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Community Hospitals
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussion his Department has had with general practitioners within the Dyfed Powys health authority area on the role of community hospitals in the development of primary health care. [19235]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: My officials have held no recent discussions on this matter with representatives of GPs in the Dyfed Powys health authority area.
Dyfed Powys Health Authority
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect of the financial deficit of the former Powys health authority on the current and future financial circumstances of the Dyfed Powys health authority. [19239]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The allocation of funds to the newly constituted Dyfed Powys health authority was based on the population of the new authority. Any over-commitments by the former authorities have to be managed within the resources allocated. This is the responsibility of the new authority.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed closure of eight community hospitals in the Dyfed Powys health authority area. [19233]
Mr. Jones: None. My right hon. Friend awaits the outcome of the authority's public consultation, which is due to end on 30 April.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the financial position of each of the eight NHS trusts in the Dyfed Powys health authority area at the end of the financial years (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99. [19237]
Mr. Jones: There are six NHS trusts which provide hospital and community health care and whose main commissioner is Dyfed Powys health authority. In addition, services provided by the West Wales ambulance trust and South and East Wales ambulance trust are also used by the authority. The financial position for future years is dependent on contracting arrangements between the trusts and the health authority and therefore figures for 1997-98 or 1998-99 are unavailable. The forecast outturn position estimated by each NHS trust for 1996-97 is as follows:
| Trust | Latest forecast £ million surplus (deficit) |
|---|---|
| Carmarthen | (0.270) |
| Ceredigion | (0.150) |
| Derwen | 0.040 |
| Llanelli | 0.000 |
| Pembroke | 0.026 |
| Powys | 0.098 |
| West Wales ambulance trust | 0.172 |
| South-east Wales ambulance trust | (0.326) |
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings his Department has had with the Dyfed
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 46
Powys health authority to discuss its current consultative strategy document. [19236]
Mr. Jones:
My officials have had a number of meetings with representatives of the Dyfed Powys health authority, at some of which the authority's consultative strategy document was discussed.
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the Dyfed Powys health authority on its funding needs over the next five years. [19238]
Mr. Jones:
My right hon. Friend and I have had no formal representations about the authority's funding needs for the next five years. Officials are in touch with the authority about the cash position in the current year and will continue to monitor the position.
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward proposals to change the funding formula for health authorities to take greater account of rurality. [19234]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
As announced by my right hon. Friend on 6 March, Official Report, column 727, a review of the formula used to distribute resources among health authorities will commence this year. The review will consider the existing methodology and whether it would be appropriate to change the balance of existing factors or to build new factors into the formula.
Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what recent discussions have taken place with the European Commission about delays in reaching a decision on the designation of the Pembrokeshire islands special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement; [19524]
(3) when he will make a decision on the proposed designation of the Pembrokeshire islands as a special area of conservation; [19522]
(4) on what date the consultation process concluded in respect of the proposed designation of the Pembrokeshire islands as a special area of conservation under the habitats directive; [19521]
(5) if he will list those areas designated special areas of conservation under the habitats directive indicating for each the dates on which (a) the consultation periods ended and (b) the areas were designated. [19523]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The consultation period for marine sites ended on 22 June 1996, although discussions are continuing in respect of a number of sites across the UK where outstanding issues remain. To date, 36 Welsh sites listed as follows have been submitted to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation, although none has yet been designated. Having received many representations, both for and against the proposed designation of the Pembrokeshire islands site, my right hon. Friend, in common with
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 47
practice elsewhere in the UK, is still considering the relevant issues raised. The Commission has been informed of the latest position.
Dr. Strang:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many commissions his Department placed with the Agriculture and Food Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council in each year from 1979 to the present; how many such commissions he expects to place in 1997; and what the value was of the commissions in (a) cash and (b) constant prices. [19369]
(2) what factors he assesses may delay the decision on the proposed designation of the Pembrokeshire islands as a special area of conservation; [19520]
Berwyn
Burry inlet: dunes
Burry inlet: saltmarsh
Cardigan Bay
Coed Y Cerrig
Coedydd a Cheunant Rheidol
Coedydd Derw Meirion
Coleg Clynllifon
Cors Caron
Cors Fochno
Corsydd Mon
Crymlyn bog
Cwm Cadlan
Drostre bank
Elenydd
Eryri
Glannau Mon: Twyni
Glannau Mon: Cors Heli
Glannau Ynys Gybi
Great Orme's
Kenfig
Limestone Sea Cliffs of S W Wales
Llangorse lake
Fenn's, Whixhall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney mosses
Gower commons
Pembrokeshire bat sites
Penllyn a'r Sarnau
Preseli
Rhinog
Rhos Goch
Rhos Llawr Cwrt
St. David's
Tanat and Vyrynwy bat sites
Wye Valley woodlands
Wye Valley bat sites
Usk Valley bat sites.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of his answers to
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 48
parliamentary questions in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19334]
Mr. Streeter:
Where the cost of answering a parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large numbers of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for my Department systematically to calculate the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.
Tackling Drugs Together
39. Mr. Rathbone: To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to review the Government's strategy, "Tackling Drugs Together". [17792]
Mr. Newton: Progress in implementing "Tackling Drugs Together" is subject to regular review by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the misuse of drugs, which I chair. Most of the tasks for 1997-98, the third and final year of the current strategy, are specific reviews of the effectiveness of key departmental actions and strategies. An independent evaluation of the work of the 105 drug action teams across England is also due to report shortly. The Government will assess the strategy's development beyond 1997-98 in the light of this work, and will consult widely in doing so.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
European Legislation
40. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will review the procedures for consideration of EU legislation and expenditure. [17793]
Mr. Newton: My hon. Friend will be aware that the Select Committee on European Legislation published a report in July 1996 on the scrutiny of European business, which is currently being considered by the Select Committee on Procedure. The Government will look at recommendations for improving the scrutiny procedures in the light of the Procedure Committee's report.
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