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WALES

Community Action Programmes

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of community action programmes and their current costs in operation in (a) Wales, (b) Mid Glamorgan and (c) the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency. [5424]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: Information in the form requested is not available centrally.

Cardiff International Airport

Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made in approving a bid by South Glamorgan county council for funding for the proposed link road between Culverhouse Cross and Cardiff international airport. [5516]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: The 1996-97 transport grant settlement was announced on 13 December. My right hon. Friend approved the bid for preparation costs for the airport access road in full.

Ministerial Offices

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent on furnishing and decorating ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last three years. [5571]

Mr. Hague: Expenditure on furnishing and decorating ministerial offices in each of the last three years is included in the running cost expenditure of my Department, which is published in the Welsh Office departmental report 1995, Cm 2815.

Chauffeur-driven Cars

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of chauffeur-driven cars used by his Department was in each of the past five years. [5850]

Mr. Hague: The information is as follows:


Theatr Clwyd, Mold

Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the likely future of (a) ownership, (b) operation and (c) funding of Theatr Clwyd, Mold following local government reorganisation. [6076]

Mr. Richards: My right hon. Friend will receive advice from the residuary body by 31 December 1995 on the future ownership of land and property including Theatr Clwyd. We expect to publish a draft property transfer order by mid-January. This will set out the transfer arrangements for all property owned by the existing councils. If the unitary authorities falling within

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the Clwyd county council area decide to set up collaborative arrangements to run Theatr Clwyd, that is a matter for them.

Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to discuss with Clwyd county council and Flintshire county council the future of Theatr Clwyd, Mold. [6075]

Mr. Richards: On 30 November the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones), met the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) and representatives of Flintshire county council, when the subject of Theatr Clwyd was discussed.

Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the future of Theatr Clwyd, Mold following local government reorganisation. [6083]

Mr. Richards: My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations concerning the future of Theatr Clwyd.

Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to use his reserve powers in respect of the future organisation and funding of Theatr Clwyd, Mold. [6080]

Mr. Richards: My right hon. Friend will receive advice from the residuary body by 31 December 1995 on the future ownership of land and property, including Theatr Clwyd; we expect to publish a draft property transfer order by mid-January. There are currently no proposals to use reserve powers.

Residential Care

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to apply the provisions of the Registered Homes Act 1984 to old people's homes owned by local councils; and if he will make a statement. [5957]

Mr. Hague: My hon. Friends the Under-Secretaries of State for Wales and for Health launched on 22 September a review of the regulation and inspection of social services in England and Wales. Views are invited by the end of February 1996 on the range of issues raised in the consultation document, "Moving Forward".

Planning Application (Gwernymynydd)

Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations have been made to the local planning authority by the highway section of his Department with regard to the proposed development at Swan lane, Gwernymynydd with particular reference to its impact on the A494. [6079]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: A planning application in respect of a development at Minffordd fields, Gwernymynydd near Swan lane was referred to the highways directorate of the Welsh Office in Janaury 1995. Its response in February 1995 directed that the proposed access from the development on the trunk road should be completed in accordance with the details submitted with the application.

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Health Survey

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in establishing a health survey in Wales as undertaken in the departmental report 1995. [5900]

Mr. Richards: The Welsh health survey was carried out during May and June 1995. Questionnaires were sent to 50,000 people living in Wales and over 28,000 were completed and returned, in line with the expected response rate. The results will be published early in 1996.

Breast Cancer

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what targets his Department has set in respect of breast cancer in Wales analogous to those in "The Health of the Nation". [5680]

Mr. Richards: A target to reduce death rates from breast cancer among women aged 50 to 64 by at least 20 per cent. by 2002 was included in the "Protocol for Investment in Health Gain: Cancers", issued by the Welsh Office in 1991.

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the specialist breast cancer treatment centres (a) in Welsh hospitals and (b) otherwise currently serving Welsh health authority populations; and what plans he has (i) to increase their number and (ii) to upgrade them. [6538]

Mr. Hague: There are no designated specialist breast cancer treatment centres in Wales. However, Breast Test Wales refers women with screen-detected breast cancer to the following hospitals for treatment:


Additionally, general practitioners are free to refer patients screened by Breast Test Wales to other hospitals, should they wish.

An expert group on cancer services has been established to help health authorities implement the report of the chief medical officers of England and Wales, "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services". The group will consider the need to increase the number of or upgrade specialist cancer treatment centres.

House Building

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of (i) council houses and (ii) housing association homes to be built in 1996-97; and if he will make a statement. [6471]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: Housing associations are now the main providers of subsidised rented housing. I refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on Wednesday 13 December, Official Report, columns 1002-17, which set out our estimate of housing association activity in 1996-97.

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Smoking

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ban smoking in all public buildings in his control. [6464]

Mr. Hague: My Department has operated a no-smoking rule for a number of years. Smoking is permitted in designated locations, which are kept under review. I have no plans for an absolute smoking ban.

Departmental Staff (Members' Letters)

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials he employed (a) full time and (b) part time in his Department in each of the last three years to answer letters sent to him from hon. Members; and what was the estimated overall cost of replying to them in each of the last three years. [5625]

Mr. Hague: Most Welsh Office staff handle correspondence as part of their duties; it is not possible to estimate the proportion of time, or the cost, spent in answering letters from hon. Members.

Public Bodies

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the public authorities in Wales to which he makes appointments, indicating which were established (a) by primary legislation, (b) by secondary legislation, (c) by royal charter or warrant, (d) royal prerogative and (e) by other means. [6046]

Mr. Hague: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

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