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Mr. Redwood : Expenditure through the Welsh Office's main schemes for business support is shown in the table. Separate figures for manufacturing industry are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The figures do not include grant in aid for development agencies in Wales, nor expenditure by DTI on UK-wide schemes.
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£000s
|Regional |Regional |Regional |Exchange risk|Total
|development |enterprise |selective |guarantee
|grant<1> |grant |assistance |scheme
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |50,663 |- |4,774 |(20) |55,417
1980-81 |103,475 |- |8,025 |0 |111,500
1981-82 |122,171 |- |7,716 |4,311 |134,198
1982-83 |121,527 |- |9,613 |636 |131,776
1983-84 |72,126 |- |11,141 |2,092 |85,359
1984-85 |31,268 |- |13,765 |4,906 |49,939
1985-86 |81,933 |- |19,387 |3,770 |105,090
1986-87 |85,192 |- |26,009 |5,927 |117,128
1987-88 |47,528 |- |23,211 |5,987 |76,726
1988-89 |55,105 |218 |35,148 |2,816 |93,287
1989-90 |27,459 |944 |34,865 |5,274 |68,542
1990-91 |21,700 |1,504 |30,461 |4,141 |57,806
1991-92 |14,161 |1,430 |55,021 |3,535 |74,147
1992-93 |5,532 |1,096 |58,819 |5,480 |70,927
<1>Figures for RDG up to 1983-84 are gross of receipts. Net figures are not available for those
years.
All other figures are net.
Education Expenditure
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much central Government money was spent per head of the population on education in Wales in each year since 1979.
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Sir Wyn Roberts : Based on the appropriation accounts of the Welsh Office, the information is estimated to be as follows :
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£ per head of population (in
cash terms)
|Per cent.
------------------------------
1979-80 |1.17
1980-81 |1.26
1981-82 |1.77
1982-83 |1.89
1983-84 |2.55
1984-85 |3.16
1985-86 |3.94
1986-87 |4.84
1987-88 |7.38
1988-89 |8.52
1989-90 |10.37
1990-91 |11.79
1991-92 |14.76
1992-93 |32.68
These figures are not wholly comparable in every case because of changes in classification. However, figures for total identifiable Government expenditure on education in Wales are available on a consistent basis and the information is as follows :
£ per head of
population (in
cash terms)
|£
----------------
1979-80 |192
1980-81 |234
1981-82 |256
1982-83 |277
1983-84 |291
1984-85 |299
1985-86 |298
1986-87 |330
1987-88 |358
1988-89 |391
1989-90 |423
1990-91 |458
1991-92 |521
1992-93 |568
Unemployment Schemes
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much central Government money was spent on schemes to help unemployed people in Wales in each year since 1979 in total and per person unemployed ; and if he will list which schemes are included in these totals for each year.
Mr. Redwood : The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
National Curriculum
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources have been allocated to the Welsh Office for the expanding of the national curriculum in key stage 4 during 1994-95.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales is being slimmed down to provide flexibility and choice and is not being expanded.
Tourism
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much central Government money was spent per head of the population on encouraging tourism in Wales for each year since 1979.
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Sir Wyn Roberts : The information in the table represents central Government support to the Wales tourist board per head of the population in cash terms :
Central Government support to Wales
Tourist Board
1978-79 to 1993-94
Year |£ per head of
|population in
|Wales<1>
------------------------------------------
1978-79 |1.2
1979-80 |1.3
1980-81 |1.5
1981-82 |1.8
1982-83 |2.0
1983-84 |1.8
1984-85 |2.3
1985-86 |2.7
1986-87 |2.8
1987-88 |3.1
1988-89 |3.3
1989-90 |3.5
1990-91 |3.7
1991-92 |3.9
1992-93 |4.6
<2>1993-94 |4.8
Source: Wales tourist board and OPCS
<1>Population estimates are Registrar
General's mid-year estimates of resident
population.
