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Unit 47--Easyscene Ltd.Springvale industrial estate, Cwmbran
Unit 50--R. J. B. Glass and Double Glazing Centre
Unit 51--R. J. B. Glass and Double Glazing Centre
Unit 52--W. E. D. Automatics Ltd.
Unit 53--Sacol Hydraulics Ltd.
The above information excludes sales to sitting tenants, which have comprised the majority of WDA property disposals to date. Details of rents paid by individual WDA tenants is commercially confidential information. In general however, it is agency policy to obtain the best consideration available under market circumstances.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what rights exist for a review of rent increases levied on sitting tenants in Welsh Development Agency properties sold into the private sector.
Mr. David Hunt : Both public and private sector organisations operate within the general framework of the Landlord and Tenants Act 1954 and tenants' rights conferred by this legislation would apply. In essence the Act provides that existing occupational leases and tenants' contractual rights will remain unaffected by a change of ownership, which means that rents will not be reviewed purely as a result of a sale. Tenants also have statutory protection in respect of security of tenure when the lease is due for renewal. There is a further provision for recourse to arbitration if settlement of rent cannot be achieved between landlord and tenant.
Nurses
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse recruitment in the border counties of Wales if the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not implemented as originally planned in 1990-91 ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse recruitment in health authorities in Wales if the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not implemented as originally planned in 1990-91 ;
(3) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse morale in Wales if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990-91 ;
(4) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of administrative and personnel matters if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990-91 ;
(5) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of manpower planning in health authorities in Wales if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990-91.
Mr. Grist : The decision to phase implementation of Project 2000 in Wales was taken in the light of information obtained from draft implementation plans submitted by district health authorities, the financial implications of a simultaneous all-Wales implementation set against the resource requirements of the Health Service in Wales generally, and the complex planning task at the local level
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in laying the foundations for the educational reforms which Project 2000 involves. The implications of the decision to phase for manpower issues are being addressed as part of the manpower resource planning process, and other work undertaken by the manpower steering group with health authorities in the wider context of demographic trends and increased competition in the employment field. There will also be administrative implications which each individual health authority will need to address.Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy that the Project 2000 initiative on nurse training shall be implemented in south-east Wales, including Newport and Cardiff, in 1990-91.
Mr. Grist : No. It has been decided that there should be a phased approach to the implementation of Project 2000 in Wales with the new courses commencing in north Wales in 1991, in west Wales in 1992 and south- east Wales in 1993. The possibility of bringing forward the south-east Wales start to 1992 will be kept under review.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce the detailed timetable for the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses in each part of Wales, giving the specific implementation dates for each health authority in Wales.
Mr. Grist : Implementation of Project 2000 in Wales will proceed on a phased basis commencing with the introduction of the new courses in north Wales (Clwyd and Gwynedd) in autumn 1991, in west Wales (Pembrokeshire, East Dyfed, West Glamorgan and Powys) in 1992, and in south-east Wales (Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and Gwent) in 1993. In the case of west and south-east Wales, it is possible for the courses to begin in the spring of the relevant year, thus involving a delay of only six and 18 months respectively over the original planning assumption.
The possibility of bringing forward the south-east Wales start to 1992 will be kept under review.
Health Authorities
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy as to whether the nine health authorities in Wales should continue to cover their present geographical areas during and after the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend has no current proposals to alter the geographical responsibilities of the existing health authorities but the position will be kept under review in light of the provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill, including those for self- governing status.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to issue a directive to health authorities in Wales directing that when a patient at a National Health Service hospital needs to be transferred to another hospital within the same area for treatment or examination, the authority shall bear the responsibility and cost of transport for that transfer.
Mr. Grist : This is an operational matter for the district health authorities, which decide on the advice of the patient's clinician, the transport which is appropriate to the patient's needs.
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Gwynedd Health Authority
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will hold urgent discussions with the chair of Gwynedd health authority concerning the effects of the industrial dispute relating to the pay of senior secretarial staff, on the ability of the authority to meet its statutory responsibilities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : We understand a settlement has been reached and all medical secretaries returned to duty on 22 May.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which officer members of the management team of Gwynedd health authority are appointed under fixed-term contracts ; at what date each of these was first appointed ; for what period ; and when is their next renewal date.
Mr. Grist : Other than the district and unit general managers, no officer members of the district management team have been appointed on fixed-term contracts.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the general manager of Gwynedd health authority was first appointed and for what period of time ; and when was the contract renewed and for what period.
Mr. Grist : The district general manager for Gwynedd health authority was first appointed in February 1985 on a short-term rolling contract for an initial period of three years. The contract is renewable annually and was last renewed this year.
