| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Departmental Staff
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people currently serve in his Department; at what cost to public funds; what were the figures in real and current terms in May 1979; and if he will make a statement. [8848]
Mr. Hague: There are currently 2,400 full-time equivalent staff in my Department, with a total running cost budget of £76 million for 1995-96. In 1979-80 there were some 2,600 staff with recorded running costs of £18 million, which is equivalent to £46 million at 1995-96 prices. However, these running cost figures are not comparable; for example, running costs in 1979-80 did not include superannuation charges, the training and enterprise council management fee and various overhead costs including accommodation, which have added at least £22 million to the 1995-96 figure. The Welsh Office has assumed additional functions over this period; for example, further responsibilities for industry, higher education and training.
European Directives
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10063]
Mr. Hague: My Department's policy is not to gold-plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the United Kingdom. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 102
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in (a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated. [10057]
Mr. Hague: I shall arrange for a copy of the current guidance on deregulation to Welsh Office staff to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. This guidance is already subject to review and will be affected by the outcome of the official review of guidance on gold plating.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what research is undertaken by his Department (a) directly and (b) indirectly into post traumatic stress disorder and if he will indicate for (b) the organisations involved and the total funding provided; [10550]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the number of ex-service men and women in Wales suffering from combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10549]
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what provision is made by his Department for the treatment of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; [10548]
- (2) what provision is made by his Department for respite care for sufferers of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10551]
Mr. Richards: None. The provision of services is a matter for local determination.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the hospitals, registered nursing homes and homes for the elderly that have suffered outbreaks of MRSA, indicating the severity of the outbreak with special reference to the number of victims and of deaths. [10592]
Mr. Richards: The epidemiology of MRSA is a complex matter. Certain data are available on an England and Wales basis, but the Welsh element could be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. MRSA is undoubtedly a rising problem. For this reason, last year, the Chief Medical Officer in the Welsh Office invited the Public Health Laboratory Service in Wales to undertake separate surveillance on MRSA in Wales.
Mr. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will instruct NHS trust hospitals to publish information about the number of cases of (a) MRSA and (b) other infections in their annual report. [10593]
Mr. Richards: There are no plans to require NHS trusts to provide this information in their annual reports. However, details should be available from the Chief Executive of NHS trusts on request, since they have been asked to ensure that adequate infection control arrangements are in place within their hospitals.
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 103
Wrexham Maelor Hospital
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of the tender and the other associated expenses in demolition and adaptation of block T05 of phase 2 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital carried out in the second half of 1995. [10352]
Mr. Richards: The cost of the tender for the scheme, to provide an expanded rehabilitation unit as part of the redevelopment of the hospital, carried out in the second half of 1995 was £133,457. The total cost of the scheme was £244,000 which included the cost of the professional fees, equipment and VAT.
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was block T05 designed for when phase 2 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital was constructed; and if it was used for this purpose. [10353]
Mr. Richards: Template T05 within phase 1 of the Wrexham Maelor hospital and provides accommodation for rehabilitation services, that is, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. It has been used for this purpose since it was opened in 1986.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the budget of the Welsh development agency for 1996-97. [8856]
Chunghwa Picture Tube Company
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance or inducement was offered to the Chunghwa Picture Tube Company of Taiwan by the Welsh development agency to locate its new United Kingdom assembly plant in Cardiff. [10684]
Mr. Hague: There were many discussions with Chunghwa about a wide range of support, including financial assistance, to encourage the company to locate in Wales. The package included support from my Department; the Welsh development agency; the South Glamorgan training and enterprise council; South Glamorgan county council; and Cardiff Bay development corporation.
Theatr Clwyd, Mold
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts he has included in Flintshire's standard spending assessment specifically for Theatr Clwyd, Mold. [10841]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The formula for calculating standard spending assessments comprises objective indicators of relative need which are relevant to local government as a whole. The formula for 1996-97 has been agreed with the local authority association and ratified by the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.
The formula does not include specific indicators for expenditure items, such as Theatr Clwyd, which are relevant to individual authorities. However, as a major recreational facility Theatr Clwyd will influence Flintshire county council's SSA and revenue support grant
22 Jan 1996 : Column: 104
entitlement since the SSA formula includes indicators which contain estimates of day and night visitors to the authority's area.
Clwyd county council's budgeted expenditure for Theatr Clwyd in 1995-96 is being disaggregated into Flintshire's notional amount figure. Flintshire will have the spending power associated with that.
Mr. Andrew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs; [10941]
(2) how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10971]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
For 1995-96, the only Welsh Office running costs and consultancy fees relating to the tendering of private finance initiative projects are as follows: staff costs £195,300; other costs £550, and management consultancy fees £18.580.
No costs were incurred before 1995-96.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on which roads in Wales porous surfaces have been laid. [11067]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
Porous asphalt has been laid on the M4 between the Coryton and Miskin interchanges.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on which roads in Wales chevron road markings are used to encourage traffic separation. [10998]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |