§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in his calculations about the costs and savings of local government reorganisation, what figures he used for(a) cleansing services, (b) leisure and recreation services, (c) housing services, (d) planning services, (e) sewerage services, (f) water services, (g) transport services, (h) roads services, (i) fire services, (j) financial services, (k) economic development services, (l) architectural services, (m) social work services, (n) police services and (o) education services; and what percentage of the recurring revenue costs of each such service are attributable to labour costs.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 10 May 1994]: The Government's estimates of the costs and savings arising from the reorganisation of local government in Scotland were not calculated by reference to the service groupings requested and cannot therefore be broken down in this way.
Employee costs1 as a percentage of local authority expenditure: 1991–92 Regional services2 District services2 All authorities Employee costs as percentage of total gross revenue expenditure 63.0 29.6 51.5 Employee costs as a percentage of gross revenue expenditure excluding loan charges and capital expenditure funded from revenue 71.5 40.6 62.1 Notes:
1 Employee costs includes the employee costs of support services and of direct service organisations and direct labour organisations.
2 Includes general fund services, housing, water, sewerage and trading services. Expenditure by islands authorities by service has been included with the appropriate mainland authority type for that service.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to changes in the dates for implementation of proposals in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill depending on the progress of the Bill; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 13 May 1994]: The Government have no plans to alter the dates in the Bill. Unless the Bill was enacted after the end of November 1994, the period between enactment and the establishment of the new authorities would not be significantly shorter than the period between enactment of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and the establishmkent of the present structure. We are confident that the proposed timetable is realistic and achievable, even if some authorities persist in their present policy of non-co-operation.
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§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on the rights of workers under the European acquired rights directive in the context of local government reorganisation in Scotland.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 10 May 1994]: The application to individual local authority employees affected by local government reorganisation of the acquired rights directive and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 falls to be determined as a matter of law, not of Government policy.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has as to the number of local authority employees in Scotland who are likely to be made redundant,(a) at the point of local government reorganisation and (b) in the longer term.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 10 May 1994]: The Government's White Paper which was published last July estimated that local government reorganisation may result in a reduction in staffing levels of between 700 and 2,200. It is expected that much, if not all, of this will be met by early retirements and natural wastage.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of recurring revenue costs are attributable to labour costs for(a) regional services, (b) district services and (c) overall for local government in Scotland.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 10 May 1994]: The table shows the information requested for 1991–92, the latest period for which this is available. The notes to the table explain the basis of the figures.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he proposes to make for emergency planning under the proposed new system of local government in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 13 May 1994]: In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Bill, the arrangements for emergency planning will be a matter for the new unitary authorities to determine. Scottish Office officials stand ready to discuss the issues involved with interested parties.
§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received over his proposals for local government reform in the highlands, indicating how many have supported and how many have opposed the creation of a single highland council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 12 May 1994]: Since publication in July 1993 of the White Paper "Shaping the 367W Future—The New Councils". 51 representations have been received in support of the creation of a single unitary authority for the Highlands. Some 240 representations have either opposed this or favoured an alternative proposal.