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Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which areas of his Department's property are being used to (a) store and (b) dispose of cattle as part of the Government's BSE eradication programme; how much his Department is receiving for the use of this property; how many cattle have been destroyed on his Department's property; when this practice first began; and if he will make a statement. [32695]
Mr. Soames: RAF Quedgeley is being used for the storage of rendered meat and bone meal as part of the BSE eradication programme. Use of this site started on 20 May 1996. However, deliveries have now ceased. In accordance with our normal policy, the rental paid for use of this site is commercially confidential. No cattle have been or will be stored, disposed of or destroyed on my Department's property as part of the BSE eradication programme.
Boards of Inquiry
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 April, Official Report, column 462, when the board of inquiry system was instituted; and if boards of inquiry are automatically set up after an accident or suspected accident involving British-controlled nuclear weapons. [32760]
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Mr. Soames: The authority to convene naval boards of inquiry is exercised under the royal prerogative; there are no statutory rules requiring or relating to them. Records of naval boards of inquiry go back at least as far as the 18th century. The Army Act of 1881 made provision for courts of inquiry to be set up. These were adopted and adapted by the Royal Air Force when it was formed in 1918.
The rules and regulations relating to service boards of inquiry lay down a number of circumstances in which they must be convened: these do not specifically indicate nuclear weapon-related matters, although they are not necessarily excluded.
Any accident or suspected accident involving British-controlled nuclear weapons is investigated, but the appropriate form of inquiry is decided upon in the light of the particular circumstances.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who has been responsible for compiling and updating the central record of accidents and suspected accidents involving (a) British-controlled nuclear weapons and (b) United States-controlled nuclear weapons within British territory since 1966. [32762]
Mr. Soames:
Such information is held on a central database maintained by the staff of the nuclear weapon safety adviser.
Mr. Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the nuclear weapons safety committee was set up; how many people are on the committee; and how many of members are drawn from outside his Department. [32761]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee was established in 1959. It comprises 12 Members, including the chairman. All are drawn from outside my Department but currently include four who have served previously in it. They are assisted by officials from my Department and other Government Departments who also attend meetings of the committee as and when necessary.
Mr. Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for compiling reports on accidents and suspected accidents involving (a) British-controlled and (b) United States-controlled nuclear weapons on British territory; if the nuclear weapons safety committee receives the reports; and if reports are compiled on each accident and suspected accident. [32764]
Mr. Soames:
There are established procedures for reporting any unplanned occurrence involving a nuclear weapon on British territory which has resulted in actual or potential hazard to life or property or which may have impaired nuclear safety. Responsibility for compiling an immediate report would rest with the unit which has custody of the weapon. The Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee would of course be advised of any such incidents.
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Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the persons who were admitted to his office on 5 June to attend a function held during the beating of the retreat ceremony by the Household cavalry. [33054]
Mr. Portillo:
It is not my practice to give such information.
Inward Investment
15. Sir Wyn Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs he estimates were (a) created and (b) safeguarded by inward investment in Wales in the year to 31 March. [31661]
Mr. Hague: Inward investment recorded for Wales last year promises the creation of 6,800 new jobs and the safeguarding of 5,848 existing jobs, an increase of almost 40 per cent. on the previous year's total.
19. Mr. Robert G. Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new inward investments have recently come to south Wales. [31665]
Mr. Hague: Welcome announcements and openings have recently been made, including Ford's £300 million expansion at Bridgend; Newport Wafer-Fab's £230 million expansion near Newport; Halla's £17 million investment at Pentrebach; STS's £5 million expansion at Imperial Park; Ringtel's project at Cwmbran; the Showa Corporation's new investment at Aberaman Park in the Cynon Valley; and General Electric's £27 million expansion at Nantgarw. These projects alone account for almost 5,000 new and safeguarded jobs.
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in encouraging inward investment from Taiwan. [31666]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: My right hon. Friend has recently announced the official opening of an important Taiwanese manufacturing investment--Ringtel Electronics at Cwmbran. Taiwan is a very promising market and we are confident that this important investment will be followed by others.
RAF Valley
16. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on resources for training at RAF Valley related to the contractorisation programme. [31662]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: In addition to those made by the hon. Member, the Welsh Office received four representations.
I am sure that the hon. Member will welcome the creation of some 400 new civilian jobs at RAF Valley, following the outcome of the contractorisation process.
Planning Guidance (Town Centres)
17. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the
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recommendations contained in the recently published planning guidance relating to town centres and shopping; and if he will make a statement. [31663]
Mr. Hague: I have received a number of letters which have been supportive of the planning guidance issued on 21 May which recognises the importance of town centres including a strong retail base and encourages development within town centres rather than out of town sites. I will shortly be issuing for consultation a draft technical advice note on town centres and retail development.
Built Heritage
18. Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he has (a) taken recently and (b) plans to take to conserve the built heritage of Wales. [31664]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: My right hon. Friend and the Secretary of State for National Heritage have recently presented our consultation document, "Protecting our Heritage", which seeks views on a wide range of issues relating to the built heritage. We hope that responses will help shape our policies in this important field into the next millennium. In addition, new planning guidance for Wales has been published, setting out the planning framework which we expect will underpin the protection of the built heritage. Both documents are available in the Library of the House.
Welsh Development Agency
20. Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss the safeguarding of existing jobs in Wales. [31667]
Mr. Hague: I frequently meet the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss a wide range of issues.
Power Station (Pembrokeshire)
21. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in the current year on the proposals for an orimulsion-fuelled power station in Pembrokeshire. [31668]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: We have received several hundred letters.
Health Commissioners (Funding)
22. Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on the funding for health commissioners in Wales for 1996-97. [31669]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Since October 1995, six letters have been received by my right hon. Friend and three parliamentary questions have been answered.
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