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Livestock Industry
17. Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the prospects for the Welsh livestock industry. [66286]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: The Welsh Office is working with the Welsh Development Agency and the industry to develop an Action Plan for the lamb and beef sectors which will be published in the Spring. This, together with the promotional work being done by organisations such as Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions to reopen our European markets, will provide a basis for the Welsh livestock industry to strengthen its competitiveness and adapt to meet the challenges facing it.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Education Funding
18. Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the funding for education in Wales for 1999-2000. [66287]
Mr. Michael: I have announced an extra £117 million spending for education in 1999-2000. The main elements are £70 million in the local government revenue settlement for education; an additional £23.5 million for further education; and an additional £38.2 million for higher education. Further details will be announced shortly.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
National Assembly
21. Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has in respect of the working hours of the Welsh Assembly and the provision of child care to support Welsh Assembly members and staff with children under 14 years of age. [66290]
Mr. Michael: It is for the Assembly itself to determine its working hours and its child care policy, having regard to the recommendations of the National Assembly Advisory Group (NAAG).
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
22. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much is planned to be spent on making ready a debating chamber for the National Assembly in Crickhowell House. [66291]
Mr. Michael:
The estimated cost for providing a temporary chamber is £1 million.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 274
24. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he is proposing for ministerial responsibilities within his Department consequent upon the establishment of the National Assembly. [66293]
Mr. Michael:
This is a matter for consideration once the Assembly is established.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about how he proposes to handle appointments to public bodies which are due to be considered in the run-up to, and during the establishment of, the National Assembly for Wales. [68344]
Mr. Michael:
In considering appointments which fall due in this period I have been mindful of the need to allow the Assembly to take over its responsibilities quickly and in an orderly way in relation to those public bodies for which it will be responsible. It has been necessary to give early consideration to such appointments because of the time required for the appointments process.
I have now had the opportunity of considering appointments in detail and, generally, I propose to extend existing appointments for up to 12 months to allow the Assembly time to introduce its own policy and procedures. This is not suitable for all appointments and there is a need for some full term re-appointments and new appointments.
Different public bodies have varying circumstances and each one has had to be considered individually. The factors which have been taken into account in each case have been the potential impact on the body concerned of short term extensions to existing appointments, the need for long term stability and continuity; the number of appointments becoming vacant at any one time; the need to retain specialist knowledge or a balance of skills on the body concerned; past difficulties in recruiting members; and the number of appointments held by candidates. In all cases, I have had full regard to the guidance and advice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and I shall continue to do so.
Decisions have now been taken on most of the appointments concerned and these will be announced in the coming weeks.
23. Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about reform of European structural funds in relation to Wales. [66292]
Mr. Michael:
It is important that reform of the Structural Funds provides an outcome that is affordable, durable and fair and my Department is fully involved in discussions at the UK level and in Brussels to secure an outcome consistent with these principles. For Wales this should ensure that Structural Funds support is targeted at the most needy areas of the country and it remains very likely that West Wales and the Valleys will benefit from an Objective 1 programme starting next year.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 275
25. Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the danger to pedestrians crossing the A4042 at the pedestrian crossing at Croesyceiliog. [66294]
Mr. Hain:
Pedestrian safety is of paramount importance to the Welsh Office. Since an at-grade crossing place was provided in late 1987, no reported injury accidents involving pedestrians have occurred at this point, and the situation is constantly monitored.
During the design of the Llantarnam Bypass scheme and the subsequent Public Inquiry careful consideration was given to the issue of pedestrian safety.
Additional signing was provided, advising pedestrians and motorists of the crossing point and to help encourage pedestrian use of the upgraded subway.
Officials have recently agreed to meet with local residents for a discussion of their concerns in this matter.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
26. Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many vacancies for (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) midwives there are in the NHS in Wales. [66295]
Mr. Michael:
Although this information is not collected centrally we do have some information regarding nurses and midwives but not doctors. The workforce plans produced by NHS Trusts identified at 30 September 1997, 442 vacancies for registered nurses in Wales out of 11,243 staff in post; 30 vacancies for community nurses out of a total 2,634 staff in post; and 24 vacancies for widwives out of 1,284 staff in post. The 1998 data will be available in May 1999. A nurse executive survey undertaken in June 1998, suggested that nursing vacancies had risen to 597.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
27. Mr. Opik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to ensure that the Welsh Development Agency supports indigenous Welsh businesses as fully as it supports foreign investors. [66415]
Mr. Michael:
Yesterday, on 26 January 1999, Official Report, column 172, in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence), I announced that I had written to the Chairman of the Welsh Development Agency setting out Strategic Guidance for the period to March 2000. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House. I made it clear that the Agency, in addition to attracting foreign direct investment, must concentrate on supporting new businesses and encouraging small businesses to grow in all parts of Wales.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 276
Mr. Rogers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the funding for schools in Wales for 1999-2000. [66279]
Mr. Hain:
We have allocated an additional £70 million for education in 1999-2000 and I have made it clear that the bulk of this money should go into delegated school budgets to support teachers and promote higher standards in the classroom.
An extra £13 million for capital works at local authority schools is available in 1999-2000. This on top of capital provision for local authorities through Basic Credit Approvals (BCAs). The notional provision for education BCAs is £42.939m.
Further announcements covering the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) programme and for infant class size reduction will be made shortly.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Mr. Livsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many quango posts in Wales have become vacant since May 1997; in which newspapers advertisements for these posts have been published; and which of these posts were filled without having been publicly advertised. [67272]
Mr. Michael:
Seventy one Public Appointment vacancies in NDPBs in Wales have arisen. Of these;
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Sixty vacancies have been advertised in local and national press.
Three vacancies were not filled due to merger or abolition of the body or transfer of powers, these being one member position on the Welsh Health Common Services Agency, one member position on the Health Promotion Authority for Wales and one member position on the Development Board for Rural Wales.
One member vacancy on the Ancient Monuments Board was not advertised as the appointment is made from a nominated source as laid down in statute.
Two member vacancies on the Tai Cymru Board falling in May 1997 were not advertised because the appointments process began under the previous administration. The board has now ceased to exist.
The appointments process has yet to begin for the five remaining vacancies. These are one member position on the Court and Council of the Museum and Galleries of Wales, one member position on the Arts Council for Wales, one member position on the Sports Council for Wales, one member position on the Gwent Agriculture Wages Committee and one member position on the Gwynedd Agriculture Wages Committee.
The local and national press used to advertise these vacancies in varying combinations were: the Western Mail, the Liverpool Daily Post, The Guardian, The Times, The Times Educational Supplement, The Times Higher Education Supplement, The Sunday Times, "Golwg", "Y Cymro", Water Bulletin and the Library Association Record.
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