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Cattle Slaughter Scheme
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cattle were slaughtered in Wales under the 30-months scheme in the weeks beginning 6 May and 13 May. [33321]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The figures are given in the following table:
| Week beginning | Slaughtered in Welsh abattoirs | Welsh cattle slaughtered in English abattoirs |
|---|---|---|
| 6 May | 0 | 0 |
| 13 May | 413 | 1,586 |
Speech Therapy
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policies for primary school age children who require speech therapy. [33323]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The general provision of speech therapy services is the responsibility of health authorities under the National Health Service Act 1977. The level of provision is a matter for health authorities to determine in the light of local need, competing demands and resources available.
Animal Welfare
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of his Departments is responsible for animal welfare; and if he will make a statement. [33324]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Farm animal welfare is dealt with by the Welsh Office Agriculture Department, while welfare issues relating to wild and domesticated animals falls to the Welsh Office local government group.
Dementia
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people suffering from dementia; and if he will make a statement. [33325]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Demographic trends suggest that on average one in 20 people over 65 years have dementia. This proportion increases to one in 10 for those over 75 years. When applied to the Registrar General's latest
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mid-year estimates of population for June 1994, it is estimated that in Wales just over 25,000 people aged 65 and over may be suffering from dementia.
Dual Carriageway Contracts
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the last contract completed for the construction of a major dual carriageway in the open countryside; and what was the total cost of the contract, and the cost per mile, giving the figures at the time of completion and in current values. [33385]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The A55 Rhuallt Hill scheme, completed in May 1992, cost some £11,400,000, which equates to some £4,100,000 per mile. Current price costs would be broadly similar.
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the last contract completed for the on-line upgrading of a single carriageway to a dual carriageway; and what was the total cost of the contract, and the cost per mile, giving the figures at the time of completion and in current values. [33387]
Mr. Jones: The A55 Aber improvement, completed in September 1994, cost some £6,800,000, which equates to some £4,500,000 per mile. Current price costs would be broadly similar.
Road Works (M4)
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list (a) the original estimate, (b) the cost in the tender accepted and (c) the total and final outturn costs of the main works M4 contract 3, Earlswood to Lonlas. [33386]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The pre-tender estimate of the M4 Earlswood to Lonlas scheme was £32,500,000; the tender sum accepted, £30,971,000; and the final contract cost, £39,564,000.
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what study he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated concerning (i) the estimated loss of investment in the Swansea area because of traffic delays and congestion during the construction of the M4 from Earlswood to Lonlas and (ii) investment which could come to the Swansea area on the completion of this link in the M4. [33389]
Mr. Jones: No studies into the effects of investment in the Swansea area relating to the effects of the M4 have been commissioned or evaluated.
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Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the information he holds concerning traffic time delays during peak periods throughout the construction of the Earlswood to Lonlas section of the M4, with particular reference to information on the average of maximum time delays. [33390]
Mr. Jones: Times of traffic movement through the M4 Earlswood to Lonlas works during peak periods were not recorded. Delays were minimised by keeping two lanes in each direction open during construction--the same number as the existing A48 that was being upgraded.
Mr. Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of traffic management and associated engineering works necessary to maintain traffic flows throughout the contract period for the M4 contract 3, Earlswood to Lonlas new motorway section. [33391]
Mr. Jones: Total traffic management costs for the M4 Earlswood to Lonlas contract were £2,199,000.
Highway Improvement Schemes
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the cost evaluation techniques for major highway on-line improvement schemes, the extent to which costs relating to traffic management flow are included and his estimate of the accuracy of cost evaluation techniques. [33388]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The costs and benefits of major highway on-line improvement schemes are evaluated over a period of 30 years from the opening of the scheme using the cost benefit analysis programme, COBA. The traffic delays which can occur during construction are evaluated using the queuing and delays at roadworks analysis programme, QUADRO, and these results are input to COBA as a cost. Both these techniques have been used over many years and the parameters and techniques are continuously updated. The analyses are subject to scrutiny at public inquiries and the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment regularly examines and reports on the techniques used.
Ambulance Services Reorganisation
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to assess sponsorship of trust applications for reorganising the ambulance services in Wales, other than those proposals emanating from the Welsh ambulance policy and advisory group. [34326]
Mr. Hague: All applications to reorganise NHS trusts are subject to statutory public consultation and appraisal by the Department.