<2>Projected population from the
Government Actuary's Department.
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he received a copy of the curriculum vitae of the chair of the Welsh Development Agency before making the appointment ; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
Mr. Redwood : I did not read the chairman's curriculum vitae. Such documents are confidential and not suitable for placing in the Library of the House. I read a letter and memorandum about Mr. Rowe-Beddoe's career and suitability for the job before asking to see him. I did not discuss politics when I met him, with officials present. The CV was received in the Welsh Office, did include on it on page 2 a reference to the Conservative party, but this was not repeated in the materials I read before confirming the appointment.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he first considered the curriculum vitae submitted by Mr. David Rowe-Beddoe in support of his application for the post of chairman of the Welsh Development Agency.
Mr. Redwood : My Department provided details about Mr. Rowe-Beddoe's career. I had no need to consider the curriculum vitae.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applicants for the post of chairman of the Welsh Development Agency were personally interviewed by (a) himself and (b) his immediate predecessor as Secretary of State.
Mr. Redwood : I met the selected candidate ; officials sifted CVs of over 80 ; my predecessor interviewed six.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he first became aware that Mr. David
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Rowe-Beddoe, the person he appointed as chair of the Welsh Development Agency had been, immediately prior to that appointment, the chairman of the Monte Carlo branch of Conservatives Abroad.Mr. Redwood : Recently. Mr. Rowe-Beddoe was appointed because of his business skills. His political associations were not a consideration.
Transport Expenditure
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has to produce annual statistics of all Government spending, capital and revenue across all modes of transport in Wales, including data on tonnages, passenger numbers, investment and subsidy.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Comprehensive information on transport in Wales including data on tonnages, passenger numbers, Government expenditure, investment and subsidy, is published annually in "Welsh Transport Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The next edition--No. 10--is due for publication on 6 July 1994.
Cereal Support Payments
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to ensure that Wales and England are treated as one region for the purpose of cereal support payments.
Mr. Redwood : This is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and me to decide jointly.
Milk Marque
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions with the Milk Marketing Board on the setting up of Milk Marque ; and what representations he has received from Welsh farming unions on this matter.
Mr. Redwood : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies), on 3 February 1994, Official Report , column 866 .
I have received four letters from hon. Members on behalf of the farming unions. In addition my right hon. Friend the Minister of State has met the National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales on 16 and 23December 1993 respectively to discuss this matter.
Sheep and Beef Premiums
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on late payment of sheep annual premium and special beef premium to farmers in Wales in 1993 ; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that payments are made on time in 1994.
Mr. Redwood : I have received representations from several sources.
Processing work on these schemes was delayed initially by the need to establish a new computer system to enable payments to be issued from the Welsh Office, and not from MAFF as previously. The system has now been established and good progress is being made.
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Payments have been sent to 84 per cent. of sheep premium claimants. Payments have been authorised for 46per cent. of holdings which submitted beef special premium claims and will be sent to them shortly.Priority is being given to the remaining claims.
A5
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the commencement dates for each section in respect of the dualling of the A5 across Anglesey.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I refer the hon. Member to the 1993 supplement to "Roads in Wales : Progress and Plans for the 1990s".
Denbigh Graig Quarry
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to take measures to halt the proposed extension of the Denbigh Graig quarry by Tarmac/Roadstone ; what account he has taken of the objections of residents and organisations in Denbigh ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : This is a matter for Clwyd county council as the mineral planning authority for the area.
Crossrail
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the potential benefits to Wales of the crossrail project in central London.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Crossrail will afford travellers from south Wales speedier and more convenient access to the west end, the City and to destinations in east London and beyond.
M4
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he received during the consultation period on the proposals to extend the M4 relief road through the Gwent levels ; how many of these representations approved of the Welsh Office's proposals ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 31 January 1994, Official Report , column 526 .
Paper Shredders
Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many paper shredding machines there are (a) in his private office and (b) in his Department.
