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Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken to date by his Department in developing a standard method of measuring noise levels from moving vehicles.
Mr. Carlisle : As the matter is within the remit of the Secretary of State for Transport, I have been asked to reply. A new vehicle type- approval test was established in the 1960s, as since then the United Kingdom has applied relevant EC directives which are subject to it. More recently, the Department of Transport has been carrying out research concerning the noise generated by tyre/road
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interaction and supporting the work of an International Standards Organisation (ISO) working group looking at traffic noise. This group is evolving a Transport Research Laboratory system for assessing road traffic noise into an International standard. When this is completed, we anticipate that the United Kingdom system will be universally acknowledged and will provide a uniform measure for this environmental nuisance.Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the welfare of caged chipmunks for sale in pet shops ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : We have received no representations about the welfare of chipmunks sold as pets in pet shops. The welfare of animals sold as pets is protected by the Pet Animals Act 1951, as amended, which requires any person keeping a pet shop to be licensed by the local authority.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish tables, for 1991 and for 1990, showing the number of (a) young adults and (b) juveniles committing each category of offence and a breakdown showing the percentage under each category who were sentenced to each type of sentence or order ; (2) if he will list for each category of offence the number of offences committed by (a) juveniles and (b) young adults in each police force area ; and what percentages this was of the total number of offences in each category in each of the last five years for which figures are available.4
Mr. Jack [holding answer 14 December 1992] : Information on convictions and cautions within police force areas by age and offence group, is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" supplementary tables volume 3.
Figures showing the number of offenders cautioned and convicted by type of sentence given, age and offence group is also published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" supplementary tables volumes 1, 2 and 3. Copies of all the publications referred to above are available in the Libarary.
The 1991 volumes will be published in the new year.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is to be taken on licensing irregularities in the animal procedure carried out in the current year at Hazelton UK in respect of its use of primates.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Two, unrelated, technical irregularities in blood sampling in rats and monkeys, discovered in March and May of 1992, were dealt with at the time by the inspector.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department's inspectors
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responsible for sanctioning the conditions at Shamrock (GB) Ltd. and Hazelton United Kingdom retain responsibility for implementing improved conditions.Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 215, if he will make a statement on the quality of his Department's previous inspections at Shamrock (GB) Ltd. and Hazelton United Kingdom institutions.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Shamrock (GB) Ltd and Hazelton United Kingdom were inspected respectively four and nine times in 1991 and six and fourteen times in the period January to September 1992. It is difficult even for unannounced visits, however frequent, to detect the failures of care, handling and management which were revealed at Shamrock by the detailed investigation which was carried out following receipt of the allegations made by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection. None the less, the incident shows that the system is able to respond quickly to such allegations, and to take tough and effective action where necessary.
I consider that the inspectors responsible for the two establishments acted conscientiously to ensure the well-being of the animals concerned. With hindsight, the programmes of cage replacement agreed at Shamrock and Hazelton seem over-generous and these have now been accelerated in the light of the findings of the investigation. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that the inspectors would have taken steps to require immediate improvements if it had ever become apparent that overt animal suffering was being caused by the caging in use.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken itself or via the inspectorate of constabulary, to encourage any police force to seek to hold supernumerary posts in the coming year.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many supernumerary posts the Thames Valley police asked to be allowed to hold in 1992-93 and 1993-94 ; and how many have been permitted by his Department in each case.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I shall arrange for a written reply to be sent to the hon. Member.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance was offered (a) by his Department and (b) by the inspectorate of constabulary on the criteria against which he would consider allowing police authorities to hold supernumerary posts in the coming year.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question by him on 14 December 1992, at column 6 . Police authorities were informed of these criteria in March 1991.
