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Elections
14. Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up an inquiry to investigate the conduct of the Scottish parliamentary and local government elections. [87527]
Dr. Reid: My officials will be undertaking a review of the general conduct of the elections with returning officers and others. I am aware of some specific problems on 6 May which are already under investigation by the appropriate authorities and are being acted upon. I do not at the moment see any need for further investigation. From 1 July, conduct of local government elections will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Air Links (Heathrow)
15. Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of Scottish air links with Heathrow. [87528]
Mr. Macdonald: The Government recognise the need for good air links between Scottish airports and London airports, and we shall press the case for maintaining access for regional services in any revision of the EU regime. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport recently met a delegation from the Highlands to discuss their wish for an Inverness/Heathrow service. The Government are giving this further consideration.
Departmental Running Costs
16. Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the running costs of his Department after 1 July. [87529]
Dr. Reid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) on 11 June 1999, Official Report, column 412, about amending running costs provision for 1999-2000. I have been reviewing the functions of my Department after 1 July and I will make a further statement in due course.
Rail Services
17. Mr. Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures the Government are taking to improve the quality of rail services in Scotland. [87530]
Mr. Macdonald: This financial year the Government will pay £206 million to secure train services in Scotland. ScotRail, the provider of almost all domestic services in Scotland, is the best performing mainland company in Great Britain.
Under devolution, Scottish Ministers will assume responsibility for funding the ScotRail franchise together with the authority to give the Franchising Director directions on the type of services expected from the company.
29 Jun 1999 : Column: 121
18. Mr. Connarty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to reduce hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement. [87531]
Mr. Macdonald:
On 31 March 1999, the number of people waiting for in-patient or day-case treatment was 70,227. This is a reduction of 10.6 per cent. on the previous quarter and is the largest quarterly fall in the waiting list for a decade. Hospital waiting lists have been cut by almost 22 per cent. in the past year, and the NHS in Scotland met the Government's target of reducing the waiting list to below 75,000 three years ahead of schedule.
From 1 July, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
19. Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish universities to discuss their funding. [87532]
Dr. Reid:
I have not met representatives of Scottish universities to discuss their funding. From 1 July, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament and it would be more appropriate for Scottish Ministers to do so.
20. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement outlining the issues on which he will answer questions in the House after 1 July. [87533]
Dr. Reid:
The Procedure Committee's Fourth Report has made a number of recommendations on the range and details of the questions to be put to UK Ministers and on the consequential reformulation of the rules about Questions which are being considered by the Government. I will make a statement on this matter as soon as I am able to do so.
22. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the economic prospects for small businesses in Scotland. [87536]
Dr. Reid:
The Government are laying the foundations for high and stable levels of growth. Interest rates are at their lowest level for 22 years, inflation is low, and the public finances are under control. Combined with cuts in the small business tax rate to 20 per cent., and a new 10p starting rate of tax for the smallest firms from April 2000, the economic prospects for small businesses are very encouraging.
23. Mr. Russell Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on capital investment in schools in Scotland. [87537]
29 Jun 1999 : Column: 122
Dr. Reid:
I expect local authorities to increase capital investment in schools as a consequence of additional capital resources from the New Deal for Schools, the Comprehensive Spending Review, and school Public/ Private Partnership projects.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
24. Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for community schools in Glasgow. [87538]
Dr. Reid:
Lochend Secondary School in Easterhouse, Glasgow, was one of seven development projects funded in the 1998-99 financial year to illustrate practical aspects of the New Community Schools model. In March, we approved 37 pilot projects across Scotland, including Lochend. Each pilot project will operate for three years.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
25. Mr. Hood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of UK defence expenditure on the Scottish economy. [87539]
Dr. Reid:
On the basis of the most recent figures available, defence expenditure in Scotland at approximately £1.9 billion supports, directly and indirectly, some 55,000 jobs. Clearly, defence expenditure is both substantial and important to the Scottish economy.
26. Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the estimated costs of the completion of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. [87540]
Dr. Reid:
Legal and financial responsibility for the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood transferred from Scottish Office Ministers to the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body on 1 June 1999. The hon. Member can obtain information on the Holyrood Project from the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament at the following address:
27. Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further plans he has to promote economic development in the Scottish borders. [87541]
Dr. Reid:
The Scottish Office has been keeping in close touch with the Borders Economic Development Forum to support the implementation of the "New Ways" economic strategy.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
29 Jun 1999 : Column: 123
29. Dr. Moonie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action is being taken to curb drug misuse in Scotland. [87543]
Mr. Macdonald:
In March the Government enhanced Scotland's drugs strategy with the publication of "Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership". This document put in place a comprehensive action plan for tackling drug misuse in Scotland within a new framework for co-operation across agencies and communities.
From 1 July, the Scottish Parliament and Executive will have to hand the steps in "Tackling Drugs in Scotland" as they continue the task of reducing drug misuse in Scotland.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the division of Government responsibility relating to criminal matters between his Department and the Scottish Executive after 1 July. [87617]
Dr. Reid:
From 1 July, Scottish criminal law, procedure and evidence will be matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Ministers, with the exception of matters which are reserved under Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 or are otherwise outwith the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament under section 29 of the Act. The Lord Advocate will continue to have responsibility for decisions relating to the institution of criminal proceedings in Scotland and for the systems of criminal prosecution and the investigation of deaths in Scotland.
28. Mr. Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland are waiting for hospital treatment; and if he will make a statement. [87542]
The Presiding Officer
The Scottish Parliament
Parliament Headquarters
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP.
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