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Young Offenders
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the Welsh Office working party on secure accommodation for young offenders to present its report.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The working party under the chairmanship of the chief executive of West Glamorgan county council, is charged with taking forward the detailed design and planning of the new secure unit and I look forward to the provision of secure accommodation being pursued as quickly as possible.
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European Centre
Mr.Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make representations to the European Community for additional structural fund monies so as to allow more Welsh companies and organisations to subscribe to the European centre project.
Mr. David Hunt : It would not be appropriate for me to seek specific additional structural fund resources from the European Commission to support such initiatives. It would be for the relevant programme committee to determine whether or not applications submitted by sponsors for assistance with their contributions to the Wales European centre were eligible for structural fund support and, if so, whether these should be afforded sufficient priority to secure a part of the available resources.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many visitors have called at the Wales European centre in Brussels to date ; and what are the estimated targets for visitor numbers in 1992-93.
Mr. David Hunt : The number of visitors calling at the Wales European centre from April 1992 to September 1992 was 260. This compares favourably with initial estimates for the number of visitors during 1992-93 of 400.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the companies and organisations which have subscribed to the Wales European centre project to date.
Mr. David Hunt : The following organisations have subscribed, or have agreed to subscribe, to the Wales European centre : the Welsh Development Agency, the Assembly of Welsh Counties, 34 of the district councils, six of the training and enterprise councils, the development Board for Rural Wales and the University of Wales College, Cardiff.
Children in Care
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children and young people were admitted to local authority care in each Welsh local authority area in both 1990 and 1991 ; and if he will express this both as total numbers and as a proportion per thousand children.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The numbers of children and young people admitted to local authority care for the years ended 31 March 1990 and 1991 are shown in the table.
All admissions were of children aged under 18 years.
Number of children and young persons admitted to local
authority
care during the 12 months ended 31 March
1990 1991
|Number |Rate<1>|Number |Rate<1>
--------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |218 |2.3 |216 |2.3
Dyfed |191 |2.4 |203 |2.6
Gwent |396 |3.8 |359 |3.5
Gwynedd |120 |2.2 |135 |2.5
Mid Glamorgan |435 |3.4 |315 |2.5
Powys |40 |1.6 |53 |2.1
South Glamorgan |313 |3.2 |308 |3.2
West Glamorgan |239 |2.9 |237 |2.9
Wales |1,952 |2.9 |1,826 |2.8
<1> Rate per thousand population aged 0-17 years.
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Slate
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made by his Department to date on the promoting of the sale of Welsh slate within other member countries of the EC.
Mr. David Hunt : The Welsh Office does not promote specific products. However, Government agencies like the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales offer help to individual companies with marketing and sourcing of their products and services both within the United Kingdom and overseas.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy not to change the formula for allocating central government finance to local authorities in Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : The formulae for distributing resources within the local government revenue settlement have been agreed annually between the Welsh Office and the Welsh local authority associations through the forum of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance. The formulae for 1993-94 need to take account of changes in local government functions from 1 April 1993 and the introduction of the council tax on the same date. The distribution formulae will be set out in the Welsh Local Government finance report 1993-94 to be laid before the House in the new year.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy considerations underlay his decision to change the financial allocation to local authorities for expenditure
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on the disabled facilities grants scheme from the basic credit approval sector to the supplementary credit approval with effect from 1 April ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gwilym Jones : Resources for disabled facilities grant are already provided within local authorities' basic credit approvals. This allows for the necessary flexibility of operational response in providing the support best suited to the needs of disabled people.
Eastern Europe
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been undertaken to date by his Department to assist economic development and training in (a) Estonia, (b) Lithuania, (c) Slovenia, (d) Ukraine, (e) the Russian Federation and (f) Slovakia.
Mr. David Hunt : A delegation from the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic visited Wales in 1990. Although my Department has not taken any special initiatives, I am aware that considerable efforts have been made by others, including the Welsh Development Agency, in assisting economic development and training in some of the former eastern bloc countries.
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the attendance record of the board members of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation for each of the past two years at all full board meetings. Mr. David Hunt : The information requested is shown in the table.
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Cardiff Bay Development Corporation-board attendance record
|May 1992 |June 1992 |July 1992 |September 1992 |October 1992 |Per cent.<2>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. D. Inkin |P |P |P |P |P |100
Lord Brooks of Tremorfa |P |P |P |A |P |74
Mrs. M. Barnes |Retired from CBDC Board |64
J. A. Beveridge |P |P |P |P |P |83
P. Chapple Deceased 0
Mrs. H. Chapman |P |P |A |P |A |65
A. G. Cox |P |P |A |A |A |70
B. H. R. Hudson-Davies |P |P |P |P |P |91
T. Hunter Jarvie Not re-elected to Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council 50
W. P. Kitson |P |P |P |A |P |87
J. R. Phillips |P |P |P |P |P |91
J. P. Sainsbury |P |A |P |A |P |67
H. R. Silverman |P |P |A |P |P |83
L. S. Smith |A |P |A |P |A |62
B. K. Thomas |P |P |P |P |A |87
R. E. Watkiss Deceased
<1> A=Absent. S*=Special board meeting. P=Present.
