HC Deb 25 February 1998 vol 307 cc265-6W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the conferences held by his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the(a) purpose and (b) estimated cost. [27769]

Mr. Dewar

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The information requested is as follows: Conference on Traditional Building Materials This conference was organised by Historic Scotland to raise awareness of the value of traditional building materials, to promote Scottish resources and to encourage revival of the skills needed for their manufacture, extraction and use. The cost of arranging the conference, which ran at a profit of £29,000, was £42,000. Safer Communities Through Partnership This conference was held at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan and involved The Scottish Office, local councils, the police and voluntary organisations. The cost was £2,000. Superhighways For Learning—Making it Happen The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, in association with the Scottish Council for Educational Technology, ran a series of 3 conferences. The main aims of the conferences were to promote the findings from the Education Department's Superhighways Initiative and to highlight the work of the newly formed Superhighways Task Force. The total cost to the Department of these 3 conferences was £25,000. Risk Assessment of Offenders This conference was sponsored by The Scottish Office Social Work Services Group under the auspices of the Association of Directors of Social Work. The aim of the conference was to inform the debate on offender risk assessment and its cost was £6,000. Scottish National Rural Partnership A series of 3 conferences was held on (1) Effective Partnership Working, (2) Tackling Rural Crime, and (3) Food, Local Communities and Rural Development. The conferences were aimed at those involved in Rural Scotland—Scottish Homes, Rural Forum, SCVO, Scottish Agricultural College etc. As an attendance charge was levied, there was no cost to the Department. Better Data Through Partnership and IT Conference The purpose of this conference was (1) to raise awareness of current developments and issues in the field of electronic information transfer, (2) to promote partnership between central and local government in relation to the exchange of information, and (3) to promote the use of information technology and information systems. The cost of the conference was £1,500. The NHS in Scotland Conference This is an annual conference held for the Minister of Health and officials to meet with a wide range of senior personnel throughout the NHS in Scotland to discuss policy, service and developmental change in the NHS in Scotland in the year ahead. This year's conference cost £25,000. Health Board and Trust Chairmen's Conference This is an annual conference where the Minister of Health and senior officials meet with Health Board and Trust Chairmen to discuss major policy and strategic issues for the NHS in the coming year. This year's conference cost £12,000.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of his officials attended conferences(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas; and how many and what percentage made (i) oral and (ii) written contributions to the matters under discussion in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [31169]

Mr. Dewar

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

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