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Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 14 March 1995 :Question 13, ORDER PAPER 9 MARCH 1995
1. Your parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what reports he has received confirming the detection of chemical weapons use during the 1990 91 Gulf War; and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them.
3. Although during the 1990 91 Gulf conflict there were unconfirmed reports of the detection of chemical warfare agents, no confirmed reports of the detection of chemical warfare agents have been received.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the report by the Ministry of Defence of Czech Republic stating that chemical weapons were used by Iraq during the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 14 March 1995:
QUESTION 14, ORDER PAPER 9 MARCH 1995
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what assessment he has made of the report by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic stating that chemical weapons were used by Iraq during the Gulf War, and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them.
3. The report made by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic described the participation of the Czechoslovak anti-chemical unit in the Persian Gulf conflict. The Czech report stated that:
"On the basis of the stated facts it is possible to pronounce the conclusion that the event cannot be linked in any way with the use of chemical weapons, that is, their application in combat actions and that harm to individuals of the Czechoslovak anti-chemical unit influenced by toxic combat substances could not have occurred". In addition, we are aware that the United States Department of Defence has reviewed carefully the reports of the Czech detections. The US Department of Defence has recently concluded that they were unable to validate the Czech reports and state that the Czechs themselves never were able to identify the source of their detections. The UK conclusion continues to be that chemical weapons were not used by Iraq during the Gulf conflict.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussion he has had with his Czech counterpart concerning the use of chemical weapons during the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Chemical, and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 14 March 1995:
QUESTION 15, ORDER PAPER 9 MARCH 1995
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what recent discussion he has had with his Czech counterpart concerning the use of chemical weapons during the Gulf
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War; and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them.
3. There have been bilateral discussions between representatives of the Ministry of Defence and representatives of the Czech Republic in late 1994. In discussions with the Chief of the Czech Chemical Troops, it was said that it was improbable that a cloud could have blow from the Iraqi facilities to reach the Czech detectors and further that the trace amounts which had been detected by the Czech equipments could not have had any effect on the health of Service personnel. There was therefore no evidence that Iraq had used chemical weapons in the Gulf conflict.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans of the Gulf war in (a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy have committed suicide in each of the years since the Gulf war.
Mr. Soames: Since the Gulf war, one naval Gulf war veteran has committed suicide, in 1991. There have been no suicides by Army veterans of the Gulf war. The figures for the RAF are as follows: 1991: 2
1992: 0
1993: 2
1994: 1
These numbers related only to those veterans of the Gulf war who were still serving with the armed forces at the time of their suicide.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of (a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy have committed suicide in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Soames: The numbers of service personnel confirmed by the coroner to have committed suicide in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available are as follows:
|Royal Navy <1>|Army |RAF --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1984 |2 |18 |9 1985 |5 |19 |7 1986 |7 |19 |13 1987 |4 |15 |8 1988 |6 |28 |8 1989 |4 |26 |6 1990 |9 |23 |16 1991 |7 |26 |10 1992 |6 |22 |7 1993 |1 |22 |10 <1> includes the Royal Marines
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those who took advantage of his Department's university bursaries scheme subsequently resigned before the minimum return of service period had expired for each year since 1979.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 3 March 1995]: The numbers of students awarded Royal Navy and Royal Air Force bursaries who resigned before completing their
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university course are given in the table. The number of students awarded Army bursaries who resigned before completing their university course or during their initial officer training are also given. The figures provided are those available for the years since 1979. No information is held centrally on the numbers who left the services after initial officer training, but before completing the required return of service, or of those in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force who left during initial officer training. No records are kept for civilians as, in common with other industry schemes, students are not required to complete any return of service.Column 523
Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force Calendar year |Number withdrawn|Financial year |Number withdrawn|Financial year |Number withdrawn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1983-84 |2 1985 |5 |- |- |1984-85 |1 1986 |6 |- |- |1985-86 |7 1987 |6 |- |- |1986-87 |3 1988 |2 |- |- |1987-88 |6 1989 |10 |- |- |1988-89 |4 1990 |8 |1989-90 |23 |1989-90 |2 1991 |8 |1990-91 |27 |1990-91 |11 1992 |8 |1991-92 |23 |1991-92 |6 1993 |7 |1992-93 |28 |1992-93 |3 1994 |10 |1993-94 |24 |1993-94 |8 1995 |<1>3 |1994-95 |<1>28 |1994-95 |<1>5 Note: <1>To date.
