§ Mr. Andrew WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has of the reduction in quality malting barley production which will result from set-aside schemes; whether he expects that set-aside schemes will reduce the amount of barley available to the malting industry from Scottish sources; and what effect set-aside will have on barley imports.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythUntil applications from farmers wishing to join the set-aside scheme from 1988–89 have been processed and data on applicants' 1988 cropping patterns and future cropping proposals have been analysed, it will not be possible to estimate the extent of any reduction in future levels of malting barley production in Scotland, or of any consequential impact on malting barley supplies or imports. Any reduction would, however, be minimal, since the total area so far proposed for withdrawal from production (which also includes land506W pupils at the latest available date who are registered in schools providing special education; and if he will express this as a percentage of total school rolls.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIn September 1987 there were 10,700 pupils in education authority, grant-aided and independent special schools in Scotland; this is 1.3 per cent. of all school pupils. Of the 10,700 pupils 9,020 were in education authority schools, 180 in grant-aided schools and 1,510 in independent schools.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of Scottish school pupils at the latest available date who are registered in schools providing special education by(a) region, (b) division and (c) main area of impairment.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation as at September 1987 on pupils in local authority special schools in Scotland is set out in the table.
previously used for oilseed rape and cereals other than barley) is equivalent to less than 4 per cent. of the area used for barley production in Scotland in 1988.