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Cycle Paths
24. Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to encourage the development and use of cycle paths in Wales. [8855]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: I recently announced that £1.3 million has been allocated over three years under the strategic development scheme to help create 326 miles of cycle paths in north and south Wales.
The Welsh Office is also assisting with the funding of a feasibility study for the proposed Swansea to Newport cycle route.
Schools (Expenditure)
25. Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from headmasters and others on the level of education expenditure in schools in Wales. [8857]
Mr. Richards: Many representations have been received on the level of expenditure on schools in Wales. However, it is for individual local authorities to determine how the resources that are made available to them are allocated between services, including education, in the light to their statutory responsibilities and their perception of local needs and priorities.
Carers
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that carers are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9366]
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 98
Mr. Richards: People representing all sections and interests of the community are encouraged, through open advertisement, to apply for non-executive appointment to NHS trusts and health authorities and to become members of community health councils. An equal opportunities policy in the selection process is adopted for all appointments.
Incontinence Pads
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his policy is in relation to the supply of incontinence pads to those who require them because of disability; what plans he has to review these arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9211]
Mr. Richards: The organisation of continence services in Wales and the manner in which they are delivered, including the provision of continence pads, are matters for district health authorities and hospital and community units. They are under a general obligation to provide these services where need exists and having regard to their resources and priorities.
NHS responsibilities for meeting continuing health care needs, which include the provision of community health services such as the supply of continence pads, are set out in Welsh Health Circular WHC(95)7.
Disability
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on the provision of services of disabled people; what guidelines he (a) has issued, and (b) intends to issue, to unitary authorities on the provision of services for and to disabled people; what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure the continuation of services which are currently provided across the new local government authority boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [9237]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The new unitary authorities will be responsible for deciding how their statutory responsibilities for social services can best be discharged. The Welsh office issued guidance in August 1995 to all shadow unitary authorities in Wales, summarising local authority social services functions and responsibilities. This highlights the particular features of social services which the new authorities will need to consider as they plan the effective provision of social services for the people who need them.
Sections 32-34 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 allow my right hon. Friend to take certain steps if the arrangements for any service or aspects of that service appear to be unsatisfactory or appear likely to become unsatisfactory. These powers are available until 31 March 1999.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that disabled people are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9363]
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 99
Mr. Richards:
People representing all sections and interests of the community are encouraged, through open advertisement, to apply for non-executive appointment to NHS trusts and health authorities and to become members of community health councils. An equal opportunities policy in the selection process is adopted for all appointments.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the national lottery on raising funds to support the development and operation of the hospice movement and hospices; what plans he has to ensure the financial security of hospices; and if he will make a statement. [9282]
Mr. Richards:
There is, as yet, no conclusive evidence concerning the impact of the national lottery on the fund raising activities of the voluntary hospices in Wales. However, the Government have given a commitment to monitor charitable income, and the Welsh Office is associated with a Home Office research project which will analyse and monitor changes in charitable income, following the introduction of the national lottery. One hospice in Wales has benefited from the national lottery.
Since 1 April 1995 funds for hospices have been included in the health authority allocations. Authorities will be expected to assess local health needs and commission an appropriate level of palliative care, entering into three-year rolling contracts, where possible.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many eligible young people in Alyn and Deeside, Clwyd, Gwynedd and Wales are currently unable to obtain a place on a youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement. [9551]
Mr. Richards:
Information is not available in the form requested. However, at 30 November 1995--latest available--no young person in Wales eligible for the Government's youth training guarantee was waiting for an offer to start a training place.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of under-fives' education in Wales is on a full-time basis. [9552]
Mr. Richards:
Of children estimated to be under five years of age at 31 December 1994 and enrolled in school at January 1995, 58.8 per cent. were attending on a full-time basis.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to respond to the request made to his Department in November 1995 for more funds for the Flintshire unitary authority in the financial year 1996-97; and if he will make a statement. [9555]
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 100
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
Flintshire county council's views are being considered as a representation on the provisional local government revenue settlement, consultation on which ended on 5 January. My right hon. Friend will announce his final settlement proposals shortly.
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce a programme to tackle the problem of teenage smoking on similar lines to the Quitline programme in England. [9022]
Mr. Richards:
The Quitline telephone helpline in England provides advice on smoking cessation for all age groups and is not aimed specifically at teenage smokers.
The Health Promotion Authority for Wales currently delivers a wide range of programmes designed to prevent the take up of smoking or to help individuals to stop smoking. Many of these programmes, including the "Smokebusters" initiatives--which aim to discourage 11 to 13-year-olds from starting smoking--and "Quit and Win" project-- aimed at 15 to 19-year-olds--are designed specifically to address the problem of smoking among young people. There are no plans to introduce a programme similar to Quitline in Wales.
Under the new arrangements for funding Health Promotion Wales which are to be introduced from April 1996, it will be primarily for health authorities to commission future programmes to deal with the problem of teenage smoking in Wales.
Mr Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish his estimate of the average council tax--band C, two adults--in constant prices for each of the new unitary council authorities and for Wales as a whole for 1994-95 and 1995-96 together with his estimate for the same categories for 1996-97. [9198]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
The average council taxes for band C dwellings with two adults for 1994-95 and 1995-96, at constant 1995-96 prices, are £303 and £348 respectively. No information is available on a unitary authority basis for 1994-95. Implied band C taxes for individual unitary authorities for 1995-96 are given in the following table. The figures have been derived from the final disaggregated budget and indicative standard spending assessments (SSAs) issued on 27 October 1995. These redistribute 1995-96 budgets and SSAs for the existing councils to the new authorities.
| Implied band C council tax 1995-96 | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| Anglesey | 285 |
| Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire | 375 |
| Aberconwy and Colwyn | 259 |
| Denbighshire | 437 |
| Flintshire | 379 |
| Wrexham | 327 |
| Powys | 309 |
| Cardigan | 525 |
| Pembrokeshire | 331 |
| Carmarthenshire | 394 |
| Swansea | 309 |
| Neath and Port Talbot | 458 |
| Bridgend | 348 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 308 |
| Rhondda, Cynon, Taff | 435 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 387 |
| Caerphilly | 361 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 466 |
| Torfaen | 312 |
| Monmouthshire | 215 |
| Newport | 218 |
| Cardiff | 330 |
| Wales | 348 |
Source:
Local authority returns.
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