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CABINET OFFICE
Advertising Budgets
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was the average cost of issuing a media release from her Department in 1999. [110270]
Mr. Stringer: The average cost of issuing a media release by this Department in 1999 was £131.00. Media releases are distributed electronically on the Department's behalf by the Central Office of Information.
Peat Compost
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to phase out the use of peat compost in gardens (a) owned and (b) tended by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [110729]
Mr. Stringer: The Cabinet Office does not use peat compost in its gardens.
Draft Equality Bill
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will prepare a draft equality bill for consideration by Parliament. [111100]
Marjorie Mowlam: A number of Bills were announced for advanced drafting in the Queen's speech last year. The Government's legislative proposals for the 4th session will be announced in the Queen's speech later this year.
SCOTLAND
Post Office
5. Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to improve postal services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [109611]
Dr. Reid: The Government are committed to the modernisation of the postal service. Scotland, like the rest of the UK will benefit from the £480 million investment in the HORIZON project to computerise all post offices by 2001.
15. Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the effects which transferring pension payments from post offices to bank accounts will have on small post offices. [109625]
Dr. Reid: I am in contact with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer over a range of issues.
This Government are committed to making a major investment in the Post Office and the maintenance of a nation-wide network of post offices. All people in receipt
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of benefits, including pensions, will continue to have the choice of receiving payments in cash at their local post office.
6. Miss Kirkbride:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister regarding higher education issues. [109613]
Mr. Wilson:
My right hon. Friend meets the First Minister regularly to discuss a range of issues.
7. Mr. David Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of oil fabrication in the highlands and islands. [109615]
Mr. Wilson:
I am a member of Pilot, the successor body to the Oil and Gas Industries Task Force. It has set up a support group for the oil fabrication sector, involving government agencies and the industry. The group is charged with identifying the way forward, and ensuring that the skills base is maintained.
8. Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the mechanisms used for calculating the size of the block grant. [109616]
Dr. Reid:
I have regular discussions with the Chancellor about a range of matters. The arrangements in place continue to provide a fair deal for Scotland within a United Kingdom framework and I have no plans to revise the underlying principles.
9. Mr. Russell Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many enforcement cases there have been in Scotland in respect of the national minimum wage. [109618]
Mr. Wilson:
As at the end of January 2000, the National Minimum Wage helpline had received 293 complaints about underpayment of the National Minimum Wage in Scotland. All complaints are followed up.
10. Mr. Tynan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the state of the Scottish economy in the context of the forthcoming Budget. [109619]
Dr. Reid:
I meet the Chancellor from time to time to discuss a range of issues about the Scottish economy.
Scotland has benefited greatly from the Government's macroeconomic framework, which has achieved sound public finances while guaranteeing additional resources for priority areas such as health and education.
11. Mr. Swinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed the Scottish economy with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [109621]
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Mr. Wilson:
My right hon. Friend meets the Chancellor from time to time to discuss a range of issues about the Scottish economy.
The Scottish economy continues to perform strongly. Output is expanding across all main sectors, and unemployment is low by historical and international standards.
12. Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussion he has had with the Prime Minister about reducing the number of hon. Members sitting in the House for Scottish constituencies. [109622]
Mr. Wilson:
My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Prime Minister on a wide range of matters. However, the position on the number of Members sitting in this House for Scottish seats is set out in Section 86 of the Scotland Act 1998. This will be implemented by the Boundary Commission for Scotland in its next review, which is due to be submitted between December 2002 and December 2006.
13. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many media officers are employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [109623]
Dr. Reid:
My Department does not employ any media officers. It employs five Information Officers to advise Ministers on the presentation of Government policy and to explain Government policy to the media. Some of these officers have other duties within the Department.
14. Mrs. McKenna:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that Scottish companies continue to receive the full range of export promotion services. [109624]
Mr. Wilson:
We work very closely with the Scottish Executive to ensure that Scottish companies are aware of the full range of UK wide support available from the Government as well as the support, tailored to the specific needs of Scottish business, from Scottish Trade International
Last week I was in the Far East. This was part of my cabinet committee responsibilities but I was also spending time promoting Scottish companies and Scottish goods and services. Two weeks ago I led an 18 strong trade mission to Egypt organised by Scottish Trade International. Every week I am speaking to Scottish companies about how we can help them increase their exporting effort.
I am very pleased that Scottish companies are continuing to increase their competitiveness in the international market place. Recent figures showed that Scottish manufactured exports had increased by 7.8 per cent. in real terms during the third quarter of 1999.
16. Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the devolution settlement in Scotland. [109626]
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Dr. Reid:
The Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom Government and the devolved administrations which was published on 1 October 1999 provides for the operation of the devolution settlements to be kept under review by the Joint Ministerial Committee.
17. Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the Scottish pig industry. [109627]
Mr. Wilson:
I have received a number of representations about the Scottish pig industry's difficulties. Most of the issues raised are now the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and are being pursued by the appropriate Ministers.
18. Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last visited shipyards on the River Clyde; and if he met both managers and trade union representatives to discuss matters relating to Her Majesty's Government's contracts for the construction of vessels. [109628]
Dr. Reid:
My last visit to a shipyard on the River Clyde was on 14 January when I visited the Govan shipyard. I met both managers and trade-union representatives and we discussed a range of issues including Ministry of Defence contracts for the construction of vessels.
19. Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with the First Minister on co-ordination of the Government's anti-drugs strategy in Scottish schools. [109629]
Mr. Wilson:
My right hon. Friend discussed generally the co-ordination of the Government's anti-drugs strategy, a central component of which is education, at a meeting with the First Minister on 14 January. Both he and the First Minister have also recently had separate meetings with the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, Mr. Keith Hellawell.
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