| Previous Section | Home Page |
Local Authority House Building
Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many council houses have been built in Wales in each year since 1979. [14873]
Column 256
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Information on the number of local authority dwellings completed from 1979 up to 1993 has been published in table 2.3 of Welsh Housing Statistics No. 14 1994, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
In 1994, the number of new dwellings completed by local authorities in Wales was 227.
Local Authority Zoos
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report , column 125, if he will name the local authorities which own the zoos listed. [15170]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Swansea city council owns Plantasia zoo.
Gross Domestic Product
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his forecast for Welsh GDP in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [14243]
Mr. Redwood: There are no official forecasts of Welsh GDP. The Budget forecasts a 3.25 per cent. growth in the United Kingdom GDP, and private sector forecasts expect Wales to outperform the UK.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the Welsh GDP in 1994; and if he will make a statement. [14244]
Mr. Redwood: The Central Statistical Office estimates that Welsh GDP at factor cost and current prices was £22,761 million in 1993. Estimates for 1994 are not yet available.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the Welsh percentage of the United Kingdom's forecast money GDP in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [14248]
Mr. Redwood: There are no official forecasts of Welsh GDP.
Fish-eating Birds
Mr. Ron Davies: To the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what advice he has received from the Countryside Commission for Wales and the National Rivers Authority about the impact of fish stocks in Wales of piscivorous birds; [14553]
(2) how many licences to take piscivorous birds he has issued in each of the last two years; how many birds, by species, were taken under each of those licences; what criteria he used in determining whether to grant such licences; what conditions he attached to such licences; and what arrangements he made to monitor them. [14554]
Mr. Redwood: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Welsh Language
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to sign letters prepared by his Department in Welsh to constituents and other organisations in Wales which write to him in Welsh. [14889]
Column 257
Mr. Redwood: All correspondents who write to me in Welsh receive a reply in Welsh as well as English. My policy is only to sign letters in a language that I understand.
Out-patient Appointments
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients failed to attend out-patient appointments in Wales in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [15113]
Mr. Redwood: Some hospitals are unable to provide information on patients failing to attend out-patient appointments. The available data are in the following table.
Health Authority area unit trust
Patients failing
to attend
out-patient
appointments
|1992-93|1993-94
-----------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd
Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust |6,249 |7,175
Glan Clwyd Hospital NHS Trust |11,158 |16,147
Wrexham Maelor Hospital NHS Trust |19,565 |18,619
East Dyfed
Carmarthen and District NHS Trust |10,522 |11,169
Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust |6,434 |8,953
Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust |11,192 |13,961
Mental Health Unit |1,784 |1,333
Gwent
Glan Hafren NHS Trust |34,951 |50,469
North Gwent Unit |9,203 |10,333
Gwent Community NHS Trust |5,435 |7,304
Gwynedd
Acute Unit |22,481 |28,705
Community Unit |4,139 |6,097
Mid Glamorgan
Bridgend and District NHS Trust |15,983 |20,180
Hensol Unit |- |1
Merthyr Cynon Unit |31,547 |41,612
Rhondda Unit |9,277 |10,479
Rhymney Valley Unit |4,554 |9,799
Taff Ely Unit |13,151 |14,475
Pembrokeshire NHS Trust |8,266 |10,744
Powys Health Care NHS Trust |4,739 |5,884
South Glamorgan
Cardiff Royal Infirmary Unit |n/a |4,695
Llandough Hospital NHS Trust |n/a |9,310
University Hospital of Wales Unit |n/a |n/a
Whitchurch Hospital Unit |n/a |n/a
Dental Unit |n/a |n/a
West Glamorgan
District Unit |2,121 |8,382
East Unit |17,534 |17,330
North Unit |4,907 |1,341
Swansea NHS Trust |22,978 |23,563
Note:
NHS trusts are listed under the name they had in 1993-94
although some did not have trust status in 1992-93.
