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Cattle Cull

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in ensuring that Welsh farmers are given access to the approved abattoirs authorised under the 30-month cattle cull scheme; and if he will make a statement. [1752]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: The Intervention Board executive agency is ensuring that an appropriate proportion of cattle from Wales is slaughtered each week in both Welsh and English abattoirs.

A5

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when are the necessary remedial works on the A5 between Betws-y-Coed and Corwen at Padog bends planned to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement. [1739]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: The north Wales trunk road Agency, as agent of the Welsh Office, is currently engaged on the design of the retaining wall remedial works.

It is planned to undertake the works in 1997 on completion of the necessary procedures, including land acquisition.

Elderly People

Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities and health authorities in Wales to agree criteria plans for continuing health care needs of elderly people. [1933]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: In line with guidance already issued, from 1 April this year health authorities should have in place policies and eligibility criteria for continuing health care which have been agreed with local authorities and GP fundholders.

A470

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when is the scheduled completion date for the current road improvement works on the A470 between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws-y-Coed; and if he will make a statement. [1751]

Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Cancoed to Minffordd section of the A470 Lledr valley improvement is programmed for completion in autumn 1997.

Farmers' Incomes

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance and advice is available to members of the farming community who seek to diversify operations in order to supplement income; and if he will make a statement. [1851]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: The European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, through the rural Wales objective 5b programme, 1994 to 1999, assists farming households to develop alternative sources of income and employment opportunities on and off the farm and includes provision for capital grants, advice and training. The Leader II programme also acts as a stimulus to encourage farmers to develop new and innovative enterprises.

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 513

The processing and marketing grant scheme provides support towards the capital cost of adding value to agricultural raw materials in the food sector.

The marketing development scheme provides grant aid to farmers and producer groups to undertake feasibility studies to explore food diversification projects.

Local Management of Schools

Mr. Richards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he is making in reviewing Conwy local education authority's LMS scheme; and if he will make a statement. [2003]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: Approval of Conwy LEA's local management of schools scheme was conditional on the resolution of certain concerns about the authority's resource allocation formula. These are still under review.

Welsh Language Speech Therapy

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on (a) the level of provision of Welsh-medium speech and language therapy for children in Wales, (b) the number of trained Welsh-medium speech therapists and (c) the establishment of a Welsh-medium speech therapy course at colleges in Wales. [1764]

Mr. Hague: The level of provision of Welsh-medium speech and language therapy for children in Wales is for health authorities to determine taking into account the health needs of their areas and their own assessment of priority. Information on the number of trained Welsh-medium speech therapists in Wales is not held centrally. Responsibility for training, including the provision of a Welsh-medium course rests with individual higher education institutions. A specific bilingual option for students during the third year of study already exists at the University of Wales institute, Cardiff.

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 514

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current policy for accepting patients from Powys at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital. [1765]

Mr. Hague: This is a matter for the Dyfed/Powys health authority and the trust concerned. Currently the agreement reached is that all patients should be admitted in accordance with the Welsh patients charter standards.

Deregulation

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [2473]

Mr. Hague: None.

School Class Sizes

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many and what percentage of five, six and seven-year-olds were in classes of 31 or more, for 1995 and provisionally for 1996, per education authority and in Wales. [2425]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: The information requested is not collected centrally. Data are collected about the number of classes by size band of class, but no data are collected about the exact number of pupils, or the age of pupils, in those classes. The following table shows the number of ordinary classes in maintained primary schools, by size band.

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 513

Numbers of ordinary classes in maintained primary schools in Wales, by class size and local education authority

September 1990September 1991September 1992January 1994January 1995January 1996(2)
Clwyd
Up to 15786874715452
16-201131031181008985
21-25290310302273260275
26-30510513534518506516
31-35290294265328355373
36-40383446476051
41-45214344
46+000000
Total1,3211,3231,3431,3401,3281,356
Dyfed
Up to 15251284256202186176
16-20269350369315268252
21-25391394398428423452
26-30259243261318355350
31-35677161708483
36-40874369
41-45100011
46+000000
Total1,3461,3491,3491,3361,3231,323
Gwent
Up to 15241514111316
16-20865960657449
21-25313289301331256239
26-30631648723688653660
31-35374403338357440460
36-40111622244061
41-45211121
46+100000
Total1,4421,4311,4591,4771,4781,486
Gwynedd
Up to 15108102106879690
16-20201191162175153154
21-25267244273255259248
26-30213231216228238248
31-35334061708293
36-40224789
41-45112142
46+000000
Total825811824823840844
Mid Glamorgan
Up to 15121177106
16-20586067574744
21-25279332331352360357
26-30862831854898901886
31-35491488486483487517
36-40243030292224
41-45012531
46+000000
Total1,7261,7531,7771,8311,8301,835
Powys
Up to 15787173504445
16-2010711410810596105
21-25127122130160166166
26-308193107118115128
31-35252823243429
36-40312040
41-45120002
46+100000
Total423431443457461475
South Glamorgan
Up to 1520201411102
16-208010891435453
21-25377378372284334322
26-30632613624642664714
31-35177192222344304289
36-40033191011
41-45000110
46+000000
Total1,2861,3141,3261,3441,3771,391
West Glamorgan
Up to 15281716141620
16-20757890927195
21-25343327365392368382
26-30593564541530563548
31-35177209202209203200
36-40115135112
41-45000010
46+001011
Total1,2271,2001,2281,2421,2341,248
Wales
Up to 15599588560453429407
16-201,0891,0631,065952852837
21-252,3872,3692,4722,4752,4282,441
26-303,7813,7363,8603,9403,9954,050
31-351,6341,7251,6581,8851,9892,044
36-409798124134161167
41-45769111611
46+201011
Total9,5969,6129,7499,8509,8719,958

(2) Provisional.


6 Nov 1996 : Column: 517

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 517


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