§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for local education and business partnerships and for the teacher placement service in Scotland.
§ Mr. RifkindMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has announced today the Government"s decision to support local education business partnerships across the country. This will build on the work already done under the enterprise and education initiative, TVEI and compacts in Scotland. The 149W teacher placement service is also to continue, and arrangements for its future administration will be developed together with those for local partnerships.
Partnerships involve local education and business interests in work that brings schools and other education institutions, industry and commerce closer together for the benefit of young people and the economy. I propose to ensure that these arrangements are built wherever possible on existing partnership work in Scotland. Our approach will be slightly different from that in England and in Wales to reflect the different circumstances affecting education and business links. I intend to invite interested parties, including the local enterprise companies if they wish, to submit proposals to lead and co-ordinate partnership activity in their areas. My aim will be to ensure the selection of the body with the most appropriate experience and best equipped to deliver a service effectively in each area. The Industry Department for Scotland will continue to be closely involved in the development of these arrangements.
There will be a development phase over the next 12 months in which my colleagues and I will collaborate closely. Support will come initially from the Department of Trade and Industry. With the formation of partnerships from April 1991 responsibility will pass to the Department of Employment's Training Agency with the Industry Department for Scotland maintaining a close involvement.
Region Year 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Total Borders 42 34 12 5 9 102 Central 24 33 54 46 — 157 Dumfries and Galloway 25 25 32 44 9 135 Fife 21 36 30 52 10 149 Grampian 24 28 30 29 7 118 Highland 64 31 39 57 13 204 Lothian 17 9 20 27 — 73 Strathclyde 41 28 39 49 6 163 Tayside 30 20 40 50 10 150 Western Isles 48 13 7 4 — 72 Orkney and Shetland 39 29 25 28 5 126 Total 375 286 328 391 69 1,449 Only one reading was found to be above the 1,000 bq/kg limit, in 1986 in the Western Isles.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of(a) farms, (b) sheep and (c) acres currently subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonA total of 74 farms, approximately 64,000 sheep and about 66,000 acres are currently subject to restrictions.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in each county in Scotland for(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in Scotland for (a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990 including the number of