Mr. Redwood : The answer is : (a) 1 (b) 17.
Health Promotion Authority
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales concerning the enhancement of value for money to be achieved from overseas travel by its staff ;
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(2) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales concerning the strengthening of financial controls, and improvement of assessment and monitoring of overseas travel claims ;(3) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales concerning the resignation of its executive director with effect from 2February 1994.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : These are matters for which the chairman and the board of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales have already given consideration. Overseas travel claims are currently being investigated by the district audit service at the request of the chairman and the board, following an internal inquiry, and the police have been informed by the chairman of the results of the investigation so far. The chairman and the board may wish to take into consideration any comments, the district audit service may offer following its investigation and I expect that they will continue to keep the Welsh Office fully informed.
Sustainable Development
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to establish a special advisory body for sustainable development policies in Wales on the lines of that proposed for Scotland.
Mr. Redwood : The Government panel on sustainable development will provide independent and authoritative advice to all Ministers, including me. The Welsh Office is also giving priority to ensuring that Welsh interests are properly reflected in the round table and citizen's environment initiatives. I see no need for another quango in Wales to deal with this.
Teacher Training
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools have agreed to take part in the proposed school-based teacher training initiative ; and how many students will be trained as a result.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Schools in Wales have not yet been invited to participate in school-centred courses of initial teacher training. Subject to the passage of the Education Bill currently before Parliament, it would be for the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to decide on the allocation of training places in higher education institutions and schools.
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the representations he has received for and against participation in the school-based teacher training initiative.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I have received a number of representations from schools, higher education institutions and other interested parties about schools-centred teacher training. Some were opposed to schools taking full control of the training of student teachers ; others supported the initiative provided that proper guidance and funding were made available.
Agriculture Support Schemes
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he plans to take to introduce more clarity and efficiency into the system of forms for the support schemes for agriculture in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Redwood [holding answer 4 February] : I wish to see forms and explanatory literature kept as simple and straightforward as possible, although they inevitably have to be comprehensive enough to inform farmers of the full range of scheme rules. I have established a working group which will report to me in the near future on the streamlining of agri- environmental and other schemes in Wales.
Consumer Protection
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure the provision of full consumer protection and trading standards service in all parts of Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 4 February] : It is a matter for local authorities to ensure that they perform their statutory duties satisfactorily.
TRANSPORT
Carriage of Goods
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific restrictions in respect of the carriage of goods apply to vehicles in taxation class restricted showman's heavy goods vehicle.
Mr. Key : This is an extremely complex area and I will write to the hon. Member in detail.
Bowbelle
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate and place in the Library details of the certificates of service held by the crew of Bowbelle ; and whether they satisfied medical fitness certification requirements.
Mr. Norris : The manning of Bowbelle was fully in accord with the statutory requirements for the vessel, and all the crew were properly qualified. Some of the crew held certificates of competency or service. These certificates can be issued only to persons possessing a valid medical fitness certificate.
Tax Concessions (Germany)
Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the German Government about the extension of tax concessions available to German shipping companies.
Mr. Norris : None, but the EC Commission, which has responsibility for the initial consideration of these matters, is currently considering whether the extension of tax concessions available to German shipping companies is an illegal state aid within the terms of the treaty of Rome.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which non- departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have been (a) abolished or (b) created since 1979.
Mr. MacGregor : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 February 1994, Official Report , column 611 .
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Contracts
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 31 January, Official Report , column 509 , if he will publish the terms of reference for each contract awarded over the past five years.
Mr. Norris : The contracts awarded over the past five years contain a wide variety of types of work. They will not normally have been let against simple terms of reference, but if the hon. Member has a particular interest in any one of the specific cases listed in my answer of 31 January, I will be happy to respond.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answers of 31 January, Official Report , columns 506-9 , regarding contracts for which bids are currently being considered by his Department, if he will publish the terms of reference for each contract.
Mr. Norris : The contracts currently being considered contain a wide variety of types of work. They will not normally be let against simple terms of reference, but if the hon. Member has a particular interest in any one of the cases listed in my answer of 31 January, I will be happy to respond.
Operator Licensing
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the method used to calculate the annual savings to the transport industry of his proposals for simplifying the operator licensing system for buses and lorries quoted in his press statement No. 24 of 19 January.
Mr. Key : The press statement figure was based on the saving to the haulage industry as a result of the introduction of continuous licensing. It was calculated on a fee charged at five-yearly intervals which would be less than the current grant charge because no processing of an application would be involved and the elimination of advertisement costs for operators already in the industry.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that local residents are aware of their rights to object to the issue of goods vehicle operator licences.
Mr. Key : Applicants for a goods vehicle operator's licence must advertise their application for a licence in a local newspaper which is circulated in the area of the applicant's operating centre, i.e. where the vehicles are to be kept. The advertisement must appear within 21 days before, or 21 days after, the application is made. The advertisement makes local residents aware of their right, if they are owners or occupiers of land in the vicinity of an operating centre, to submit written representations to the licensing authority within 21 days after the date when the advertisement appeared in the local newspaper.
Further advice is given to representors in a booklet entitled "A Guide to making Representations". Copies of this booklet are available free of charge from traffic area offices.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the savings to his Department of the introduction of continuous licensing for operators of buses and lorries.
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Mr. Key : It is estimated that the effect on departmental expenditure will be neutral.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the meetings held by his officials with representatives of local authorities to discuss the deregulation of operator licensing.
Mr. Norris : Prior to the 1989 review of passenger and goods vehicle operator licensing, meetings took place between officials and the associations of district councils, county councils and metropolitan authorities. These associations received and responded to the 1993 consultation document but no further meetings were requested.
Litter
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to ensure that motorways are regularly cleared of litter.
Mr. Key : We take a positive approach to our obligation under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to keep motorways in England clear, so far as is practicable, of litter and refuse. Our maintenance agents carry out regular safety inspections and patrols during which they report litter accumulations ; if debris is observed which could present a hazard to traffic, it is removed as soon as possible. Other offending material is then removed in accordance with the demanding standards specified in the code of practice on litter and refuse, issued under the Act. We spend over £5 million a year on sweeping and cleaning motorways and scavenging the verges.
Traffic Area Offices
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount was spent by traffic area co-ordinating division on promotion of the work of the traffic area offices in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Key : It is estimated that promotional work by the traffic area co-ordination division in publishing annual reports and customer service guides on behalf of the traffic area offices will amount to £4,500 in the present financial year 1993-94.
Buses
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1985, how many (a) double-decker buses, (b) single-decker buses, (c) minibuses and (d) midibuses, owned by London Buses Ltd., were (i) under four years old, (ii) between four and seven years old, (iii) between eight and 11 years old, (iv) between 12- and 15-years-olds and (v) more than 15-years-old ;
(2) if he will publish a table, showing for each year since 1985, the number of (a) double-decker buses, (b) single-decker buses, (c) minibuses and (d) midibuses operated by private bus companies on behalf of London Transport were (i) under four years of age, (ii) between four and seven years of age, (iii) between eight and 11 years of age, (iv) between 12 and 15 years of age and (v) more than 15 years of age ;
(3) if he will publish a table, showing for each year since 1985, the number of (a) double-decker buses, (b)
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single-decker buses, (c) minibuses and (d) midibuses operated by or on behalf of London Transport which were (i) under four years of age, (ii) between four and seven years of age, (iii) between eight and 11 years of age, (iv) between 12 and 15 years of age and (v) more than 15 years of age ;Column 98
Mr. Norris : The information requested on the age profile of the buses owned by London Buses Ltd. is given. The same information for vehicles operated by private bus companies on behalf of London Transport is available only at disproportionate cost.
