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WALES
Inward Investment
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with (a) the President of the Board of Trade and (b) the Chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning inward investment; and if he will make a statement. [19532]
Mr. Hain: My right hon. Friend has had discussions about inward investment with both the President of the Board of Trade and the Chairman of the Welsh Development Agency. We all recognise the importance of continued inward investment success to our aims of economic and industrial strength and stability.
Welsh Assembly
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the advantages of establishing the National Assembly for Wales at the Flintshire County Council Offices at Ewloe, Deeside, Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [19528]
Mr. Ron Davies:
The Council Offices at Ewloe, and a wide range of other options, are being assessed against the criteria described in my consultation paper, "The National Assembly for Wales; Accommodation Options". I now wait to hear the views of the people of Wales before deciding where the Assembly will be located.
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 450
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the range of estimates of the cost of the proposed locations for the National Assembly for Wales. [19599]
Mr. Ron Davies:
My consultation paper sets out the range of options across Wales which we have considered in most detail. It also gives indicative costs for the different approaches to housing the Assembly, within the cost ceiling the Government have established.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the location of the National Assembly for Wales. [19529]
Mr. Ron Davies:
I shall announce the location of the Welsh Assembly within the next few months, following my consultation with the people of Wales which ends on 30 January 1998.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the location of the National Assembly for Wales. [19530]
Mr. Ron Davies:
I have already received a number of representations about the location of the Welsh Assembly, and expect to receive more during the period of my consultation with the people of Wales.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the reconfiguration of NHS trusts in North Wales; when he will announce his decision; and if he will make a statement. [19531]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I have received representations from a number of hon. Members, NHS Trusts, Community Health Councils, General Practitioners, Local Authorities, NHS staff groups and the general public. Public consultation on our proposals for a new configuration of NHS Trusts in Wales, in line with statutory requirements, will take place next summer. Following this, I expect a decision to be announced in October 1998.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the use of public transport in rural and urban areas; and if he will make a statement. [19533]
Mr. Hain:
The Government are currently embarked on a review with the aim of producing a White Paper next year setting out proposals for a new Integrated Transport Policy. Reducing dependence on car travel and the promotion of public transport will be among the key objectives of that policy. The Welsh Office is participating fully in the review and will be producing its own Welsh Transport Policy statement at around the same time as the White Paper is published.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the Chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss job creation in Alyn and Deeside. [19534]
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 451
Mr. Hain:
My right hon. Friend regularly meets the Chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss a range of issues. The creation and safeguarding of jobs in Wales continues to be a priority for the Agency and I know that the Chairman has recently visited Alyn and Deeside constituency and met my hon. Friend and representatives of the workforce and management of the British Aerospace plant to discuss their expansion plan.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the reasons for the delays in paying sheep annual premium payments to Welsh farmers; and if he will make a statement. [19099]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The timetable of payments has been delayed by the need to comply with additional information requirements to support European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) payments made after the start of the new EAGGF financial year on 16 October 1997. Without the new supporting information any payments made will be subject to disallowance by the European Commission. The Welsh Office has been working to address these new requirements and this has involved substantial computer reprogramming. The position on Sheep Annual Premium is that some 85 per cent. of first advances in Wales had been paid by early October, and the payment of the second advance is now well under way.
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the charities and voluntary groups which received grants and other assistance from his Department in the financial year 1996-97 together with the amounts given. [19096]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I have asked for the information to be collated. I will write to my right hon. Friend as soon as the exercise has been completed and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on welfare reform for disability benefits. [19527]
Mr. Denham:
I have been asked to reply.
We are committed to modernising the Social Security system so that it helps people to work as far as they are able; provides appropriate support to those who cannot work; and makes the most effective use of the resources available.
As a first step we are undertaking a comprehensive review of the Department's expenditure. The review is wide-ranging and includes consideration of the complex range of benefits paid to people who are disabled or have health problems. We want to end the exclusion of disabled people; to empower them to play a full part in society, and to develop an approach which focuses on people's abilities and their capacities, rather than only their disabilities and incapacity.
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 452
As part of this process, up to £195 million has been made available from the Windfall Tax to test a range of options to help people with long-term health problems or disabilities to move into, or remain in, work.
We will, in due course, consider how many proposals for change should be taken forward.
38. Mr. Baker:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to increase the availability of documents in the Public Record Office. [18017]
Mr. Hoon:
The Government are committed to ensuring that public access to public records is improved. There is a vigorous review of all files to ensure that as many as possible are released. In July we announced that over 77,500 records that had previously been withheld, had been released in the Public Record Office, after the Departments had reconsidered them. Further updated figures should be available soon.
39. Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received about the Lord Chancellor's accommodation. [18019]
Mr. Hoon:
I presume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the Lord Chancellor's Official Residence in the Palace of Westminster. This is the fifth question I have answered on this topic from hon. members, and I have received eight letters from members of the public.
40. Mr. Gray:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the redecoration of the Lord Chancellor's official residence will be completed. [18020]
Mr. Hoon:
It is expected that the redecoration will be substantially completed by February, 1998.
41. Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what responses he has received following his statement on the changes to the magistrates courts procedures; and if he will make a statement. [18023]
Mr. Hoon:
A range of responses have been received to the statement we made on 29 October concerning the future structure of the magistrates courts service. Responses have been received from 10 magistrates courts committees, 3 Members of Parliament, the Magistrates Association, the Justices Chief Executives Group and West Sussex County Council.
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