<2> Per cent. covers tables 1 to 4.
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation-board attendance record
|May 1992 |June 1992 |July 1992 |September 1992 |October 1992 |Per cent.<2>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. D. Inkin |P |P |P |P |P |100
Lord Brooks of Tremorfa |P |P |P |A |P |74
Mrs. M. Barnes |Retired from CBDC Board |64
J. A. Beveridge |P |P |P |P |P |83
P. Chapple Deceased 0
Mrs. H. Chapman |P |P |A |P |A |65
A. G. Cox |P |P |A |A |A |70
B. H. R. Hudson-Davies |P |P |P |P |P |91
T. Hunter Jarvie Not re-elected to Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council 50
W. P. Kitson |P |P |P |A |P |87
J. R. Phillips |P |P |P |P |P |91
J. P. Sainsbury |P |A |P |A |P |67
H. R. Silverman |P |P |A |P |P |83
L. S. Smith |A |P |A |P |A |62
B. K. Thomas |P |P |P |P |A |87
R. E. Watkiss Deceased
<1> A=Absent. S*=Special board meeting. P=Present.
<2> Per cent. covers tables 1 to 4.
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation-board attendance record
|May 1992 |June 1992 |July 1992 |September 1992 |October 1992 |Per cent.<2>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. D. Inkin |P |P |P |P |P |100
Lord Brooks of Tremorfa |P |P |P |A |P |74
Mrs. M. Barnes |Retired from CBDC Board |64
J. A. Beveridge |P |P |P |P |P |83
P. Chapple Deceased 0
Mrs. H. Chapman |P |P |A |P |A |65
A. G. Cox |P |P |A |A |A |70
B. H. R. Hudson-Davies |P |P |P |P |P |91
T. Hunter Jarvie Not re-elected to Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council 50
W. P. Kitson |P |P |P |A |P |87
J. R. Phillips |P |P |P |P |P |91
J. P. Sainsbury |P |A |P |A |P |67
H. R. Silverman |P |P |A |P |P |83
L. S. Smith |A |P |A |P |A |62
B. K. Thomas |P |P |P |P |A |87
R. E. Watkiss Deceased
<1> A=Absent. S*=Special board meeting. P=Present.
<2> Per cent. covers tables 1 to 4.
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation-board attendance record
|May 1992 |June 1992 |July 1992 |September 1992 |October 1992 |Per cent.<2>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. D. Inkin |P |P |P |P |P |100
Lord Brooks of Tremorfa |P |P |P |A |P |74
Mrs. M. Barnes |Retired from CBDC Board |64
J. A. Beveridge |P |P |P |P |P |83
P. Chapple Deceased 0
Mrs. H. Chapman |P |P |A |P |A |65
A. G. Cox |P |P |A |A |A |70
B. H. R. Hudson-Davies |P |P |P |P |P |91
T. Hunter Jarvie Not re-elected to Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council 50
W. P. Kitson |P |P |P |A |P |87
J. R. Phillips |P |P |P |P |P |91
J. P. Sainsbury |P |A |P |A |P |67
H. R. Silverman |P |P |A |P |P |83
L. S. Smith |A |P |A |P |A |62
B. K. Thomas |P |P |P |P |A |87
R. E. Watkiss Deceased
<1> A=Absent. S*=Special board meeting. P=Present.
<2> Per cent. covers tables 1 to 4.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made for the auditing of the accounts of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation ; what reserve powers the National Audit Office has, for involvement in the auditing process of the corporation's accounts ; what proposals he has to change the arrangements ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : I have nothing to add to the letter that I wrote to the hon. Gentleman on 28 September.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made or proposes to make for public consultation on the Wallace Evans and Partners study of the potential of de-watering wells for the combating of waterlogging of land areas within the protected property line published by the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation in connection with the proposed Cardiff bay barrage ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. David Hunt : As I indicated to the hon. Gentleman on 24 June at col. 217, I have sought the views of Mr.RoyStoner, Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, Cardiff city council and the National Rivers Authority on the results of the report. Copies were also sent for information to petitioners against the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill and other bodies with a known interest.