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LBL fleet age profile 1985-94
Age range in years
Year and Type 3 or l4 to 78 to 112 to over 1Total Fleet
--------------------------------------------------------
1985-86 |DD |1,323|1,197|346 |- |1,640|4,506
|SD |- |69 |381 |- |- |450
|Midi |22 |- |- |- |- |22
|Mini |5 |- |- |- |- |5
|1,350|1,266|727 |- |1,640|4,983
1986-87 |DD |1,121|1,680|385 |- |1,227|4,413
|SD |- |69 |414 |- |- |483
|Midi |53 |2 |- |- |- |55
|Mini |3 |- |- |- |- |3
|1,177|1,751|799 |- |1,227|4,954
1987-88 |DD |755 |1,539|1,055|50 |918 |4,317
|SD |- |69 |416 |- |- |485
|Midi |165 |2 |- |- |- |167
|Mini |3 |- |- |- |- |3
|923 |1,610|1,471|50 |918 |4,972
1988-89 |DD |461 |1,551|1,337|50 |813 |4,212
|SD |7 |- |362 |80 |- |449
|Midi |367 |2 |- |- |- |369
|Mini |3 |- |- |- |- |3
|838 |1,553|1,699|130 |813 |5,033
1989-90 |DD |270 |1,323|1,399|394 |784 |4,170
|SD |12 |- |250 |54 |- |316
|Midi |486 |20 |- |- |- |506
|768 |1,343|1,649|448 |784 |4,992
1990-91 |DD |127 |1,064|1,715|273 |776 |3,955
|SD |20 |- |102 |67 |- |189
|Midi |738 |100 |- |- |- |838
|885 |1,164|1,817|340 |776 |4,982
1991-92 |DD |70 |698 |1,796|391 |718 |3,673
|SD |9 |- |69 |55 |- |133
|Midi |866 |182 |- |- |- |1,048
|945 |880 |1,865|446 |718 |4,854
1992-93 |DD |135 |528 |1,510|710 |686 |3,569
|SD |95 |5 |69 |12 |- |181
|Midi |1,000|230 |- |- |- |1,230
|1,230|763 |1,579|722 |686 |4,980
1993-94 |DD |138 |295 |1,679|507 |601 |3,220
(est) |SD |122 |11 |- |72 |- |205
|Midi |911 |367 |- |- |- |1,278
|1,171|673 |1,679|579 |601 |4,703
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) double-decker buses, (b) single-decker buses, (c) minibuses and (d) midibuses have been bought by London Buses Ltd. in each year since 1985 ; and what was the cost of each category.
Mr. Norris : The typical cost of vehicles to London Buses Ltd.--in 1993-94 prices--is as follows :
|£
-------------------------------
Double-deckers |110,000
Single-deckers |95,000
Midibuses |55,000
Minibuses |35,000
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The number of vehicles of each type that LBL have bought in each year since 1985 is shown in the table.
New buses delivered
Year |DD |SD |Midi |Mini |Total
--------------------------------------------------------------
1985-86 |135 |- |- |3 |138
1986-87 |229 |- |12 |- |241
1987-88 |- |- |65 |- |65
1988-89 |- |- |174 |- |174
1989-90 |59 |1 |150 |- |210
1990-91 |11 |7 |352 |- |370
1991-92 |23 |2 |316 |- |341
1992-93 |105 |73 |224 |- |402
1993-94 (est) |- |53 |98 |- |151
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |562 |136 |1,391 |3 |2,092
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to introduce measures to privatise London Buses Ltd.
Mr. Norris : London Transport currently expect to offer the 10 London Buses Ltd. operating companies for sale in the spring.
Motorway Usage
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the level of motorway usage (a) nationally and (b) by individual motorway by (i) all vehicles, (ii) trucks and (iii) motor cars, in (1) 1970, (2) 1980 and (3) 1990 ; and what the figures are currently.
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