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Industrial Investments
18. Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans to encourage industrial investment in areas outside the M4 corridor in south and east Wales and the A55 corridor in north Wales. [7012]
Mr. Hain: I am determined to see a more even spread of investment throughout Wales particularly in western areas, north western areas and the South Wales Valleys.
Pensioners
21. Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from pensioners in Wales in relation to the Budget. [7015]
Dental Services
22. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to improve dental services in Wales. [7016]
Mr. Win Griffiths: The Government is committed to ensuring that a comprehensive NHS dentistry service is available to all who wish to use it. We shall shortly be bringing forward proposals for strengthening and improving primary health care in Wales and we anticipate that these will include measures for developing NHS dentistry.
Transport
24. Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for promoting sustainable transport schemes in Wales. [7018]
Mr. Hain: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 5 June his proposals for a national strategy to develop an integrated transport policy, and explained that this should be set out in a White Paper, probably accompanied by detailed papers on specific subjects. A consultation document on the development of the policy, which will of course embrace Wales, will be issued shortly.
Referendum
26. Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to visit north Wales to discuss the referendum campaign. [7020]
Mr. Ron Davies:
I discussed the referendum campaign in North Wales on 30 June and 7 July and I expect to make other visits to North Wales to argue for our proposals in the coming weeks.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 208
30. Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his role in the referendum debate in Wales. [7024]
Mr. Davies:
Together with the Prime Minister and other Ministers I shall be arguing the case throughout Wales for the Government's proposals.
28. Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implementation of the welfare-to-work programme in Wales. [7022]
Mr. Hain:
I wrote to all Welsh MPs on 3 July providing details of how the New Deal will operate in Wales. Further details in respect of Employment Zones and the Lone Parents Initiative will be made available in due course.
Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to help safeguard the future of viable family farms in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [7017]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
My right hon. Friend and I will have the future of family farms very much in mind as we participate in developing the UK Government's policy towards reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and as we design policy initiative such as a new Agri-Environment Scheme for Wales.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new plans he has to introduce cuts and savings in his Department as a result of the effect on his Department's budgets for 1997-98 and 1998-99 of the upward revisions to the GDP deflators in the Budget on 2 July; and if he will make a statement. [8312]
Mr. Ron Davies
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: All Departments are reallocating spending within their Departmental ceilings as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Mr. Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, following the recent Budget, he will give his estimate of the total real level of his Department's budget, in 1995-96 prices, in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; if he will estimate what such figures were for (1) 1997-98 and (2) 1998-99 following the November 1996 Budget on the basis of the estimates of the GDP deflator contained in that Budget; and if he will make a statement. [8311]
Mr. Davies
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: The figures requested for my Department's spending plans within the Control Total are as follows:
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 209
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek the restoration of Objective 2 status to North-east Wales. [7863]
Mr. Hain:
Eligible areas for the European Structural Funds will not be changed before the end of 1999. For the period from the year 2000 onwards, the eligibility of areas will depend on the Commission's proposals for future financing of the EU and of the reform of the Structural Funds. These may lead to a substantial change in the current structure, including the system of Objectives. Once the Commission have put forward proposals for the reform of the Funds and these have been negotiated and agreed, the Government will then consider proposing particular areas within the United Kingdom.
In the meantime, my officials along with local partners, are already seeking to identify those criteria which most closely meet the socio-economic circumstances and difficulties of Wales, including the North East and which can be proposed for inclusion in the Commission's eventual Structural Funds Regulations. It will be against the criteria contained in these Regulations that the merits of North-east Wales will be evaluated.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps his Department plans to address the imbalance in the number of health trusts south of Merthyr Tydfil and north of Merthyr Tydfil; and if he will make a statement; [8330]
(3) what mechanism there is for taking into account the views of general practitioners, psychiatrists and public health physicians concerning the reconfiguration of health trusts in Wales; and if he will make a statement; [8333]
(4) what mechanism there is for taking into account the views of local authorities and other elected representatives concerning the reconfiguration of health trusts in Wales; and if he will make a statement; [8334]
(5) what plans he has to consider alternative reconfigurations of health trusts in North Wales; [8335]
(6) if it is his policy that no final decision concerning the reconfiguration of health trusts in Wales will be taken until the completion of the All-Wales Service Review; and if he will make a statement. [8336]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I announced on 22 May a wide-ranging review of the number and configuration of NHS Trusts in Wales. I expect the review process to include detailed discussions with representatives of all sections of the NHS, including professional groups, as well as local authorities, Community Health Councils and other interested parties. Any proposals which arise will also be subject to a formal public consultation exercise. The NHS Wales' All-Wales Service Review will be taken into account and it is my aim to have in place a new shape of trust based services by April 1999.
16 Jul 1997 : Column: 210
Mr. Livsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reject the bid made by Nevill Hall hospital trust to take over Brecon community hospital. [8511]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I am not aware of any such proposal.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to encourage school leavers of exceptional ability to study engineering at university; and if he will make a statement. [7054]
Dr. Howells:
In 1994 the Department began the Top Flight Engineering Bursaries scheme to attract high quality A level students to higher education engineering courses. This is a three year pump priming initiative to encourage engineering employers to sponsor students to take engineering courses and consider employment in the engineering sector. Those undergraduates already in receipt of Top Flight Bursaries (at £500 per annum) will continue to receive them until the end of their course in about 2001. So far over 6,300 students have received a Top Flight Engineering Bursary from the Department.
In addition Wales will benefit from part of the expenditure outside the Control Total which was announced in the Budget, for Welfare to Work and spending under the Capital Receipts Initiative.
£6,529 million, £6,440 million, £6,598 million and £6,449 million
(2) what consultations are planned involving those who represent the general practice, primary care, community nursing, health visiting and mental health professions in the North Wales health authority area in connection with plans for the reconfiguration of health trusts in that area; and if he will make a statement; [8331]
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