Special Schools
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in special schools were without a statement of needs in (a) January 1986 and (b) January 1991, in each county in Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Information relating to January 1986 is not available. Data for the next available year and 1991 are shown in the table :
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Non-statemented
pupils
|1987 |<1>1991
----------------------------------------
Clwyd |0 |49
Dyfed |0 |0
Gwent |16 |0
Gwynedd |0 |2
Mid Glamorgan |1 |1
Powys |0 |8
South Glamorgan |49 |85
West Glamorgan |0 |0
|-------|-------
Wales |66 |145
<1> From 1989 onwards, information on
statemented pupils in special schools
was collected at September.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on his policies for children in special schools ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the working of the Education Act 1981 concerning children in special schools.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Our policy for children in special schools, as with other children, is to provide them with the opportunities to make the most of their potential. The Government have undertaken a fundamental review of the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1981 and we are bringing forward proposals to improve the current assessment and statementing process, to give parents the right to express a preference for their child's school and to provide a new appeal system. The details are in the consultation document "Special Education Needs--Access to the System" which was published on 15 July and a copy of which is in the Library of the House. These proposals will benefit not only children in special schools but all children with special educational needs.
Minerals
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his approach to the review of the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981 : Old Mineral Permissions.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The responses to the consultation paper issued in March on old mining permissions are under consideration. Further consultation is likely before any detailed proposals are implemented.
Speed Traps
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contracts he has awarded to BEAMAX for the installation and maintenance of radar camera and security systems speed traps on the M4, Severn bridge and trunk roads ; when they were awarded ; by what process of competitive tender ; and for how long.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Department has not awarded any contracts to BEAMAX.
Milk Marketing Board
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many milk producers in Wales currently deal with the Milk Marketing Board.
Mr. David Hunt : The figure is 5,289 as at August 1992.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National
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Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales in Wales concerning the future of the Milk Marketing Board ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. David Hunt : I am in regular contact with the National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales and both unions have responded to the consultation document on the future of the England and Wales Milk Marketing Board. These responses will be considered along with others I have received.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the numbers of patients waiting for in-patient treatment on 31 March for each individual health authority (a) in total and (b) by main speciality for periods (i) under 12 months, (ii) 12 to 24 months and (iii) over 24 months.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The available information on waiting lists in Wales as at 31 March 1992 was published in "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin : 1992 No. 2" on 23 September and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
The percentage of in-patients waiting over 12 months are shown in tables 1.1-1.10 and those waiting over 24 months are shown in table 2.1.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the numbers of patients waiting for out-patient treatment on 31 March for each individual health authority (a) in total and (b) by main speciality for periods (i) under 12 months, (ii) 12 to 24 months and (iii) over 24 months.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The available information on waiting lists in Wales as at 31 March 1992 was published in "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin : 1992 No. 2" on 23 September and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Information is available only on the percentage of out-patients waiting over three months and is shown in tables 1.1-1.10.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the male and female populations aged 16 years and over are economically active in (a) Blaenau Gwent and (b) Wales.
Mr David Hunt : The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) have to date published only a selection of 1991 census results in the county monitor series (CEN 91 CM). The Wales percentages given in the following table are provisional as they are derived directly from the rounded statistics in those monitors. National level results will be published in November 1992.
Percentage of Working Age Group Economically Active, 1991
|Males (16-64 Years)|Females (15-59
|per cent. |Years) per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Blaenau Gwent |77.1 |58.1
b. Wales |81.2 |62.5
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest male unemployment figure in (a)the Shotton travel-to-work area, (b) the Alyn and Deeside constituency and (c) the county of Clwyd.
Mr. David Hunt : The September 1992 male unemployment claimant figures are 5,965, 2,345 and 12,345 for the Shotton, Flint and Rhyl travel- to-work area, Alyn and Deeside constituency and county of Clwyd respectively.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the number of people in Wales (a) who have two jobs and (b) who are counted more than once in the employment figures.
Mr. David Hunt : Estimates derived from the Labour Force Survey of 3,000 households in Wales in spring 1992 suggest that 4.3 per cent. of employees had second jobs. Such estimates are subject to sampling variability.
The exact number of people who are counted more than once in compiling the official estimates of employees in employment is not known. These latter estimates are based on figures collected from employers who do not generally know if an employee is filling the post as an additional job.
Welsh World Trade Centre
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to occupy space in the Welsh world trade centre in 1993.
Mr. David Hunt : My Department has no current plans to take office space at the Welsh world trade centre. We will consider taking space at any relevant exhibitions which are held there.
Farming Enterprises
Mr. Morgan To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the NFU Wales and the Farmers Union of Wales regarding the viability of Welsh farming enterprises in Wales following the collapse of the auctioneers and mart-owners King Thomas Lloyd-Jones.
Mr. David Hunt : I have received a number of letters on this matter but have had no formal consultations on this issue with the farming unions.
Water Pollution
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a progress report on the identification, monitoring and classification of private water supplies in Wales for nitrate.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Local authorities are responsible for private water supplies in their areas. Paragraphs 7.7 and 7.8 of Welsh Office circular 68/91 (copies of which are in the Library of the House) specify the timescale for providing me with reports. The information the hon. Gentleman is seeking will not be available centrally until after June 1993.