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the cost of his Department's university bursaries scheme for each year since 1979.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 3 March 1995]: Expenditure on university bursary awards by my Department, in those years since 1979 for which figures are available, is as shown in the table:
Financial |Royal year |Royal Navy|Army |Air Force |£ |£ |£ ------------------------------------------------------- 1979-80 |- |101,700 |- 1980-81 |- |99,900 |- 1981-82 |- |121,500 |18,900 1982-83 |- |134,100 |30,600 1983-84 |- |136,800 |45,900 1984-85 |- |163,800 |48,600 1985-86 |- |163,800 |67,500 1986-87 |- |212,400 |92,700 1987-88 |- |189,000 |106,200 1988-89 |108,000 |542,400 |90,900 1989-90 |158,400 |483,600 |278,400 1990-91 |156,000 |555,600 |141,300 1991-92 |153,600 |519,600 |236,400 1992-93 |121,200 |478,800 |298,800 1993-94 |90,000 |444,000 |265,200 1994-95<1> |81,000 |606,000 |250,000
It is not possible separately to identify comparable figures for my Department's civilian staff. Figures are available, however, which include bursary awards, running costs for MOD student engineer training centres, salaries during pre university year and vacation placements with MOD, travel and subsistence on MOD duty and the production of MOD training literature. The figures are as follows: 1992 93: 3,149,400
1993 94: 2,610,200
1994 95: 2,256,000
Note: Figures are estimates.
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of bursaries awarded to university students under his Department's arrangements for officer entry by ethnic status and gender in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames [holding answer 3 March 1995]: Details of bursary awards by ethnic origin are not held. A breakdown of bursary awards by gender, for those years since 1979 where information is available, is as follows:
Financial year Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force Civilian |Male |Female |Male |Female |Male |Female |Male |Female ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 79-80 |- |- |113 |0 |- |- |- |- 80-81 |- |- |102 |9 |- |- |- |- 81-82 |- |- |132 |3 |- |- |- |- 82-83 |- |- |145 |4 |- |- |- |- 83-84 |- |- |138 |21 |- |- |- |- 84-85 |- |- |168 |14 |- |- |- |- 85-86 |- |- |160 |22 |- |- |- |- 86-87 |- |- |208 |28 |- |- |- |- 87-88 |- |- |193 |17 |- |- |- |- 88-89 |- |- |180 |14 |- |- |- |- 89-90 |- |- |168 |16 |- |- |- |- 90-91 |- |- |145 |34 |77 |9 |- |- 91-92 |- |- |151 |21 |87 |5 |- |- 92-93 |- |- |137 |14 |64 |7 |77 |10 93-94 |- |- |139 |15 |40 |18 |75 |9 94-95 |45 |9 |174 |26 |70 |7 |68 |7
Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made on the choice of location for his Department's two new hospital units.
Mr. Soames: Taking account of a range of Defence-related factors, and in consultation with the Department of Health and the NHS, we have selected as the sites for the new Ministry of Defence hospital units the Frimley Park Hospital NHS trust in Surrey and the Peterborough Hospitals NHS trust in Cambridgeshire. Final contractual negotiations will now begin with the trusts concerned. We shall aim to have units fully established at these locations by April 1996.
Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the Welsh parliamentary constituencies in which lies each scheme in the Welsh Office's road programme.
