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Widowed Parents Allowance
Mr. Rendel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) widowers and (b) widows
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he expects to be entitled to widowed parents allowance in (i) the first full year of implementation and (ii) 2020. [80652]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 13 April 1999]: Existing widowed fathers will be able to claim Widowed Parent's Allowance from the date the new scheme is implemented. We estimate that around 20,000 widowers will be entitled to Widowed Parent's Allowance in each year up to 2020.
We estimate that around 10,000 new widows will be entitled to Widowed Parent's Allowance in the full first year of implementation, building up to around 30,000 by 2020. Existing widowed mothers will continue to receive Widowed Mother's Allowance.
It is not possible to provide exact long-term estimates and therefore estimates for 2020 should be regarded as illustrative.
Mr. Clapham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the need to extend to new industries arrangements for monitoring for noise exposure. [80028]
Mr. Meale:
I have been asked to reply.
The Noise at Work Regulations 1989, which require employers to make arrangements to assess their employees' exposure to loud noise at work, apply to all industries, including new industries, with the exception of ships at sea and aircraft taxiing or in flight.
Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary school classes (a) had over 30 pupils in May 1997 and (b) currently have over 30 pupils.
Mrs. Liddell
[holding answer 10 March 1999]: The information requested for May 1997 is not centrally available. The most recent figures are from the schools census carried out in September 1997 when 2,679 publicly funded primary school classes had more than 30 pupils. Figures for 1998 are not available yet.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament. [74554]
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to whom the document, "Down to Earth--a Scottish Perspective on Sustainable Development", was distributed; and how it was distributed; [75821]
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(3) what was the total cost, including research and departmental time, for producing and publishing "Down to Earth--a Scottish Perspective on Sustainable Development". [75823]
Mr. Macdonald
[holding answer 16 March 1999]: "Down to Earth" was published on 3 February 1999 as part of our on-going programme to deliver our commitment to place sustainable development at the heart of policy making. We first indicated our intention to produce a Sustainable Action Plan for Scotland in September 1997. "Down to Earth" brought together work on sustainable development being undertaken in many parts of the Scottish Office and was co-ordinated by departmental staff as part of their normal duties. 4,000 copies were printed and a large proportion of these have
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been distributed by the Scottish Office to a wide range of interested organisations and individuals in Scotland and beyond. Copies of the publication are available upon request and the full text has been placed on the internet. The cost of production and publishing was £20,283.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reviews and inquiries have been announced on areas within the responsibility of the Scottish Home Department since 1 May 1997; what is the completion date or expected completion date in each case; and if he will make a statement. [80041]
Mr. McLeish:
The following reviews and inquiries have been undertaken by the Scottish Office Home Department:
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Notes:
1. Figures have been supplied by the Government Actuary's Department. They are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and are subject to a wide range of uncertainty.
2. Figures represent the average number of cases throughout the year. Hence, the first full year is the second financial year following implementation.
(2) how many copies of "Down to Earth--a Scottish Perspective on Sustainable Development", were printed; [75822]
| Review/Inquiry | Completion date/ Expected completion date |
|---|---|
| Inquiry into the handling by Grampian Police of the Murder of Scott Greg Simpson | April 1998 |
| Review of the Use of Custody for Women Offenders in Scotland | May 1998 |
| Review of the Treatment of Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses | November 1998 |
| Review of Scottish Crime Prevention Council | March 1999 |
| Review of Child Protection Committees | August 1999 |
| Review of Services for People with Learning Difficulties | December 1999 |
| Review of National Curriculum for Children's Panel Member Training | December 1999 |
| Review of Police Force and Fire Brigade Structures | March 2000 |
| Review of the Sentencing and Treatment of Serious Violent and Sexual Offenders | mid 2000 |
| SCRA Time Intervals Working Group--reviewing the processing of cases referred to the Children's Hearings System | On-going monitoring and review role |
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Advertising Campaigns
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the issues on which the Government have undertaken advertising campaigns in Scotland since they came into office; and how much they have spent on each campaign. [80054]
Mr. Dewar [holding answer 13 April 1999]: The details are as follows:
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WALES
Aerospace Industry
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met members of the aerospace industry in Wales to discuss future prospects in the industry; and if he will make a statement. [79843]
Mr. Hain:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met representatives of the aerospace industry when he visited GE Aircraft Engine Services Ltd. at Nantgarw on 16 February, and I last met representatives when I visited British Airways Maintenance Cardiff on 1 February.
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Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the prospects for the steel industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [79847]
Mr. Hain:
The Welsh steel industry is among the most competitive in the world. However, like others, it is experiencing very difficult trading conditions. The industry is therefore taking action to maintain its competitiveness, such as the introduction of new technology and team working. For example, British Steel has recently completed a £121 million investment in a new continuous annealing process line at Port Talbot, which represents the biggest single investment in the industry since privatisation.
The Government are also supporting initiatives aimed at improving the industry's competitiveness. We have provided grant support through the UK Steel Association and Steel Training Ltd. for a range of projects involving benchmarking, education and training.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the importance of assisted area status in the decisions of (i) United Kingdom and (ii) overseas companies concerning location and investment; and if he will make a statement. [79845]
Mr. Hain:
The Welsh Office, together with the Department for Trade and Industry and the Scottish Office, have jointly commissioned "Arup Economics and Planning" to undertake an evaluation of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) between 1991 and 1995. Amongst other things, it will look at the influence of RSA on investment decisions. The report is expected to be ready towards the middle of this year. Previous evaluations of RSA suggest that up to a fifth of RSA funded projects would have located outside the UK Assisted Areas in the absence of RSA.
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