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Mr. Richards: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
Historic Houses
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what support is given to help private owners of homes that have a historic and architectural interest to retain and maintain their homes; and if he will list those private historic homes which have received grants over the past three years, giving the amount of grant in each case and the specific purpose of each grant. [41149]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Welsh Office may offer grants for the repair of buildings judged to be of outstanding historical or architectural interest or for works that make a significant contribution towards the preservation or enhancement of a conservation area. The Historic Buildings Council for Wales must be consulted before a grant is made and details of grants and their purpose are set out in the council's annual reports, which have been laid before the House.
Homelessness
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are estimated to be homeless in each local housing authority area, and what were the comparable figures in 1986 and 1990. [41147]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Information on people accepted as homeless under part III of the Housing Act 1985 is shown in the table.
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People accepted as homeless in Wales
Number
Between 1 April
and 30 June
|1986<1>|1990<1>|<1>1995
------------------------------------------------------
Aberconwy |43 |20 |42
Alyn and Deeside |84 |80 |118
Arfon |9 |22 |24
Blaenau Gwent |114 |221 |159
Brecknock |34 |50 |84
Cardiff |456 |650 |489
Carmarthen |34 |45 |49
Ceredigion |24 |87 |67
Colwyn |13 |27 |62
Cynon Valley |229 |116 |37
Delyn |80 |241 |51
Dinefwr |51 |31 |99
Dwyfor |53 |38 |31
Glyndwr |13 |17 |9
Islwyn |34 |101 |83
Llanelli |76 |66 |41
Lliw Valley |55 |104 |13
Meirionnydd |38 |63 |39
Merthyr Tydfil |46 |141 |123
Monmouth |211 |69 |26
Montgomery |27 |44 |87
Neath |212 |151 |137
Newport |295 |665 |295
Ogwr |421 |304 |600
Port Talbot |33 |94 |84
Preseli Pembrokeshire |44 |70 |98
Radnor |12 |14 |29
Rhondda |61 |36 |52
Rhuddlan |51 |38 |22
Rhymney Valley |172 |148 |52
South Pembrokeshire |25 |88 |69
Swansea |161 |98 |646
Taff-Ely |75 |145 |111
Torfaen |212 |194 |107
Vale of Glamorgan |100 |316 |142
Wrexham Maelor |169 |212 |148
Ynys Mon |14 |9 |57
<1>Figures relate to people accepted as homeless
through the quarter to 30 June.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each civil service grade dealing with education at all levels the number of (a) male and (b) female and (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees and the comparable figures for 1990 and 1985. [41151]
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Mr. Hague: The following tables show the numbers of staff in my Department by grade dealing with education as at 1 November 1995 and 1 October 1990.
The staff figures shown for 1 November 1995 exclude staff working in the office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in Wales, which was established as a separate department in 1992.
Comparable figures for 1985 are not available.
Count of Staff Working in the Education Department by Grade by Sex
as at 1 November 1995
Males Females
Grade |Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 3 |1 |- |- |- |1
Grade 5 |4 |- |- |- |4
Grade 7 |6 |- |2 |- |8
SEO |4 |- |- |1 |5
HEO |10 |- |4 |1 |15
HEOD |1 |- |- |- |1
AT |- |- |1 |- |1
EO |11 |- |12 |1 |24
AO |3 |- |7 |5 |15
PS |- |- |4 |- |4
AA |3 |- |5 |2 |10
TYP |- |- |1 |- |1
|43 |- |36 |10 |89
Count of staff working in the Education Department by grade by sex
as at 1 October 1990 (including OHMCI)
Males Females
Grade |Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time|Total
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 3 |1 |- |- |- |1
Grade 4 |1 |- |- |- |1
Grade 5 |9 |- |- |- |9
Grade 6 |35 |- |11 |- |46
Grade 7 |8 |- |4 |- |12
SEO |3 |- |1 |- |4
HEO |11 |- |2 |1 |14
EO |6 |- |11 |- |17
AO |5 |- |6 |- |11
PS |- |- |13 |- |13
AA |2 |- |3 |- |5
TYP |- |- |2 |- |2
Casual AA |2 |- |- |- |2
Casual TYP |- |- |1 |- |1
|83 |- |54 |1 |138
Nursery Classes
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each local education authority and for Wales as a whole the number of statutory proposals made for the introduction of new nursery classes into a school during each of the last three years, indicating how many of these were in respect of Welsh medium schools. [41440]
Mr. Richards: The number of statutory proposals made by local authorities or governing bodies of voluntary schools to make a significant change in the character of a school by introducing a nursery class is given as follows. None was in respect of a Welsh medium school.
