| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Welsh Economy
22. Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact of the agreements reached at the Council of Ministers' meeting on the Welsh economy. [78080]
Mr. Michael: The Council of Ministers' meeting in Berlin reached agreement on the Agenda 2000 package of reform to the EU. This package includes the next wave of enlargement of the Union, reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the next round of Structural Funds programmes. The economy of west Wales and the Valleys will receive a major boost from the award of Objective 1 status which will bring around £1.2 billion in aid for economic and social development over seven years. Reforms to the CAP will help the agriculture sector in Wales increase competitiveness, enhance food safety and food quality and ensure a fair standard of living and stable farm incomes.
Employment (Non-Welsh Speakers)
23. Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding employment opportunities for non-Welsh speakers. [78081]
Mr. Michael: I have personally received no such representations.
Since I took office, my officials have received one such representation. My Department has also dealt with one representation made to the Deputy Prime Minister, and is dealing with one made to the Prime Minister.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
24. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what transport facilities will be provided to Ministers in the National Assembly. [78082]
Mr. Hain:
It will be for the Assembly to determine what transport facilities if any it provides for its elected members.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
25. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet representatives of the CBI Wales to discuss trade relations with Europe. [78083]
Mr. Hain:
My right hon. Friend and I and my officials regularly meet with representatives of the CBI Wales to discuss a range of issues.
26. Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the funding of the arts in Wales. [78084]
Mr. Michael:
I am pleased that, as part of the Internal Review settlement, I was able to provide the Arts Council of Wales with the first increase in its budget for five years. Decisions on the grant aiding of individual projects are matters for the Council itself.
31 Mar 1999 : Column: 725
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
27. Ms Julie Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress in introducing employment policies to encourage parents to take up employment opportunities in Wales. [78085]
Mr. Hain:
Good progress is being made with a range of policies to help parents take up employment. The National Childcare Strategy in Wales will create many more childcare places and the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships and the New Opportunities Fund are now getting into their stride to deliver the strategy. The New Deal in Wales is proving very effective. Take-up of the New Deal for Lone Parents is increasing and already over 800 people have obtained jobs through this programme. The Government's Employment Relations Bill contains important new provisions for family-friendly employment practices and the Welsh Office will play a full part in promoting these practices among employers in Wales.
Following the transfer of functions, most aspects of this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
28. Mr. John Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for developing the aerospace industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [78086]
Mr. Hain:
Welsh Office officials are regularly in touch with the aerospace companies in Wales. My right hon. Friend and I take a keen interest in its future and have met some of the companies. Officials together with the WDA and the TECs are working with the South Wales Aerospace Group to develop effective solutions to the skills needs of the sector. A study of the Group's recruitment and training needs was completed in 1998, with Welsh Office support, and the results of this, together with the recommendations of the Future Skills Wales survey are being used as the basis for taking forward action to ensure that the aerospace industry has the skilled personnel it needs.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
29. Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) representations he has received on and (b) plans he has for further devolution of powers to the Welsh Assembly. [78087]
Mr. Michael:
I and my department have received several thousand representations on all aspects of the Welsh devolution settlement. It would be possible to determine how many of those advocated a transfer of further functions only at disproportionate cost.
As to plans for the Assembly to gain further powers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 3 March 1999, Official Report, column 779-80.
31 Mar 1999 : Column: 726
30. Sir Raymond Powell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the prospective impact of the national minimum wage on the Welsh economy. [78088]
Mr. Hain:
The national minimum wage is a UK wide policy. No separate assessment of the impact on the Welsh economy has been made, however, latest research shows that 109,000 people in Wales will benefit from the national minimum wage.
Mr. Tyrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total number of occasions when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76820]
Mr. Michael:
Between 2 May 1997 and 28 February 1999, special advisers made visits overseas on two occasions in an official capacity. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the primary schools he has visited in his Ministerial capacity in the last four months. [77460]
Mr. Michael:
During the last four months I have visited Evenlode Primary School and Grangetown Infants School in the constituency of Cardiff, South and Penarth and Cornist Park County Primary School in the constituency of Delyn. I have also visited Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School, Cwmbran; Mold Alun School, Mold and Newport Duffryn Comprehensive School, Newport as well as Llandrillo College (Rhyl campus), Bridgend College and Coleg Glan Hafren.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what purpose he used his ministerial car on Monday 15 March. [78004]
Mr. Michael:
I used my ministerial car to travel to and from official engagements on Monday 15 March. I started the day with visits to a number of homeless projects in Cardiff followed by speaking engagements in the city, the opening of a new Housing Association Development in the city and in the evening I visited Carmarthen where I took part in a public question and answer session on my role as Secretary of State and on the future role of the Welsh Assembly.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have entered (a) full-time jobs and (b) further education under the New Deal to date; and if he will make a statement. [78958]
Mr. Hain:
The latest data published by the Department for Education and Employment shows that, between 5 January 1998 and 29 January 1999, almost 4,400 people had been helped into work in Wales through the New Deal and more than 2,300 others had entered full-time
31 Mar 1999 : Column: 727
education or training (some of whom had subsequently also moved into jobs). Within these totals, separate information is not available on the number of jobs which are full-time or the number of people undertaking further education as distinct from training.
I am very pleased with the positive start which the New Deal has made in Wales, and the tremendous support it has received from employers and partner organisations. I am also delighted with the enthusiasm of the New Deal participants themselves.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he had taken to improve rail services in Wales, with particular reference to the Wrexham- Bidston rail line; and if he will make a statement. [78952]
Mr. Hain:
I am keen to see high quality rail services throughout Wales, and I have announced recently that the Welsh Office will be working closely with the North Wales Economic Forum to improve rail services between North and South Wales. The creation of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority is an important first step in ensuring that the train operators in Wales deliver the service which the public have a right to expect. This includes the Wrexham to Bidston line, where services are provided by First North Western with financial support from the Franchising Director and, for certain services, a consortium of local authorities.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |