed by MI6 for the advantage of their new employers. [62426]
Mr. Robin Cook:
SIS staff are bound by the same conditions as home civil servants and members of HM Diplomatic Service with regard to acceptance of outside appointments after resignation or retirement. These include, where appropriate, reference to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, and approval by myself.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total expenditure on wine for Government hospitality purposes since 1 May 1997; what is the average cost of each bottle purchased; and what percentage of wine purchased is of UK origin. [62422]
Mr. Fatchett:
The cost of wine purchased for all Government Hospitality purposes from 1 May 1997 to 25 November 1998 was £146,985 inclusive of VAT (the cost of wine purchased for all Government Hospitality purposes from 1 November 1995 to 30 April 1997 was £192,604 inclusive of VAT). The average cost per bottle was £11.72 inclusive of VAT. English and Welsh wines comprised 4 per cent. of the total bought.
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