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Driving Wales Forward
Ms Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the potential road programme identified in Driving Wales Forward; and if he will make a statement. [78573]
Mr. Hain: I am placing copies of tables in the Library of the House which give the requested information on a constant price base up to the year 2011-12.
The tables cover maintenance expenditure, schemes for making better use of the network, safety schemes and small scale improvements, as well as the major schemes included in the "short term" programme set out in Driving Wales Forward. That document also announced the Government's intention of undertaking corridor studies in relation to several other major road schemes in the programme inherited from the previous administration. The cost of implementing those schemes has been included in order to show the full potential costs of the trunk road programme.
Following the transfer of functions, decisions on whether these or any other schemes should proceed will be matters for the National Assembly.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will adopt noise reduction criteria as they apply in England for road schemes in Wales. [78574]
Mr. Hain:
A preliminary analysis of the criteria adopted to deal with the worst problems of noise on English trunk roads indicates that no trunk road sites in Wales currently suffer from noise levels sufficiently high to meet those criteria. We will be extending our analysis
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of noise levels adjacent to the trunk road network in Wales and considering the scope for adapting the criteria to meet specific Welsh circumstances.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what estimate he has made of the savings to public funds which could be generated by the central provision of information technology services and equipment for hon. Members' offices. [77932]
Mr. Allan:
Last year, the Information Committee conducted an inquiry into options for provision of IT services and equipment for Members. The Committee's report (HC, 1998-99, 76) was published on 18 December 1998. The Committee did not find convincing evidence for savings to public funds from central provision of IT. It did receive evidence that more value could be gained from the same investment if there were more co- ordination of purchases. It therefore recommended that a catalogue of standard equipment should be negotiated with suppliers and made available to Members. This catalogue is now in preparation and is expected to be published before the summer recess.
Farm Support
12. Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the farming industry to discuss support for Scottish farms. [76317]
Mr. Dewar: I last met representatives of the farming industry on 4 March at the SNFU annual dinner at which I spoke.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Beef Ban
13. Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish Parliament will have the power to lift the beef-on-the-bone ban in Scotland. [76318]
Mr. Galbraith: Yes, from 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Salmon Anaemia
14. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to tackle the spread of infective salmon anaemia in the salmon farming industry. [76319]
Mr. Macdonald:
We are obliged by European law to eradicate the disease and we have put in place monitoring and control measures designed to that end. It is encouraging that the last confirmed outbreak was in
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September of last year but there are no grounds for complacency and we shall continue to monitor and maintain the control measures.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
15. Mr. Savidge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to tackle the problems of those who suffer social exclusion, despite living within areas of general affluence. [76320]
Mr. Macdonald:
We are committed to tackling poverty and exclusion wherever it occurs. Initiatives like the New Deal, the Working Families Tax Credit, the National Minimum Wage and the highest ever increase in Child Benefit and the minimum income guarantee for all pensioners, index-linked to average earnings will help individuals and families in every community in Scotland.
From 1 July 1999 action taken forward under the social inclusion strategy will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
22. Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that financial support is provided to enable voluntary organisations which provide community services relevant to social exclusion to continue to function and to plan ahead. [76327]
Mr. Galbraith:
The importance of voluntary organisations in helping to deliver the range of policies aimed at tackling social exclusion in Scotland is already recognised in the high level of funding which is provided by the Government. Scottish Office funding for the sector totals nearly £283 million a year, with £23 million in direct aid and a further £260 million provided through other funded agencies. These funds support organisations working in the fields of social welfare, health promotion, homelessness, the provision of social housing, rural poverty and urban deprivation.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
16. Ms Osborne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the national grid for learning. [76321]
Mrs. Liddell:
Building the NGfL in Scotland began in 1998 and good progress is being made towards achieving the published targets by 2002.
From 1 July this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
17. Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Association of Sheriffs in Scotland concerning sentencing policy for women. [76322]
Mr. McLeish:
I meet Sheriffs regularly and discuss various matters. Of course, sentencing is a matter for the courts. The Government's role is to ensure that the courts have a range of effective disposals for offenders. We have set up a project in Glasgow under the chairmanship of
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Professor Sheila McLean to tackle the particular issues related to female offenders. We have introduced Supervised Attendance Orders to all sheriff and district courts throughout Scotland, to ensure that an alternative to custody for fine default is always available.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
18. Ms Squire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the incidence of low pay in Scotland. [76323]
Mr. Macdonald:
The Government's commitment to helping the low paid is reflected in the introduction of the National Minimum Wage on 1 April. It is estimated that the National Minimum Wage will benefit 157,000 employees in Scotland.
19. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made towards organising a trial in relation to the Lockerbie affair; and if he will make a statement. [76324]
Mr. McLeish:
Construction work on the prison which will be used to house the accused temporarily after their arrival is now complete. Design work for the remainder of the site is well advanced.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
20. Mr. Hood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Scottish local government to discuss the empty homes initiative. [76325]
Mr. Macdonald:
My officials have recently met on a number of occasions with other members of the Empty Homes Initiative Advisory Group to assess bids for funding under the Initiative. The Advisory Group includes two Scottish local government representatives nominated by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
21. Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received anent the problem of bed blocking. [76326]
Mr. Galbraith:
Since the beginning of this year I have dealt with 5 letters and 6 Parliamentary Questions relating in whole or in part to the question of delayed discharge from NHS continuing care.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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