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Research and Development

Mr. Swinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail by project of over £10,000 and in total, the assistance given to Scottish businesses for research and development in 1997-98; what projects have been earmarked for funding in (i) 1998-99 and (ii) 1999-2000, and how much funding has been allocated to each; what is the proposed budget for research and development assistance for each of the next three financial years; and what percentage of this will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament. [65934]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 18 January 1999]: My Department provides research and development support for business through the SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR and SPUR programmes, during 1997-98 and the current financial year also made payments to projects which are funded under the Regional Enterprise Grant for Innovation Scheme (which closed to applications on 31 December 1995).

The European Commission, other Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies are also actively involved in assisting projects which fall within their spheres of responsibility. Information on these latter categories of grants is not held by my Department.

Total grant expenditure in 1997-98 on projects supported under SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR, SPUR and Regional Enterprise Grant for Innovation Scheme amounted to £3.6 million. During the period 1 April 1998 to 31 December 1998 the equivalent expenditure amounted to £2.5 million. As details of how this expenditure is broken down between individual projects

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of over £10,000 and of the funding allocated is lengthy, I have arranged for this information to be placed in the House Library.

No specific projects have been earmarked for funding in 1999-2000 and in the remainder of the current financial year since grant offers are made in response to project proposals submitted to my Department by businesses which meet the qualifying criteria for support.

The combined provision for SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR and SPUR in each of the next three financial years is £4.3 million. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Parliament Building

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the architect Enric Miralles on (a) the estimated date of completion of the Scottish Parliament's new building and (b) the cost overrun on the project. [66706]

Mr. McLeish [holding answer 21 January 1999]: I and officials in the Holyrood Parliament Project Team have regular contact and meetings with Enric Miralles of EMBT/RMJM on a range of issues about the new building at Holyrood. The project remains on programme and the budget for the building continues to be £50 million excluding VAT and fees.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the allegations made by the project manager for the Scottish Parliament's new building that he was prevented from taking the action necessary to solve problems of building cost overrun. [66704]

Mr. McLeish [holding answer 21 January 1999]: Comprehensive project monitoring and reporting arrangements are in place for the Holyrood building. The allegations attributed to the former project manager have been examined. I am satisfied that the project remains on programme. The budget for the building continues to be £50 million excluding VAT and fees.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the criteria used in calculating the initial estimated building cost for the Scottish Parliament; and what factors have led to an increase in cost since that estimate. [66703]

Mr. McLeish [holding answer 21 January 1999]: The initial calculation of the estimated building cost for the Scottish Parliament new building was carried out by independent cost consultants. It was based on the feasibility studies produce for the four sites originally considered for the Scottish Parliament building. Appropriate unit rates were applied for different categories of use reflecting the need for varying standards of finish across the building.

Detailed design work is being carried out by the architects for the building and cost consultants to monitor the implications. The budget for the building remains £50 million excluding VAT and fees.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports he has received from the project manager of the Scottish Parliament's new building as to the prospects for the building being completed on time. [66705]

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Mr. McLeish [holding answer 21 January 1999]: Arrangements are in place whereby I and officials in the Holyrood Parliament Project Team receive regular information about progress against programme for the Holyrood building. Work on site has begun and the target date for completion continues to be autumn 2001.

Departmental Papers

(Access for Visually Impaired)

Mr. Michael J. Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67845]

Mr. Dewar: All Scottish Office White and Green Papers are published on my Department's web site and can be easily accessed in large type face.

I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296.

Motorail Service

Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to assist the proposed revival of the Motorail service to take to their destinations by rail the cars of visitors to Scotland or of Scottish residents visiting southern England or the continent. [66632]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 26 January 1999]: This is a private commercial venture and its success will depend on demand for the service. I understand that the company has been seeking assistance from various sources, including Scottish Enterprise, local enterprise companies in the Highlands and the Scottish Tourist Board. Any project which seeks to take traffic off the roads is commendable and I will continue to watch the progress of this proposal with interest. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Student Fees

Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the income to be raised by fees paid by students at Scottish universities and colleges in the current year and each of the next five years. [67501]

Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 27 January 1999]: Fees income for Scottish universities and colleges has been estimated for the years 1998-99--2001-02 only. Current estimates are set out in the table.

Academic Year	£ million (15)
1998-99	19
1999-00	32
2000-01	41
2001-02	46

(15) All figures at current prices

From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Boundary Commission

Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members of the Boundary Commission for Scotland. [68571]

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Mr. Dewar: I have appointed Dr. Elspeth Graham and Professor Gavin McCrone to the Boundary Commission for Scotland from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2002.

The other members of the Commission are:

Madam Speaker--ex officio--Chairman;

The hon. Lady Cosgrove, appointed as Deputy Chairman by the Lord President of the Court of Session from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1999.

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Caesarean Births

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in Scotland. [67671]

Mr. Galbraith: The information requested is as follows:

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Live births (singleton and multiple)--ScotlandPercentage delivered by caesarean section, year ending 31 March

Health board--area of treatment	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Scotland	14.4	14.6	15.2	15.1	15.8	16.0	16.5	16.8	17.5	18.5
Argyll and Clyde	16.9	16.2	17.4	16.9	15.7	15.4	16.2	18.0	18.3	21.0
Ayrshire and Arran	15.5	16.3	18.2	17.2	17.9	18.2	17.5	18.8	19.1	20.4
Borders	14.0	13.6	17.9	15.7	16.1	16.5	16.0	19.4	20.9	17.6
Dumfries and Galloway	11.2	12.3	14.1	12.5	16.9	15.6	11.7	13.7	14.8	17.8
Fife	11.3	11.6	10.7	10.9	11.6	13.3	15.2	15.4	14.9	19.0
Forth Valley	12.7	12.7	13.8	14.8	15.2	13.7	15.8	13.6	15.3	16.7
Grampian	11.8	12.5	12.4	11.8	13.0	14.7	15.4	15.4	17.4	18.2
Greater Glasgow	15.3	16.3	16.4	17.0	17.8	16.9	18.0	17.3	18.1	18.1
Highland	14.6	13.2	13.7	15.2	17.9	15.6	16.4	18.0	17.9	19.9
Lanarkshire	14.7	14.8	16.1	15.9	16.6	17.5	17.8	17.7	18.4	19.2
Lothian	15.5	14.9	15.1	15.3	16.1	16.8	16.7	17.4	17.5	18.6
Orkney	14.2	8.3	9.0	7.8	10.6	13.7	12.2	11.7	16.9	13.6
Shetland	7.3	9.1	2.2	7.1	8.1	6.4	4.7	2.5	2.9	5.3
Tayside	13.6	14.3	14.6	12.9	13.4	14.7	15.7	16.3	16.4	16.3
Western Isles	10.2	9.7	19.3	18.1	19.1	18.3	18.3	19.3	19.0	18.1

Notes:

1. Prior to 1998, birth details were recorded only for the first two babies delivered. From 1998, where four or more babies are involved in a delivery, birth details are recorded for the first three babies delivered.

2. In multiple deliveries individual babies may have different modes of delivery.

Source:

The information shown in the table has been extracted from the Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR02)--Maternity discharge.

28 Jan 1999 : Column: 387

From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

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