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Mr. Ray Powell: The proposal by the Parliamentary Works Directorate to improve the signs in New Palace Yard was endorsed by the Committee on 18 May 1994. The cost of the signs was £8,090 including VAT.
Norman Shaw North
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what representations he has received from hon. Members with offices in the Norman Shaw building or their staff (a) in respect of recent works in the Norman Shaw building to (i) the main lifts, (ii) the rear lift, (iii) the card-controlled rear access door, (iv) the card-controlled gate access from the Embankment, (v) the refurbishment of the car park and (vi) the allocation of parking spaces to non-essential personnel with residences within the Palace and (b) in respect of the numbers and qualifications of security personnel.
Mr. Ray Powell: Two hon. Members have made representations concerning matters referred to in (a) . No other representations have been received.
Parliamentary Offices
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what will be the effect of the problems associated with construction at Westminster station on the timetable for the construction of new parliamentary offices.
Mr. Ray Powell: The Accommodation and Works Committee has established close links with the senior management of London Underground. It receives monthly reports from a joint steering group set up to oversee the interface between the new station and parliamentary building projects, and will be meeting the chief executive shortly to review progress.
The most recent report from the steering group shows that London Underground has agreed a revised programme with its contractor to achieve the February 1997 date when the site is to be ready for construction to start on the parliamentary project.
State Opening
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what was the total cost to Parliament of the State Opening of Parliament on 16 November.
Mr. Ray Powell: The total cost of the State Opening of Parliament on 16 November has not yet been finalised
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but some £40,000 has been set aside by the two Houses for this purpose.Upper Waiting Hall Exhibitions
Mr. Ray Powell: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the new parliamentary building to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 12 December to Friday 16 December.
WALES
Drugs
Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the level of funding for drugs initiatives in West Glamorgan in 1995 96 provided by (a) the Welsh Office and (b) the Home Office.
Mr. Richards: The funding of local initiatives to combat drug misuse in Wales are the responsibilities of the local agencies involved. Following the recommendations of the efficiency scrutiny of health promotion in Wales, central Welsh Office resources of some £2.3 million were added to the allocations of Welsh district health authorities from 1 April 1994.
Home Office funding is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many people are employed in his drugs and alcohol unit;
(2) what is the budget for this drugs and alcohol unit for 1994 95 and 1995 96.
Mr. Richards: My right hon. Friend announced on the 19 October that he was setting up a drugs and alcohol unit. Action is in hand to identify and recruit staff to it. The unit will have access to a budget of £333,000 in 1994 95. Provision for 1995 96 has not yet been finalised.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are being pursued to educate young people about the effects of substance abuse and drug taking; what is the current budget; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Richards: I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave him on 26 October 1994, Official Report, columns 658 60 .
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sums of money divested from the Welsh Office budget in the current year down to the local health authorities aimed specifically at the prevention of drug abuse.
Mr. Richards: The Welsh Office has provided local health authorities with a total of more than £2,300,000 aimed at combating drug misuse.
Farmers Unions (Meetings)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many consultative meetings were arranged during the
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last 12 months with the National Farmers Union; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gwilym Jones: We consult regularly with the National Farmers Union on issues that arise from time to time.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many consultative meetings were arranged during the last 12 months with the Farmers Union of Wales; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: We consult regularly with the Farmers Union of Wales over issues that arise from time to time.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which NHS trusts failed to (a) break even, (b) keep within the external financing limit and (c) record a 6 per cent. return on capital; and by what percentage and sum in each year since their inception.
Mr. Richards: The information requested is as follows:
(a) Break even
In 1993 94 Clwydian NHS trust made a revenue deficit of £84,000. (b) Keep within external financing limit
In 1993 94 Swansea NHS trust and Powys NHS trust exceeded their external financing limit by £10,000 and £252,000 respectively. (c) Rate of Return
Pembrokeshire NHS Trust achieved a 4.7 per cent.rate of return in 1992 93 and a 6.9 per cent. rate of return in1993 94. Clwydian NHS trust achieved a 5.6 per cent. rate of return in 1993 94.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the surpluses or deficits recorded by each individual NHS trust in each year since their inception.