Mr. Gwilyn Jones: Details of the forward trunk road programme were published in "The Departmental Report 1995 Welsh Office (The Governments's Expenditure Plans 1995 96 to 1997 98)". Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The information requested is as follows:
Major trunk road improvements Scheme |Parliamentary |constituency ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In progress M4 Second Severn Crossing |Newport, East Approach Road M4/A4042 Brynglas |Newport, West Tunnels/Malpas Relief Road A5 Glyn Bends |Clwyd, South-West A465 Aberdulais-Glynneath |Neath A470 Pentrebach-Cefn Coed |Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney A4042 Llantarnam Bypass |Torfaen/Monmouth Programmed<1> M4 Magor-Coldra Widening |Newport, East A40 Carmarthen Eastern Bypass |Carmarthen A40 Fishguard Western Bypass |Ceredigion and Pembroke, North A40 Robeston Wathen Bypass |Pembroke A40 Whitland Bypass |Carmarthen A55 Llanfair PG-West of |Ynys Mon Bryngwran A55 West of Bryngwran- |Ynys Mon Holyhead A55 Pont Dafydd-Waen |Clwyd, North-West A470 Lledr Valley: Stage 1 (Concoed-Minffordd) |Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Stage 2 (Dolwyddelan- |Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Pont yr Afanc) A477 Sageston-Redberth |Pembroke Bypass A494/A550 Deeside Park- |Alyn and Deeside Drome Corner A550 Deeside Park Interchange |Alyn and Deeside A550 Deeside Park-Ledsham |Alyn and Deeside A4060 Mountain Hare-Dowlais |Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Top in preparation<2> M4 Castleton-Coryton |Newport, West/Cardiff, North Widening M4 Relief Road (Magor- |Newport, East/Newport, West Castleton A55/A494 Ewloe Interchange |Alyn and Deeside A55 Ewloe-Northop Widening |Alyn and Deeside A458 Buttington Cross- |Montgomery Wollaston Cross A465 Abergavenny-Hirwaun |Monmouth/Blaenau |Gwent/Merthyr Tydfil and |Rhymney/Cynon Valley A470 Llangurig-Wern Villa |Montgomery A470 Llanrwst Bypass |Meirionnydd Nant Conwy A470 Pontypridd-Cardiff |Pontypridd A479 Talgarth Bypass |Brecon and Radnor A483 Llandeilo Eastern Bypass |Carmarthen A487 Llanwnda-South of |Caernarfon Llanllyfni A487 |Caernarfon Porthmadog/Minffordd/Tremadog Bypass A494 Drome Corner-Ewloe |Alyn and Deeside Interchange Longer term consideration<3> A5 Bethesda Bypass |Conwy A5 Corwen Bypass |Clwyd, South-West A5 Halfway Bridge |Conwy A5 Pont Padog Approaches |Meirionnydd Nant Conwy A40 Abergavenny Western |Monmouth Bypass A44 Aberystwyth Bypass |Ceredigion and Pembroke, North A470 Builth Wells Bypass |Brecon and Radnor A470 Commins Coch Bypass |Montgomery A483 Newtown Bypass |Montgomery A487 Caernarfon-Bontnewydd | Bypass A487 Furnance Bridge- |Ceredigion and Pembroke, North Eglwys Fach A494 Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd |Clwyd, South-West Bypass A494 Mold-Ewloe |Delyn/Alyn and Deeside A4042 Llanellen Bypass |Monmouth A4042 Penperlleni Bypass |Monmouth Notes: <1>High priority schemes on which it is planned to start work in the three years covered by the government's expenditure plans i.e. before April 1998. <2> Schemes which are being taken forward but are unlikely to start before April 1998 because of outstanding design and statutory procedures. <3> Schemes on which resources are not being committed to bring them to a start of works. These schemes will be reviewed annually with consideration given to adding them to the above categories or deleting them from the programme.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total grant awarded under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 per local education authority to support Welsh peripatetic teachers during (a) 1992 93, (b) 1993 94 and (c) 1994 95.
Mr. Richards: The relevant figures are shown the following table:
£ Local education authority |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clwyd |182,000 |185,000 |204,500 Dyfed |180,000 |183,000 |183,500 Gwent |205,000 |328,000 |328,500 Gwynedd |207,000 |210,000 |210,500 Mid Glamorgan |224,000 |227,000 |227,500 Powys |162,000 |175,000 |185,000 South Glamorgan |170,000 |170,000 |180,500 West Glamorgan |209,000 |212,100 |212,500 Totals |1,539.000 |1,691.100 |1,732.500
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh peripatetic teachers were supported per local education authority under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 during (a) 1992 93, (b) 1993 94 and (c) 1994 95.
