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Salmon
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of reports prepared by (a) the National Rivers Authority and (b) the Environment Agency on the impact of drift net fishing off the west coast of Ireland on the salmon population in Wales. [15133]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Reports by the National Rivers Authority and the Environment Agency on the impact of the Irish drift net fishery on salmon stocks in Welsh and English rivers form part of the assessment work being carried out by a joint working party made up of Government fisheries scientists, the Environment Agency and the Irish Department of the Marine. This group is expected to report before the end of the year.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in respect of the impact of driftnet fishing in the Irish Sea on the number of salmon returning to Welsh rivers; and if he will make a statement. [15135]
Mr. Evans: In the period since June 1995, several representations have been received from Welsh salmon fishery organisations and other interested bodies about the impact of the Irish driftnet fishery on salmon in Welsh and English rivers.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact on Welsh rivers of drift netting in the Irish sea. [15066]
Mr. Evans: Recent reports indicate that the Irish driftnet fishery does exploit salmon originating from some rivers in Wales and England. The Irish Government have implemented some measures intended to reduce levels of exploitation in the driftnet fishery. Further work to evaluate the levels of exploitation is being carried out by a joint working group which includes the Irish Department of the Marine. The group is expected to report before the end of the year.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact on Welsh rivers of the recent measures introduced by the Irish Government relating to fishing in the North sea. [15068]
Mr. Evans: It is too early to assess the likely impact of recent measures introduced by the Irish Government to restrict salmon exploitation by commercial netsmen. The situation will be closely monitored.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on trends in the numbers of salmon and trout in Welsh rivers over the last 10 years. [15067]
Mr. Evans: Catch data provide an approximate index of the abundance of salmon and migratory trout entering Welsh rivers. Over the 10 year period to 1995 there is evidence of a decline in the declared catches of both these species.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on proposals for confining salmon netting within river headlands. [15237]
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Mr. Evans:
The Environment Agency's salmon management strategy states that exploitation of salmon should take place, as far as possible, where the stock is from a single river. In Wales, the Environment Agency has applied this principle by introducing measures which aim to phase out salmon netting outside river headlands.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the environmental impact of the (a) PowerGen and (b) National Power power stations in Connah's quay, Deeside. [15148]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The Environment Agency monitors the impact of emissions on the local environment. The integrated pollution control register, held by the relevant regional and area offices of the Environment Agency, contains information about each authorisation issued and the results of monitoring required under the terms of the authorisation.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to reduce air pollution. [15141]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The Government have put in place a number of mechanisms to control pollution which apply throughout the UK. The Environment Act 1990 introduced two systems for controlling polluting emissions from industry: integrated pollution control, which limits emissions to all environmental media from large installations; and local air pollution control, covering emissions to air from small and medium sized plant.
The draft UK national air quality strategy, issued in August 1996, sets out the Government's proposals for air quality policy and includes standards and objectives for all the main air pollutants. The Strategy builds on the requirements of the Environment Act 1995 which includes a new system of local air quality management. Under the Act, local authorities will be required to review and assess air quality in their areas. We are preparing guidance for local authorities to assist them with their new air quality management duties.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has he made of the numbers of roseate tern in Wales over the last 10 years; what plans he has to encourage the growth of the roseate tern population in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [15062]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
Roseate tern numbers are counted annually. The last 10 years data show that numbers have declined to virtual extinction within Wales and an action plan under the biodiversity programme will be prepared.
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Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of child care facilities for (a) students and (b) staff in further and higher education in Wales; [15130]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
None. The provision of child care facilities for students and staff in further and higher education is a matter for individual institutions.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the adequacy of provision of (a) short-term sessional and (b) out of school child care schemes for (i) staff and (ii) students at further and higher education establishments in Wales. [15061]
Mr. Evans:
It is for individual further and higher education institutions to assess the adequacy of child care provision for their staff and students in the light of patterns of recruitment and retention, and the availability of resources.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the final allocation of finance for health authorities in Wales for 1997-98; and if he will make a statement. [15394]
Mr. Hague:
I will announce the 1997-98 health authority allocations very shortly.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answers of 7 February, Official Report, column 757, if Siemens Business Services gave a discount to his Department on computer hardware under the Osiris contract as a consequence of its receipt of the old computer hardware stock of his Department [15690]
Mr. Hague:
No. The Osiris contract is for the provision of services, not for the supply of hardware.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answers of 7 February, Official Report, column 757, what consultations he had with (a) education institutions and (b) training and enterprise councils before the decision to dispose of his Department's computer hardware stock via Siemens Business Services. [15691]
Mr. Hague:
None. Some of the equipment is in use within the Welsh Office and will remain so, managed under the Osiris contract. The majority of the personal computers are obsolete, and it would be difficult or impossible to maintain them.
The equipment does not belong to the Welsh Office: the transfer of assets formed part of the Osiris contract and was reflected in the pricing structure of the contract. Siemens Business Services and the Welsh Office have a joint review process to make sure that the more recent equipment will be redeployed in the most cost-effective way, taking account of the constraints of existing software licences and of security issues. Where possible, Siemens Business Services will use the present computer hardware
13 Feb 1997 : Column: 294
and peripherals as part of, or in support of the Osiris system. Where this is not possible, the equipment wil be made secure for disposal: this entails removing all hard disk drives and software. Any subsequent user would have to purchase new items to replace these. The method of disposal will depend upon the type and age of the equipment, but might include transfer to educational or training bodies where appropriate.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information is available from his Department to grant-maintained schools on (a) addresses of potential pupils in the school's neighbourhood and elsewhere, (b) sources of finance and (c) the nursery voucher scheme. [15582]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The Department does not collect names and addresses of pupils/potential pupils of any schools in Wales. Grant-maintained schools are informed of the grants available from the Department for capital and revenue purposes related to the school. No information as to sources of external funding is given.
(2) what assessment he has made of the organisation and financing of child care facilities in further and higher education in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [15069]
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