Mr. Richards: The information requested is contained in the following table:
|(£000) |(£000)
NHS Trust |Surplus |Deficit
------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93
Pembrokeshire |116 |-
1993-94
Bridgend and District |100 |-
Carmarthen and District |342 |-
Ceredigion and Mid Wales |160 |-
Clwydian Community Care |- |84
Glan Clwyd |288 |-
Glan Hafren |560 |-
Gwent Community Health |393 |-
Llandough |335 |-
Llanelli/Dinefwr |316 |-
Pembrokeshire |Broke even|-
Powys Health Care |476 |-
South East Wales Ambulance |48 |-
Swansea |146 |-
Wrexham Maelor |588 |-
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general and senior managers were employed by NHS trusts in each year since 1991 92 by region.
Mr. Richards: The whole-time equivalent number of general and senior managers in post in NHS trusts at30 September was as follows. In the table, trusts are
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shown against the district health authority area in which they are situated. The first trust in Wales was established on 1 April 1992. From April 1993 there were 14 trusts and from April 1994, 24 trusts. The aggregate figures given are not, therefore, comparable over time as different numbers of trusts may be included within each area for different years.
|1992|1993|1994
---------------------------------------
Clwyd<1> |- |107 |119
East Dyfed |- |54 |80
Gwent |- |89 |129
Gwynedd |- |- |37
Mid Glamorgan |- |29 |107
Pembrokeshire |21 |21 |17
Powys |- |37 |37
South Glamorgan<2> |- |99 |108
West Glamorgan |- |15 |39
Wales |21 |451 |673
<1> Includes figures for North Wales
Ambulance Trust, established1 April
1994, which covers both Clwyd and
Gwynedd areas.
<2> Includes figures for South and
East Wales Ambulance Trust,
established 1 April 1993, which covers
South Glamorgan, Gwent and Powys.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the turnover of each NHS trust in each year since its inception.
Mr. Richards: The information requested is contained in the following table:
NHS trust |£ million
-----------------------------------------------
1992-93
Pembrokeshire |40.1
1993-94
Bridgend and District |60.8
Carmarthen and District |37.0
Ceredigion and Mid Wales |22.7
Clwydian Community Care |60.1
Glan Clwyd |55.4
Glan Hafren |91.1
Gwent Community Health |56.2
Llandough |45.8
Llanelli/Dinefwr |27.3
Pembrokeshire |41.5
Powys Health Care |41.8
South East Wales Ambulance |16.1
Swansea |52.3
Wrexham Maelor |49.1
Schools (Teachers)
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the pupil teacher ratios for (a) 1992 93 and (b) 1993 94 for public sector (i) nursery schools, (ii) primary schools, (iii) secondary schools, (iv) non- maintained schools, (v) special schools and (vi) all schools; and whether these figures include unqualified teachers.
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Mr. Richards: The following table gives figures for LEA-maintained schools:
|1992-93 |<1>1993-94
--------------------------------------------
Nursery |20.3 |20.6
Primary |22.1 |22.3
Secondary |15.7 |15.9
Special |6.2 |6.4
<1> Provisional
Source:
Schools Census data.
There are no public sector non-maintained schools. The ratios for grant- maintained schools are 1992 93: 15.2; 1993 94: 16.8. The corresponding figures for all maintained schools are 18.6 and 18.8. Independent schools are not included in these figures.
Pupil-teacher ratios are calculated using full-time equivalent qualified teachers only.
Hospitals (Private Patients)
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much income has been generated by NHS hospitals' private patient facilities in each of the last five years, by region.
Mr Richards: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 10 February 1994, Official Report, column 433 . Final figures for 1993 94 are not available.
