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Classroom Tuition
Mr. Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the average number of hours a Year 7 pupil in a local education authority school spent receiving tuition in the classroom in (a) 1978-79, (b) 1988-89 and (c) 1998-99. [81715]
Ms Estelle Morris: I am unable to provide my hon. Friend with an estimate of the average number of hours a Year 7 pupil spent receiving tuition in the classroom as the data is not available for the years specified. However, Circular 7/90 recommends minimum levels of time that pupils are taught in schools which for Years 7 to 11 pupils is 24 hours per week.
WALES
Mental Health Services
Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has given to Welsh health authorities regarding mental health treatment for members of (i) black and (ii) other ethnic minority communities. [80196]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: When issuing advice to the health sector on mental health issues the Welsh Office is providing either a legally binding direction; action that requires a specific response; information or guidance or examples of good practice. These categories are equally applicable across mental health service users irrespective of cultural or ethnic background.
We are aware of the issues around mental health and ethnicity and shall consider the needs of ethnic minority patients when drawing up our plans for future Strategies on both child and adolescent and adult mental health services.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
22 Apr 1999 : Column: 696
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the consequences of CAP reform in Wales for the (a) beef, (b) sheepmeat and (c) dairy sectors. [80847]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The Department has been undertaking research into the potential effects of the Agenda 2000 reforms. It appears, from the preliminary analysis, that the beef sector should benefit, as increased subsidies and decreased feed costs (a consequence of the reform of the cereals regime) are expected to outweigh price reductions.
There are no specific reforms for the sheepmeat sector. However, the sector will benefit from the decreased price of feedstuffs. On the other hand, reductions in the price of beef will increase competitive pressures and are expected to lead to a cut in market prices for sheepmeat. This will be offset by increased Sheep Annual Premium payments. It is unclear at the moment what the net effect will be.
Dairy sector reforms will not be implemented until 2005.
These estimates are taken from work in progress and do not make allowances for restructuring or for movements in exchange rates.
Ms Julie Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the efficacy of new atypical anti-psychotic drugs in the treatment of mental health. [81382]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
All products that have been licensed will have had their efficacy assessed by the Medicines Control Agency.
22 Apr 1999 : Column: 697
Ms Julie Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet mental health groups to discuss the prescribing of atypical anti-psychotic drugs for mental health patients. [81381]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
I am always willing to consider specific requests for meetings with mental health groups.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Ms Julie Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has given to health authorities regarding the prescribing of atypical anti-psychotic drugs for mental health patients. [81380]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
WHIN No. (98)13 issued on 1 December 1998 and WHN No. (99)1 issued on 7 January 1999 both related to the withdrawal of the product Serdolect (sertindole). I shall place a copy of these notices in the Library of the House as soon as possible.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to use his capping powers for 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [82136]
Mr. Michael:
In line with our Manifesto commitment to abolish crude and universal capping, I decided not to announce capping limits in advance for 1999-2000. This left councils and police authorities in Wales to make up their own minds on their budgets taking account of their local circumstances, including the impact on council tax, and the views of local people.
The average Band D council tax bill in Wales has increased by 8.5 per cent. or £47 to £602. Overall, the reaction to the 1999-2000 local government revenue settlement has been measured and responsible. I have therefore decided not to cap any authorities this year.
The National Assembly for Wales will inherit my present capping powers in respect of 2000-01 and later years, although it is planned to replace these powers with the new reserve powers to limit council tax and precepts which are contained in the Local Government Bill.
22 Apr 1999 : Column: 698
Authorities in Wales should bear in mind that the Assembly will be able to look back at increases in budgets since 1998-99 in deciding whether and how to use the new reserve powers in future years.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what targets he has set for Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency. [82137]
Mr. Michael:
Cadw has been set the following key targets for 1999-2000:
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans (a) he and (b) Welsh Office Ministers have to attend (i) meetings and (ii) functions with lobbyists and public relations organisations between 6 and 20 May. [81734]
1. To complete 90 per cent. of the approved conservation maintenance programme.
2. To complete 80 resurveys.
3. To resolve 75 per cent. of ad hoc listing cases within 17 weeks.
4. To complete 120 scheduling actions, of which at least 90 per cent. involve additional protection.
5. To resolve 80 per cent. of listed building consent cases within 4 weeks and 90 per cent. of cases in 7 weeks.
6. To resolve 75 per cent. of scheduled monument consent cases within 13 weeks and 90 per cent. of cases within 17 weeks.
7. To resolve 80 per cent. of historic buildings grant applications in 18 weeks.
8. To resolve 80 per cent. of ancient monument grant applications within 6 weeks.
9. To pay 90 per cent. of properly presented claims for historic buildings and ancient monuments grants within 5 weeks of receipt.
10. To achieve a market share of 63 per cent. of the number of visitors to the top twenty heritage sites in Wales.
Full details of Cadw's performance against targets for 1999-2000 will be published in the Agency's Annual Report.
11. To reduce direct net cost per visitor at Cadw's sites to an average of 25 pence.
12. To operate within allocated programme and running cost budgets.
13. To achieve efficiency gains of at least 2 per cent.