Mr. Richards: The relevant figures are shown in the following table:
(a) Welsh peripatetic teachers supported under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 Local education |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95 authority -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clwyd |7 |7 |8 Dyfed |7 |7 |7 Gwynedd |8 |8 |8 Gwent |10 |<1>25 |<1>25 Mid Glamorgan |8 |8 |8 Powys |9 |9.5 |10 South Glamorgan |10 |10.5 |10.5 West Glamorgan |10 |7 |7 <1>Figures for Gwent local education authority for 1993-94 and 1994-95 include support teachers (athrawon cynnal).
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of grant awarded under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 to support Welsh peripatetic teachers during 1995 96.
Mr. Richards: £1,970 has been allocated to local education authorities in Wales under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 for 1995 96, £20,000 more than in 1994 95. In accordance with the authorities' priorities, 77 per cent. of this--£1,519,000--has been earmarked for peripatetic teachers.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many Welsh peripatetic teachers will be supported per local education authority by section 21 of the Education Act 1980 during 1995 96.
Mr. Richards: For 1995 96, £1,519,000 has been awarded to support teams of peripatetic teachers in local education authorities in Wales. This will support a total of approximately 70 full-time equivalent posts, but an exact figure for each local authority is not possible as grade structures vary from county to county.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the amounts awarded under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 during 1992 93 (a) per local education authority (b) to the Welsh Joint Education Committee, (c) to other bodies (d) to the Welsh Language Education Development Committee for distribution to produce (i) Welsh resources, first and second language and (ii) subjects taught through the medium of Welsh and (e) to support the administrative costs of the Welsh Language Education Development Committee.
Mr. Richards: The relevant figures are as follows:-
(a) shown in the following table; (b) £1,437,000 (including £98, 950 for Welsh resources administered by the Welsh Language Education Development Committee and £284,144 for the administrative costs of the Welsh Language Development; (c) £1,264,000, (d) (i) £98,950 (ii) Nil; (e) £284,144.
Local education |£ authority ------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |281,000 Dyfed |257,000 Gwent |245,000 Gwynedd |231,000 Mid Glamorgan |271,000 Powys |209,000 South Glamorgan |197,500 West Glamorgan |238,500 Total |1,930,000
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the grants under section 3(3) of the Welsh Language Act 1993 which are awarded by the Welsh Language Board have drawn from section 21 of the Education Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Richards: The Welsh Language Board's allocation for grants under section 3(3) of the Welsh Language Act 1993 for 1995 96 includes £68,000 formerly paid by the Welsh Office under section 21 of the Education Act 1980.
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Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the Welsh Office contributions under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 during (a) 1992 93, (b) 1993 94 and (c) 1994 95.
Mr. Richards: The relevant figures are as follows: (a) £4,631, 000; (b) £4,675,000; (c) £2,475,000. For 1994 95, allocations of £1,900,000 and £180,000 were made to the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales and the Further Education Funding Authority for Wales respectively from moneys previously paid by the Welsh Office under section 21 of the Education Act 1980.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the total Welsh Office contribution under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 during 1995 96.
Mr. Richards: £1,970,000 has been allocated to local education authorities for 1995 96. In addition, £370,000 in grants formerly paid by the Department under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 has been transferred to ACAC, the Welsh Language Board, the Arts Council for Wales and the Further Education Funding Council for Wales.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the amounts awarded under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 for 1995 96 (a) per local education authority, (b) to the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, (c) to the Welsh Language Board (d) to the Further Education Funding Council for Wales (e) to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, (f) to the Welsh Office and (g) to other bodies to support the posts of Welsh peripatetic teachers.