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Number of statutory proposals published to
establish nursery
classes/units at infant/primary schools by
relevant county and all
Wales within the last three academic years:
County |1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |2 |0 |2
Gwent |2 |1 |2
South Glamorgan |0 |1 |7
West Glamorgan |2 |1 |1
All Wales |6 |3 |12
Permanent Exclusions
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by local education authority for each of the last five years the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils who have been permanently excluded from school to attend pupil referral units; [41317]
(2) if he will list by local education authority for each of the last five years the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils who are receiving home tuition after being permanently excluded from school and (i) the average, (ii) the most and (iii) the least tuition hours provided [41319]
Mr. Richards: This information is not collected centrally at present. Consideration is, however, being given to the introduction of monitoring arrangements for the collection of such data.
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority the number of pupils in each of the last five years who have been permanently excluded from (a) LEA-maintained schools and (b) grant-maintained schools; and what percentage of the school population this represents in each case. [41308]
Mr. Richards: I refer the hon. member to my reply of 19 July 1995 to the hon. Member for Darlington, (Mr. Milburn) Official Report , columns 1403 4 .
Cheese Production
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list showing which varieties of cheese are produced in Wales together with the location of these production centres and his estimate of the total volume of production in tonnes for each of the last three years. [41463]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The following varieties of cheese are produced in Wales:
Caerphilly
Cheddar and other rigid hard pressed cheeses
Brie
Specially blended cheeses such as:
Y Fenni, St Illtyd, Harlech, Tintern Cambrian
Goats cheeses
Sheep cheeses
Mozzarella
Stilton
This list may not be exhaustive.
There are 29 cheese producers in Wales, nine of whom are major producers.
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Location of cheese producers Area |Number ----------------------------- Clwyd |3 Dyfed |19 Glamorgan-Mid |1 Glamorgan-West |1 Gwent |1 Gwynedd |3 Powys |1
Information on the volume of production is not available.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the total volume of cheese production in Wales in tonnes and in pounds sterling at constant 1995 prices for each of the last three years, expressing each set of figures as a proportion of the corresponding totals for the United Kingdom. [41462]
Mr. Jones: This information is not available for Wales.
NHS Finance
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the NHS budget in Wales was spent on management, administrative and clerical staff in (a) 1989 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [41245]
Mr. Richards: The proportion of the NHS budget in Wales spent on management, administrative and clerical staff in 1988 89 and 1994 95 was about 6 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively.
Nurse Regrading
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about regrading in the nursing
profession. [41246]
Mr. Richards: The management and staff side secretaries of the Nursing and Midwifery Negotiation Council are working together to formulate arrangements to complete all the clinical grading appeals as soon as possible.
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Special Educational Needs
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority the amount (a) not included and (b) included in schools' budgets to cater for special educational needs; and what were the comparable figures for 1990. [41315]
Mr. Richards: According to the section 42 budget statements submitted earlier this year by local education authorities in Wales, the following amounts have been retained by LEAs in 1995 96 for special needs support services including special units:
£
------------------------------------
Clwyd |3,412,000
Dyfed |8,005,000
Gwent |1,606,000
Gwynedd |1,747,000
Mid Glamorgan |4,377,000
Powys |1,447,000
South Glamorgan |4,520,000
West Glamorgan |991,000
Comparable figures for 1990 are not
available because the content of
the section 42 statement was
changed in 1992.
Details of the amounts delegated to
schools through their LEA's local
management of schools budget
formulae for special educational
needs are not collected centrally.
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority the numbers of (a) primary and (b) secondary school children who have received statements because of their emotional and behavioural difficulties in each of the last five years. [41318]
Mr. Richards: Information for 1994 and 1995 on the number of pupils in primary and secondary schools with statements of special need linked to emotional and behavioural difficulties is shown in the table. The information relates to the major need of the pupil identified on the individual statements of special educational need. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.
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Pupils with a statement of special educational needs linked to emotional and behavioural difficulties <1>
Local Education Primary schools Secondary schools
Authority
|January 1994 |January 1995<2>|January 1994 |January 1995<2>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Education Authority
Clwyd |50 |57 |48 |89
Dyfed |99 |96 |36 |42
Gwent |125 |154 |124 |116
Gwynedd |16 |24 |9 |13
Mid Glamorgan |23 |18 |11 |15
Powys |10 |22 |9 |13
South Glamorgan |45 |62 |14 |35
West Glamorgan |19 |9 |4 |5
Wales |387 |442 |255 |328
<1>Includes children in both mainstream classes/units and special classes/units within the school.
<2>Provisional.
Unitary Authorities
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the unitary councils have formally selected the name of their council; if he will indicate, in each case,
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the name chosen; if there are separate English and Welsh versions; and if he will make a statement. [41380]Mr. Gwilym Jones: The 22 unitary councils bear the names of their authority area as approved by Parliament in the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994.
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All authorities have Welsh and English names as listed in schedule 1 to the Act and are identified as either counties or county boroughs. The authority names were chosen after an extensive consultation exercise held in the spring of 1993. The new section 21 of the Local Government Act 1972--inserted by section 2 of the 1994 Act--requires all councils to have Welsh and English titles. Section 74 of the 1972 Act provides for local authorities to change the name of their area. Until 1 October 1996, a name change requires the consent of the Secretary of State for Wales. His consent is not required after that date. If a name is changed under section 74 and there are generally accepted alternative Welsh and English forms of the name, or alternative names, both names should be used.Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the name of each community or town council within each of the new unitary council areas. [41381]
Mr. Jones: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Traffic Calming
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each county and for Wales as a whole for 1992, 1993 and 1994 (a) the number of applications received to implement traffic-calming measures (b) the number for which permission was granted (c) the total actual expenditure for each category and (d) the total actual expenditure paid for by the Welsh Office, together with this amount expressed as a proportion of (c) , and if he will make a statement. [41441]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The information is not available in the form requested.
On the Welsh trunk road network, the Welsh Office is considering approximately 20 locations as possible sites for trials of significant traffic-calming measures mainly on the rural network in Gwynedd, Powys and Dyfed.
To date, eight sites have been authorised with a total cost of approximately £400,000 being fully funded by the Welsh Office as the trunk road highway authority. Design work is proceeding on a further three locations.
The information on the county road network is not held by the Welsh Office. However the Welsh Office has received eight applications for the approval of 20 mph zones and a number of additional applications for the authorisation of non-standard measures in the period 1992 94. Decisions on implementation rest with the local highway authority and funding is provided from unhypothecated resources.
National Blood Service
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the reorganisation of the National Blood Service as it affects Wales. [41266]
Mr. Richards: The review of the National Blood Service undertaken by the National Blood Authority is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Organisational changes stemming from the review which could have implications for the delivery of blood services in Wales will be considered by the Welsh Office and the managers of the National Blood Transfusion Service (Wales).
Column 808
Prostate Cancer
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of prostate cancer have been treated in each of the last 10 years, and if he will make a statement. [41249]
Mr. Richards: Information on the number of cases of prostate cancer treated is not available. The latest information on the number of new cases of prostate cancer registered by the Wales Cancer Registry is given in the following table.
Prostate Cancer ( ICD9 185) Year |Number --------------------- 1981 |569 1982 |548 1983 |625 1984 |691 1985 |705 1986 |681 1987 |699 1988 |729 1989 |859 1990 |857 Source: Wales Cancer Registry.
English and Welsh Education
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve spoken English and Welsh in schools. [41316]
Mr. Richards: The revised national curriculum, in place from September 1995, sets clear targets for improvements in spoken English and Welsh. Progress against these targets is assessed at ages seven, 11 and 14 and at age 16 through the GCSE. Additionally, discussions will be held shortly with the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales and the Welsh Joint Education Committee on recording grades of spoken English and Welsh on GCSE certificates.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by type of project (a) how many schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative, (b) what is the value of these schemes and (c) what public sector contribution will be required both initially and as revenue support during the lifetime of the schemes. [41737]
Mr. Hague: Within Welsh Office programmes, no contracts have been signed to date under the private finance initiative for projects costing over £1 million. Information on schemes costing less than £1 million is not collected.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many persons in his Department are on the public payroll or employed as consultants or advisers and work on a part-time or full-time basis in relation to the Scott inquiry; if he will list their names; and how much each is paid; [42044]
Column 809
(2) how many persons have been authorised to have access to documents held by his Department relating to the Scott inquiry and if he will list such persons. [42045]Environment Charters
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those district councils which have published environmental charters since 1991; and if he will make a statement. [42081]
Mr. Hague: This information is not held centrally. In 1993 the Government published guidance to assist local authorities in the production of local environmental charters and a number of Welsh councils have now prepared these.
