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Housing Costs
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) single people's and (b) lone parents' ability to pay their housing costs in their decision to (i) take up work and (ii) increase their hours of work; and what plans she has to take action on this issue. [8808]
Mr. Bradley: We recognise that concern about housing costs is a factor which single people and lone parents may take into account in decisions about taking up work or increasing their working hours.
We believe that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. We have appointed Martin Taylor, Chief Executive of Barclays plc, to spearhead a Whitehall task force to consider these issues and make recommendations.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the future of the jobseeker's allowance. [8592]
Mr. Bradley:
The Government believes that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. Our Welfare to Work objectives are to provide work incentives, to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to strike a new balance between responsibilities and rights. A programme of monitoring and evaluation is under way to enable us to ensure that jobseeker's allowance contributes to achieving our objectives.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 204
Children (Adult Wards)
10. Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children aged under 16 years were nursed in adult wards in hospitals in Wales during the last 12 months. [7004]
Mr. Win Griffiths: The Welsh Office does not collect this information centrally. However, it is our policy that children should not be nursed on adult wards and health authorities are required to frame policies to ensure that adequate facilities are developed to meet their needs.
Green Pound
11. Mr. Livsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce a compensation package to offset revaluations of the green pound during 1997. [7005]
Mr. Win Griffiths: Paying this aid would have very significant implications for UK public expenditure. We are considering very carefully the case made by interested parties for payment, but we do have until 31 January 1998 to decide on the matter.
Welsh Assembly
12. Mr. Prior: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the additional public expenditure needed each year to fund a Welsh Assembly. [7006]
Mr. Ron Davies: The White Paper, which will be published on 22 July, will include costings of our proposals.
13. Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation exercise he plans in respect of the establishment of an assembly for Wales. [7007]
Mr. Davies: A referendum in September.
15. Mr Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from residents in south Wales relating to an assembly for Wales. [7009]
Mr. Davies: My hon. Friends and I have received a number of representations from people all over Wales, both in favour and against the establishment of a Welsh Assembly.
17. Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the total cost to be incurred in the research, preparation, publication and distribution of the summary of the White Paper on a Welsh Assembly. [7011]
Mr. Davies:
The work has not yet been completed and our estimated budget remains commercially confidential at this stage. However, we estimate that the total costs for information and publicity associated with the Referendum will be £700,000. Parliamentary approval for this expenditure will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for Class XIV, vote 3. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £700,000 is being met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 205
19. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will invite the Prime Minister to accompany him during his campaign in respect of the referendum on a Welsh Assembly. [7013]
25. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the annual cost of the proposed Welsh Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [7019]
Mr. Davies:
My Hon. Friends and I have received representations, both for and against a Welsh Assembly, which have referred to its annual costs.
27. Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has in respect of the number of hon. Members from Wales who will sit at Westminster if an assembly is established. [7021]
Mr. Davies:
None. Hon. Members representing Welsh constituencies will continue to be involved in considering new legislation that applies to Wales, and to represent their constituents on all matters.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which will be created as a result of the establishment of a Welsh Assembly. [7014]
Mr. Hain:
It would be unrealistic to attempt to make detailed forecasts but I am confident that a democratically elected and responsive Assembly would give a significant boost to the competitiveness of the Welsh economy.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons the Welsh Assembly referendum will be held after the Scottish Parliament referendum; and if he will make a statement. [7575]
Mr. Davies:
Our proposals for Wales are quite different from those for Scotland. We need to give people a chance to focus on the distinctive Welsh plans without being deflected by the Scottish debate.
14. Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to draw up a sustainable development strategy for Wales. [7008]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The Government will be looking again at the 1994 UK Sustainable Development Strategy in the light of our own objectives. My right hon. Friend and I will consider the need for a separate Welsh strategy in the light of that review.
16. Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the (a) total business from the Welsh Office and (b) the total financial deficits of all health authorities in Wales at the latest available date. [7010]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The Welsh Office provides funding to health authorities to purchase health care for their resident population. In 1996-97, the revenue funding provided by the Welsh Office to the five health authorities in Wales totalled £2,134 million.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 206
The unaudited accounts for 1996-97, presently indicate that the in-year financial deficit in income and expenditure terms for the five health authorities for their first year of operation was £5.255 million.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors his Department applies to adjust the crude population share of health authorities in Wales when determining their funding needs. [8412]
Mr. Griffiths:
The factors included in the capitation model to adjust the crude population share are as follows:
Mr. Griffiths:
On the basis of a crude population share of the total 1997-98 Recurrent Discretionary Allocation made to health authorities, Dyfed Powys would have received £223.6 million.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the names of the working party set up in his Department to review the methodology in respect of the distribution of resources to health authorities; and when he expects the review to be completed. [8546]
Mr. Griffiths:
The membership of the Resources Allocation Working Group is as follows:
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 207
29. Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current financial position of health authorities in Wales. [7023]
Mr. Griffiths:
I shall expect all authorities to remain within their notified cash limits.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what would have been the total amount which the Dyfed-Powys health authority could have expected to have received from the Welsh Office for the year 1997-98 by way of discretionary expenditure on the basis of a crude population share. [8433]
Non-psychiatric in-patient services: age and sex structure of population weighted for hospital bed days, Standardised Mortality Ratio;
Psychiatric in-patient services: age and sex structure of population weighted for average length of hospital stay;
Non-psychiatric outpatient services: age and sex structure of population weighted for hospital attendances, Standardised Mortality Ratio;
Community health services: age and sex structure of population weighted for staff contacts, estimated staff travelling distances, Standardised Mortality Ratio; and
Ambulance services: age and sex structure of population, Standardised Mortality Ratio; road length per head of population.
Mr. A. C. Wood: Health Finance Management Division
Mr. R. T. Kilpatrick: Health Finance Management Division
Miss B. Jones: Health Finance Management Division
Dr. B. Fuge: Health Professional Group
Mr. D. Hobbs: Health Strategy Division
Ms C. Durnell: Economic Advice Division
Mr. R. Jones: Health Statistics and Analysis Unit
Mr. M. Evans: Bro Taf Health Authority
Mrs. J. Sait: Dyfed Powys Health Authority
Mr. G. Coomber: Gwent Health Authority
Dr. P. Donnelly: Iechyd Morgannwg Health Authority
Mr. N. Morris: North Wales Health Authority
Mr. P. Davies: University of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust
Dr. N. Upton: Gowerton Medical Centre, Swansea
Mrs. C. Theobald: North East Wales Community Health Council
I expect the group to report later this year and, if possible, to feed the results into the 1998-99 health authority allocation round.
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