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Genetically Modified Food

Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the food industry anent the production of genetically modified food; and if he will make a statement. [69799]

Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 15 February 1999]: Scottish Ministers have had no recent discussions with the food industry about the production of genetically modified food. However, the industry is included in the broad public consultation on the biosciences currently being undertaken to ensure that the comprehensive framework to regulate and assess genetically modified products will continue to keep pace as this potentially very beneficial area of science develops.

The Government's overriding duty is to safeguard the public and the environment and this is achieved through rigorous regulation and assessment of products based on the best possible scientific advice.

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

1 Mar 1999 : Column: 547

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the full research findings of Dr. Pusztai in respect of genetically modified food. [72208]

Mr. Macdonald: Copies of the Audit Committee Report and the accompanying Press Release issued by the Rowett Research Institute on 28 October 1998; Dr. Pusztai's Report in response to the Audit Committee's Report; the Audit Committee's further response to Dr. Pusztai's report and the accompanying Press Release by the Rowett Research Institute on 16 February 1999, have been placed in the House of Commons Library. These reports cover all the relevant experiments carried out at the Rowett Research Institute.

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

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the parliamentary constituencies which he has visited in an official capacity in the past 12 months. [71340]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The information requested, for visits I have made during the past 12 months in my capacity as Secretary of State, is shown in the table.




































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    Paisley, North


    Dunfermline, East


    Dundee, East


    Livingston


    Glasgow, Cathcart


    Clydesdale


    Dumbarton


    Kirkcaldy


    Fife, Central


    Cunninghame, South


    Paisley, South


    Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross


    Falkirk, East


    Holborn and St. Pancras


    Tayside, North


    Glasgow, Rutherglen


    Aberdeen, South


    Cunninghame, South


    Glasgow, Springburn


    Hamilton, North and Bellshill

Open Countryside

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much land held by his Department he estimates would fall within the definition of open country as set out in the consultation document Access to the Open Countryside of February 1998. [71634]

Mr. Macdonald [holding answer 22 February 1999]: The consultation document Access to the Open Countryside did not apply to Scotland where the law and traditions relating to access differ from those in England and Wales. Earlier this month my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced our intention to lay formal legislation for consideration by the Scottish Parliament that would introduce a right of access, to be exercised responsibly for informal recreation and passage.

The land held by the Scottish Office has not been classified according to the definition of open country set out in the consultation document.

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

Further Education

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the costs for (a) line management time, (b) teaching time spent on commercial activities, (c) non-summable teaching time, (d) in-service training, (e) costs for premises not used for summable teaching activity and (f) administration staff costs not related to summable teaching staff activity are included in the staff cost per weighted sum shown on pages 44 and 45 of the Further Education in Scotland 1997 report; [71955]

1 Mar 1999 : Column: 549

Mrs. Liddell: The unit cost tables on pages 44 and 45 of the Further Education in Scotland 1997 Report include only costs relating to college activity which is fundable by The Scottish Office. No costs relating to non-SUMmable activity are therefore included in either the staff or non-staff costs per weighted SUM shown on those pages.

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

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what year funding in respect of bursaries was classed as income for further and higher education colleges. [71937]

Mrs. Liddell: The incorporated further education colleges in Scotland assumed responsibility for bursaries from 1 April 1996. Since that date annual grant in aid allocations have been made by the Secretary of State to the colleges for bursary purposes.

From 1 July 1999 the Secretary of State's powers to fund further education colleges will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that Unit Costs Data Form BMU submissions by incorporated colleges are (a) accurate and (b) submitted on a comparable basis; [71935]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scottish Office provides detailed guidance to colleges regarding completion of the Unit Cost Data Forms BMU, in order to ensure accuracy and comparability. Although the forms are not themselves audited the figures are reconciled with colleges' audited annual accounts.

From 1 July 1999 the responsibility for issue or analysis of such forms will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the public funds available to further and higher education colleges as income. [71938]

Mrs. Liddell: The public funds available to colleges of further and higher education as income include grant in aid allocations made by the Secretary of State, tuition fees paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, contractual income form the Employment Service (including in respect of New Deal activity), the local enterprise network (for Skillseekers and other training) and the Secretary of State (for Project 2000 nurse training) and other grant income which may include European Regional or Social Funds, local authority grants and research grants.

From 1 July 1999 these will be matters for the Scottish Parliament, apart from the grant in aid allocations which from that date will become the responsibility of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amount each further and higher education college has acquired from his

1 Mar 1999 : Column: 550

Department's budget in terms of (a) recurrent grant in aid, (b) bursaries, and (c) restructuring and capital costs in each year since incorporation in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms at 1998-99 prices. [72039]

Mrs. Liddell: In view of the volume of information requested I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House of Commons.

From 1 July 1999 the Secretary of State's powers to fund further education colleges will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) guidelines and (b) penalties apply to spending by incorporated colleges of grant allocation on (i) non-teaching staff, facilities and equipment and (ii) teaching staff, facilities and equipment. [71934]

Mrs. Liddell: The Financial Memorandum between the Secretary of State and the Boards of Management of the Colleges of Further Education, dated February 1996, sets out the guidelines and penalties which apply to spending by incorporated colleges of all grant in aid allocations. The Secretary of State may require the repayment, in whole or in part, of sums paid by him if any condition subject to which sums were paid is not complied with.

From 1 July 1999 the Secretary of State's powers to fund further education colleges will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

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