National Health Service Trusts
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on any formal or informal expressions of interest in the establishment of a National Health Service trust by (a) any hospital in Wales and (b) any health authority ; and if he will list the bodies that have expressed any such interest.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend has received no formal expression of interest to date. It would not be appropriate to list informal expressions of interest which may or may not have formalised.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to allow the individuals and communities affected by any hospital or health authority opt-out proposals in Wales to take the final decision themselves ;
(2) if he will set out in full the requirements and pattern of consultation to be followed if any health authority in Wales or any hospital in Wales seeks to consider establishing a National Health Service trust.
Mr. Grist : Any application for self governing status will be the subject of consultation with interested parties, including, in particular, the health authorities concerned, hospital staff, general practitioners, community health councils and the local community. Detailed arrangements for consultation will depend on the nature of any particular applications received and decisions will take into account the comments of all consultees.
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Ozone Levels
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will establish a monitoring system and introduce a strategy aimed at reducing high ground-level ozone levels in mid-Wales ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will estimate the annual effect of low-level ozone upon agriculture in Wales ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) if he will estimate how adversely crop yield will be affected if (1) low-level ozone levels in Wales maintain their current rate and (2) they maintain their annual rate of growth ; and if he will make a statement ;
(4) by what percentage he expects the level of low-level ozone in Wales to increase in the next decade ; and what effects he foresees of its impact upon agriculture.
Mr. David Hunt : On behalf of the Government the Warren Spring laboratory operates an ozone monitoring network designed to provide a continuous assessment of the ground-level ozone climate for the whole of the United Kingdom. It includes a site in Wales, and the extent and coverage of the network is kept under review. In addition my Department is currently funding the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Bangor, to carry out a study of the effects of typical rural concentrations of ozone and other atmospheric pollutants on the health of plant species in Wales.
The effects of ozone on agriculture were considered in a report by the Department of the Environment's independent expert review group on photochemical oxidants. Copies of its first report have been placed in the Library of the House. Its findings, on the basis of research carried out in the United Kingdom and the United States of America indicate that sensitive crops such as turnip, bean, radish, barley, pea and spinach could be expected to show marginally reduced yields during the peak ozone concentrations monitored in Wales. If the rising trend in ozone levels were to continue, the effects on agriculture could be expected to become more severe.
The Government are, however, already taking steps to reduce substantially emissions of the primary pollutants which react to form ozone. These are detailed in an answer given to the hon. and learned Member today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Community Mental Health Services
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any plans to increase funding for community mental health services in Mid Glamorgan.
Mr. Grist : The county joint planning team (CJPT) in Mid Glamorgan has been offered initially £127,700 in 1990-91 to support developments under the mental illness strategy ; these resources are in addition to those directly available to partner agencies in the team. Over £100,000 of the total relates to community-based developments of services for people with or recovering from mental illness. The CJPT has been invited to submit fuller details of its proposals in respect of community mental health teams, and we shall be considering these and the related bids for funding in due course.
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NHS (Kings Fund)
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy not to use the formula proposed by the Kings Fund of half a million people when determining the scope and area to be covered by procuring authorities in the Health Service in Wales.
Mr. Grist : We have no plans at present to adjust district health authority boundaries in Wales.
Mental Illness
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what sums have been allocated on a health district or county basis in Wales to pay for the Welsh office strategy on mental illness ; (2) how much money has been allocated in total for the Welsh Office strategy on mental illness in Wales for the current financial year.
Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 30 April at columns 425-26.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if any authority in Wales has received bridging finance for the implementation of the Welsh Office strategy on mental illness.
Mr. Grist : The mental illness strategy recognises the need for help in meeting the transitional costs of moving from existing to new patterns of service. Much of the £1.6 million offered to county teams for 1990- 91, whilst not specifically described as bridging finance, is intended to enable the transition by supporting the development of locally and community-based services ; these are a prerequisite for the redeployment of resources currently tied up in those existing patterns of service which are to be superseded in due course.
District Health Authorities
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what conditions attach to the use by district health authorities, when they sell land or buildings which they own, of capital receipts ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 21 May 1990 and to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 30 April 1990.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines have been given to district health authorities in Wales in relation to their revenue performance related to their total asset base ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : Health authorities have a statutory obligation to manage both their revenue and capital within the cash provision allocated to them each year by my right hon. Friend. Additionally, they are required to commit at least 7.5 per cent. of their overall resource provision to the maintenance of capital assets. They are also required to submit performance reports for specific specialties and services against targets set by reference, as appropriate, to centrally prescribed strategic guidelines, published performance indicators and locally determined priorities within the framework of their financial plans. Authorities are also
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required to achieve in 1990-91 cash- releasing cost improvements in their delivery of services of at least 1.1 per cent. of their recurring revenue provision and to generate additional recurring income equivalent to a further 0.2 per cent. of their recurrent revenue resources ; and those authorities which failed to meet equivalent targets last year will be expected to make up the shortfall in 1990-91 as well as achieving this year's minimum targets.Health Services
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the authorities which will be responsible for providing health services in Wales and the area to be covered by each ; (2) if he will list the authorities which will be responsible for purchasing health services in Wales following implementation of his White Paper proposals.
