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Private Finance Initiatives
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many private finance initiatives schemes there are in Wales; and in what location. [38838]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: There are two Welsh Office approved private finance initiative projects: a new computer system for the Welsh Office and a multi-storey car park for the University hospital of Wales. For
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information about projects under consideration I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 22 July 1996.
Ambulance Service
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of ambulance response times in Wales. [38832]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: In 1995-96, 95 per cent. of emergency ambulances across Wales arrived within target times specified in the patients charter. This is seen as a marked improvement given that the number of emergency patients carried in the period increased by 6 per cent. on the previous year.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to further reduce waiting times for hospital appointments. [38836]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The NHS in Wales is to be congratulated on its achievement in cutting the waiting times for outpatient appointments sharply during the course of 1995-96.
The NHS has committed itself to building on this success in 1996-97 using the special funds available for this purpose. Health authorities are planning on the basis that by 31 March 1997, no patient will have waited more than six months for a first appointment.
Road Signs (National Borders)
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current provision of road signage on the road network marking the border between Wales and England. [38634]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: It is our policy to erect bilingual "Welcome to Wales" signs on or close to the border.
School Inspections
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the average length of Office for Standards in Education inspections in (a) secondary and (b) primary schools; and if he will make a statement; [38820]
- (2) what is his estimate of the average cost of (a) secondary and (b) primary Ofsted inspections in the most recent year for which figures are available. [38819]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: These are matters for the Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales, who heads the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library of the House.
Animal Welfare
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received concerning farm animal welfare. [38822]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: We continue to receive a steady flow of representations on farm animal welfare issues.
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Long-term Unemployed
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to assist the long-term unemployed. [38824]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: A range of new incentives making it easier for the long-term unemployed to take up employment will be available in October when the jobseekers' allowance is introduced.
The training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service in Wales will continue to provide training for work and other services including advice, jobclub and the job interview guarantee scheme to assist the long term unemployed back into work.
Public Library Services
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning the future of public library services. [38826]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 18 December 1995, Official Report, column 852, by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for National Heritage. The policy paper on the Government's continuing review of public libraries will be published as soon as practicable.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are currently employed in the public library services in Wales. [38827]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: A total of 1,184 people were employed in public libraries services in Wales on 31 March 1995--the most recent figures held centrally.
Surgical Operations
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of an NHS in-patient operation. [38828]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The cost of inpatient care varies sharply depending on the procedure involved. However, based on provisional figures for 1996-97 supplied by NHS trusts in Wales, the average cost of in-patient admissions involving the most common surgical procedures is £1,800. Taking into account day case procedures, the average cost is £1,000.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many in-patient operations were performed in (a) 1992 and (b) 1995. [38829]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: About 240,800 in-patient operations performed in NHS hospitals in Wales during 1992. Data for 1995 are not yet complete but it is estimated that around 250,000 operations were performed.
General Practitioners
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent assessment he has made of the available supply of general practitioners in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [38833]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Although there is no overall shortage of general practitioners, I am aware that some practices are experiencing difficulty in recruitment. Health
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authorities are monitoring the situation and the Department will also consult professional interests as appropriate.
Tuberculosis
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of tuberculosis occurred in Wales in the last year; in which locations; and if he will make a statement. [38837]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The information is given in the following table:
| Bro Taf Health Authority | 69 |
| Dyfed Powys Health Authority | 28 |
| Gwent Health Authority | 24 |
| Morgannwg Health Authority | 29 |
| North Wales Health Authority | 34 |
Source:
PHLS CDSC (Welsh Unit).
Cardiac Rehabilitation Units
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cardiac rehabilitation units there are in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [38831]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The information requested is not held centrally.
Inward Investment
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the average cost to public funds of creating a full-time job from inward investment. [38821]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The evaluation of regional selective assistance offers made during 1985-1988 (HMSO 1993) estimated a net cost for each year of employment created by regional assistance to foreign firms of between £750 to £950, at 1990 prices.
Higher Education
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the higher education sector concerning the planned funding for the immediate years ahead. [38823]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: This year my right hon. Friend, hon. Friends and I have received six letters from representatives of higher education institutions about the funding of higher education. We have also received nine letters from others within the sector. My right hon. Friend has also met the heads of Higher Education Wales.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 26 April, Official Report, column 319, about spending on higher education in Wales, if he will supply the information requested for the earliest year after 1980-81 for which it is available. [39012]
Mr. Evans: The provision for 1993-94--the earliest year for which information is available--was £4,937 (cash) and £5,025 (real terms).
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School Security
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has developed concerning security in schools; and if he will make a statement. [38825]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The report by the working group on school security was distributed in Wales on 14 June. The Government have welcomed and accepted all its recommendations and we are considering how best to implement them in Wales.
Funding from the Welsh Office has been given to enable eight schools in Wales to benefit from the Home Office's closed circuit television challenge. The Home Office will be running a further competition for 1997-98 financial year.
Guidance on security of school premises is being finalised and will be available later this year.
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