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Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make it an offence for a person deliberately to infect another with the HIV virus ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : I have considered this matter very carefully in the light of the concern which has been expressed, and have looked at the precedents in other countries. I have concluded, however, that there are difficulties both of principle and of practice in bringing this type of behaviour within the scope of the criminal law and I am not persuaded that these difficulties have been overcome in other jurisdictions. I, therefore, have no plans to introduce legislation to make the deliberate transmission of the HIV virus a criminal offence.
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made to the role of the category A committee for high-risk prisoners in the light of the security audit undertaken by Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Lakes.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : In the light of the security audit undertaken last year by Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Lakes, it has been decided to change the procedures for reviewing the security status of category A prisoners. Security status will continue to be reviewed on conviction and at least annually there after, but referral to the category A committee will be limited to new cases and to those cases where recommendations have been made for a change to the security category either by the holding prison or by prison service headquarters. The category A committee comprises senior officials of the prison service, including governors and staff of prisons normally holding category A prisoners ; a senior medical officer ; and a senior police adviser. Its role is :
(i) to consider whether prisoners recently convicted of very serious offences should be retained in security category A, which is reserved for those whose escape from prison custody would be highly dangerous to the public or the police or the security of the State ; (ii) to consider all cases of category A prisoners where recommendations have been made for a change in security status ; and to review cases where no such recommendations have been made for five years ; and
(iii) to make recommendations to the director general of the prison service.
All other cases will be considered at least annually by officials of the directorate of custody.
The new procedures are designed to improve efficiency in the administration of category A prisoners while ensuring that changes in security status are well founded and that no prisoner remains in category A any longer than is necessary.
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage change since 1979 in (a) police manpower, (b) recorded crime and (c) population in Dorset ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The requested information is as follows :
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|per cent. ------------------------------------------- (a) police manpower<1> |14.6 (b)recorded crime<2> |121.6 (c) population<3> |12.6 <1> Actual strength for April 1979 and September 1992. <2> Based on annual figures for notifiable offences recorded by the police in 1979 and 1991. <3> Based on the population figure for mid-1979 and the estimated figure for mid-1991.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sums were expended by his Department on European Drug Prevention Week additional to those already expended through other programmes ; and for what purposes.
Mr. Jack : The additional Home Office expenditure on European Drug Prevention Week amounted to £393,000. The bulk was used by the 20 local drugs prevention teams set up under the drug prevention initiative, to produce over 220 events and projects across the country during the week, with the aim of further raising awareness of drug and solvent misuse. The remainder included funds spent on publicity and promotional material as well as organisation costs.
Mr. Trend : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps the Charity Commission took in considering Royal Holloway and Bedford New college's proposal to sell pictures from its collection to (a) consider and take advice on surveys of the buildings and (b) consider the college's alternative plans for raising the money ; if he will list those surveys commissioned or considered ; and what information was received from the college on its financial needs ;
(2) what steps the Charity Commission took in considering Royal Holloway and Bedford New college's proposal to sell pictures from its collection to (a) seek advice on the integrity of the collection from (i) directors of national museums or art collections or (ii) independent experts and (b) consider the provisions on the use of paintings in the 1883 deed of foundation ; if he will list the experts whose advice was taken into account ; and what alternative educational use was considered for the pictures.
Mr. Jack : The foundation deed of 11 October 1883 does not make provision as to any specific use for the pictures. The trusts relating to the pictures are contained in an indenture of 5 August 1881. I understand that the commissioners were asked to make a scheme to change the trusts of the 1881 deed to allow certain pictures to be sold
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for the purpose of providing a fund without which the main purpose of Thomas Holloway's Foundation could not be maintained.It was for the college to satisfy the commissioners that it had considered the options before it on the basis of proper advice. It was for the commissioners to satisfy themselves that the case was supported by appropriate evidence, not to seek independent advice. In reaching their decision the commissioners had before them evidence provided by the college both as to the state of the buildings, the estimated costs of repairs and the financial position of the college including evidence of efforts made to raise the necessary funds. They also had the evidence produced by the objectors to the scheme which was examined with equal care.
