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Euro Task Force
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names of the members of the Euro Task Force for Wales. [78348]
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 598
Mr. Hain:
The information is given in the table.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 597
| Member | |
|---|---|
| Mr. K. Truman (Chairman) | Area Director, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking |
| Ms S. Camper | Agent for Wales, Bank of England |
| Mr. J. Casterton | Euro Taskforce Manager on secondment from Barclays Bank |
| Mr. K. Cox | Welsh Office Euro Co-ordinator |
| Mr. B. Dennis | Export Sales Director, Conren International |
| Ms C. Eva | European Commission for Wales |
| Mr. R. Forster | Managing Director, Biomet Merck Ltd. |
| Dr. M. Goble | Managing Director, Gyrus Medical Plc |
| Mr. P. Graham-Woolard | Director, Manufacturing Operations UK, Rizla UK Ltd. |
| Ms K. Hartigan | Finance Director, INA Bearings Ltd. |
| Dr. E. Haywood | Director, Wales, Confederation of British Industry |
| Mr. G. Jackson | Strategic Policy Director, Welsh Development Agency |
| Mr. B. Meredith | Wales Euro Information Centre |
| Mr. R. Palmer | Chairman, Swansea North and Port Talbot, Business Connect |
| Mr. F. Royle | Director, Finance, British Steel Plc |
| Mr. P. Saunders | Managing Director, Halo Foods Ltd. |
| Mr. S. Sivapalan | President, South Wales Association of Certified Accountants |
| Mr. S. Welch | Chief Executive, North Wales Chamber of Commerce |
| Mr. A. Winstanley | Pilkington Special Glass Ltd. |
| Ms V. Winkler | Economic Adviser, Welsh Local Government |
| Mr. G. Wright | Regional Secretary, Wales TUC |
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 597
Retail Parks
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the expenditure by (a) local authorities and (b) the WDA on the development of out of town retail parks in the last year for which figures are available. [78229]
Mr. Hain: Information on local authority expenditure on the development of out of town retail parks is not held by my Department.
No WDA expenditure has been put into such developments in the last year.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current levels of inward investment in (a) Wales and (b) Flintshire. [78956]
Mr. Hain:
I am delighted with the 17,402 new jobs and associated capital investment of £1.3 billion promised by the inward investment projects recorded for Wales by the Welsh Development Agency since May 1997. Flintshire's contribution of almost 2,400 new jobs and capital investment of £582 million is a tribute to the people of the area.
But, I want to see even greater success in the future in terms of a higher level of inward investment and in terms of the growth of indigenous companies. And I want to see this success distributed throughout Wales.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 598
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning badgers and bovine tuberculosis in Wales. [78961]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
We are greatly concerned about the increased incidence of bovine TB in Wales. The Government's five point strategy based on the recommendations in the Krebs report is the right strategy for dealing with the problem. No one should underestimate the seriousness of bovine TB and we will take the necessary steps to contain it.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reduce traffic congestion on the A550 Woodbank English Border Junction. [78962]
Mr. Hain:
The Woodbank Junction scheme is almost entirely situated in Cheshire, and is the responsibility of the Highways Agency. It will be for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in conjunction with the Highways Agency to carry out the route study proposed in the English Roads Review. Progress on this will continue to be closely monitored by the Welsh Office.
Following the transfer of functions, monitoring progress will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he has taken to promote Welsh beef. [78959]
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 599
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
Beef is a vital part of the livestock industry in Wales and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has taken a number of measures to promote quality beef produced by our farmers. A Welsh Agri-Food Action Plan for the Lamb and Beef sector, drawn up by the industry, was launched on 8 March with the support of the Welsh Office and the WDA.
The Plan sets out to
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of (a) the longstay hospital at Meadowsleigh, Penyffordd, Flintshire and (b) the Dobshill Hospital, Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [78953]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The future of these hospitals is a matter for North Wales Health Authority. I understand that this Authority is in the process of completing a review, the purpose of which is to establish what community hospital services are currently provided and what are required to support local communities over the next 5 years. The Authority intends to publish and consult upon a 5 year strategic plan shortly.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the amount of money to be made available for school libraries in (a) high schools, (b) primary schools, (c) infant and (d) nursery schools in Flintshire in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [78954]
Mr. Hain:
This is a matter for the local education authority and for schools to decide in the light of local needs and priorities.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 600
However, school libraries have an important role to play in the drive to raise standards of literacy. As part of the additional £4 million for books announced following the Budget, schools in Flintshire will receive £204,000. In addition Flintshire's share of the money which we are making available through the Grants for Education Support and Training programme in 1999-2000 specifically to support literacy is nearly £110,000.
We have also recognised the contribution which school librarians can make to teaching and learning and they are eligible to receive the training in the use of information and communications technologies funded from the Lottery through the New Opportunities Fund.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is Government policy to reduce the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS hospitals in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [79392]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
Rather than concentrate on the narrow issue of single sex accommodation, NHS Wales should address the wider and arguably more important area of privacy and dignity.
Some trust hospitals' existing washing and toilet facilities still fall short of the acceptable standards for meeting privacy and dignity, and all trusts are working towards this goal. In addition, trusts bring to the attention of all staff the importance of meeting patients' needs and wishes for privacy and dignity through their induction programmes.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS hospitals in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement. [79388]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
An estimate of the number of mixed-sex wards in NHS hospitals in each local authority area could be made only at a disproportionate cost.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many patients are in mixed-sex wards in the Royal Gwent Hospital; [79393]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
Of the 33 wards at Royal Gwent hospital 29 wards, with 675 beds, are mixed sex. However each ward is made up of bays and each bay is single sex.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
strengthen the image of Welsh beef as an extensively-reared grass-fed product;
In addition, the Welsh Office is supporting projects to promote quality beef from Wales:
develop export markets and niche markets;
develop stronger marketing arrangements through the marketing support that is available through the Welsh Development Agency and Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions;
build a bigger stake for farmers in the supply chain;
develop added value processing;
encourage livestock markets to re-appraise their position and plan for the future;
develop farm and supply chain certification as the market demands that assurance schemes are necessary throughout the supply chain.
ADAS--Welsh Beef Industry Viability Project--this project aims to assist beef production systems and promote quality through concentrating on farm assurance, efficient production, traceability, marketing and the establishment of producer groups. The total project cost is some £1.2 million over a period of four years;
In future, following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the Assembly.
Welsh Development Agency--Promotion and Marketing of Welsh Beef--the objective of this project is to stimulate consumer demand for Welsh beef through a strategic marketing and promotional campaign. The total project cost is some £0.821 million; and
Welsh Black Cattle Society--Improving quality and marketing of Welsh Black Cattle. The total project cost is £0.490 million.
(2) how many mixed-sex wards there are currently in the Royal Gwent Hospital. [79394]
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