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Teacher Training
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost, in each of the next three financial years, of the recently announced inducement
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payments for students prepared to undertake teacher training courses; if these payments are to be made to students regardless of whether they are undertaking such courses in Wales or elsewhere; and if such grants will be made by his Department to students from outside Wales wishing to undertake such courses at colleges in Wales. [67104]
Mr. Hain:
Payments of the bursaries for mathematics and science students will be made to those who undertake a PGCE course in mathematics or science in Wales, starting in September 1999. It will be paid as £2,500 during the PGCE course, and £2,500 to trainees entering the teaching profession. The full payment of the bursary will therefore be conditional on those students subsequently entering teaching within those subjects.
It is estimated that based on current intake targets the scheme in Wales could cost £775,000 per annum in 1999-2000 and the following two financial years. Payments will be made to all students undertaking courses in Wales; similarly, payments will be made by the Department for Education and Employment to all students undertaking courses in England. The precise mechanism for making the payments will be finalised in the next few months.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how his Department has performed against last year's targets for reducing empty Government residential property; and what new targets have been set for 1998-99. [68345]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
I am pleased to announce that the Welsh Office was largely successful in meeting the target set for disposal of empty government homes in 1997-98.
We are continuing to set challenging targets for disposal or bringing back into use those properties which become empty and hope to be able to maintain our success over the coming year.
Details of achievements against targets for 1997-98 and new targets for 1998-99 are set as follows.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Welsh Office achievements 1997-98 | |
| Total stock 1 April 1997 | 114 |
| Empty stock 1 April 1997 | 33 |
| 1997-98 Target for disposal or bringing back into use | 33 |
| Achievement against target | 28 |
| Welsh Office targets 1998-99 | |
| Total stock 1 April 1998 | 136 |
| Empty stock 1 April 1998 | (7)17 |
| Target for disposal or bringing back into use | 9 |
(7) Includes 8 properties vandalised/derelict held for future road schemes and considered unsuitable for bringing back into use
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
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Concessionary Travel
(Blind and Visually Impaired)
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce regulations to require local authorities in Wales to provide a mandatory concessionary travel scheme for blind and visually impaired people. [67448]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: Under the Transport Act 1985 local authorities may provide travel concessions for people who are blind or partially sighted, although there is no requirement to do so. My priority with concessionary fares is to ensure that from April all authorities provide schemes for pensioners which meet the minimum standard of a £5 bus pass and half-fares, and then to move to free bus travel for pensioners over the next two to three years. This will of course benefit many blind and visually impaired people.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Tir Gofal Agri-environmental Scheme
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received since the meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee on 16 December 1998 concerning the Tir Gofal agri-environmental scheme. [66269]
Mr. Michael: No representations have been received about Tir Gofal since the Welsh Grand Committee met on 16 December 1998.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Environmental Projects
Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the funding of projects to improve the environment of Wales for 1999-2000. [66277]
Mr. Michael: I have announced that I will be making provision of £12.4 million for Tir Gofal over the next three years. Continuing support will be available from the Environment Wales grant scheme, CCW and others such as the WDA.
I will be making an announcement shortly about the £3 million I have earmarked for an Environment Development Fund. I thank my hon. Friend for her interest.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
Aerosol Sprays
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms exist to assess the toxicity of, and to approve the use of, the ingredients of aerosol spray products used in the domestic environment. [67910]
Dr. Howells:
A number of chemicals are banned from use in consumer products by Directives agreed by all European Union Member States. Chemicals prohibited under the 'Classification, Packaging And Labelling Dangerous Substances Directive 67/548/EEC' and the
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'Restrictions On the Marketing And Use Of Certain Dangerous Substances And Preparations Directive 76/769/EEC', are not available for use by aerosol, or other manufacturers. Dangerous chemicals are regularly reviewed under these Directives. The safety of chemicals not prohibited under these Directives and intended for use in domestic products, including aerosols, is regulated by the Chemicals (Hazard Information And Packaging For Supply) Regulations 1994 as amended.