The terms of the 1881 deed were considered very carefully on a number of occasions. Specifically the deed did not provide any educational use for the pictures. I understand that the commissioners' view was, therefore, that the integrity of the collection was not central to the consideration of this matter by the commissioners.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum applications made by unaccompanied children under 16 years were determined in 1991 ; and of these how many were determined (a) by the granting of refugee status, (b) by the granting of exceptional leave to remain and (c) by the refusal to either ; (2) how many asylum applications were made by unaccompanied children under 16 years in the year January to December 1990 ; how many of these applications have now been determined ; and how these were determined ;
(3) how many unaccompanied children under 16 years have applied for refugee status on a monthly basis (a) in 1991 and (b) since 1 January 1992 ; and what was the country of origin of these children.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information relates to unaccompanied children applying at the ports since November 1990 and is given in tables A and B. Corresponding information for January to October 1990 is not available. The information in table A, for November 1990 to December 1991, is of children aged 16 or under : separate figures for those under 16 are not available. The information in table B, for January to November 1992, is of those under 16.
Information on in-country application by unaccompanied children is not available in this form.
As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for 25 November, columns 647- 48, information on decisions on applications by unaccompanied children is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Table B Unaccompanied<1> children<2> applying for asylum on their arrival in the United Kingdom, by nationality, January to November 1992 |January |February |March |April |May |June |July |August |September|October |November ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghanistan |- |2 |- |- |1 |- |- |2 |1 |- |- Angola |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Ethiopia |- |- |4 |1 |- |- |2 |- |- |1 |1 Ghana |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1 Lebanon |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |1 |- |- Malaysia |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Sierra Leone |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Somalia |2 |2 |1 |4 |- |2 |5 |3 |2 |1 |4 Sri Lanka |1 |2 |1 |1 |1 |3 |1 |1 |2 |- |- Sudan |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- Turkey |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- Uganda |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 Yugoslavia |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |1 |5 Zaire |1 |1 |- |- |5 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |--- |-- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- Total |4 |9 |7 |7 |8 |7 |10 |7 |5 |4 |12 <1> Unaccompanied at the point of their arrival, and not known to be joining a close adult relative in the United Kingdom. <2> Under 16 years of age. The figures involve some estimation since in certain cases the precise date of birth is not available.
Table B Unaccompanied<1> children<2> applying for asylum on their arrival in the United Kingdom, by nationality, January to November 1992 |January |February |March |April |May |June |July |August |September|October |November ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghanistan |- |2 |- |- |1 |- |- |2 |1 |- |- Angola |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Ethiopia |- |- |4 |1 |- |- |2 |- |- |1 |1 Ghana |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1 Lebanon |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |1 |- |- Malaysia |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Sierra Leone |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Somalia |2 |2 |1 |4 |- |2 |5 |3 |2 |1 |4 Sri Lanka |1 |2 |1 |1 |1 |3 |1 |1 |2 |- |- Sudan |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- Turkey |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- Uganda |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 Yugoslavia |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |1 |5 Zaire |1 |1 |- |- |5 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |--- |-- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- Total |4 |9 |7 |7 |8 |7 |10 |7 |5 |4 |12 <1> Unaccompanied at the point of their arrival, and not known to be joining a close adult relative in the United Kingdom. <2> Under 16 years of age. The figures involve some estimation since in certain cases the precise date of birth is not available.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons currently held on remand in gaols in England and Wales have been held for (a) up to six months, (b) exceeding six months but less than 12 months, (c) exceeding six months but less than 18 months, (d) exceeding 18 months but less than 24 months, (e) exceeding 24 months but less than 36 months and (f) more than 36 months ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the reasons for the delay in coming to trial for persons held on remand in gaols in England and Wales for periods exceeding 18 months ; and to how many cases each reason applies.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 2 December 1992] : The latest readily available information held currently is given in the table.
