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Class Sizes
18. Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many classes in Wales for five, six and seven-year-olds have over 30 pupils. [18845]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Information on class sizes is published in "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales; Schools 1996". It is not collected by age range.
A494
19. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the budget for the road improvement scheme of Drws-Y-Nant on the A494 Dolgellau to Bala road; when will work begin on the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [18846]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: In the light of other, higher priorities, it is not expected that funds will be available for a start of works in 1997.
Hospital Closures (Dyfed Powys)
20. Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of Dyfed Powys health authority to discuss hospital closures. [18847]
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Mr. Gwilym Jones:
The chairmen of Dyfed Powys health authority met my right hon. Friend on 10 March to tell him about the authority's consultation document on the future provision of health services in Dyfed Powys.
21. Mr. Peter Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has recently been taken to improve school standards in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [18848]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The latest phase of the bright future programme is set out in "Beating The Previous Best" published in February.
22. Mr. Robert G. Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in lifting fishing restrictions in Milford Haven. [18849]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The majority of restrictions on commercial fisheries, put in place following the Sea Empress oil spill, have been lifted. The only commercial fishery still affected is the oyster fishery in the Milford Haven estuary.
Restrictions are also being maintained as a protective measure for casual pickers of shellfish (excluding crustaceans), and on edible seaweed and samphire in the intertidal area between St. David's head and Port Eynon point. Monitoring and sampling work is continuing so that these remaining restrictions can be lifted as soon as possible.
23. Mr. Simon Coombs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the economy in Wales. [18850]
Mr. Hague:
The Welsh economy is doing very well. Unemployment is falling fast. Manufacturing output is rising faster than in the UK generally. Manufacturing productivity is well above the UK average. Industrial disputes are low. Wales is a favoured location for inward investment. Business confidence is rising faster in Wales than in almost every other UK region, and independent forecasters say that the Welsh economy will grow faster than that of the UK in the future.
24. Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the development of GP services (a) in Rhymney and (b) in Wales. [18862]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
Health authorities have responsibility for developing GP services in their area and the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will give authorities more flexibility for developing GP health care provision.
Mr. Richards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority area the total expenditure per pupil at maintained special schools for each of the last five years. [15706]
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Mr. Jonathan Evans
[holding answer 14 February 1997]: The latest available information is for 1994-95 and 1993-94 and is given in the following table. Expenditure for special schools is not separately identifiable for earlier years as it is combined with expenditure on special education in hospitals, social services establishments and at home.
| £ | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1994-95 | |
| Clwyd | 10,534 | 9,158 |
| Dyfed | 12,727 | 13,476 |
| Gwent | 17,406 | 19,252 |
| Gwynedd | 10,533 | 11,329 |
| Mid Glamorgan | 9,786 | 9,502 |
| Powys | 13,920 | 14,770 |
| South Glamorgan | 9,597 | 9,564 |
| West Glamorgan | 14,972 | 14,694 |
| Wales | 11,401 | 11,201 |
(18) Figures shown are for net current expenditure and gross capital expenditure divided by the full-time equivalent pupil numbers in maintained special schools at January in each year. Total expenditure figures exclude special education in special education units attached to primary and secondary schools, hospitals, social services establishments and at home.
School Administration Costs
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each local education authority in Wales the expenditure per pupil of the school's budget on administration in 1995-96 and estimated to be so spent in 1996-97. [15938]
Mr. Jonathan Evans [holding answer 14 February 1997]: The information requested is given in the following table.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Clwyd | 47.73 |
| Dyfed | 46.90 |
| Gwent | 30.87 |
| Gwynedd | 40.89 |
| Mid Glamorgan | 19.92 |
| Powys(19) | 2.86 |
| South Glamorgan | 44.88 |
| West Glamorgan | 27.04 |
The figures for Clwyd, Dyfed and West Glamorgan LEAs are based on section 42 budget statements as the outturn statements for 1995-96 have yet to be submitted to the Secretary of State.
(19) Costs relating to the management and administration of general schools budget expenditure have been included with the budgets of those services that the authority has chosen to retain centrally. Details of these costs are not available.
The provisional details for 1996-97 are:
(20) Costs relating to the management and administration of general schools budget expenditure have been included with the budgets of those services that the authority has chosen to retain centrally. Details of these costs are not available.
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Rented Housing Starts
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new rented housing starts he estimates will be made by (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations in 1997-98. [19214]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Housing associations are the main providers of new subsidised housing. Housing for Wales expects to start 1,850 dwellings in its 1997-98 programme, of which up to 1,300 will be for rent. The remainder will be for low-cost home ownership. The number of starts will be increased by transfers to housing associations by those local authorities which will have bids approved under the £5.5 million home ownership, efficiency and rural housing challenge fund. No estimate is available for new rented housing starts by local authorities in 1997-98.
Departmental Web Site
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department established its Internet site; what representations he has received and what data he has collated on the use and utility of the site; and what steps he is taking to increase the amount of information available via the site. [19151]
Mr. Hague: My Department established Internet pages on the CCTA server in May 1995. This site now contains hospital performance information. A pilot site for the Welsh Office Industry and Training Department was set up in September 1995 and this contains mainly industry related information. Information on the number of accesses is collected weekly for both sites. A study is currently being carried out to establish how my Department can make best use of the Internet to disseminate information in the future.
National Health Service Resources
Mr. Mark Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources have been given to the national health service in Wales since 1992. [18829]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
Since 1992-93, an additional £455 million has been provided for the national health service in Wales, including provision for 1997-98. This represents a cash increase over the period of 23.8 per cent. and 10.3 per cent. in real terms.
17 Mar 1997 : Column: 441
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