These Regulations require, amongst other things, that manufacturers must assess a chemical product for its health effects (toxicity, irritancy etc.). If dangerous the product must then be labelled with a warning symbol and with phrases indicating the dangers. The particular chemical(s) which cause the product to be classified must also be named on the label. The Regulations also require that all potentially dangerous chemicals supplied to the public must be in packaging which is properly labelled and contains warnings about the potential hazards and giving brief advice on suitable precautions.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what investigations Her Majesty's Government have carried out into the affairs of Casalee; [65127]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: As far as the DTI is concerned, a search of the most potentially relevant sources of information has produced no evidence of any DTI dealings with--or investigations into the affairs of Casalee.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the role of Her Majesty's Government official was in (a) sponsoring and (b) participating in discussions between Mr. John Bredenkamp and Brigadier Julius in connection with the affairs of (i) Allivane and (ii) Casalee. [65129]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: As far as the DTI is concerned, a search of the most potentially relevant sources of information has produced no evidence of any role played by DTI officials in these matters.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) in what role Mr. Stephen Kock represented Her Majesty's Government in his dealings with Mr. Gerald Bull and the Space Research Corporation; [65149]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: As far as the DTI is concerned, I am not aware that Mr. Kock has ever represented the Department.
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Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which civil servants in his Department met Mr. Stephen Kock to discuss matters relating to defence contracts with Malaysia in the period from January 1985 to the end of December 1988. [65138]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: A search of the most potentially relevant sources of information has produced no evidence of any such meetings between DTI officials and Mr. Kock.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions took place between his Department's officials and representatives of the Scott inquiry on the advisability of calling upon Mr. Stephen Kock to give evidence to that inquiry (a) before, (b) during and (c) after the inquiry. [65131]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: All issues relating to whom to call to give evidence to the Scott inquiry were solely a matter for Sir Richard Scott and his inquiry team.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place since 1992 between representatives of Her Majesty's Government and Mr. Stephen Kock over the dealings of Messrs Allivane in defence contracting between 1989 and 1992. [65124]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: As far as the DTI is concerned, a search of the potentially most relevant sources of information has produced no evidence of any DTI involvement in such discussions.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role was played by his Department in sponsoring dealings in defence matters between Mr. Stephen Kock and Sir Thomas Legg. [65142]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: I am not aware of any role played by the DTI in relation to dealings in defence matters between Mr. Stephen Kock and Sir Thomas Legg.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Government-sponsored delegations to Russia between 1990 and 1995 included Mr. Stephen Kock. [65157]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: I am not aware of any Government-sponsored delegations to Russia between 1990 and 1995 which included Mr. Kock.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role has been played by Mr. Stephen Kock in conjunction with representatives of Her Majesty's Government in arranging, promoting or negotiating arms supply to China. [65139]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: As far as the DTI is concerned, a search of the most potentially relevant sources of information has produced no evidence of any collaboration between Mr. Stephen Kock and the DTI in arranging, promoting or negotiating arms supply to China.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what role Mr. Stephen Kock represented Her Majesty's Government when he negotiated credit for Iraq. [65151]
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Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: Mr. Kock did not represent the Export Credits Guarantee Department when credit facilities were negotiated for Iraq.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role was played by his Department in sponsoring dealings on defence contracting matters between Mr. Stephen Kock, Mr. Roy Barber and Mr. Dennis Robertson of Stoy Hayward. [65141]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: A search of the most potentially relevant sources of information has produced no evidence of a role played by the DTI in any such matters.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration was made by his Department's inspectors of the advisability of bringing legal proceedings against Mr. Stephen Kock as a director of Astra. [65132]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: The Companies Act inspectors were appointed to investigate and report on the affairs of Astra and in particular the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of a Belgian company, PRB. However, when asked for their views on directors disqualification, the inspectors did not identify Stephen Kock as a candidate for such proceedings.
(2) what dealings representatives of Her Majesty's Government have had with Casalee. [65128]
(2) in what role Mr. Stephen Kock represented Her Majesty's Government when advising Societe Generale de Belge, GECHEM and Warburgs during the negotiations by Astra to purchase PRB. [65150]
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