Population of untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June 1992<1>: by length of time since first remand into a prison service establishment. Length of time since |Number of first remanded into |Prisoners<3> a prison service establishment<2> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Up to 6 months |8,160 Over 6 up to 12 months |1,190 Over 12 up to 18 months |170 Over 18 months up to 2 years |30 Over 2 up to 3 years |10 Over 3 years |- |------- All lengths |9,560 <1> Excludes 845 prisoners held in police cells. <2> Excludes any time spent in non-prison service establishments before reception on remand into a prison service establishment; includes any subsequent time which may have been spent on bail. <3> Provisional rounded estimates.
I regret that information on the reasons for delay in relation to individual persons who have been held for periods in excess of 18 months is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inspection has been carried out into the fire regulations at Wellbury House ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 8 December 1992] : Wellbury House boarding school, Great Offley, was inspected by Hertfordshire fire and rescue service on 4 February 1992. Conditions were thought to be such that persons using the basement and upper floors would be at serious risk from a fire. A notice under section 10 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 was duly issued the following day.
The notice prohibited the use of the basement and upper floors pending work to remedy the deficiencies identified by the inspecting officer. I understand, however, that no such work has been done. The premises are therefore inspected each month to ensure that the prohibition notice is being observed.
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Mr. Hutton : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure for travel by Ministers on European Community business, divided into fares and subsistence for each parliamentary Session from and including 1987-88 to 1991-92 in (a) cash and (b) 1991-92 prices.
The Prime Minister : The information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the arrangements for ensuring that regional planning guidance issued by the Department of the Environment and regional briefs produced by the Department of Transport are each drafted with regard to the other.
The Prime Minister : Regional planning guidance and regional briefs giving information on transport issues are prepared with regard to each other. There is close consultation between the two Departments which have joint regional offices.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Prime Minister what rules govern the disclosure of information concerning the sale of land owned by Government Departments with regard to the location of the land, sale price and name of purchaser ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The Government adopt normal commercial practice in relation to the disclosure of the details of land transactions. The terms on which land has been sold and the identity of the purchaser are treated as commercial in confidence. Information should not be disclosed without the agreement of both parties.
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 December.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 December.
The Prime Minister : This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has as to which local authorities supply a free talking book service to the visually impaired from the local library service ; and if he will make a statement about such provision.
Mr. Key : Information about which local authorities supply a free talking book service to the visually impaired is not collected centrally.
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Library authorities generally exercise their responsibilities towards visually impaired people by providing as wide a selection as possible of large print books and cassette recordings of books. Large print books are part of the book lending service and must be provided free of charge. Many authorities also loan cassette recordings of books free of charge to the visually impaired. Some library authorities provide reading machines, and in some cases braille transcription services. The Royal National Institute for the Blind--RNIB--talking books service, as such, is not generally regarded as an indispensible element of a library service for blind people, and any charge which might be made for the talking book service does not, of itself, constitute any infringement of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.However, we recognise that more needs to be done to develop public library services for blind people. That is why we have been jointly funding the RNIB's "Share the Vision" project, which is examining various ways of developing the public library as the primary point of access to information services as a whole for visually impaired people.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will give consideration to the establishment of a national sports museum in the region, in conjunction with the north-west bid for the Olympic games ;
(2) if he will consider sponsoring the establishment of a national sports museum in Liverpool.
Mr. Key : I have received no proposals from the Manchester bid committee to establish a national sports museum.
Government support for new museums is provided by the Museums and Galleries Commission through its network of area museum councils. Applications for grant assistance from the commission must demonstrate that the project is well conceived, and that the governing body is willing to work towards the standards set out for the registration of a museum by the commission.
Mr. David Young : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he will advise to secure national art treasures in view of the Windsor fire ; if he will make it his policy for the public to have the right to view such treasures free of charge ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 30 November 1992] : I have commissioned an inquiry into fire protection at all royal palaces for which my Department has financial responsibility in the light of the Windsor castle fire and will consider carefully the recommendations of the inquiry. Responsibility for fire protection at national museums and galleries is vested in the trustees who may seek advice from whatever sources they consider to be most appropriate. It is for those responsible for the care and presentation of national art treasures to decide whether or not a charge is made to view them.
