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Class Sizes
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the annual cost of reducing class sizes to 30 or under for pupils in primary years (a) four, (b) five, (c) six and (d) seven; and if he will make a statement. [69415]
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Mrs. Liddell
[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The table provides an estimate of the additional marginal annual primary teaching costs of reducing classes in primary schools by stage.
| Additional Stage (7) | Marginal Costs (£ million) |
|---|---|
| P4 | 2.9 |
| P5 | 3.7 |
| P6 | 3.2 |
| P7 | 3.8 |
(7) Based on the number of pupils in each school, as recorded in the September 1997 School Census.
These figures show the cost of employing an additional teacher for each new class likely to be created because of a reduction in the class size maximum. In each case, the figure assumes that all earlier stages have been reduced to a maximum of 30 pupils and that current general arrangements in place with respect to composite classes continue. These figures do not include an assessment of the additional capital costs of providing new classrooms.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he has taken of the conclusions of the Sutherland report on the funding of smaller and specialist colleges in England when deciding on the funding allocation to (i) Edinburgh College of Art, (ii) Glasgow School of Art and (iii) the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. [69740]
Mrs. Liddell:
Allocation of funding to individual Higher Education Institutions including the Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Academy of Music and Drama is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. The Council was aware of the findings of the Sutherland Report in making decisions on funding. However, as the report related to small institutions in England, and the SHEFC unit of resource for Arts, Design & the Performing Arts is substantially higher than that for Drama, Music and Art in England, the Council decided it would not be appropriate to award a funding premium.
As from 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish secondary schools do not offer modern studies as a subject. [69734]
Mrs. Liddell:
The information available is based on the actual take-up of modern studies in schools rather than the number of schools that offer modern studies. Information on the latter is not held centrally. The table shows the estimated number and proportion of publicly funded secondary schools in which modern studies was not taught in September 1997. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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| Total number of schools | Proportion (8) of schools in which modern studies was not taught (%) | Estimated (8) number of schools in which modern studies was not taught | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | 400 | 39 | 155 |
| S2 | 400 | 33 | 130 |
| S3 | 390 | 29 | 113 |
| S4 | 390 | 26 | 100 |
| S5/S6 | 380 | 17 | 63 |
(8) Based on response rates of 82 per cent. for S1 to S4 and 49 per cent. for S5/S6
Primary Schools (Consultants)
Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to phase out visiting specialist teachers in primary schools and replace them with consultants. [69735]
Mrs. Liddell: We have no such proposals. The deployment of teachers in primary schools is a matter for education authorities.
As from 1 July this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Fiscal Fines
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines are given to procurators fiscal about the use of fiscal fines. [70187]
Mr. McLeish: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, who is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, informs me that guidelines have been issued to procurators fiscal to ensure a consistent approach to the use of fiscal fines and to encourage them to make more extensive use of this alternative to prosecution in the district court. The details of those guidelines form part of prosecution policy and are confidential.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change in the guidance about which cases should go to the Sheriff Court and which to the district court has been issued in the last five years. [70188]
Mr. McLeish:
My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland. Guidance to procurators fiscal has been issued following legislative provisions which have introduced variable and increased levels of fiscal fines; extended the jurisdiction and powers of the courts; and created new offences and penalties. Further guidance has been issued to procurators fiscal to ensure a consistent approach to the use of fiscal fines and to encourage them to make more extensive use of this alternative to prosecution in the district court. He informs me that the choice of court is determined by considerations of jurisdiction, the gravity of the offence, the offender's record and the likely penalty. The details of the guidance issued to procurators fiscal about prosecution policy are confidential.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the overall number of fiscal fines in each of the sheriffdoms in Scotland in each of the years since they were introduced. [70186]
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Mr. McLeish:
The number of criminal reports concluded by way of a fiscal fine in each of the sheriffdoms in Scotland are as follows:
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| Year | Grampian, Highland and Islands | Tayside, Central and Fife | Lothian and Borders | North Strathclyde | South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway | Glasgow and Strathkelvin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 2,393 | 1,210 | 860 | 1,984 | 1,809 | 1,048 |
| 1989 | 2,359 | 2,363 | 1,912 | 3,450 | 3,509 | 1,963 |
| 1990-91 | 2,091 | 3,898 | 1,875 | 3,614 | 3,163 | 2,188 |
| 1991-92 | 1,908 | 3,048 | 2,191 | 2,955 | 2,918 | 2,038 |
| 1992-93 | 2,221 | 4,101 | 1,714 | 3,142 | 3,242 | 3,934 |
| 1993-94 | 1,785 | 3,098 | 1,859 | 2,437 | 3,123 | 3,278 |
| 1994-95 | 1,946 | 3,370 | 1,442 | 2,003 | 3,517 | 3,768 |
| 1995-96 | 1,863 | 2,367 | 1,538 | 1,570 | 2,862 | 5,854 |
| 1996-97 | 2,330 | 2,565 | 1,253 | 1,839 | 3,589 | 3,562 |
| 1997-98 | 2,136 | 3,003 | 1,582 | 2,651 | 4,088 | 5,501 |
| 1998-99 | 2,280 | 2,172 | 1,104 | 2,032 | 2,938 | 3,580 |
Notes:
1. The figures for 1988 and 1989 are for calendar years.
2. The figures for the first quarter of 1990 are not included.
3. Prior to April 1996 inconsistencies in the method of recording statistics for fiscal fines existed.
4. The figures for the financial year 1998-99 relate to the period to December 1998.
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From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Eye and Dental Check-ups (Charges)
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the annual cost of abolishing charges for (a) eye and (b) dental check-ups in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [70352]
Mr. Galbraith: NHS sight test are available free of charge to eligible patients. It is estimated that the re-introduction of universally free NHS sight tests in Scotland would cost a minimum of £14 million annually. Free NHS sight tests for people aged 60 and over will be introduced from April
At present, patients who are not eligible for free NHS dental services or for help with the costs of these pay 80 per cent. of the examination or treatment fee directly to the dentist. It is estimated that the re-introduction of universally free NHS dental examinations in Scotland would cost a minimum of £4.5 million
From 1 July, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are, for each NHS trust in Scotland, (a) the amount budgeted for wage rises for the next financial year, (b) the percentage increase for staff not covered by pay review boards, by category and (c) the amount which will be required to fund the new salary levels; and what plans he has to provide additional funds to ensure trusts are able to provide salary increases and protect planned projects. [70349]
Mr. Galbraith:
Information on individual trusts' pay assumptions is not held centrally. No specific sum has been provided for wage rises in the NHS in Scotland for the next financial year. However, the uplift of 4.25 per cent. in general allocations made available to health boards in
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1999-2000 is sufficient to meet the costs of providing health care including pay. The cost of meeting the Review Bodies' recommendations is estimated to be £89 million. No additional funds have been made available for pay. However, an additional tranche of modernisation funding amounting to £20 million has been made available. The NHS in Scotland has been fully funded to meet the costs of the pay awards and to continue with the modernisation agenda. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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