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New Policies
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new policies were announced by the Economic Secretary in her speech on Financial Exclusion at the Dorchester Hotel; what his policy is on appropriate venues for announcing new policies; and if he will make a statement. [82267]
Ms Hewitt: No new policies were announced.
Self-employed Builders
Mr. Woolas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the level of turnover for the 714c Certificate for self-employed builders in the construction industry scheme. [82484]
Dawn Primarolo: The Government have no plans to reduce the turnover thresholds which determine whether a self-employed builder is eligible for a gross payment certificate under the new construction industry scheme. The thresholds were established after full consultation with the representative bodies from all sectors of the construction industry, who broadly support them.
SCOTLAND
School Buildings
7. Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources are being made available for school buildings and refurbishment in Scotland in the current financial year. [80995]
27 Apr 1999 : Column: 127
Mrs. Liddell:
Of the £1.3 billion additional expenditure on education in Scotland over the next three years, £629 million is available for schools. Gross capital resources allocated to authorities for 1999-2000 amount to £377.3 million to cover all their non-housing capital programmes. Within these programmes, priority will be given to improving and replacing school buildings, consistent with the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. In addition, £26.7 million is available directly under the New Deal for Schools.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
15. Mr. Ernie Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many one-stop NHS clinics are currently operating in Scotland. [81004]
Mr. Galbraith:
There are now over 80 one-stop clinics in Scotland offering help for a wide range of worrying conditions.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
16. Mr. Grieve:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to which Minister of the Crown an hon. Member should direct a question relating to the disposal of nuclear waste in England, originating from Coulport or Faslane and currently subject to his authorisation, after 1 July. [81005]
Mr. Dewar:
Disposals of waste from Ministry of Defence premises are subject to letters of agreement between the regulator and the applicant. These will remain matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. More generally, matters relating to the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 will be for the First Minister.
17. Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the haulage industry in Scotland to discuss the state of the industry. [81006]
Mr. Macdonald:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland met representatives of the haulage industry and unions on Thursday 8 April to discuss the state of the industry.
18. Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the economic consequences for Scotland of the recent rise in taxes affecting the road haulage industry. [81007]
Mr. Macdonald:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets regularly with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and discusses with him a range of issues which affect Scotland.
19. Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the provision of drug misuse education in Scottish schools. [81008]
27 Apr 1999 : Column: 128
Mrs. Liddell:
The Government provide extensive advice and support to schools on drug education within the curriculum; our recently published drugs strategy 'Tackling drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership' will ensure that this reaches every pupil.
20. Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings he has had with representatives of Caledonian MacBrayne to discuss this year's increases in ferry fares. [81009]
Mr. Macdonald:
I met with the Chairman and Managing Director of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. on 20 October 1998 to discuss a number of matters, including the company's proposals on the level of fares increase. In November last year CalMac announced its fares increase for 1999-2000 of, on average, 2.7 per cent. This took effect in April and represents the lowest network-wide increase for 10 years.
21. Mr. Swinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the increase in road fuel duty on the Scottish economy. [81010]
Mr. Macdonald:
Road fuel duty is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The changes are part of a package of measures outlined in the Chancellor's recent Budget designed to create a climate of sustainable economic growth and long-term investment in business, both in Scotland and in the UK as a whole.
We are conscious that road fuel prices can be higher in remote rural areas. I have brought that difference in price to the attention of the Office of Fair Trading, who are currently investigating the matter. Last year the Chancellor provided £13.5 million over three years to provide for a Rural Transport Fund to extend the range of public transport services in rural communities. The fund will now be worth more than £14 million in the three years from 1998-99, to support better public transport in rural areas of Scotland and to help rural petrol stations meet the costs of tank replacement. The Chancellor also announced a reduction by £55 to £100 in Vehicle Excise Duty for smaller cars.
22. Mr. Grogan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the liberalisation of the licensing laws in Scotland in the 1970s on the nation's health, crime levels and quality of life. [81011]
Mr. McLeish:
Available research suggests that the percentage of the population Consuming alcohol in Scotland has not altered significantly since the introduction of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976. However, the Government's White Paper on Public Health, "Towards a Healthier Scotland", published in February identified an upward trend in excessive drinking among adults and young people. The Government's crime strategy document, "A Safer Scotland, Tackling Crime and Its Causes" recognised the need to explore the links between anti-social
27 Apr 1999 : Column: 129
behaviour, crime and alcohol and the adverse health effects of alcohol misuse within the context of a new national strategy on alcohol. This will be developed and implemented by the newly formed Scottish advisory committee on alcohol misuse.
From l July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
24. Ms Osborne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will assess the economic benefit to Ayrshire of freight cargo transported from Glasgow Prestwick Airport. [81014]
Mr. Macdonald:
The growth in freight cargo traffic at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in recent years has been impressive. The airport now handles more freight tonnage from wide-bodied freighter traffic than any other airport in the UK. The current freight services link Scotland with major points around the globe thus providing Scottish industries with direct, fast air links for import and export.
26. Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed expansion of the modern apprenticeship scheme. [81016]
Mr. Macdonald:
We are well on the way to meeting the target of 15,000 Modern Apprenticeships by 2002 which was set in the Lifelong Learning Paper, "Opportunity Scotland". There are now 10,500 Modern Apprentices training, and 67 industry-designed frameworks in Scotland. Modern Apprenticeships will make an important contribution to raising skills in the work force.
From l July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
27. Mr. Randall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the rate of job losses in Scotland in the current year. [81017]
Mr. Macdonald:
The latest official figures on the number of employee jobs in Scotland are available from the Civilian Workforce Jobs Series for the period to December 1998. Seasonally adjusted data show that the number of employee jobs has increased by 38,000 between June 1997 and December 1998.
From 1 July 1999, economic development will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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