Usk Barrage Inquiry
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he received the Inspector's report on the Usk barrage inquiry; and when he expects to announce his decision. [15274]
Mr. Redwood: The inspector's report was received by my Department on 1 March 1995 and is being considered
Column 258
by officials. The decision will be announced as soon as practicable.Health Promotion Authority for Wales
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a full list of the members of the board of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales; what is the term of service of each membership; and what is the standard notification given to each board member whose term is coming to a close concerning his re-appointment or termination as a member. [15484]
Mr. Redwood: The board of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales consists of a chairman and seven non-executive members appointed by the Secretary of State, and two executive members, namely the chief officer and the financial officer of the authority.
Names and terms of membership are as follows:
|Appointed until
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chairman
Mr. J. I. Davies |31 March 1996
Non-executive members
Mr. R. Cutherbertson |31 March 1995
Mr. H. D. Griffiths |31 March 1995
Dr. B. N. C. Littlepage |31 March 1995
Mr. J. Thomas |31 March 1995
Mrs. C. E. Lewis |31 March 1997
Mr. R. C. May-Hill |31 March 1997
Miss A. Thomas |31 March 1997
Executive members
Chief officer-Vacancy |Ex officio
Financial officer-Mr. M. D. Golding |Ex officio
It is my intention that, wherever possible, members should know in good time whether they will be offered re-appointment.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will name each of the members of the board of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales since its inception; and how many terms each board member, past and present has served. [15490]
Mr. Redwood: The names of each member who has served on the board of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, their position and the number of terms served are as follows:
|Position |Terms Served
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs. M. Bond |Non-executive member|1
Professor J. C. Catford |Executive member |1
Miss C. Charlesworth |Non-executive member|1
Mr. A. Crabbe |Non-executive member|2
Mr. R. Cuthbertson |Non-executive member|1
Mr. G. Davies |Non-executive member|1
Mr. J. I. Davies |Chairman |1
Dr. J. Evans |Non-executive member|1
Dr. D. Frances |Non-executive member|2
Mr. M. Golding |Executive member |1
Mr. H. Griffiths |Non-executive member|1
Mr. J. D. Griffiths |Non-executive member|1
Professor R. Hodgson |Non-executive member|1
Mrs. C. James |Non-executive member|1
Councillor T. Jones |Non-executive member|1
Dr. M. Keen |Non-executive member|1
Mrs. C. E. Lewis |Non-executive member|2
Mr. T. Lewis |Non-executive member|1
Dr. B. Littlepage |Non-executive member|3
Mr. R. C. May-Hill |Non-executive member|2
Miss E. Muir |Non-executive member|1
Mr. S. Roberts |Non-executive member|1
Miss E. Rossiter |Non-executive member|1
Miss S. Sandham |Non-executive member|1
Dr. S. A. Smail |Chairman |2
Miss V. Sugar |Non-executive member|1
Miss A. Thomas |Non-executive member|2
Mr. J. Thomas |Non-executive member|2
Mrs. I. Train |Non-executive member|2
Public Bodies (Expenditure)
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place a copy in the Library of his guidance to non-departmental public bodies on making reductions in their expenditure on consultants fees. [15489]
Mr. Redwood: I have issued no general guidance to non-departmental public bodies.
My strategic guidance letters to the Welsh Development Agency and to the Development Board for Rural Wales set targets for reductions in spending on consultants and my letter to the Cardiff Bay development corporation asked it to reduce its reliance on consultants. Copies of those letters are in the Library of the House.
All public bodies must obtain value for money from consultants and ensure that they are the most cost-effective means of achieving results.
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the consultancy fees paid to Mr. Meirion Thomas of the Cardiff business school and Mr. Stewart Rubin of KLR Consulting and if he will make a statement. [15488]
Environmental Agenda for Wales
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation he undertook with national government officers and local authorities before his launch of his Environmental Agenda for Wales. [15452]
Mr. Redwood: I circulated the text of my Environmental Agenda for Wales to ministerial colleagues prior to its publication; and subsequently copies were also sent to the Welsh local authority associations and to all the county and district councils in Wales.
