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Amey Construction Ltd.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list projects in which Amey Construction Ltd. were employed by the Welsh Office as contractors, by subject and by value, in the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96. [22027]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: In 1994-95 and 1995-96 Amey Construction has been employed on one road project. The project was M4 Brynglas tunnels--A4042 Malpas road relief scheme, and the accepted tender price was £38 million.
Bird Reserve, Gwent
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 March 1996, Official Report, column 629, what assessment he has made of the additional time taken to establish the Gwent bird reserve by the Land Authority for Wales and the Cardiff Bay development corporation on the basis of using the private finance initiative compared with the conventional public sector route. [22805]
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Mr. Hague: It is Government policy to consider private finance initiative options for all capital schemes and the aim to complete engineering works before impoundment of the waters within Cardiff bay took account of this.
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 March 1996, Official Report, column 629, what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation and the leaders of the Cardiff and Vale councils concerning the exit strategy for the development corporation; and if he will chair the first exit strategy joint meeting. [22817]
Mr. Hague: I have asked the board of the Cardiff Bay development corporation to prepare a draft plan for winding up the corporation. The draft plan will be put out to consultation with the relevant local authorities and other interested bodies by July 1996 or sooner if possible.
Local Management of Schools
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the shadow unitary authorities which submitted their proposals for local management of schools schemes by the stated deadline, indicating (a) which have been the subject of requests for further information, the length of time and deadline for the return of this information and (b) which have had their local management of schools schemes approved and the estimated latest date on which approval can be given to county borough local management of schools schemes to enable them to inform the schools of their budgets for April 1996 to March 1997. [22544]
Mr. Richards: The 22 unitary authorities were asked to submit their draft schemes by 1 December, with subsequent amendments by 12 January this year. Thirteen authorities met the first deadline, all the second, although many of the schemes submitted were considered incomplete. It has been necessary to request far more information than anticipated in respect of all draft schemes submitted. The deadline set for the additional information has varied between authorities, in whose interests it is to provide the information as soon as possible. Additional information is still outstanding from four authorities.
Thirteen schemes have been approved so far. Subject to the timely provision of all the additional information requested, I would hope that all schemes can be approved by 1 April. I understand that many authorities have already given their schools an indication of their budget for 1996-97.
East Glamorgan General Hospital
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency services at the East Glamorgan General Hospital, Pontypridd. [22574]
Mr. Richards: The new district general hospital at Ynys-y-Plwm is scheduled to open in December 1998 and will offer a full accident and emergency service. Until then this service will continue to be available at East Glamorgan general hospital.
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Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the accident and emergency unit at East Glamorgan general hospital, Pontypridd, is meeting patients charter requirements for waiting times in accident and emergency. [22599]
Mr. Richards: At 31 December 1995, 76 per cent. of patients were assessed within five minutes of arrival at the hospital's accident and emergency department. Over 90 per cent. of casualty patients were found a hospital bed within two hours of the decision to admit them.
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimated date for the opening of the East Glamorgan general hospital at its new Llantrisant site. [22601]
Mr. Richards: The hospital is due to open in December 1998 following six months' commissioning after the contract completion date in May 1998.
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that, as part of the transfer of services from its present, Church village, site to its new site at Llantrisant, the East Glamorgan general hospital will be required by the Welsh Office to provide a full and continuing accident and emergency service at the new site. [22603]
Mr. Richards: Yes, the East Glamorgan NHS trust will provide a full accident and emergency service from the new site.
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the accident and emergency department at East Glamorgan general hospital, Pontypridd. [22600]
Mr. Richards: There is currently one vacancy for a staff grade doctor. This will be filled as soon as a work permit has been received in respect of an overseas doctor recently interviewed for the post.
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is (a) latest projected cost for completion of the East Glamorgan general hospital at its new Llantrisant site and (b) the number of beds to be included in that hospital. [22602]
Mr. Richards: The latest projected costs including works, equipment, fees and VAT is £82 million and the hospital will include 513 beds.
Civil Service
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil service jobs have been relocated out of Wales since the process of market testing and contractorisation began. [22810]
Mr. Hague: The information requested is not collected.
TRANSPORT
Road Schemes
Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average cost overrun for major road schemes
25 Mar 1996 : Column: 455
constructed by his Department in each of the last 10 years; and if he will list the 10 schemes with the largest cost overrun during the last 10 years. [20777]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 25 March 1996:
The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the average cost overrun of road schemes. You asked what was the average cost overrun of major road schemes constructed in each of the last ten years, and requested a list of the ten schemes with the largest cost overrun during that period.
A report entitled "Department of Transport: Contracting for Roads" was published by the National Audit Office in October 1992, and provided detailed information on this matter. In addition, I wrote to Mrs. Joan Walley MP on 3 October 1995 in response to a Parliamentary Question enclosing some information for schemes completed between March 1990 and March 1995, I enclose copies of these documents for your ease of reference.
Highways Agency
Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the restructuring of the Highways Agency announced in March 1995. [20775]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 25 March 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the cost of the restructuring of the Highways Agency announced in March 1995.
My assessment of the cost is £14,060,000.
Chinese Military Manoeuvres
Sir Nicholas Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about recent interference in recognised international sea and air routes by China in respect of launching missiles, firing munitions and conducting manoeuvres; and to what extent Chinese notification of these accorded with acceptable international practice. [22211]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: I have been asked to reply.
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