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Food Safety
19. Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Government have to encourage the co-ordination of policy on food safety matters between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government. [91616]
Mr. Macdonald: Co-ordination of food safety will be for the Food Standards Agency. Until it is established, policy will continue to be co-ordinated by means of close working relations between the Government and the Scottish Executive.
Referendum (Independence)
20. Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had concerning his reserved powers to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. [91617]
22. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on utilising his powers to call a referendum on Scottish independence. [91619]
Mr. Macdonald: The Government have no intention of holding any referendum on Scottish independence. Scottish voters demonstrated their clear support for devolution on 11 September 1997, and again on 6 May this year.
Shipbuilding
21. Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the Scottish TUC to discuss UK Government assistance for the Scottish shipbuilding industry; and if he will make a statement. [91618]
Dr. Reid:
The STUC have not so far requested a meeting with me to discuss the shipbuilding industry in Scotland. The Scottish Executive is in regular discussion with the STUC on issues affecting the shipbuilding industry. The Department of Trade and Industry, which retains overall responsibility for the shipbuilding industry
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in the UK, also has continuing discussions in its Shipbuilding Forum with all parties that have an interest in the competitiveness of the industry.
23. Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation to discuss reserved matters relating to the catching sector of the fishing industry. [91620]
Dr. Reid:
I met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 24 June to discuss the designation of the Scottish Fisheries Zone.
24. Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made to ensure that Scottish universities apply for and use grants from research councils in a co-ordinated manner. [91621]
Mr. Macdonald:
It is a matter for individual Scottish universities, departments and researchers to apply for Research Council grants that they consider relevant to their research objectives and expertise.
25. Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans next to meet the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to discuss the future of the coastguard service in Scotland. [91622]
Mr. Macdonald:
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions on a range of issues, reflecting his continuing role of representing Scottish interests on matters reserved to the UK Parliament.
26. Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official engagements he has attended since 1 July. [91623]
Dr. Reid:
Twenty three. This does not include attendance at Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings, bilaterals with Cabinet colleagues and regular meetings with the Advocate General and Scotland Office Ministers.
27. Miss Begg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the costs of abolishing tuition fees in Scotland will be met by the UK Government; and if he will make a statement. [91625]
Mr. Macdonald:
The Scottish Executive has set up an independent Committee of Inquiry to examine Scottish student finance. Until the Committee has reported the question does not arise. It is worth noting, however, that over 50 per cent. of Scottish students assessed this year paid no tuition fees.
28. Mr. Chisholm:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet One Parent Families Scotland to discuss the funding of the work of that organisation in relation to reserved areas. [91626]
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Mr. Macdonald:
My right hon. Friend has no plans to so do in the immediate future. But if the hon. Member would like to write with any specific points, we would be happy to consider them.
29. Ms Squire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress with the concordat with the Scottish Parliament on EU matters. [91627]
Dr. Reid:
Concordats will guide working relations between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive on a range of matters, including those relating to the EU. They will be published once they have been agreed with the Scottish Executive.
Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator to discuss the implementation of Her Majesty's Government's anti-drugs strategy in Scotland. [91612]
Mr. Macdonald:
My right hon. Friend has not met formally with the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator. Responsibility for implementing drugs strategy in Scotland rests with the Scottish Executive.
Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what practical arrangements he has put in place to provide help to disabled people to seek and retain jobs through (a) financial support, (b) transport and (c) individual physical help. [91235]
Ms Hodge:
I have been asked to reply.
In Scotland, as elsewhere, most disabled people are helped into work through the mainstream services offered by the Employment Service with additional support for those who require more help. The Disability Service Teams offer specialist employment measures tailored to the needs of individual disabled people. The six Disability Service Teams in Scotland plan to spend around £10 million 1999-2000 on specialist programmes for people with disabilities in Scotland, including Access to Work, the Job Introduction Scheme, Work Preparation and Supported Employment Opportunities.
The Access to Work programme provides both financial and technical support to remove barriers to work created by disability. Support can take many forms, including help with getting to work; the cost of aids and adaptations to equipment, computers or the work place; and of communicators for people with a hearing or visual impairment.
In addition, the New Deal for Disabled People is piloting a range of initiatives, to help disabled people and those with long-term illness on incapacity benefits into work and training at a cost of £195 million over the lifetime of this Parliament. The Personal Adviser service is being piloted in Lanarkshire, and there are three Innovative Schemes operating in Scotland.
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The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations came into force on 1 November 1998 and apply to all new rail vehicles entering service from 1 January 1999. These regulations, which are the first regulations to be made under Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, will considerably improve access for disabled passengers, including wheelchair users, to new rail vehicles. Similar regulations for buses, coaches and taxis are also proposed and consultation on the draft regulations covering these vehicles is expected this year.
Mr. Moore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Board of Scottish Natural Heritage has considered the River Tweed as a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora; and what was their decision. [88787]
Mr. Macdonald
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: The Board of Scottish Natural Heritage considered the case for recommending the River Tweed as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and concluded that it should be recommended as one.
It is, however, for the Government to decide what sites should be proposed to the European Commission as candidate Special Areas of Conservation. The Government decided, in the light of their own appraisal of the scientific case for this site, that the River Tweed should not be proposed as a candidate SAC.
The implementation of the Habitats Directive in Scotland is now a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Moore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the scientific advice received from Scottish Natural Heritage concerning the notification of the River Tweed as a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the European Council Directive 92/ 43/ EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora. [88788]
Mr. Macdonald
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 22 July 1999, Official Report, column 5860.
The implementation of the Habitats Directive in Scotland is now a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Moore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from Scottish Natural Heritage concerning the notification of the River Tweed as a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora. [88786]
Mr. Macdonald
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: Scottish Natural Heritage advised The Scottish Office that they considered there was a strong case for proposing the River Tweed as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
However, further scientific advice from Scottish Office specialist advisers and from the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory indicated that there were reasons why, when applying the criteria for site selection specified in the Habitats Directive, the Tweed was not an outstanding
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candidate for SAC status for Atlantic salmon. Those reasons included the relatively poor state of the spawning salmon stock, the very substantial modification by man of the watercourse and discharges into the river environment. The Government have proposed five other rivers to the European Commission as candidate SACs for Atlantic salmon which we believe better meet the selection criteria of the Habitats Directive.
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