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the surveys that are being carried out to identify the vulnerability of aquifers in Wales ;
(2) if he will publish a list of contaminated land sites in Wales which threaten groundwater quality.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones : The National Rivers Authority is currently producing a series of groundwater vulnerability maps, which will be based on geological and soil characteristics. These will enhance the NRA's ability to assess the risks from a number of factors, including those arising from contaminated land. In addition the authority routinely monitors groundwater, principally that used for potable supplies.
Surveys of potentially contaminated land have been undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Office and the Welsh Development Agency, the most recent of these in 1987-88. A copy of this survey is available in the Library of the House.
Investment
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of his current and forthcoming overseas visit or visits to attract inward investment to Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : I have recently returned from an inward investment mission to the United States, Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. I have not yet arranged further visits.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of public investment in Clwyd since 1980 ; and if he will list the main headings of such investment.
Mr. David Hunt : County estimates of gross domestic fixed capital formation by function of government have, so far, only been prepared for 1987 and 1988. These estimates were published in the Regional Accounts article of the November 1990 issue of Economic Trends (No. 445). The publication of figures for 1989 and 1990 is scheduled for the December 1992 issue.
Dentists
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of dentists now leaving dentistry in Wales and in the United Kingdom for practices abroad.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : This information is not held centrally.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of dentists in the national health service in Wales who are not accepting new patients.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : This information is not held centrally. General dental practitioners are independent contractors who are free to decide which patients to accept or reject.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists are awaiting determination of or have declared bankruptcy in Wales in each of the last three years.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave him on 2 June 1992 at cols. 433-35.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he proposes to improve working conditions of dentists in the national health service in Wales.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones : The working conditions of general dental practitioners at their practice premises are their own responsibility, subject to health and safety regulations. In broader terms, the Government have initiated a fundamental review of the dental remuneration system. This review is being undertaken by Sir Kenneth Bloomfield who is to report by the end of the year.
Employment Initiatives
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new financial initiatives he intends to introduce to attract new jobs to Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : Regional selective assistance continues to prove an effective instrument and remains the cornerstone of our efforts which have already succeeded in securing considerable inward investment and helped many Welsh businesses to expand. Initiatives such as the financial services initiative and IT Wales are kept under review to ensure that they achieve the maximum effect in their target sectors.
Textiles
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made by his Department to date on the promotion of Welsh textiles within other EC member states.
Mr. David Hunt : There are no specific programmes to promote Welsh textiles in other EC member states. However, as part of its garment initiative the WDA is active in helping to develop the Welsh clothing industry.
Anaesthetists
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by regional health authority the current establishment requirement for anaesthetists ; and how many are in post.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : No establishment requirement figure is set by the Department. The Royal College of Anaesthetists issues guidance to individual hospital units on the numbers and experience of anaesthetists required to satisfy the range of services provided. Bids for new posts are received by the Department and advice is sought from the Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee. Provisional figures as at 30 September 1991, the latest figures which are available, show that there were 146 consultant anaesthetists in post in Wales (including locums) with a whole-time equivalent of 131.0.
Brick Making
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the Butterley brick works, Lane End, Buckley.
Mr. David Hunt : I have no plans to visit Butterley Brick's operation at Buckley at the present time.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in each county in Wales are employed in brick making.
Mr. David Hunt : Brickmaking is not separately identified in employment estimates. In September 1989
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there were 800 people employed in Wales in the manufacture of all structural clay products. Figures at a county level may not be published because to do so would breach the guidelines for protecting confidential data relating to a small number of businesses.Car Leasing Schemes
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings he has had with the chairmen of the non-departmental public bodies in Wales to examine the costs of their executive car leasing schemes.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total annual cost of executive car leasing schemes for (a) chairmen and vice chairmen, (b) senior executives and (c) middle management executives of each of the non-departmental public bodies in Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : This information is not held centrally. However, my Department has recently reminded NDPBs of the criteria which they must follow to ensure the cost-effectiveness of any car leasing arrangements.
South Glamorgan Family Health Services Authority
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the terms and conditions and length of working week for Mrs. Janet Sainsbury as chair of the South Glamorgan family health services authority ; what other candidates were considered for the post ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The chairman of South Glamorgan family health services authority receives £11,720 for a time commitment of not less than 2 days per week. A wide range of candidates was considered but their names are confidential.
Local Government
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the structures working group of the Welsh county and district councils and his own officials regarding the most effective future patterns of local government in Wales.
Mr. David Hunt : The Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government, of which I am chairman, has received and discussed reports from the structures group and its sub-groups on this matter. I am now giving further consideration to the issues raised.
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