Welsh Language
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken to increase the number of
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teachers qualified to teach through the medium of the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Richards: We have put in place an incentive supplement scheme to increase the supply of secondary teachers trained to teach through the medium of Welsh; 121 students have been recruited to secondary Welsh medium initial teacher training courses this year--an increase of 17 per cent. over the equivalent figure for 1993--and overall recruitment to Welsh medium courses has increased by 8 per cent. Funding is also available to local education authorities in Wales, though the grants for education support and training programme, to increase the number of teachers able to teach other subjects through the medium of Welsh. This funding provides courses to enable teachers to transfer from English medium to Welsh medium teaching.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations have been received over the last 12 months on the funding of the teaching of Welsh; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Richards: A number of representations have been made to the Welsh Office over the last 12 months. The Department is making available grant aid of over£6 million for Welsh in this financial year.
Nurses
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified nursing staff there were by speciality for each region in each of the last five years.
Mr. Richards: Information on the number of all nursing and midwifery staff employed directly by the national health service in Wales is given in the following table. Reliable figures by specialty are not available centrally. It is not possible to provide separate information on qualified nurses for those on local pay scales.
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<1>Nursing and Midwifery Staff in post at 30 September (whole-time equivalent).
|East |Mid |Pembroke- |South |West
|Clwyd |Dyfed |Gwent |Gwynedd |Glamorgan|shire |Powys |Glamorgan|Glamorgan|<2>WHCSA |Wales
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990
Qualified nurses<3> |2,359 |1,433 |2,782 |1,389 |3,382 |525 |660 |3,010 |2,437 |10 |17,987
Unqualified nurses<4> |815 |610 |1,232 |523 |1,395 |152 |399 |1,299 |606 |- |7,031
Nurses on local pay
scales<5> |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1991
Qualified nurses<3> |2,427 |1,425 |2,734 |1,365 |3,396 |532 |685 |2,965 |2,464 |16 |18,009
Unqualified nurses<4> |843 |593 |1,190 |555 |1,381 |154 |400 |1,232 |616 |56 |7,020
Nurses on local pay
scales<5> |- |- |- |- |- |22 |- |- |- |- |22
1992
Qualified nurses<3> |2,470 |1,446 |2,682 |1,391 |3,407 |495 |656 |3,079 |2,452 |17 |18,095
Unqualified nurses<4> |878 |606 |1,182 |577 |1,494 |148 |388 |1,299 |729 |56 |7,357
Nurses on local pay
scales<5> |- |- |- |- |- |104 |- |- |- |- |104
1993
Qualified nurses<3> |2,413 |1,444 |2,624 |1,445 |3,337 |408 |618 |3,105 |2,496 |19 |17,909
Unqualified nurses<4> |866 |617 |1,122 |581 |1,471 |136 |392 |1,253 |726 |58 |7,222
Nurses on local pay
scales<5> |48 |- |- |23 |- |216 |- |1 |- |-
1994
Qualified nurses<3> |2,432 |1,424 |2,483 |1,401 |3,297 |2 |- |3,175 |2,572 |20 |16,805
Unqualified nurses<4> |871 |599 |1,025 |571 |1,493 |- |2 |1,237 |762 |53 |6,613
Nurses on local pay
scales<5> |47 |- |- |32 |- |723 |994 |6 |- |- |1,801
Notes:
<1>Staff employed by NHS trusts are shown against the health authority area in which they are situated.
<2>Welsh Health Common Services Authority.
<3>Grade C and above.
<4>Excludes pre-registration learners.
<5>Qualified and unqualified.
Source:
NHS payroll system and associated information systems.
Police
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations his Department has made to the Home Office on the subject of police force manning levels in 1993 94; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: These are matters for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
GP Fundholders
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide an estimate for the value of fundholding allocations retained by general practitioner fundholders at the year end in each of the last four years, by region.
Mr. Richards: The information, for the last three years for which final accounts are available, is as follows:
(£000) 1990-91 |1991-92|1992-93 -------------------------------- Nil |40 |465
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the management allowances payments made to general paractitioner fundholding practices and practices preparing to be fundholders (a) by wave and (b) in total for each (i) family health service authority and (ii) region in the last year for which figures are available.
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Mr. Richards: Practice fund management allowance payments are not recorded by wave.
The following payments were made in 1992 93, the latest year for which details are available:
FHSA |£000
-----------------------
Clwyd |439
Dyfed |150
Gwent |286
Gwynedd |17
Mid Glam |181
Powys |103
South Glam |86
West Glam |370
Wales |1,632
Source:
FHSA annual acccounts
1992-93.