Mr. Richards: The relevant figures are as follows: (a) shown on the following table; (b) nil, but the authority's allocation for 1995 96 includes £132,000 which was previously paid by the Welsh Office under section 21 of the Education Act 1980; (c) nil, but the board's allocation for 1995 96 includes £68,000 which was previously paid by the Welsh Office under section 21 of the Education Act 1980; (d) nil, but the council's allocation for 1995 96 includes £25,000 which was previously paid by the Welsh Office under section 21 of the Education Act 1980; (e) nil; (f) nil; (g) nil.
Local education |£ authority ------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |259,500 Dyfed |261,500 Gwent |329,500 Gwynedd |214,000 Mid Glamorgan |262,500 Powys |192,000 South Glamorgan |210,500 West Glamorgan |240,500 Total |1,970,000
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what were the amounts awarded under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 during 1993 94 (a) per local education authority, (b) to the Welsh Joint Education Committee and (c) to the Welsh Language Education Development Committee for distribution to produce(i) Welsh resources, first and second language and(ii) subjects taught through the medium of Welsh
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(d) to support the administrative costs of the Welsh Language Education Development Committee/Pwyllgor Datblygu Addysg Gymrueg and (e) to other bodies; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Richards: The relevant figures are as follows: (a) shown in the table; (b) £1,366,000 (includes £288,406 paid to the Welsh Language Development Committee); (c) nil. Grants for these purposes were paid direct to the various organisations concerned; (d) £288, 406; (e) £1,382,000.
Section 21 grants 1993-94 Local education |£ authority ------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |240,000 Dyfed |235,000 Gwent |334,000 Gwynedd |233,500 Mid Glamorgan |253,000 Powys |190,500 South Glamorgan |201,000 West Glamorgan |240,000 Total |1,927,000
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what were the amounts awarded under section 21 of the Education Act 1980 during 1994 95 (a) per local education authority (b) to the Welsh Joint Education Committee, (c) to the Further Education Funding Council, (d) to the Higher Education Funding Council, (e) to the Welsh Language Board for educational developments and (f) to the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales.
Mr. Richards: The relevant figures are as follows: (a) shown in the table; (b) £36,861; (c) nil, but the council's funding for 1994 95 included £180,000 which was previously paid by the Department under section 21 of the Education Act 1980; (d) nil; (e) nil; (f) nil but the authority's funding for 1994 95 included £1,900,000 which was previously paid by the Department under section 21 of the Education Act 1980.
Local education |£ authority ------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |262,900 Dyfed |242,500 Gwent |344,500 Gwynedd |227,000 Mid Glamorgan |257,100 Powys |204,000 South Glamorgan |204,500 West Glamorgan |247,500 Total |1,990,000
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) voluntary controlled schools, (b) voluntary aided schools and (c) county schools there are in each of the counties in Wales.
Mr. Richards: Data on denomination of schools, for primary and secondary sectors, are shown in the following table. Data are as at January 1994.
|Church in Wales |Church in Wales |voluntary controlled|voluntary aided |Voluntary Roman Primary schools |schools |schools |Catholic schools |County schools (a) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |24 |15 |10 |196 Dyfed |35 |8 |8 |262 Gwent |11 |3 |17 |182 Gwynedd |23 |3 |4 |161 Mid Glamorgan |1 |5 |11 |288 Powys |22 |7 |2 |77 South Glamorgan |5 |16 |17 |121 West Glamorgan |0 |3 |9 |152 Wales |121 |60 |78 |1,439
(a) County schools include five "other" denomination schools. |Church in Wales |Church in Wales |voluntary controlled|voluntary aided |Voluntary Roman Secondary schools |schools |schools |Catholic schools |County schools ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clwyd |0 |0 |3 |29 Dyfed |2 |0 |1 |28 Gwent |0 |0 |2 |31 Gwynedd |0 |0 |0 |23 Mid Glamorgan |0 |1 |3 |38 Powys |0 |0 |0 |13 South Glamorgan |0 |2 |4 |20 West Glamorgan |0 |0 |2 |25 Wales |2 |3 |15 |207 Source: Schools Census (1994).
