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Edgar Fernandes
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings the Minister
9 Dec 1998 : Column: 224
of State, the right hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), had with officials to discuss the case of Edgar Fernandes during his visit to Turkey on 18 to 19 November. [62598]
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Mr. Fatchett:
The prime purpose of my visit to Turkey, which took place on 17-19 November, was to promote British trade. I held a meeting with the then Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, at which Iraq, human rights and terrorism were the key subjects. It was not possible to discuss the case of Edgar Fernandes although, in my discussions with the British Consul General in Istanbul, I was briefed on the latest developments in the case.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that Hawk aircraft recently sold to Indonesia will not be used for the purposes of internal repression; and if he will make a statement. [62970]
Mr. Fatchett:
16 Hawk Aircraft were licensed by the previous Administration in October 1996. The Indonesian authorities are well aware of the Government's position on human rights.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the sale of 16 Hawk aircraft to Indonesia. [62969]
Mr. Fatchett:
We have received a number of representations from Members of Parliament, NGOs and members of the public on the question of the sale of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the annual report on strategic arms exports to be published. [63093]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 27 November 1998, Official Report, column 385.
9. Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will make a decision on salaries for elected representatives in the National Assembly. [61567]
19. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to determine the salaries payable to elected representatives in the Welsh Assembly. [61578]
Mr. Michael:
I am not yet in a position to say when I shall make this decision.
I have received a first stage report from the Senior Salary Review Body, which makes recommendations on the pay of ordinary Members, personal travel and subsistence payments and pensions and severance. I am currently considering it.
10. Mr. Touhig:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales will benefit from the national minimum wage. [61568]
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11. Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales will benefit from the national minimum wage. [61569]
Mr. Hain:
Latest research shows that 109,000 people in Wales will benefit from the national minimum wage.
12. Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to assist manufacturing industry in Wales. [61570]
Mr. Hain:
The Government are pursuing policies to deliver long-term economic stability, the essential platform for encouraging high levels of growth and employment.
13. Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact on Wales of the recent package of aid for British farming. [61571]
17. Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact on Wales of the recent package of aid for British farming. [61576]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The aid package, worth over £21 million to Welsh farmers, has helped to alleviate the forecast drop in farm incomes for 1998-99. The income figures published last week show that without the additional resources the Net Farm Income for mixed cattle and sheep farms in the Less Favoured Areas of Wales was forecast to fall by 66 per cent. The effect of the package has been to reduce that decline by around a half, to 32 per cent.
14. Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the increase in expenditure on education in Wales in 1999-2000. [61572]
Mr. Hain:
In July this year we announced indicative increases in education spending of £110 million in 1999-2000, £250 million in 2000-01 and £370 million in 2001-02. These include increases in local authority spending on education.
Decisions on allocations for education and other services are being announced in the statement on the local government revenue settlement.
15. Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future development of the New Deal in Wales. [61573]
Mr. Hain:
The New Deal is progressively being extended to help more people who want to find work. At the beginning of November, measures were introduced to help Disabled People and the New Deal for Lone Parents was extended from the pilot area to cover the whole of Wales. Last week we saw the introduction of pilots in West Wales and Bridgend/Rhondda Cynon Taff which brought the New Deal for Over 25s within the range of those who have been unemployed for 12 and 18 months respectively.
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16. Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's planned expenditure on ministerial travel for 1998-99 within Wales. [61575]
Mr. Michael:
It is not possible to give a specific figure for ministerial travel as the money allocated is subsumed within wider travel and subsistence budgets.
18. Mr. Paice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he received the report by Sir Ronald Waterhouse into child abuse in North Wales; and when he expects to publish its conclusions. [61577]
Mr. Michael:
I expect to receive the Tribunal's report early in the new year. It will be presented to the House as soon as possible thereafter.
20. Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the competitiveness of steelmaking in Wales. [61579]
Mr. Hain:
The Welsh steel industry is among the most competitive in the world. However, like others, it is experiencing difficult trading conditions. The industry is therefore undertaking a range of measures to maintain its competitiveness, such as the introduction of new technology and team working. In particular British Steel has recently completed a £121m investment in a new continuous annealing process line at Port Talbot. This is the biggest single investment since privatisation and represents a massive vote of confidence in the Welsh steel Industry.
21. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the work of the taskforce established to maximise benefits from European structural funds. [61580]
Mr. Hain:
The Taskforce was established on 16 October 1998 and has been charged with advising my right hon. Friend on Welsh interests in the ongoing negotiation of the draft Structural Funds Regulations for the period 2000-06 and considering, advising and co-ordinating the preparation of a national development strategy and related operational programmes to implement Structural Funds investment in Wales over that period.
As part of this process, it has established working groups to examine the needs of the Welsh economy both by sector and by region and also to work up strategic and local priorities. Its work embraces a wide range of partners to enable it to command the greatest possible degree of participation and ownership.
22. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the powers of First Minister of the Welsh National Assembly. [61581]
Mr. Michael:
I have received no such representations.
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23. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the arrangements for election of additional members to the National Assembly. [61582]
Mr. Michael:
No. The return of members for the Assembly's electoral regions will be made in accordance with the provisions of the Government of Wales Act 1998.
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