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Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the latest information on the epidemic of BSE in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Gummer : I am placing in the Library of the House a note summarising the latest evidence about the epidemic. All the evidence continues to point to infected ruminant protein as the origin of the epidemic, and to justify confidence that the ban on feeding such material to ruminants will bring about its end.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans to promote the Welsh language.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Government will soon be placing before Parliament a Welsh Language Bill. The Bill will require public bodies serving Wales to prepare schemes covering the use they will make of Welsh in providing services to the public. It will also establish a statutory Welsh Language Board and amend previous legislation in respect of Welsh.
The Bill will be a further step in the Government's unprecedented programme of support for the Welsh language, as part of which we are making available £7.6 million in grants for Welsh language organisations and projects in the current financial year. We are also continuing to implement the introduction of Welsh as a national curriculum subject in all schools in Wales.
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of Cardiff Bay development corporation ; and what was discussed.
Mr. David Hunt : I meet the chairman of Cardiff Bay development corporation regularly to discuss a variety of issues.
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the process of consultations between Cardiff Bay development corporation and the Welsh Office.
Mr. David Hunt : Under the terms of its financial memorandum, Cardiff Bay development corporation is required to prepare and submit to the Welsh Office a corporate plan looking three years ahead of the current financial year. There are formal consultations on this plan. In addition, there is informal discussion between officials on a day-to-day basis.
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the relationship between Cardiff Bay development corporation and (a) Cardiff Bay Management Ltd. and (b) Cardiff Bay Investment Ltd. ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : Cardiff Bay (Management) Ltd. and Cardiff Bay (Investment) Ltd. were both incorporated in
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May 1989 and are wholly owned subsidiary companies of the corporation. In the published accounts of the corporation as at 31 March 1992 they were described as dormant and this status is unchanged. In each case the authorised share capital is £1,000 and the issued share capital is £2 being two shares of £1 each.Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the Government funds given to Cardiff Bay development corporation each year since its inception ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : The information is given in figure 6.01 in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992-93 to 1994-95 : A Report by the Welsh Office", Cm 1916, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) which factors in the environmentally sensitive area programme account for savings to common agriculture policy expenditure, in order of their costs ;
(2) if he will collate and tabulate the total savings in common agriculture policy expenditure arising from the environmentally sensitive area scheme since its inception, per year and in total for each scheme and for Wales as a whole.
Mr. David Hunt : The main factor that could account for savings to CAP expenditure is the requirement to reduce stocking densities in order to protect specific wildlife habitats and landscape characteristics of the areas. An assessment of likely savings is contained in the interim report prepared by the University college of Wales, Aberystwyth, on the socio- economic aspects of designation. This report was issued in June 1991 as technical background to the consultation paper relating to the Cambrian mountains (original) ESA, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. The final report is expected to be published early in the new year.
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of reported AIDS cases for Clwyd.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : At the end of September 1992 the total number of AIDS cases who were known to live in Clwyd was 14, of whom 12 had died.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many noise nuisance complaints have been received by each local authority in Wales during each of the last three years.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The Welsh Office does not have this information on a local authority basis. Figures for Wales in total for 1988-89 and 1989 -90--1990-91 data are not yet available--can be found in table 3.29 of the "Environmental Digest for Wales No. 6 1991", copies of which are held in the Library of the House.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the auditing arrangements he has put in place for Garden Festival Wales Ltd.
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Mr. David Hunt : This is not a matter for the Secretary of State for Wales. The two local authority sponsors, Blaenau Gwent borough council and Gwent county council have established a limited company, Garden Festival Wales Ltd. Audit arrangements are covered under the Companies Acts.
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