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Community Councils

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many community councils there were in Wales (a) 1976 and (b) 1986; and how many there are currently. [10675]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Temporary Traffic Lights, Bryncoedifor

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how long the temporary traffic lights system has been in

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operation at Bryncoedifor on the Bala to Dolgellau road; and if he will make a statement. [10708]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 24 November 1995, Official Report, column 415.

Severn Flood Barrage

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated as to a River Severn flood barrage in the Llandrinio area; and if he will make a statement. [11257]

Mr. Hague: None.

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95 and (f) 1995-96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996-97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11360]

Mr. Hague: The information requested is included in the following table.

Expenditure on advertising and press and public relations by my Department and its executive agency CADW for the years requested are set out in the table below. Figures are not held centrally for NDPBs.

YearAdvertisingPress and public relations
Welsh Office
1979-8061451
1989-904112,245
1991-923492,089
1993-942751,704
1994-952552,068
1995-96 (i) to date352964
(ii) estimate outturn4652,055
1996-07 estimate4082,187
CADW
1979-80n/a(22)n/a
1989-90n/an/a
1991-92n/an/a
1993-9458370
1994-9535471
1995-96 (i) to date26312
(ii) estimate outturn26374
1996-97 estimate26375

CADW was set up as an executive agency in April 1992.

(22) Figures before 1992-93 are not readily available and can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.


Expenditure on advertising includes television, radio and press advertising costs. Figures for press and public relations includes press and publicity staff costs, press cutting services and the cost of purchasing other forms of publicity material.

Mr. Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to (a) his Department, (b) his Department's

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agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1989-90, (iii) 1991-92, (iv) 1993-94, (v) 1994-95, (vi) 1995-96 and (vii) 1996-97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11362]

Mr. Hague: The information requested is included in the following list.


Mr. Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95 and (f) 1995-96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996-97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11359]

Mr. Hague: Expenditure on management and other consultants engaged by the Welsh Office is as follows:

£000
1979-80not applicable
1989-90342
1991-921,109
1993-941,454
1994-95805
1995-96 to end--December202

My Department's plans for using external consultants in 1996-97 have not yet been finalised. There are no central records of expenditure on consultants by non-departmental public bodies, or the savings resulting from consultancy work.

Absenteeism

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95 and (f) 1995-96. [11361]

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Mr. Hague: The average number of working days sickness absence per member of staff by calendar year was as follows:


Statistics on a comparable basis are not available prior to 1992. Statistics for 1995 are not yet available.

South Glamorgan Health Authority

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority in relation to the cancellation of all extra-contractual referrals until the end of the current financial year. [11905]

Mr. Hague: My Department was made aware of the health authority's policy decision prior to its introduction.

General Practitioners

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposals to provide general practitioner out-of-hours health care, and the process of public consultation in Mid Glamorgan and in Wales. [11729]

Mr. Richards: The agreement reached last year between the Government and the British Medical Association provides the opportunity for GPs to organise their emergency out-of-hours services in ways that will maintain and improve patient services.

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The arrangements for implementing the agreement at a local level rests with the relevant family health services authority.

Retail Shopping Developments

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which superstore projects have received public funding from (a) regional selective assistance grants and (b) other grants in each of the counties of Wales; what are the amounts awarded; and if he will make a statement. [11730]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: This information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning out-of-town retail parks. [11731]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: My right hon. Friend's policy is set out in planning policy guidance note No. 6 "Town Centres and Retail Development". Planning policy guidance (Wales) which was issued for consultation in July 1995 contains revised guidance on retail development.

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representation he has received in the last three years concerning the impact of new superstores and out-of-town retail parks on existing shopping centres. [11732]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: My right hon. Friend and I have received various representations in that time from individuals, companies, local authorities and other organisations relating both to specific retail proposals and to retail development generally.