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Owner-occupiers

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1978-79 the number of owner-occupiers within Scotland as a percentage of the overall housing stock. [22395]

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Mr. Macdonald [holding answer 12 January 1998]: Information about the number of owner occupied dwellings in Scotland is collected as part of the decennial Population Census. For intervening years the Scottish Office estimates the number of owner occupied dwellings on the basis of information from local authorities and Scottish Homes. The figures for each year from 1979 to 1996 are set out below.

Year	Owner occupied dwellings in Scotland as a percentage of the total housing stock
1979	35.3
1980	36.1
1981	(3)36.4
1982	37.7
1983	39.1
1984	40.5
1985	41.8
1986	43.1
1987	44.6
1988	46.7
1989	49.1
1990	51.2
1991	(3)52.4
1992	54.1
1993	55.5
1994	56.9
1995	58.4
1996	59.2

(3) Census figures. Remaining figures are estimates.

Expenditure Statistics

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, in (a) cash terms and (b) 1997-98 prices, the amount of money allocated in each financial year since 1978-79 and 1997-98 to each area of expenditure currently within his responsibility. [22417]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 12 January 1998]: Fully consistent information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Relevant information can be found in the following publications:

Public Expenditure to 1985-86--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Public Expenditure to 1986-87--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Public Expenditure to 1987-88--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Public Expenditure to 1988-89--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Public Expenditure to 1989-90--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Public Expenditure to 1990-91--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Public Expenditure to 1991-92--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Public Expenditure to 1992-93--A Commentary on the Scotland Programme

Serving Scotland's Needs--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991-92 to 1993-94 (Cm 1515)

Serving Scotland's Needs--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992-93 to 1994-95 (Cm 1915)

Serving Scotland's Needs--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1993-94 to 1995-96 (Cm 2214)

Serving Scotland's Needs--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1994-95 to 1996-97 (Cm 2514)

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Serving Scotland's Needs--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1995-96 to 1997-98 (Cm 2814)

Serving Scotland's Needs--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996-97 to 1998-99 (Cm 3214)

Serving Scotland's Needs--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1997-98 to 1999-2000 (Cm 3614).

Hospital Beds

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to avert a shortage of hospital beds during the winter of 1997-98. [22747]

Mr. Galbraith: The Government have provided an additional £25 million to the NHS in Scotland to deal with the expected increase in emergency admissions over the winter period. In addition, I have required Health Boards in Scotland to use their share of £10 million saved from reductions in bureaucracy to reduce waiting times and to ensure that effective contingency plans are in place.

Ministerial Travel (Trains)

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties. [22931]

Mr. Dewar: On Sunday 11 January 1998.

Referendum

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the returning officers of the unitary authorities in Scotland, or staff acting on their behalf, contacted the Scottish Office Devolution Unit by phone between 10pm on 11 September 1997 and the conclusion of the count for Scotland, to request guidance on the interpretation of the answers given to the questions in the referendum, where the voters had written yes or no in the ballot paper; and if he will make a statement. [23234]

Mr. McLeish: The Chief Counting Officer for Scotland who had responsibility for the count did not receive any requests for further guidance on the adjudication of ballot papers in the period in question.

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those unitary authorities in Scotland which, during the course of the referendum count on 11 September changed the basis of interpretation as to whether a ballot paper was to be accepted as valid, or to be declared spoilt; and how many of these changed their interpretation on the specific advice of his Department. [23274]

Mr. McLeish: I am not aware that any area changed the basis of its interpretation of the adjudication of ballot papers or changed its interpretation of the guidance issued by the Chief Counting Office for Scotland.

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he gave to returning officers in each of the unitary authority areas in Scotland, for the referendum count on 11 September 1997, with regard to deciding whether or not a vote was to be regarded as valid if the voter wrote "No" in the box adjacent to the statement "I do not agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament"; in what circumstances such a vote, in the absence of any other mark made by the voter on the ballot paper, was taken as (a) a "No" vote, (b) a "Yes" vote or (c) spoilt vote; and what additional guidance was given to returning officers during the course of the count on that evening. [23268]

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Mr. McLeish: The advice given in the guidance issued by the Chief Counting Officer about a ballot paper marked with "No" in the box adjacent to the statement "I do not agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament" was that the ballot paper was to be treated as a "No"vote. No additional guidance was issued by the Chief Counting Officer during the course of the count.

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance which he circulated to returning officers in each of the unitary authority areas in Scotland for the counting procedure for the referendum which took place on 11 September 1997, together with a copy of supplementary guidance issued after and clarification guidance faxed to such officers during the course of the count. [23275]

Mr. McLeish: Responsibility for the conduct of the count lay with the Chief Counting Officer for Scotland. A copy of his guidance in connection with the count has been placed in the Library. No supplementary guidance was issued.

Students

Mr. Ernie Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on changes in the student support and tuition fee arrangements for Scottish domiciled students in session 1989-99. [23983]

Mr. Wilson: I am publishing today the main rates of loans and maintenance grants payable in 1998-99 to continuing students and new students in full-time higher education. I am also publishing the rates for those postgraduate courses which do not attract students loans, together with the rates for the various supplementary allowances payable to both undergraduate and vocational postgraduate award holders.

The total support available to undergraduate students in 1998-99 through the main rates of maintenance grant and loan, taken together, will be 3 per cent higher than in 1997-98, thus maintaining its value in real terms. Postgraduate maintenance grants and supplementary allowances will be increased by a similar amount.

These changes are consistent with those for England and Wales announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. Details have been placed in the Library.

TREASURY

Environment

16. Mr. Baker : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to use fiscal measures to encourage good environmental practice. [21067]

Mrs. Liddell: On Budget day in July, we issued a statement of intent on the use of environmental taxes, which said that we will aim to reform the tax system to increase incentives to reduce environmental damage. The Pre-Budget Report outlined specific areas where we are taking this forward as a priority.

15 Jan 1998 : Column: 300

Local Government Finance

17. Mr. Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to meet leaders of the Local Government Association to discuss the control total for local government for 1998-99. [21068]

Mr. Darling: The Government have already announced for consultation their proposals for the local authority finance settlement for 1998-99. In his statement to the House on 2 December 1997, Official Report, columns 157-64 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions explained that the arrangements would be finalised after a period of consultation with local authorities and others. He also referred to the establishment of a new central-local partnership which will provide an ongoing forum for discussion of all major issues of concern between the government and the Local Government Association.

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