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Judicial Procedures
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 18 November 1997, Official Report, column 174, if she will list the colleagues and those with responsibility for judicial matters whom she consulted on certifying procedures, indicating the positions they held; and which other bodies she consulted on this matter. [17572]
Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State consulted with the Attorney-General, the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland and the Lord Chancellor on the matter of certifying procedures; these consultations were confidential. Before making final decisions on the matter, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State charged officials to confer with the Chief Constable's office and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland); she then advised the Attorney-General, the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland and the Lord Chancellor of her decision.
WALES
Nursery Education
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many four year olds were receiving 50 per cent. nursery education in May (i) 1997 and (ii) 1996 in (a) the public and (b) the private sector; [17304]
- (2) what is his estimate of the number of four year olds who will be receiving 50 per cent. nursery education in 2000 in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector. [17305]
Mr. Hain:
The information is not available in the form requested. The January 1997 Schools census showed 35,313 pupils aged four were receiving at least half-time education in maintained nursery, primary and special schools, compared with 35,251 at January 1996. Nursery Voucher redemption statistics indicate that 2,407 four
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year olds were receiving at least half-time nursery education in private and voluntary sectors in the Summer term 1997.
The intention is that from September 1998 local authorities should fund at least half-time education places for all four year olds whose parents want them, either in maintained schools or through partnerships with the private and voluntary sectors. The number of 4 year olds who will receive nursery education in each sector in 2000 will depend on arrangements adopted in each local authority area.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on assistance for the coal industry in Wales. [17638]
Mr. Hain:
I am holding a workshop with a wide range of organisations on 5 December to discuss development opportunities for the Welsh coal industry to which I attach great importance. The outcome of this will be carefully considered.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of complaints involving anti-social neighbours in each of the last two years; and what advice and assistance his Department gives to social housing landlords. [17640]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
In 1996, 46 written complaints were received by the Welsh Office about anti-social behaviour by neighbours. To date, in 1997, 50 have been received. We have no information on the number of complaints received by social landlords.
We are determined to take and support measures which protect the majority of citizens who respect the law and the rights of others. The proposed Crime and Disorder Bill will contain a number of measures to reduce petty crime and neighbourhood disorder. These include such measures as community safety orders to restrain the behaviour of individuals; and a new responsibility on local authorities to develop statutory partnerships to help prevent crime and enhance community safety.
There are a number of legal measures, including eviction, which landlords can use against tenants guilty of anti-social behaviour. The Welsh Office has issued good practice guidance (entitled 'Getting the Best Out of the Court System in Possession Cases') to all local authorities in Wales to help them make more effective and speedier use of these measures. In addition, the Housing Act 1996 contains provisions to improve the legal processes and strengthen the powers available to landlords to deal with anti-social behaviour by tenants and their visitors.
Guidance on these provisions was issued to local authorities earlier this year in Welsh Office circulars 2/97 'Conduct of Tenants--Introductory Tenancies and Repossession for Secure Tenancies' and 38/97 'Conduct of Tenants--Injunctions Against Anti-Social Behaviour'. Guidance on anti-social behaviour for housing association landlords is contained in paragraph 8.4 of 'The Regulatory Requirements' issued by Tai Cymru.
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Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993 and the Noise Act 1996, local authorities have responsibility for investigating incidents of noise nuisance in their area. Should a statutory nuisance be detected, local authorities have wide-ranging powers to prevent or abate noise from premises (including land) and vehicles. Guidance on the duties and powers of local authorities in implementing the Noise Act 1996 and the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993 is provided in Welsh Office Circulars 41/97 and 42/97.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on prospects for the beef industry in Wales. [17636]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The government has continued to support various initiatives to help restore and improve consumer confidence in beef. As a result we have seen significant increases in the level of beef consumption. Every effort is being made to have the export ban lifted and that should see a further improvement in prospects for the industry. Nevertheless, the beef sector remains in long term structural surplus and reform of the CAP beef regime is essential.
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's inquiring into CELTEC and its associated holding companies. [17929]
Mr. Hain:
Copies of the letter which I sent to my hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Mrs. Williams) on 29 October pursuant to her question of 11 July, Official Report column 629, have been placed in the Library of the House. The letter encloses a note by my officials on the investigations made into the various allegations received. Subject to checking of the final accounts of Hightown Holdings and its subsidiary companies for the financial year 1996-97, these investigations have found no evidence of loss or impropriety in the handling of public funds.
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what safeguards he has put in place to ensure the debts of CELTEC's associated companies do not become a charge upon public funds. [17930]
Mr. Hain:
CELTEC has associated undertakings with "The Careers Company" and "Careers Plus", the Careers Service Companies for North West Wales and North East Wales respectively. CELTEC's liability is limited to £1 in each case.
CELTEC also has a trading relationship with the subsidiary companies of the Hightown Holdings Group--Alkemy and Business Advance. CELTEC is currently negotiating the integration of Alkemy and Business Advance Functions into the TEC by means of a Business Transfer Agreement. This will involve the acquisition by CELTEC of defined assets and liabilities of both companies. Welsh Office officials will not approve the transfer unless CELTEC acquires sufficient assets from those companies to cover any liabilities transferred. This should ensure that any liabilities do not become a charge upon public funds.
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It is also intended that, following the planned transfer, the Hightown Holdings Group will then be wound up with any residual assets, after all liabilities have been met, being transferred to the TEC.
Mr. Rhodri Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each regional selective assistance offer made to former privatised utility companies in Wales. [17955]
Mr. Ron Davies:
There have been none.
Mr. Rhodri Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the urban development grants made by the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation since its inception by (a) year agreed and (b) amount agreed. [17956]
Mr. Ron Davies:
This is an operational matter for the Corporation and I have asked the Chief Executive to provide the information my hon. Friend has requested; a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what (a) research and (b) opinion surveys his Ministry has conducted to determine the current level of public confidence in safety of (i) British, (ii) European, (iii) non-European produced food and procedures for dealing with food safety issues. [17533]
Dr. John Cunningham:
My department has a research programme into the management of risk which has examined public perceptions of food safety risk. We also take note of other relevant opinion surveys.
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