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Race Relations Agency
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated annual cost of the Government's proposal to set up a Northern Ireland Race Relations Agency; what is the cost per head of population, the cost per ethnic minority individual and the equivalent actual costs in these categories in Great Britain; and if he will estimate the cost of extending the existing Race Relations Agency's remit to cover Northern Ireland. [35796]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: On 27 April 1995, I announced the Government's intention to introduce race relations legislation in Northern Ireland by means of an Order in Council. As part of that process, a draft proposal will be published in due course which, among other things, will suggest how that legislation might be administered. The institutional arrangements for enforcing the legislation, including the establishment of a race relations body, are therefore still under consideration.
Growth Challenge Initiative
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funding is available to support the Northern Ireland growth challenge initiative for each of the next three years. [34087]
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 17 July 1995]: My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Departmental Redundancies
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many redundancies occurred in his Department over the last 12 months; how many were voluntary; and what was the total sum spent on redundancy payments. [34610]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 14 July 1995]: The total number of staff leaving the Northern Ireland civil service on redundancy terms during the period 12 July 1994 to 11 July 1995 amounted to 524. Of these, 466 were voluntary.
The amount spent on redundancy payments during that period was £12, 637,306.79.
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Computer Equipment
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the top 10 suppliers of computer equipment to his Department and its agencies in the last five years, indicating the total value of the contracts received. [34559]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 14 July 1995]: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at
disproportionate cost.
Auditors' Remuneration
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much have (a) health authorities and (b) trusts spent on auditors' renumeration in each year since 1992, by region. [34165]
Mr. Moss [holding answer 13 July 1995]: The information is as follows:
1991 92: £109,999
1992 93: £166,091
1993 94: £200,818
1994 95 : £42,587
To date
Figures exclude VAT.
The remuneration was paid to the firms by the Department of Health and Social Services without recharge to the boards and trusts.
Private Training Agencies
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funds have been used to assist private training agencies to establish themselves in Northern Ireland, and in what circumstances in the last five years. [31427]
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 30 June 1995]: My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
WALES
Food Related Industries
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the contribution of alcoholic drinks production to the Welsh gross domestic product in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [34981]
Mr. Richards: The available industrial breakdown of Welsh GDP does not separately identify alcoholic drink production.
Museums and Galleries
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will express general Government expenditure in Wales on museums and galleries as a proportion of the corresponding United Kingdom figure; and if he will make a statement. [34962]
Mr. Richards: In 1993 94 general Government expenditure in Wales on museums and galleries was about 5 per cent. of the corresponding United Kingdom figure.
Column 1396
Trade Missions
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many trade missions were (a) led and (b) supported by his Department in each year since 1992 93; what was the cost of those trade missions; and if he will make a statement. [34951]
Mr. Hague: The information is as follows:
|Number of missions
|led and supported by
Year |the Welsh Office |Total cost (£)<1>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93 |2 |<2>6,287
1993-94 |6 |106,791
1994-95 |7 |126,061
1995-96 (to date) |3 |82,609
<1>These costs do not include staff and Establishment costs which cannot be
disaggragated.
<2>current subsidy did not begin until 1993-94. These missions are a very
successful and cost effective way of helping Welsh companies to export to new
overseas markets.
Further and Higher Education
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of state-funded postgraduate students as a proportion of the entire student population at Welsh higher education institutions and if he will make a statement. [34966]
Mr. Richards: Information provided by the Higher Education Statistical Agency shows that, as at 1 December 1994, there were 81, 200 students participating in courses of study at Welsh higher education institutions excluding the Open university. Of these, 12, 000 were state- funded postgraduates. The state-funded postgraduates thus form 15 per cent. of the total population at Welsh higher education institutions.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the number of state-funded students pursuing postgraduate degrees at Welsh institutions of higher education; and if he will make a statement. [34967]
Mr. Richards: Information provided by the Higher Education Statistical Agency shows that, as at 1 December 1994, there were 12, 000 postgraduate students participating in courses of study at Welsh Higher Education Institutions (excluding the Open University) whose major source of finance was from either government departments, other government funded bodies or the European Commission.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which colleges of further education in Wales have reported that they are suffering financial difficulties, and if he will give details of the extent of those difficulties. [35262]
Mr. Richards: A forecast accumulated deficit of approximately £601,000 was identified for Deeside college up to the end of financial year 1994 95 and a recovery plan is currently in place. More recently, coleg Ceredigion is forecasting an accumulated deficit of approximately £800,000 up to the end of financial year 1994 95. The Further Education Funding Council for Wales has taken swift action to deal with the problem and a full recovery strategy will be presented by college
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management to coleg Ceredigion's governors on 20 July. The funding council is closely monitoring the financial health of two other colleges and further action will be taken if it is considered necessary.Bee Stings
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people died in Wales as a result of being stung by bees between 1984 and 1994; and if he will make a statement. [35016]
Mr. Richards: There were no deaths of Welsh residents certified by the Office of Population and Censuses and Surveys as due to toxic reaction as a result of being stung by hornets, wasps and bees--ICD E905.3--during the period 1984 to 1993. Figures for 1994 are not yet available.