Hospitals (Private Patients)
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients have been treated in NHS hospitals' private facilities in each of the last five years, by region.
Mr. Richards: The information available, which relates to private patient attendances at NHS hospitals, is given in the following table. The number of cases or attendances does not relate to the number of people who have received treatment as individuals may be treated more than once a year.
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|1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |<1>1993-94
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In-patient cases:
Clwyd |388 |419 |394 |365 |370
East Dyfed |637 |348 |195 |154 |106
Gwent |48 |106 |109 |99 |140
Gwynedd |229 |244 |272 |171 |110
Mid Glamorgan |297 |173 |230 |146 |144
Pembrokeshire |135 |159 |79 |44 |64
Powys |- |- |- |- |-
South Glamorgan |111 |118 |118 |119 |97
West Glamorgan |149 |193 |161 |159 |173
Wales |1,994 |1,760 |1,558 |1,257 |1,204
Out-patient attendances:
Clwyd |2,267 |3,167 |2,511 |2,343 |2,187
East Dyfed |2,441 |1,839 |1,779 |1,809 |1,254
Gwent |70 |78 |65 |90 |130
Gwynedd |290 |367 |235 |289 |266
Mid Glamorgan |672 |692 |881 |491 |239
Pembrokeshire |1,534 |1,489 |1,673 |1,225 |1,259
Powys |- |- |- |5 |-
South Glamorgan |1,058 |1,163 |1,008 |733 |752
West Glamorgan |624 |917 |863 |963 |1,029
Wales |8,956 |9,712 |9,015 |7,948 |7,116
Day cases attendances:
Clwyd |513 |129 |103 |103 |145
East Dyfed |452 |151 |92 |114 |135
Gwent |47 |105 |116 |126 |106
Gwynedd |182 |117 |258 |126 |132
Mid Glamorgan |139 |126 |168 |151 |174
Pembrokeshire |149 |85 |60 |46 |81
Powys |- |- |- |- |-
South Glamorgan |5 |8 |4 |1 |2
West Glamorgan |364 |504 |346 |357 |251
Wales |1,851 |1,225 |1,147 |1,024 |1,026
Regular day patient-attendances:
Clwyd |- |- |- |- |-
East Dyfed |- |- |- |- |-
Gwent |- |- |- |- |-
Gwynedd |- |- |5 |- |-
Mid Glamorgan |- |- |- |- |-
Pembrokeshire |- |- |- |- |-
Powys |- |- |- |- |-
South Glamorgan |- |- |- |- |-
West Glamorgan |- |- |- |- |-
Wales |- |- |5 |- |-
<1> Provisional.
Training
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many training weeks (a) were promised and (b) were undertaken for (i) employment training, (ii) youth training and (iii) other programmes for each TEC in Wales, for each year since their inception.
Mr. Redwood: The information requested is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
PE Teachers
Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average annual cost of employing a physical education teacher.
Mr. Richards: This information is not held centrally.
Measles Immunisation
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with chairmen of the (a) Welsh health authorities and (b) family health service authorities with respect to the reimbursement of the cost of the measles immunisation campaign.
Mr. Redwood: I have seen no reason to consult chairmen of Welsh health authorities on this issue. I have already provided an extra £713,000 towards the cost of this campaign, and authorities have been requested to provide my Department, by 20 December, with details of any additional costs involved. I shall then consider whether to make further money available.
Integrated Transport
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider pilot schemes to establish the
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feasibility of integrated transport programmes for north-east Wales; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gwilym Jones: This is primarily a matter for Clwyd county council.
River Dee Crossing
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount of transport supplementary grant he will pay to Clwyd county council for the construction of the new River Dee crossing; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Clwyd county council estimates that the scheme will cost £61 million. Transport grant is being provided to meet 50 per cent. of eligible expenditure, with the balance made available to Clwyd county council in the form of supplementary credit approvals.