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions parliamentary questions from the hon. member for Cardiff, West in relation to non-departmental public bodies have been answered in the form of a request to the relevant chairman or chief executive of that body to write to the hon. Member (a) since 1 January 1995 and (b) between the beginning of the current parliamentary Session and December 31 1994; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood: The figures are (a) seven and (b) one.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons the list of medical specialties included in the February 1995 issue of the waiting times information bulletin published by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority omitted neuro-surgery, dermatology and spinal surgery; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood: Information published in the bulletin relates to procedures, not specialties. The procedures included are those identified by general practitioners as being most useful in helping patients to choose a consultant. No requests have been made for the inclusion of procedures in neuro-surgery, dermatology or spinal surgery. As the intention is to extend the range of procedures covered by the bulletin, any broadly based demand by general practitioners for additional information would be welcomed and acted on.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the legal responsibilities of local education authorities which hire
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vehicles for the transport of children to and from school which are not driven by licensed taxi drivers.Mr. Richards: It is for local education authorities to make satisfactory arrangements for the health and safety of pupils including those for whom they provide transport.
Dr. Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many households have been accepted as homeless by local authorities in rural areas in Wales in each year since 1979.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Information on homeless cases accepted by local authorities in rural areas in Wales is provided in the following table:
Homeless cases accepted by local authorities in rural areas<1> Years |Cases -------------------- 1979 |874 1980 |883 1981 |821 1982 |786 1983 |794 1984 |833 1985 |1,012 1986 |1,001 1987 |1,311 1988 |1,295 1989 |1,329 1990<2> |3,387 1991 |1,625 1992 |1,691 1993<3> |1,821 1994 |1,770 Notes: <1>Aberconwy, Arfon, Brecknock, Carmarthen, Ceredigion,Colwyn, Delyn, Dinefwr, Dwyfor, Meirionnydd, Monmouth, Montgomeryshire, Preseli, Pembrokeshire, Radnorshire, South Pembrokeshire and Ynys Mon district councils. <2> Figures include estimates of 2,000 households made homeless in Colwyn as a result of the major flooding incident in February 1990. <3> Figures include estimates of 237 households made homeless in Aberconwy as a result of the major flooding incident in Llandudno in June 1993. Source: Local authority returns.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in reviewing Link.
Mr. David Hunt: I have today placed in the Library of the House the report of the recently completed review of Link.
Link is an important initiative which supports research projects undertaken in partnership between industry and the science base. The review report makes a number of recommendations to improve the operation of the Link mechanism. These include proposals to streamline approval mechanisms; to increase flexibility and to facilitate and encourage the exploitation of knowledge generated in the Link projects. The Government intend to implement these recommendations, further enhancing Link's effectiveness and its contribution to wealth creation and improvements in the quality of life.
We expect Link to be an important mechanism for implementing the outcomes of the technology foresight programme, in partnership between industry, the research base and Government. In announcing the allocation of the science budget on 2 February, I earmarked £3 million in 1995 96 to fund the research council's contribution to new Link programmes. With contributions from other Government Departments and industry these new programmes will target key areas of promise and importance identified by technology foresight.
I am establishing a new Link board, replacing the existing Link steering group, to advise Government on the operation of Link. The board's principal role will be to take an independent strategic overview of the Link initiatives and its portfolio of programmes. Its membership will be:
Dr. John Parnaby CBE FEng (Chairman)
Susan Bird
Dr. Alan Calder
Dr. Ashok Ganguly
Professor Stan Mason
Professor John Mavor FEng FRSE
Herb Nahapiet
Dr. Brian Richards CBE
Phillip Ruffles FEng
Professor David Wallace FRS
Dr. Robert Whelan
The Department of Trade and Industry, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the
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Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council will be represented on the board at a senior level.Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Newtown river to be designated under the Ramsar convention on the conservation of wetlands of international importance.
Mr. Atkins: Newtown harbour site of special scientific interest forms part of the potential Southhampton water and Solent Ramsar site. English Nature expects to recommend listing of this site to the Department, following public consultation, within a year.
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