Welsh Language
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish those projects promoting the Welsh language and culture which have received European funding during the last five years, indicating the amount received in each case. [42092]
Mr. Hague: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Rural Development
Mr. John Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if in the further consideration he is giving to rural development he will issue guidelines as to how much housing development he will allow in villages, in order that they retain their present character. [40937]
Mr. Gwilym Jones [holding answer 6 November 1995]: At present, planning guidance on housing development in villages is included in planning policy guidance note 7 "The Countryside and The Rural Economy", issued in January 1992. This indicates that new housing will continue to be required in rural areas to sustain the health of the rural economy and the viability of village communities and that in many villages, provision can be made for modest development without damage to the character of the village. It is for the local planning authorities to determine the level of housing allowed in particular villages. These issues have been raised in the responses to the consultation exercises which have taken place both on the proposed revision of planning policy guidance in Wales and on the forthcoming rural White Paper for Wales. My right hon. Friend is now considering the responses received.
Mr. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to Welsh Office guidelines on out-of-town store development; and what account he has taken of the rules governing planning applications in England. [40936]
Mr. Jones [holding answer 6 November 1995]: Planning policy guidance on out-of-town retail developments is incorporated in the draft planning policy guidance (Wales) document which my right hon. Friend issued for public consultation in July. This draft provides
Column 810
similar planning policy guidance to that contained in the draft PPG6--"Town Centres and Retail Developments" issued by DoE for Consultation in England.HOME DEPARTMENT
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by type of product (a) how many schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative, (b) what is the value of those schemes and (c) what public sector contribution will be required both initially and as revenue support during the lifetime of the schemes. [41742]
Mr. Howard: Two contracts have been awarded under private finance initiative terms to date:
The police national network
Immigration detention facilities at Gatwick airport
The total capital values of these projects are matters for the contractors, but are estimated to be £50 million and £12 million respectively.
No public sector initial contribution has been required. Individual police forces purchase usage of PNN from public funds, but the value during the lifetime of the scheme will vary with demand. The rental for the Gatwick centre is projected to be £987,000 per annum.
Private Security Industry
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if it is his policy to introduce legislation in the coming Session of Parliament to bring into effect statutory regulation of the private security industry; [41930]
(2) if he will make it his policy to establish a system of regulation in the private security industry to provide for (a) the international nature of operators and (b) the range of inter-related services provided by some operators; [41936] (3) if he will make it his policy to introduce a statutory system to regulate the private security industry; and if he will set a target date for these measures; [41929]
(4) if he will make it his policy to protect those companies in the private security industry which his Department assesses to be well run under statutory regulation of the industry; [41939]
(5) if he will make it his policy to establish a system of regulation for the private security industry which can respond quickly to changes in the market. [41937]
Mr. Maclean: The case for regulation is being considered in the light of the Home Affairs Select Committee report. We will provide a full response to the Committee as soon as possible.
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place in his Department to ensure that any private security company providing services to his Department is and remains a member of the relevant voluntary regulatory body for the industry. [41934]
Column 811
Mr. Howard: No formal systems are in place, but membership of voluntary regulatory bodies may be taken into account with other factors when assessing companies for the award of security services contracts.
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to bring into effect arrangements to allow for proper vetting procedures for (a) employees and (b) employers within the private security industry within statutory provisions to regulate that industry. [41938]
Mr. Maclean: We are aware that there are concerns about the employment within the industry of individuals with criminal records. The whole issue of disclosure of criminal records for employment vetting purposes is currently under review. A White Paper containing the Government's proposals in this area will be issued during the next few months.
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to give powers to the police to intervene in the work of the private security industry in circumstances where there is a threat to public safety. [41926]
Mr. Maclean: The police have comprehensive powers to protect the public and to deal with criminal behaviour whenever it occurs.
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include (a) manned guarding and (b) patrol duties and (c) door supervision within statutory provisions to regulate the private security industry. [41931]
Mr. Maclean: The issue of regulation for the industry is under review. We are aware that concerns lie mainly in the contract manned guarding sector, which includes private patrolling services. Door supervisors raise particular difficulties which are being tackled through local registration schemes--a measure which the Home Affairs Select Committee supported--and guidance on these will shortly be issued.
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the private security firms undertaking work for his Department during the present financial year and for each of the last five financial years, listing in each case and for each year the total number of full time equivalent posts paid for by his Department and the numbers in each category of role in each year; [41932] (2) how many private security firms employed by his Department have ceased to be a member of the relevant voluntary regulatory body during the period in which such services were being provided; and if he will indicate (a) the firms and (b) the regulatory bodies concerned; [41935]
(3) if he will list the organisations providing private security services of any sort to his Department or to any agency responsible to him or to his Department in the current financial year and in any part of each of the past five financial years; indicating against each name the voluntary regulatory body or bodies to which each belongs. [41933]
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