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New Deal
Mr. Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what use will be made of local partnerships under his Department's new deal proposals for providing employment for young people. [8679]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The Employment Service, working closely with the Government and the Scottish and Welsh Offices, will act as the lead agency in the delivery of new deal. This will be done in partnership with other agencies and organisations--including employers, local authorities, training and enterprise councils, career service, further education bodies, voluntary and environmental organisations, and others.
Bringing together the knowledge, services and initiative of all those who can play a part will be an important factor in delivering the new deal for unemployed people.
During the next few months, we shall be building on existing local partnerships where feasible, or establishing new ones where necessary. These partnerships will help ES in planning the nature, volume and delivery arrangements for new deal in each location.
Mrs. Gorman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the employment option in the new deal will require minimum pay and conditions from employers who agree to take part. [8209]
Mr. Smith:
The design of the new deal will be developed alongside the Government's other employment policies, so that the benefits of all are maximised.
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 523
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will ensure that communication support is provided under the welfare-to-work scheme for all deaf young people who require it; and how the provision of communication support will be administered.[9768]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
We intend that disabled young people will get the help they need to meet the aim of improving their long-term employability. Detailed proposals about how this help can be provided will be developed.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is his role in the drafting and distribution of Prime Minister's Questions. [10112]
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what factors led his Department to undertake a review of ministerial accountability; and what is its remit and scope. [10108]
Dr. David Clark:
Our manifesto promised that
"Ministerial accountability will be reviewed so as to remove recent abuses".
My right hon. Friend the President of the Council has invited the Select Committee on the Modenisation of the House of Commons to look at the means by which the House holds Ministers to account, and the Government will be ready to put papers to that Committee in the autumn. Our review will also cover the guidance given to Ministers on matters of conduct and procedure.
Policy Reviews
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each Cabinet Office policy review currently in progress or scheduled (a) a description of the purpose of the review and (b) its expected date of completion. [10196]
Dr. David Clark: We are committed to reviewing ministerial accountability, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Council has asked the House of Commons Modernisation Select Committee to consider the means by which the House holds Ministers to account. The Government will be ready to put a paper to the Select Committee in the autumn.
On quangos, we have announced that our intention is to reduce overall numbers, Official Report, 4 June 1997, column 192, and we are also committed to enhancing the openness and accountability of these bodies.
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The outcome of both these reviews will be set out in the White Paper on "Better Government", the publication of which I announced in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg), Official Report, 3 June 1997, column 119.
We have conducted a review of the existing code of practice on access to Government information to ensure that it can provide an adequate level of openness in the period until our proposed freedom of information Act comes into force. We have concluded that the discretionary elements of the code allow sufficient flexibility to achieve this. However, changes to the code may be considered if this proves not to be the case.
Like all Government Departments, we are also participating in the comprehensive spending review, the results of which will be published in the next 12 months.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the conclusions and recommendations of the second report of the Welsh Affairs Committee into further education in Wales, HC 64 96-97. [10386]
Mr. Ron Davies:
The Government have today published a command paper, Cm 3708, responding to the Committee's conclusions and recommendations. On behalf of this House, I thank the Committee for their thorough and wide-ranging inquiry into further education in Wales. The Government's response, so soon after the publication of our first White Paper on Education in Wales, further demonstrates our firm commitment to making education and training more relevant and accessible to our young and adult people, and it will make a significant contribution to delivering the Government's plans for promoting life-long learning.
Mr. Alan Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his statement in "Wales Deserves a Voice", how a Welsh Assembly will ensure that a future government would no longer be able to impose legislation such as the poll tax. [9554]
Mr. Ron Davies
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: The Welsh Assembly would be the credible voice of the Welsh people. The White Paper, "A Voice for Wales", makes it clear that the Government expect the Welsh Assembly to work in partnership with the Westminster Parliament and the Government of the day. Any attempt to override the clearly expressed views of the Assembly would put that partnership in jeopardy.
Implementation of the poll tax depended upon the exercise by the Secretary of State of a multiplicity of order--and regulation-making powers. If a Government wished to impose on Wales legislation which the Assembly opposed and which related to matters such as education or health that would normally be dealt with by the Assembly, it would either have to put all the detail in the new primary legislation or have to give all the powers in that legislation to the Secretary of State.
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 525
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what innovations he will make it his policy to assist small businesses; [7861]
Mr. Hain:
We are committed to developing Business Connect, ensuring that it is able to respond more effectively to the needs of the small business sector. Specific initiatives will include: introducing new measures to tackle late payment; enhancing support for high technology start-ups; and better regulation. We also hope that small firms in Wales will take advantage of UK-wide initiatives like the university for industry. The Welsh Development Agency is a key player in Business Connect and will have a vital role in our efforts to support the development of the small firms sector. I met the North Wales Federation of Businesses in St. Asaph in May to discuss these and related matters.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the number of small businesses in Wales. [7860]
Mr. Hain:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him on 3 June 1997, Official Report, column 128.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on how his regional policies will assist the location of new industries at (a) Engineer Park, Deeside, Flintshire, (b) Deeside Industrial Park, Flintshire and (c) Buckley, Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [7864]
Mr. Hain:
The main form of regional aid available for companies wishing to pursue investment projects in Wales is regional selective assistance. The RSA scheme provides discretionary grants to viable businesses for investment projects which create or safeguard employment in assisted areas. Engineer Park and Deeside Industrial Park lie within the assisted area. Therefore, investment projects at these locations are eligible for RSA support.
(2) what discussions he has had with the Welsh Development Agency to ensure improved services for new and small businesses. [7862]
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