Countryside Council for Wales
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what advice he has sought about the effects which financial and staff reductions will have on the Countryside Council for Wales' ability to implement recovery programmes or action plans for endangered specifies in Wales; and what was the result of such advice; [15453] (2) if he will list the representations he has received from the board of the Countryside Council for Wales expressing concern at the level of funding available for
Column 260
the monitoring of endangered species and statutory designated sites in Wales in 1995 96. [15454]Mr. Redwood: In meetings held on 10 January 1995 with the chairman of the Countryside Council for Wales and on 24 January 1995 with the full council, discussions took place on a variety of issues, such as how the Countryside Council for Wales can continue effectively to carry out its range of duties, including those in respect of the EC habitats and special directive, other designated sites and endangered species in Wales, in the light of its settlement for 1995 96. These discussions and all other advice received have formed the basis of the action plan that I intend to publish shortly, setting out the issues on which I want the council to concentrate in the next two years.
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list those posts within the Countryside Council for Wales which will become vacant following the budgetary cuts for 1995 96; and which will be re- filled and which made redundant. [15455]
Mr. Redwood: Decisions on staffing are the responsibility of the Countryside Council for Wales. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. I will arrange for copies of that letter to be placed in the Library of the House.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Administration and Policy Formulation
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much money was spent on central administration and policy formulation by his Department in 1993 94; what are the projections for (a) 1994 95 and (b) 1995 96; and if he will make a statement. [14240]
Mr. Dorrell: Details of my Department's running costs spending for the years 1989 90 to 1996 97 are contained in table 9.4 of my Department's annual report 1995, Cm 2811, copies of which are available in the Members' Library.
Publications
Mr. Boyes: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued in 1994 by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publications and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1993.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 2 March 1995]: The information that the hon. Member requires is listed in the table. The total equivalent cost in 1993 is given where appropriate.
|Cost |Cost
Title |1993 |1994
|£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of National Heritage
DNH Annual Report |not available|15,887.34
Preserving the Past, Shaping the
Future |- |8,037.90
Preserving the Past, Shaping the
Future (reprint) |- |2,310.00
Proposed new Library and
Information Commission-A
Consultation Paper |- |80.48
Report by the Secretary of State for
National Heritage on Library and
Information Matters during 1993 |- |1,514.54
Public Lending Right Annual
Report 1993-94 |1,165.05 |1,200.77
Export Licensing Unit Code of
Practice |- |1,360.38
The Future of the BBC, Serving the
Nation Competing world-wide
(White Paper) |- |5,662.86
BBC White Paper summary sheet |- |223.25
The National Lottery leaflet |- |2,087.32
The Ecclesiastical Exemption-
What it is and How it Works |- |1,028.00
The Ecclesiastical Exemption-
What it is and How it Works
(reprint) |- |926.00
Library Information Series No. 21:
School Library Services and
Financial Delegation to Schools |- |807.33
`Newsbrief' newsletters |- |561.08
Annual Report of the Reviewing
Committee on the Export of
Works of Art |6,122.18 |6,352.15
A Guide to the Department and its
Sponsored Bodies (two issues in
1993 and one in 1994) |3,357.18 |2,149.33
What Listing Means |- |2,779.08
What Listing Means (reprint) |- |2,332.33
Review of Grading in Museums |- |68.15
Guidelines for Alterations to
Historic Prisons in Scotland |- |1,884.65
How to Appeal against Listing |- |103.40
Treasure Trove Annual Report |104.58 |64.63
Response to the Select Committee
on the British Library |- |270.00
Royal Parks Agency
Royal Parks Agency Annual Report
1994 |- |34,205.05
Royal Parks of London by Richard
Church<1> |4,000.00 |nil
Royal Parks guide books<1> |32,000.00 |nil
Agency Framework Document |<2>1,160.00 |1,115.00
Agency Corporate Plan |<2>3,780.00 |300.00
Royal Parks Agency Visitor's
Charter |- |560.00
Entertainments Programme |5,670.00 |9,000.00
Historic Royal Palaces Agency
(HRPA)
HM Tower of London Palace
Guide<3> |112,800.00 |122,500.00
HM Tower of London Jewel House
Guide<3> |- |138,000.00
Hampton Court Palace Guide<3> |71,840.00 |66,151.00
Hampton Court Palace Functions
Brochure |- |7,616.00
Hampton Court Palace leaflets |10,448.00 |9,969.00
Kensington Palace Guide |- |11,500.00
Banqueting House Guide |- |7,380.00
Banqueting House Brochure Pack |- |11,000.00
Banqueting House leaflet |- |1,150.00
Kew Palace Guide |- |5,215.00
HRPA Annual Report and Accounts |25,275.00 |22,852.00
HRPA Marketing leaflets |not available|58,865.00
Travel Trade Fanfare Magazine |5,992.50 |4,143.00
<1> The cost of these publications is recovered through sales revenue.