Mr. Grist : The following health authorities will be responsible for securing the provision of services for the population of the areas indicated from 1 April 1991 :
Authority |Area --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clwyd district health authority |County of Clwyd Gwent district health authority |County of Gwent Gwynedd district health authority |County of Gwynedd Mid Glamorgan district health authority |County of Mid Glamorgan Powys district health authority |County of Powys South Glamorgan district health authority |County of South Glamorgan West Glamorgan district health authority |County of West Glamorgan Pembrokeshire district health authority |Preseli and South Pembrokeshire district councils East Dyfed district health authority |Carmarthen, Ceredigion, Dinefwr and Llanelli district councils
Health Authorities (Management Structure)
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which health authorities in Wales have completed a review of their management structures in line with the Government's legislative proposals ; and, in each case where this has been completed, whether the approval of his office has yet been given.
Mr. Grist : Health authorities are continuously keeping under review the appropriateness of their management structures and will be expected to look particularly at the implications of the Government's proposals set out in the White Papers "Working for Patients" and "Caring for People", and working papers issued subsequently, in that context.
Residential Homes
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many places there were, respectively, in (a) local authority elderly persons homes and (b) private residential homes for elderly persons in Gwynedd at the most recent available date ; and what were the corresponding figures for 1980 and 1985.
Mr. Grist : The numbers of places at 31 March in each year were :
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|1980 |1985 |1989
----------------------------------------------
Local Authority Homes |853 |855 |848
Private Homes |141 |630 |1,119
Out-patient Clinics
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by district health authority in Wales, and by discipline, the non- district general hospital locations where out-patient clinics are currently held by consultant National Health Service staffs ; (2) if he will list, by district health authority in Wales and by discipline, the non-district general hospital locations where in 1980 out-patient clinics were held by consultant National Health Service staff, but which no longer offer such services ;
(3) if he will list by district health authority in Wales, and by discipline, the non-district general hospital locations where out-patient clinics are currently held by consultant National Health Service staffs.
Mr. Grist : The latest available information is published in "Bed Use Statistics 1988-89" a copy of which is in the Library. Clinics run by general practitioners are identified separately. Comparable figures for 1980 have been published in "Bed Use Statistics" for that year, a copy of which is in the Library.
Cervical Screening
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his further plans for the screening of women for cervical cancer in Wales.
Mr. Grist : My right hon. Friend and I continue to regard the development of cervical screening services as a priority. All district health authorities in Wales now have computerised screening programmes in place for women aged 20-64 years. Since 1986-87 the Welsh Office has allocated some £1.3 million of recurring central funds to health authorities to help them extend and improve their screening services. Officials of the Welsh Office will continue to keep in close touch with progress and a multi-disciplinary working group is to be formed which will produce further guidance on an all-Wales basis concerning the management and quality assurance of the programme.
Unit General Managers (Contracts)
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the unit general managers serving health authorities in Wales are bound by fixed-term contracts ; and whether any guidance is given by his Department as to the length of such contracts or the procedure for renewing such contracts.
Mr. Grist : All unit general managers in health authorities in Wales are appointed on short-term rolling contracts of between three and five years. Guidance on appointment procedures, the content, length and renewal of contracts and other related matters was initially issued in 1984 and again in 1986.
Surgical Procedures
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list, for each health authority area in Wales, each of the non-district general hospital locations where
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surgical procedures are still carried out by consultant-led teams ; how many surgical cases were treated in each such hospital in the most recently available 12-month period ; and what was the number of cases similarly treated in each such hospital in 1980 and in 1985 ; (2) if he will list the non-district general hospital locations in Wales where in 1980 surgical procedures were being carried out by consultant-led teams, but which no longer do so.Mr. Grist : Details of in-patient hospital episodes in 1988-89 under the care of consultants in general surgery, ENT, traumatic and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, urology, plastic surgery, thoracic surgery, dental surgery, orthodontics, neurosurgery, gynaecology, burns surgery and cardiac surgery are published in "Bed Use Statistics" a copy of which is in the Library. Comparable figures for 1980 and 1985 have been published in "Bed Use Statistics" for those years, copies of which are in the Library.
Educational Medicine
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nurses are engaged in educational medicine and the care of children in hospitals in Wales ; and if he will give similar figures for the last five years.
Mr. Grist : Information is available centrally only on the total staff in post for all nursing and midwifery staff. Breakdowns of these figures into occupation category are not considered reliable.
Cash Limits
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for class XVI, votes 5 and 8 in 1990-91.
Mr. David Hunt : Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 5 will be increased by £495,000 from £317,330,000 to £317,825,000 and the cash limit for class XVI, vote 8 will be increased by £11,125,000 from £951,713,000 to £962,838,000.