Libraries
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will express general Government expenditure in Wales on libraries as a proportion of the corresponding United Kingdom figure; and if he will make a statement. [35126]
Mr. Richards: In 1993 94, general Government expenditure in Wales on libraries was about 4 per cent. of the corresponding United Kingdom figure.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if his Department has now considered the report by management consultant KPMG Peat Marwick into the library service; and if he will make a statement; [36148]
(2) how many branch libraries there are in each county in Wales; [36144]
(3) which libraries in Wales he has visited; [36146]
(4) how many people are employed in the library service in Wales; [36145]
(5) if he will make a statement on the future of the library service in Wales; [36143]
(6) if he will list the libraries in Wales his ministerial team has visited; on what dates; and if he will make a statement. [36147]
Mr. Richards: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
Food Safety
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wale how much his Department spent on identifying food safety risks in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95; and if he will make a statement. [34963]
Mr. Richards: Expenditure incurred by the Welsh Office on identifying food safety risks is not separately identified.
Harbours
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money his Department has spent in the past 10 years on improving Welsh fishing harbours; and if he will make a statement. [34886]
Column 1398
Mr. Richards: The Welsh Office has provided grant aid totalling £263,542 in the past 10 years for the improvement of Welsh fishing harbours, through the fishery harbour grant scheme under the Fishing Act 1955. In addition, considerable investment has been undertaken by local authorities on improving fishing harbours which has attracted public support from schemes such as the former rural initiative, urban programme and the projects of regional and national importance--PRNI--and special projects schemes. All these schemes are now subsumed in the strategic development scheme. The investment of almost £426,000 in a number of projects to improve the harbour at Holyhead is an example.
Fish Stocks
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications to shoot cormorants or goosanders in order to protect fish stocks in Welsh rivers were received by his Department in each of the past three years for which figures are available; and how many such licences were issued. [34929]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The information requested is as follows:
|Applications |Licences issued
|received
----------------------------------------------------------------
1992 |2 |0
1993 |<1>3 |0
1994 |16 |9
<1>This figure includes 1 composite application on behalf of 23
Fishery Owners.
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department has taken to study the impact of river barrages on anadromous fish, with particular reference to experience in France. [34930]
Mr. Jones: The Welsh Office is not carrying out any research into the impact of river barrages on anadromous fish as a direct result of the experience of such barrages in France. However, research into the problems associated with the passage of salmonids past estuarine barrages is currently being carried out by the directorate of fisheries research on behalf of the Welsh office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The work forms part of a collaborative research programme with the National Rivers Authority, which is also studying the effect on fish migration of barrage construction at Swansea and Cardiff bay.
Departmental Staff
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of (a) male and (b) female (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees. [35463]
Mr. Hague: The total numbers of persons employed by my Department are:
Full-time Part-time
Grade |Male |Female|Male |Female|Total
--------------------------------------------------------------
G1 and equivalents |1 |- |- |- |1
G2 and equivalents |2 |- |- |- |2
G3 and equivalents |10 |1 |- |- |11
G4 and equivalents |5 |2 |- |- |7
G5 and equivalents |45 |8 |- |2 |55
G6 and equivalents |23 |3 |1 |3 |30
G7 and equivalents |122 |30 |- |12 |164
SEO and equivalents |113 |23 |- |5 |141
HEO and equivalents |166 |87 |- |17 |270
Admin Fast Stream |12 |10 |- |1 |23
EO and equivalents |209 |211 |2 |75 |497
AO and equivalents |157 |321 |1 |110 |589
AA and equivalents |152 |221 |- |46 |419
Industrials |97 |17 |3 |8 |125
Part-time
Grade Male Female Male Female Total
G1 and equivalents 1 -- -- -- 1
G2 and equivalents 2 -- -- -- 2
G3 and equivalents 10 1 -- -- 11
G4 and equivalents 5 2 -- -- 7
G5 and equivalents 45 8 -- 2 55
Column 1399
G6 and equivalents 23 3 1 3 30G7 and equivalents 122 30 -- 12 164
SEO and equivalents 113 23 -- 5 141
HEO and equivalents 166 87 -- 17 270
Admin Fast Stream 12 10 -- 1 23
EO and equivalents 209 211 2 75 497
AO and equivalents 157 321 1 110 589
AA and equivalents 152 221 -- 46 419
Industrials 97 17 3 8 125
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list (a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the numbers and percentages of women employed at these grades and (c) the numbers of staff employed at administrative grades and the numbers and percentages of these staff that are women, in his Department and for each of its executive agencies for each year since 1985. [35691]
Mr. Hague: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures his Department has taken to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions within his Department and its executive agencies. [35667]
Mr. Hague: My Department is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all its employees. In 1994, a revised action programme for women was launched which seeks to identify and address their specific needs and to encourage them to achieve their full potential. My Department is also a member of Opportunity 2000 and fully supports its aims and objectives. Currently women comprise 52 per cent. of the Department's employees and the proportion of women in management grades is increasing steadily.
