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SCOTLAND

East Coast Main Line

4. Mr. Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about improvements to the east coast main line north of Edinburgh. [57382]

Mrs. McGuire: My predecessor and Scotland Office officials met with senior management from the Strategic Rail Authority on 16 May. They discussed a range of issues including matters relative to the east coast main line north of Edinburgh.

It was clear from the meeting that Richard Bowker leads a senior management team with a vision and commitment to improve rail services, knowledge of the rail system, and a pragmatic approach to getting the job done.

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National Minimum Wage

5. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland benefit from the national minimum wage. [57383]

Mrs. Liddell: Some 110,000 people across Scotland have benefited from the national minimum wage since it was introduced in April 1999.

Economic Trends

6. Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on business growth and inward investment in Scotland. [57384]

Mrs. Liddell: Business support is devolved and policy responsibility rests with the Scottish Executive with delivery through the enterprise networks in Scotland. Scottish Development International will be publishing its latest annual inward investment results later this year.

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This Government have put in place macroeconomic policies which are delivering economic stability, low inflation and low interest rates—providing a platform for business growth and confidence.

Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning; and if she will make a statement on prospects for economic prosperity with reference to inward investment. [57389]

Mrs. Liddell: I meet with Ministers of the Scottish Executive on a regular basis.

The UK economy coped well with the challenges posed by the world economic slowdown in 2001 and grew by 2.25 per cent. in 2001—the fastest of any G7 economy. The UK fundamentals remain strong—with the UK on course for sustained growth with low inflation. Scottish Development International, which is responsible to the Scottish Executive, will be publishing its latest annual inward investment results later this year.

Air Links

7. Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on progress made on expanding direct air links from Scottish airports to European destinations. [57385]

Mrs. Liddell: The Government, together with the Scottish Executive, will shortly publish a regional consultation document on air services in Scotland. This will set out the options for development of Scotland's airports and air services for the next 30 years.

Over the past year I have held meetings with the airlines, business organisations in Scotland and with the airport operators and tourism authorities with the aim of stimulating a response to the demand for more direct flights.

Scottish Tourism

8. Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to promote Scottish tourism. [57386]

Mrs. Liddell: I am undertaking a wide range of events to assist in promoting tourism to Scotland. On 15 May I hosted a reception for the overseas and UK managers of the BTA. On 26 June, I will join my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State for Wales in hosting a reception at Dover House to thank the partners of the BTA for their contribution to the one million extra visitors advertising campaign.

My Friends of Scotland team work very closely with the BTA and VisitScotland to ensure that the tourism message is a key part of my efforts to promote Scotland around the world.

Customs Officers

9. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed the deployment of customs officers in remote areas of Scotland with Treasury Ministers. [57387]

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Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with Treasury Ministers on a wide range of issues.

Broadband Coverage

10. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to increase the coverage of broadband in Scotland. [57388]

Mrs. Liddell: The UK Government work closely with the Scottish Executive to ensure that reserved and devolved responsibilities relating to the extension of broadband coverage in Scotland are co-ordinated.

The Government have made available a £30 million fund for broadband, of which the Scottish Executive will receive £4.4 million to promote affordable pervasive access to broadband connections across Scotland.

Economic Development

12. Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has for increased public expenditure on economic development in Scotland. [57390]

Mrs. Liddell: The Government provided a substantial increase for public expenditure in Scotland in the 2002 Budget. Scotland will receive annual increases ranging from £224 million in 2003–04 to £3.2 billion in 2007–08. Economic development is a devolved matter and it is for the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament to decide on the allocation of resources according to their own priorities for Scotland.

Fireworks

13. Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues about the regulation of firework sales. [57391]

Mrs. McGuire: The Government is aware about concerns in this area and is carefully considering what action should be taken.

Enterprise

14. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to encourage enterprise in Scotland. [57392]

19. Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to encourage enterprise in Scotland. [57397]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office continues to promote joint working between the Government and the Scottish Executive across a wide range of issues where there are shared or complementary interests, including matters which will encourage enterprise.

Business Links (Europe)

15. Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent steps she has taken to further the interests of Scottish business within the European Union. [57393]

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Mrs. Liddell: The EU is Scotland's most important export market representing 63 per cent. of Scottish manufactured exports. I have regular discussions both with business organisations and within Government to ensure that Scottish business benefits from membership of the EU.

Asset Seizures

16. Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the action being taken to seize the assets of major drug dealers in Scotland. [57394]

Mrs. McGuire: We are determined to put in place even stronger seizure and confiscation procedures than currently exist and the Proceeds of Crime Bill, once law, will achieve that. This is a top priority and I will be working with Home Office and Scottish Executive colleagues to ensure the overall anti-drugs messages are effective.

Postal Services

17. Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry concerning deregulation of postal deliveries in Scotland. [57395]

Mrs. McGuire: None. Regulation of postal services in Scotland is a matter for Postcomm.

22. Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the reform of postal services in Scotland. [57400]

Mrs. McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray), Official Report, column 703.

23. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she will next meet representatives from Consignia to discuss the reform of Scotland's postal services. [57401]

Mrs. McGuire: I have no immediate plans to meet with representatives from Consignia. However, I am in touch on a regular basis with a wide range of individuals and organisations in relation to postal services in Scotland.

Military Bases

18. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next expects to meet MOD officials to discuss military bases in Scotland. [57396]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend has regular contact with the Ministry of Defence to discuss a wide range of issues, including military bases in Scotland.

In 2000 (the latest year for which figures are available) the total deployment of defence personnel in Scotland was 24,400 of whom 15,100 were service personnel and 9,300 were civilian employees. This represents around 9.2 per cent. of UK defence personnel deployment.

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