Crewe-Holyhead Line
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he had with British Rail on the proposed upgrading of the Crewe to Holyhead railway line; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: I met Mr. Robert Horton, chairman of Railtrack, recently and we discussed the plans to upgrade the line as far as Bangor over the next two years to allow 90 mph running.
Buses, Clwyd
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has with the traffic commissioners to ensure that bus companies in Clwyd that operate services in and around King Edward street, Shotton, Deeside are aware of the requirements of road safety, the need for small buses in narrow streets and for
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consultations between the public and those who provide bus services; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gwilym Jones: Traffic commissioners have a statutory responsibility for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of local bus services. Responsibility for deciding when local services need to be restricted in terms of vehicle size or their routes lies initially with the local highway authority which may, in the interests of road safety or to relieve severe traffic congestion, ask the traffic commissioner to determine a traffic regulation condition.
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I understand that the traffic commissioner for the north-western traffic area has not received any request for the determination of a traffic regulation condition in or around King Edward street in Shotton. I therefore see no need to consult him about these issues.Emergency Hospital Admissions
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many emergency hospital admissions there were by region in each of the last five years.
Mr. Richards: Latest estimates by district health authority area, are given in the following table:
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<1>Number of immediate admissions
Thousands
Area of treatment |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clywd |29.2 |30.2 |39.3 |37.2 |36.7
East Dyfed |15.8 |16.3 |18.1 |21.8 |25.2
Gwent |33.4 |34.9 |36.2 |38.4 |39.1
Gwynedd |22.7 |18.9 |18.7 |21.4 |16.7
Mid Glamorgan |41.0 |43.8 |45.2 |50.4 |52.3
Powys |3.3 |3.9 |3.8 |4.4 |4.6
South Glamorgan |35.9 |40.4 |44.1 |48.4 |47.9
West Glamorgan |29.5 |32.5 |26.1 |35.5 |32.4
Pembrokeshire |10.1 |11.0 |10.2 |9.7 |10.2
Wales<2> |221.0 |231.2 |241.6 |265.2 |270.1
<1> Including accident and emergency.
<2> Since 1991-92, includes admissions for which the area of treatment is not known.
Next Steps Agencies
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the salary and other emoluments of the civil servant who did the work of, or work comparable to that of, the chief executive of each next steps agency established by his Department before the agency was established.
Mr. Redwood: The head of Cadw, before it became an agency in 1990, was paid £42,181. There were no additional emoluments.
Lobbying Companies
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list and date those occasions over the last two years when Ministers or officials in his Department have met lobbying companies, prior to a decision being made on the subject of the meeting with the lobbying company.
Mr. Redwood: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the guidelines issued by his Department to regulate relationships with lobbying companies.
Mr. Redwood: Conditions of service for the staff of my Department incorporate the general principles of conduct that require civil servants not to misuse information which they acquire in the course of their duties; not to make use of their official position to further their private interests or those of others; and not to receive gifts, hospitality or benefits of any kind from a third party, which might be seen to compromise their personal judgement or integrity.
Transportation of Bodies
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of South
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Glamorgan health authority and the chairman of the Wrexham Maelor hospital trust with respect to the defective packaging and containment of the body transported to the University hospital of Wales from Wrexham; if he will set up an inquiry; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Redwood: This is currently a matter for the Wrexham Maelor NHS trust. The trust has already announced that a formal inquiry into the circumstances of this case has begun. Representatives of South Glamorgan health authority and the University hospital of Wales will be invited to participate. The trust has apologised to the family and made it clear that it will conduct the inquiry and handle its conclusions with the family's welfare uppermost in its mind. I am asking to see the report of the inquiry to consider whether there are any policy implications.
Sheep Annual Premium
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when sheep annual premiums were finalised; on what date payments were authorised to be made; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The rate of premium for both the first and second advance of payment for 1994 was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, No. L172 on 7 July 1994 as Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1640/94. Payments are authorised on an individual basis as and when they are processed.
Farmers in Wales received their advance payments much earlier this year and the great majority of claims were paid by the end of September.
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sheep annual premiums have been made to date; and what is the total value of such payments.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones: As at 18 November, 15,283 claimants in Wales have been paid a total of £73.704,491 as advance premium under the 1994 scheme.
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