<2> These costs are attributable to DNH, since they were incurred before 1
April 1993 when the Agency came into existence.
<3> The cost of these items is recovered through sales revenue.
In respect of those White Papers, Green Papers and other publications published by HMSO, costs are borne by HMSO, which aims to recover these from sales revenue.
SCOTLAND
Water Services
17. Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet representatives of COSLA to discuss water services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [13462]
Mr. Kynoch: My right hon. Friend and I will be meeting representatives of COSLA on 12 June as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters. It is too early to say if water services will be discussed at that meeting.
Joint Programmes
18. Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the joint programmes between the Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices. [13643]
Mr. Lang: There are no joint programmes as such between the Scottish Office and the Northern Ireland Office, but there are various cases of close working relationships between the two Departments.
Independent Review Commission
19. Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for introducing an independent review commission to examine alleged miscarriages of justice along the lines of that being introduced for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [13644]
Mr. Lang: I have no plans at present to introduce an independent review commission to examine alleged miscarriage of justice along the lines of that being introduced for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
I have appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Sir Stewart Sutherland, principal of Edinburgh university, to consider options for change to the procedure in Scotland. I shall decide what action to take on these matters once I have the committee's report.
Road Bridge, Kelso
20. Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further discussions he has had with Borders regional council on the proposal to build a new road bridge at Kelso. [13645]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: There have been no recent discussions with Borders regional council about the proposed new bridge at Kelso. The bridge would form
Column 263
part of a local road and is thus a matter for the regional council as local roads authority to consider.Scottish Homes
21. Mr. Michael J. Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the contract of Scottish Homes chairman expires. [13646]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The current appointment of the chairman of Scottish Homes expires on 31 March 1996.
Scottish Nuclear
22. Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will determine the section 36 planning consent for Scottish Nuclear dry fuel stores; and if he will make a statement. [13647]
Mr. Kynoch: My right hon. Friend expects to reach a decision shortly about section 36 planning consent for Scottish Nuclear dry fuel stores.
Voluntary Sector (Funding)
23. Mr. McKelvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet representatives of the voluntary sector to discuss their on-going funding needs. [13648]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no immediate plans to meet with representatives of the voluntary sector. Officials from the Scottish office meet regularly with representatives of the voluntary sector in the Scottish Office voluntary sector forum. The next formal meeting of the forum will take place on Wednesday 24 May.
Woodlands Hospital, Aberdeen
24. Mr. Robert G. Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had on the future of Woodlands hospital, Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement. [13649]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about Grampian health board's proposals for the Woodlands hospital, Aberdeen.
My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State for Health has recently had separate meetings with relatives of some of the Woodlands residents and with Grampian Members of Parliament to discuss the future of the hospital and the health board's plans. In reaching a decision we shall take very careful account of all the views which have been put forward.
Strathclyde Regional Council
25. Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Strathclyde regional council will be allowed to transfer capital expenditure into revenue expenditure as a means of reaching his financial targets. [13650]
Mr. Kynoch: My right hon. Friend announced his provisional capping principles on 29 November. He will assess all Scottish local authorities' budgets against these principles once they have been received and in the light of any representations made to him.
Column 264
Youth Employment
26. Mrs. Liddell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for youth employment in Scotland. [13651]
Mr. Kynoch: The Government's economic policies are designed to create a climate in which employers can both maintain existing jobs and create new ones. The skillseekers programme in Scotland, backed up by our youth training guarantee, gives young people the opportunity to receive high quality training, often while in employment, in the occupational area of their choice, with the prospect of a qualification and thus improved employment prospects.
Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority
27. Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received in his consultation on the boundary of the new Strathclyde passenger transport authority; and how many of those favoured the existing boundary of Strathclyde region. [13652]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend has received 147 representations on his consultative exercise on the boundary and constitution of the proposed Strathclyde passenger transport authority. We will announce the outcome of the consultation after detailed and thorough consideration of the responses received.