The addition to class XVI, vote 5 largely covers (i) an increase of £245,000 in respect of discretionary assistance for higher education students, particularly those facing high accommodation costs, and (ii) payments to flood appeal funds in north Wales (£150,000), as announced on 15 March 1990, Official Report, at column 348 . The remainder of the increase for class XVI, vote 5 (£100,000) and the increase for class XVI, vote 8 (£11,125,000) follow the decision to implement the recommendations of the review bodies for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine and on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, as announced by the Prime Minister on 1 February 1990 at column 260 .
The increase to class XVI, vote 5, in respect of the contribution to the north Wales flood appeal funds was offset by savings from class XVII, vote 5 in 1989-90. The other increases will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
National Consumer Council
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he has received a copy of the National Consumer Council report, "International Trade and the Consumer Working Paper 2 : Textiles and Clothes" ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he has received a copy of the National Consumer Council report, "International Trade and the Consumer Working Paper 3 : Shoes ; the Cost of Neglecting Consumers' Interests" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The National Consumer Council sent copies of its working papers 2 and 3, on textiles and clothes, and shoes, respectively, to all DTI Ministers. We welcome the general thrust of the NCC's conclusions in both papers that the cost to consumers should be taken into account whenever trade restrictions are under consideration. This is a point we regularly make in Community discussions. It needs to be balanced against other interests including those of our producers. I look forward to seeing the final conclusions of the NCC's study.
European Training Programme
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the young European executives who will be visiting Japan to improve management techniques and gain proficiency in the Japanese language, under the European training programme funded by the European Commission, are British nationals.
Mr. Redwood : Nine British nationals will participate in the 10th ETP due to start on 28 May, out of a total of 46 European company executives.
This is the highest ever number of British participants.
Cash Limits
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any changes will be made to his Department's main supply estimates for cash-limited expenditure in 1990-91.
Mr. Ridley : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for class IV vote 2 (Support for industry, international trade, statutory and regulatory work, consumer protection and administration) will be reduced by £58,000 from £787,435,000 to £787,377,000, and the running cost limit by the same amount from £304,292,000 to £304,234,000. Provision of £4,850, 000 will be sought for outstanding ex gratia payments to Barlow Clowes investors and for administrative expenses incurred by the Government's agents in respect of the ex gratia payments, and provision of £2,000,000 for legal costs in connection with Barlow Clowes recovery actions. There will be a corresponding reduction of £6,850,000 in provision for support for industrial research and development, reflecting an anticipated underspend. Additional provision will also be sought for the Companies House executive agency and the radiocommunications executive agency in order to enable them to meet their planned requirements : in both cases, the additional provision will be fully matched by additional receipts. In addition, provision of £38,000 will
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be transferred to class XIX vote 2 (the Cabinet Office) to cover the transfer of the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and provision of £20,000 will be transferred to class X vote 1 (the Lord Chancellor's Department) in respect of work being carried out for the Department.The proposed outstanding Barlow Clowes payments and recovery actions are new services and it is expected that some payments will fall due within the next few weeks. Pending parliamentary approval for these new services, expenditure will therefore be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.
Transnor
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission following the Transnor case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 23 May 1990] : My Department wrote to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on 30 April about the implications of the interlocutory judgment in the "Transnor" case given on 18 April by the United States district court for the southern circuit of New York. Since then the Department has had detailed discussions with the CFTC, culminating in a joint statement issued in London and Washington on 16 May. I have arranged for copies of the letter and statement to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Air Services
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what indications of support and opposition there have been to his own Department and to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission from (a) the regions of England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales regarding (i) the British Airways investment in Sabena World Airways and (ii) its proposals to develop services to and from regional airports in the United Kingdom and regional airports in Europe ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ridley [holding answer 22 May 1990] : My Department has received a number of representations on this subject, the majority of them from Members of Parliament, including Members from Scotland, the north- west, the midlands, and the south-east of England. A number of the representations expressed views in favour of British Airways' investment in SWA. Fewer indicated support for proposals to develop services to and from regional airports in the United Kingdom and regional airports in Europe. Opposition has been indicated to the proposals from several quarters, expressing concerns about the impact of the BA/KLM/SWA arrangements on competition. As the merger created by BA's investment in SWA has now been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. Any representations made to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are a matter for it.
Computer-based Construction Models
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to take any steps to regulate the codes for computer-based models used for technical decision-making on new civil engineering projects, new building designs and alterations on existing buildings ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Chope : I have been asked to reply. A person carrying out building work must meet the requirements of the building regulations, including those relating to structural stability. Computer programmes may be used for design purposes, but the building control authority will need to consider the basic design assumptions and be satisfied that the building will meet the requirements of the regulations. The possibility of allowing professionally qualified engineers to certify their own work is at present under consideration.
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