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Unemployment (Wales)
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households without work for two years or more there were in each local authority in Wales in each of the past 10 years. [81336]
Ms Hewitt: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 20 April 1999:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on workless households.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the ONS's major source of labour market data. Data by local authority area is not available on the combined economic activity of household members, and categories such as that requested, would undoubtedly be too small to identify at local authority level for both reliability and confidentiality reasons.
Household datasets are available for spring 1990, each spring quarter from 1992 to 1994 and spring and autumn quarters since spring 1995. An article was published in Labour Market Trends (January 1999 issue), a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library, giving a range of household data from the LFS using spring 1998 data. Table 8, on page 38, includes workless households by Government Office Region which may be of interest.
Single Currency
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the criteria to be used in determining whether the single currency is successful in accordance with paragraph 2.39 of the Red Book. [80858]
Ms Hewitt: A successful single currency will act as a complement to the Single Market. It will reduce transaction costs and exchange rate uncertainty on trade within the euro zone. It will make prices more transparent, boosting competition and providing new opportunities for companies to trade and invest. A successful single currency will also deliver its Treaty aims of price stability as a foundation for sustainable, non-inflationary growth.
WALES
Task Forces
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list all those task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 which have set up (a) sub- groups, (b) working parties and (c) other subsidiary committees; [79256]
- (2) if he will list for all task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 (a) their dates of establishment, (b) those which have issued final reports and their dates of publication, (c) those which have been terminated and their dates of termination and (d) for those bodies still in existence, expected reporting and termination dates. [79279]
Mr. Michael:
I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House. In general, preparations for the advent of the National Assembly for Wales has led to a good deal
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of development work involving participants from business (employers and trade unions), local government and the voluntary sector. Generally, the groups which have been brought together to undertake this work have been short-term "task and finish" groups rather than formal bodies with sub groups or sub committees.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he is taking to assist small and medium businesses; and if he will make a statement. [79844]
Mr. Hain:
In line with the new economic agenda for Wales, Pathway to Prosperity, the Government are keen to secure a more dynamic and competitive business base in Wales. To this end increased resources--£83 million in 1999-2000--are being made available to back business development. This substantial budget will support a wide range of activity, including:
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list, including names and dates, of all meetings that (a) he, (b) his officials, (c) his advisers and (d) his PPS have held during (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999 with people who work for political lobbying firms or for businesses that are members of the Public Relations Consultants Association. [79638]
Mr. Michael:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 168. When a PPS attends a meeting in an official or semi-official capacity he or she has to do so in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the Euro Task Force for Wales to complete its work. [80085]
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Mr. Michael:
It is expected that the Task Force will complete its current role within the next six to nine months.
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales from whom he sought advice on the appointment of the members of the Euro Task Force for Wales. [80083]
Mr. Michael:
Advice on appointing the chairman and members of the Task Force was sought from a variety of organisations and individuals including the CBI and European Advisor to the Secretary of State for Wales.
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales from what budget the salary of Mr. J. Casterton, the Manager of the Euro Task Force for Wales, is paid. [80082]
Mr. Michael:
Barclays Bank is paying the salary costs of Mr. John Casterton for the entire period of his secondment as Manager of the Euro Task Force for Wales.
Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the eligibility for Objective 2 and Objective 3 funding for Wales following the Berlin European Summit. [80235]
Mr. Hain:
The agreements reached by Member States at the Berlin Summit provided an important step towards agreeing the whole Agenda 2000 package, including the new Structural Funds regulations. They represent a considerable success for the UK Government and its European partners after many months of hard negotiating. The agreements leave it open for the European Parliament to consider the whole package before the end of May.
Although the regulations are still in draft form the Government are eager to make progress in the designation of Objective 2 areas and is currently consulting across the UK on criteria to be adopted for their identification. Eligibility under the Community criteria can be for any type of area, industrial or service based, rural, urban or fisheries. The Regulations specify that 50 per cent. of the Objective 2 population should cover industrial or rural areas where these meet the relevant Community criteria.
All parts of the UK not receiving Objective 1 status will be eligible for Objective 3 funding.
Mr. Rogers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations have taken place on the membership of, and appointments to, community health councils in Wales. [79884]
Mr. Michael:
Members of the Community Health Councils (CHCs) whose terms of appointment were due to expire on 31 March 1999 have had their terms extended for one year in advance of the transfer of powers as this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly from 1 July. I announced proposals to develop a new and reinvigorated model of federated Community Health Councils on 15 March with a network of 28 Councils across Wales based on federations linked mainly to local authority areas.
I intend to meet representatives of CHCs to discuss the implementation of these proposals.
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Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on complementary medical services. [80840]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The Government recognise that some people with conditions that do not respond to orthodox treatment can be helped by forms of complementary and alternative medicine and has sponsored research into the use of complementary medicine in general practice. GPs and hospital doctors may arrange for their patients to receive any of the complementary medicine treatments if they feel it is clinically necessary, and is the most appropriate method of treating the particular health need. The doctor should also take into account the patient's wishes, evidence of the safety and effectiveness of the treatment and its cost and availability locally.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
increased resources for the TEC enterprise programme supporting over 1,000 new business starts; help for 2,000 firms to tackle the Millennium Bug issue; help for over 500 Sole Traders to take on their first employee; and assistance for over 2,000 firms in addressing skills development and other business growth issues.
increased resources for Regional Selective Assistance which are expected to create or safeguard 12,000 jobs
continuation of the Cymru Prosper Wales programme to help small firms benefit from the skills of graduates
the expansion of the Innovation and Technology Counselling Service assisting some 3-4,000 firms
the implementation of the Know-How initiative designed to help small and medium sized firms tap into the expertise of Welsh academic institutions.
In addition a new business-led Management Board--Business Connect Wales Ltd.--was established on 30 March to improve co-ordination of business support in Wales and to improve the operation of the Business Connect information, advice and support service.
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