Council of Ministers
28. Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last led the United Kingdom delegation to the European Union Council of Ministers; and what matters were discussed. [13653]
Mr. Kynoch: The last occasion when a Scottish Minister led for the United Kingdom at the European Council of Ministers was on 3 June 1994. My hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart), then Minister for Industry in Scotland, led the UK delegation to the informal meeting of Ministers responsible for regional policy and spatial planning, when matters relating to the European structural funds were discussed.
Mink
29. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of mink on Scottish wildlife. [13654]
Sir Hector Monro: My right hon. Friend has received advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on the impact of mink on Scottish wildlife. The species is an active predator and established itself in the wild after escaping from mink farms as long ago as 1929. Research results indicate that the mink has generally not had the serious effect on our wildlife that was first expected. However, there is concern about its possible effect on some colonies of ground-nesting sea birds.
Public Appointments
30. Mr. Canavan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for how many public appointments he is now responsible for in Scotland; and how many people are on his list of possible candidates for such appointments. [13655]
Column 265
Mr. Lang: There were 3,656 appointments nominally within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland at 1 September 1994, including 1,895 members of children's panels, who are recruited through the local authorities. There are currently about 4,000 names on the Scottish Office public appointments list.
Scottish Sleeper Services
31. Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further discussions he has had in respect of the sleeper services to Fort William and Carlisle and the Scottish sleeper services; and if he will make a statement. [13656]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Responsibility for railways throughout Great Britain rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. My right hon. Friend and I have been keeping in touch with developments.
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to seek a judicial review of the decision taken by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising in respect of the Fort William and Carlisle to London sleeper services and the Scotland to London motorail services; and if he will make a statement. [15130]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: None.
Junior Doctors
32. Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest estimates of additional numbers of junior doctors required to allow the agreed reductions in junior doctors' hours in Scottish hospitals. [13657]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: No such estimates have been made. NHS employers are expected to meet the targets for junior doctors' hours by measures other than recruiting additional junior doctors.
Housing Development, Niddrie
33. Mr. Eric Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations led him to reject the recommendation of a Scottish Office inquiry into the housing development in the village of Niddrie; and if he will make a statement. [13658]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend does not consider that a convincing case has yet been made to justify the loss of green belt land for housing purposes in the village of Niddrie.
Inward Investment
34. Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the trend on inward investment into (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the European Community. [13659]
Mr. Kynoch: The year 1994 95 is well on course to being another record year for inward investment in Scotland.
Scotland is currently attracting inward investment projects at the rate of almost two per week.
In 1993 94, Locate in Scotland and the Scottish Office Industry Department helped attract to Scotland 95 inward investment projects involving planned investment of £587 million and the expected creation or safeguarding of over
Column 266
11,000 jobs. All these figures represent a significant increase over the corresponding figures for 1992 93.At no time since LIS was set up in 1981 has Scotland secured a higher number of inward investment projects.
Scottish Arts Council
35. Mr. Maxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council to discuss its role in the development of the audio-visual industry in Scotland. [13660]
Sir Hector Monro: My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council from time to time but has no plans to discuss the development of the audio-visual industry. The Scottish Office-funded body with the greater interest in the development of the audio-visual industry is the Scottish Film Council. Its future role is currently the subject of a review.
Scottish Enterprise Tayside
36. Mr. Bill Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the establishment of Scottish Enterprise Tayside and tourism-related projects. [13661]
Mr. Kynoch: The only representations that my right hon. Friend has received on these matters in recent months have been those submitted by the hon. Gentleman.
Local Government
37. Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change he expects in the overall numbers of staff employed by local authorities in Scotland following the introduction of single-tier local government. [13662]
Mr. Kynoch: The numbers of staff employed will depend on decisions yet to be made by the new authorities, but overall it is estimated that local government reorganisation could lead to a reduction of between 200 and 1,800 in the present work force of around 300,000. In addition, approximately 7,000 staff will transfer from local authorities to the new water and sewerage authorities and the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration. Further transfers may arise as a result of proposals still under consideration for the maintenance of trunk roads.
| Next Section
| Home Page |