Agricultural Subsidies
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county the number of landowners receiving payments under the arable area payments scheme of (a) less than £25,000, (b) between £25,000 and £50,000, (c) between £50,000 and £1,000,000 and (d) above £1,000,000, for the latest year for which figures are available. [35363]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: It is not possible to differentiate between landowners and tenants who claim aid.
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list how much the owner of Castell Cenlas farm, Mathry, Pembrokehsire, Caerau farm, Rhosycaerau, Pembrokeshire, Llandruidon farm, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire and Pantywrach farm, Trecwn, Pembrokeshire, has received in sheep annual premiums, beef annual premiums, suckler cow premiums, set-aside payments and any other agricultural-based payments through his Department in each of the last 10 years. [35988]
Column 1400
Mr. Jones: For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not my policy to disclose information about payments to individual farmers.
Child Care
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spends on (a) child care provision for under-fives and (b) out- of-school provision for the over-fives, both directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, and indirectly through resources made available to local authorities and other organisations; what form of provision is provided; and how many full-time and part-time places are provided. [35548]
Mr. Hague: Most central Government funding of local authority functions is through revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates. This funding is not hypothecated to particular services. It is for each local authority to decide, in line with its statutory duties and local needs and priorities, how much it provides for these services. In 1993 94, the latest year for which information is available, local authorities spend (a) £2.3 million on day nurseries and playgroups and (b) £3.4 million on child minding, day fostering, family and other day care centres for children. At 31 March 1994, local authorities provided, or bought in from the independent sector, 388 places in day nurseries, 1,126 places in playgroups, 258 places with child minders and 284 places in holiday schemes for children aged five to seven. It is not possible to distinguish between full-time and part-time places.
The Welsh Office has made available £150,000 in 1995 96 to the training and enterprise councils to develop demonstration projects in child care for children below school age and £954,000 under the out-of- school child care grant initiative. Grants in support of child and family services and for the promotion of the Welsh language in 1995 96, together amounting to some £1,190,000, have been awarded to voluntary organisations whose members provide day-care services for young children.
Special Educational Needs
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many statements of special educational need have been completed in each local education authority in each of the past 10 years; and how many assessments for statements have been made but not
confirmed. [36240]
Mr. Richards: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library.
Local Education Authorities (Complaints)
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints against local education authorities have been made to the local government ombudsman in each of the past three years; and what was the nature of the complaint in each case. [36241]
Mr. Richards: The Commission for Local Administration is an independent statutory body and questions relating to its activities are for the commission itself to answer.
Column 1401
Information on the numbers of complaints made to the Commission for Local Administration, by type of service, is provided in the annual reports of the Commission, copies of which are in the Library of the House.Blood Bags
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if blood bags from Tuta have been used in the national health service in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [36136]
Mr. Richards: Tuta blood bags were used in the NHS in Wales between 1 June 1995 and the discovery of a fault in the product at the end of that month. Since then, all stocks have been recalled and use of Tuta bags discontinued.
M4
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the assessment of the effect of the proposed M4 relief road in Gwent on local sites of special scientific interest. [35875]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The M4 relief road is estimated to occupy less than 2 per cent. of the area of the sites of special scientific interest in the Gwent levels. I am satisfied that the relief road can be developed without the scientific resource being seriously affected.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what has been the effect on traffic numbers travelling through the Brynglas tunnel and through main routes in Newport since the opening of the tunnel bypass schemes. [35866]
Mr. Jones: There has been a reduction of 22 per cent. in traffic flows through the Brynglas tunnels; and on other routes the reduction has been as follows:
|Per cent.
----------------------------------------------------
Malpas Road north of M4 |31
Malpas Road south of M4 |23
B4596 Caerleon Road South of M4 |23
Town Bridge |4
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for an environmental impact assessment on the proposed M4 relief road from the second Severn crossing and Castleton. [35874]
Mr. Jones: An environmental impact assessment on the M4 relief road Magor to Castleton scheme will be carried out and a full environmental statement under the European directive will follow at the time when statutory powers are sought to construct the road.
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