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Redundancies
11. Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of local authority funded organisations created to overcome social exclusion which are currently issuing precautionary redundancy notices to their staff. [70830]
Mr. McLeish: While the Government acknowledge the valuable role that can be played by such organisations in the fight against social exclusion, decisions on the staffing levels of local authority funded projects are made by local authorities themselves, and information about such decisions is not held centrally.
From 1 July 1999 funding for local authorities will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Council Housing
13. Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Scottish local authorities relating to their provision of council housing. [70832]
Mr. Macdonald: I discussed aspects of policy relating to the provision of council housing when I met representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities yesterday to brief them on the Green Paper on Housing. I am sure that CoSLA will participate fully in the consultation process which now commences.
From 1 July this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Lockerbie
15. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest position in relation to starting criminal proceedings on the Lockerbie bombing. [70834]
Mr. McLeish:
The arrest warrants which were obtained in respect of the two Libyans accused on 13 November 1991 remain outstanding. We continue to look to the Libyan government to respond positively to the UK initiative of 24 August 1998 by arranging for the delivery of those two accused to the authorities of the Netherlands. Once the accused become available to
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the Scottish authorities, the arrest warrants can be executed and the criminal proceedings can follow their usual course, subject only to the changes necessarily made to reflect the exceptional location of the proceedings.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
16. Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for education in Scotland. [70835]
Mrs. Liddell:
The Government's plans for improving pre-school and school education were set out in our White Paper "Targeting Excellence: Modernising Scotland's Schools", which was published on 27 January. Our priorities for post-16 education and training are set out in our Green Paper "Opportunity Scotland", published in September 1998. Copies of both documents are available in the Library of the House.
17. Mr. Eric Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with water and drainage authorities on their plans for methods of sewage disposal other than dumping at sea; and if he will make a statement. [70836]
Mr. Macdonald:
Ministers have regular discussions with the water authorities about their plans to dispose of sewage in safe and appropriate ways.
Following the ending of sea disposal on 31 December 1998 each authority has put in place alternative disposal methods which fully comply with the relevant regulations and protect public health.
Responsibility for these matters will pass to the Scottish Parliament.
18. Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the number of jobs in Scotland which depend on the sale of electricity from Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [70837]
Mr. Macdonald:
The information is not held in the form requested. This is a commercial matter for the Scottish electricity generators but the Government welcome the contribution made by the electricity industry to the Scottish economy.
19. Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the most recent business survey by the Scottish Chamber of Commerce. [70838]
Mr. Macdonald:
I have noted the results of the most recent Scottish Chamber's Business Survey, which were released on 13 January 1999.
No country is immune from the effects of the current instability in the world economy. We fully appreciate the difficulties that this is causing for Scottish businesses and we are taking action to build a stable economy capable
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of sustained and steady growth. The recent reductions in interest rates are possible because of the tough decisions we have taken. The publication of the Competitiveness White Paper is further evidence of the Government's determination to create a strong and vibrant economy.
From 1 July economic development in Scotland will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
20. Mrs. Irene Adams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the consultants' report into the management of Reid Kerr Further Education College. [70839]
Mrs. Liddell:
I am acutely concerned about the financial position at Reid Kerr College. That is why I agreed to the appointment of consultants last autumn. This report describes a number of steps to be taken by the College's Board of Management in order to draw up a recovery plan aimed at securing the College's future. We have offered financial assistance to the Board, but attached stringent conditions to ensure that the College's problems are addressed immediately, and have sought to ensure that the Board has access to appropriate expertise to assist in framing and implementing the recovery plan.
21. Ms Osborne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of log movements in Scotland are currently transported by B class roads; and if he will estimate the percentage which over the last 10 years has been transferred from carriage by sea to carriage on B class roads. [70840]
Mr. Macdonald:
Most of the timber grown in Scotland is transported along 'B' or 'C' class roads for part of its journey from the forest. While "preferred haulage routes" are usually agreed with local authorities, no detailed records are kept of how much timber is transported along individual roads. The amount of timber carried by sea has not changed significantly over the past 10 years.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
22. Mr. Swinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the National Farmers Union of Scotland to discuss the problems facing the agricultural sector. [70841]
Mr. Macdonald:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my noble Friend Lord Sewel met the National Farming Union for Scotland and other industry bodies on 31 January 1999 to discuss agricultural policy.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
23. Ms Roseanna Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Law Society to discuss the criminal justice system in Scotland. [70842]
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 215
Mr. McLeish:
The Government meet regularly with representatives of the Law Society of Scotland to discuss aspects of the legal system. I met the Law Society on 13 January.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
24. Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the current level of university applications. [70843]
Mrs. Liddell:
Figures released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service indicated that 59,702 applications to Scottish higher education institutions had been made as at 15 December 1998.
This will become a matter for the Scottish Parliament from 1 July 1999.
25. Mr. Ernie Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Social Exclusion Unit in Scotland. [70844]
Mr. Macdonald:
We have been developing a social inclusion strategy for Scotland to ensure that the action already underway achieves the greatest possible impact. We have established the Social Exclusion Network to co-ordinate policy and action to promote social inclusion across The Scottish Office, and have also set up the Scottish Social Inclusion Network to assist us in preparing a statement of our strategy which we aim to publish shortly.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
26. Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the method of awarding trunk road maintenance contracts in Scotland. [70845]
Mr. Macdonald:
I am satisfied that The Scottish Office's procedures for the award of trunk road maintenance contracts are fully in line with HM Treasury and European Union guidance.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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