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WALES

Child Abuse

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authority inquiries into child exploitation of abuse of children looked after or in care are currently taking place in south Wales. [36508]

Mr. Hague: I am not aware of any current local authority inquiries into these matters in south Wales. There is, I understand, an investigation by the police and Cardiff social services currently underway concerning allegations of abuse by a former residential child care social worker.

Chapels (Preservation)

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in respect of the preservation of Welsh chapels since the publication of the second report from the Welsh Affairs Committee of Session 1992-93, HC 403, on the Preservation of Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments. [36586]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: Responsibility for issues relating to redundant chapels has been delegated to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from T. J. Cassidy to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 16 July 1996:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the progress towards establishing a redundant chapels fund in Wales.
In its response to the Welsh Affairs Committee Report. "The Preservation of Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments", the Government indicated that it was prepared to fund 70% of the costs of a mechanism to care for the best redundant historic chapels for which no other arrangement could be made.
In November 1994 the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, on Cadw's behalf, organised a Conference to identify the problems which such a mechanism might address and to promote the involvement of interested people. That Conference led to the establishment of a Working Group to consider the issue under the chairmanship of Dr. Roger Wools--an architect who has taken a particular interest in historic chapels. The Group's members included the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, an Executive Committee member of CAPEL, the Conservation Officer of Monmouth Borough Council, an archaeologist and a Chartered Building Surveyor. The terms of reference to which the Group has worked were:
to examine questions of redundancy and to consider if chapels of significance will be presented for which preservation is desirable;
to consider what mechanisms could be put in place which with support from the Welsh Office might address the needs of such buildings.
The Group has consulted widely, hearing the views of representatives of organisations concerned with chapels. Its report is due shortly.
We look forward to receiving the Group's report which we hope will help us identify important chapels which may be facing redundancy and indicate the best way forward.

16 Jul 1996 : Column: 474

Population Statistics

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds there will be in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; and what were the figures in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993, (iii) 1994 and (iv) 1995. [36599]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: The available information is as follows:

Residents in Wales

	Number (thousands) aged:
Year	16	17	16 and 17
1992	34.4	35.9	70.3
1993	32.7	34.2	66.9
1994	33.2	32.5	65.8

Source:

Office for National Statistics mid-year estimates.

Year	Number (thousands) aged:
	16	17	16 and 17
1995	36.5	33.2	69.8
1997	38.1	38.6	76.7
1998	37.4	38.1	75.5
1999	37.5	37.4	74.9
2000	37.2	37.5	74.8

Source:

Government Actuary's Department mid-year projections (1994 based).

Note:

Figures may appear not to add to the totals shown. This is due to rounding.

Statistical Forms

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the statistical forms issued to businesses by his Department and the number sent out of each. [37460]

Mr. Hague: The available information is for 1995 and is as given in the 1996 Welsh Office "Survey Control Report". The forms listed as follows included those sent to agricultural main holdings.

Statistical forms issued to businesses by The Welsh Office in 1995

	Number of forms
Agriculture
June Agriculture and Horticulture Survey	22,000
December Survey of Agriculture	4,900
Dairy Enterprise Cost Study	100
Farm Business Study	550
Lowland Beef Enterprise Study	60
Lowland Sheep Production Study	90
Study of Welsh Slaughtering/Meat Processing Capacity	77
Health
Private Hospitals, Homes and Clinics	413
Social Services
Independent Registered Homes for Mental Disorder or Substance Dependence	206
Independent Registered Care Homes	511
Residential Care Homes: Separate Unit	36
Return of Particulars of Voluntary Children's Homes	3
Industry
Electricity Generation and Supply	6
Record of Openings and Closures	250
Customer Service Surveys	55
Trade Mission Service: 6 month questionnaire	170
12 month questionnaire	91

16 Jul 1996 : Column: 475

Full-time Education

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) 16-year-olds, (b) 17-year-olds and (c) 18-year-olds in full-time education who are (i) studying A/AS courses, (ii) in higher education, (iii) studying BTEC national courses, (iv) studying GCSE and (v) undertaking other studies; and what percentage of (1) 16-year-olds, (2) 17-year-olds and (3) 18-year-olds are in full-time education in the latest year for which figures are available. [36583]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: The information requested is in the following table:

16, 17 and 18 year olds in full-time education in Wales 1994-95(9)Per cent.

	Aged 16	Aged 17	Aged 18	Aged 16-18
	Level of study
	In further education (FE) and higher education (HE) institutions:
A/AS	11	14	7	11
Higher education(10)	--	1	54	14
BTEC(11)	18	23	21	21
GCSE	2	1	1	2
Other(12)	13	14	10	13
Total in FE and HE	45	53	92	60
In schools(13)
A/AS	(16)--	(16)--	(16)--	31
BTEC(13)	(16)--	(16)--	(16)--	8
GCSE	(16)--	(16)--	(16)--	1
Other(15)	(16)--	(16)--	(16)--	--
Total in schools	55	47	8	40
Total	100	100	100	100
	Percentage of population in full-time
education	72	58	44	58

Notes:

(9) Provisional. Percentages may not add up to totals due to rounding.

(10) Includes BTEC HND, HNC and other BTEC higher education courses.

(11) Includes all BTEC further education courses.

(12) Includes courses leading to unspecified qualifications.

(13) Level of study in maintained secondary schools and independent schools only.

(14) Includes BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas; BTEC First Certificates and Diplomas; City and Guilds' Diploma of Vocational Education (at National and Intermediate level); and all GNVQs.

(15) Includes Post A level studies and NVQs at Levels 1-3 and other pupils aged 16 or over not accounted for elsewhere.

(16) Not available; - nil or less than half the final digit shown.

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency, Further Education Student Record and the January 1995 Schools' Census.

16 Jul 1996 : Column: 476

Wheelchairs

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 342, when he initiated discussions on the future provision of wheelchairs for disabled people in Wales; with which voluntary organisations in Wales he proposes consulting on his future policy; when he hopes to conclude his consultation; and when he plans to make operational revisions to his policy. [36594]

Mr. Hague: My officials have been in discussion with health authorities and service providers in Wales following details of the proposed new arrangements in England becoming available. These are continuing but I hope shortly to be able to consult the major organisations representing wheelchair users in Wales about the issues involved.

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