| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Association of Caribbean States
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government received the text of the Final Declaration of the Second Summit of Heads of State of the Association of Caribbean States, held in the Dominican Republic; and if he will make a statement. [82851]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: We received the text of the Final Declaration following the conclusion of the Summit, the British Ambassador in Santo Domingo having represented Her Majesty's Government in the capacity of Special Guest. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him today by the Minister for Energy and Industry. We continue to follow with interest the work of the Association as it builds on its role as a vehicle for regional integration and co-ordination.
Geneva Convention (Article 3)
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of NATO's policy of targeting
4 May 1999 : Column: 338
Serbian television stations for the United Kingdom's commitments under Article 3 of the Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. [83029]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
All military actions taken by the UK armed forces are, and will continue to be, conducted in strict accordance with the laws of armed conflict, including the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocol 1 (1977).
Mr. Rooney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision will be made on the application for entry clearance by Sakina Bibi, Islamabad reference F1777. [83028]
Mr. Fatchett:
A decision was made on the application for entry clearance made by Sakina Bibi on 26 April. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my noble Friend Baroness Symons, will be writing to my hon. Friend as soon as possible to inform him of the outcome of this application.
Deep Mines
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many coal miners are employed in deep mines in Wales. [82241]
Assisted Areas Maps
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to announce the new assisted areas maps; and if he will make a statement. [82731]
Mr. Hain: We are working to complete the assisted areas map review as soon as possible. The Welsh Office is fully involved alongside other Departments to seek the best possible outcome for Great Britain. This is the key objective, rather than an early announcement. As the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills), said in an Adjournment debate on 26 April 1999, Official Report, column 124, we do not expect an announcement before mid-June.
Objective 1 Status
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the population of the area covered by Objective 1 status in West Wales and the Valleys; and if he will make a statement. [82732]
Mr. Hain: The Office for National Statistics mid-year estimates for 1997 give a population of 1,869,000 for the West Wales and the Valleys area.
Modern Apprenticeship Scheme
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the modern apprenticeship scheme in (a) Wales and (b) Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [82726]
4 May 1999 : Column: 339
Mr. Hain:
The modern apprenticeship programme is one of the main planks in our agenda for improving skills in Wales. Latest figures indicate that Wales has, at over 7 per cent., a proportionately higher than population share of the total of modern apprentices in training in England and Wales. It is our aim to increase the numbers in training from the current 9,100 to 14,000 by the year 2002.
Following the transfer of functions, the modern apprenticeship programme will be a matter for the National Assembly. However, evaluation of the modern apprenticeship programme is undertaken on an England and Wales basis by the Department for Education and Employment and no separate assessment has been made for Flintshire.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning (a) assisted area status and (b) Objective 2 status in North East Wales; and if he will make a statement. [82734]
Mr. Hain:
(a) We received 9 representations on assisted area status for North-East Wales in response to the consultation launched on 30 July 1998.
(b) There is currently a consultation process underway on the criteria that should be used for identifying Objective 2 areas across Great Britain. All areas of East Wales not likely to be designated as Objective 1 are eligible for consideration for Objective 2 status. The consultation closes on 25 May.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the loss of assisted area status for Deeside upon the aerospace industry at Broughton, Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [82735]
Mr. Hain:
The assisted areas map has not yet been decided. In responding to the consultation document, Flintshire County Council and British Aerospace set out the case clearly for retaining assisted area status for Broughton. This case is being considered.
Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times the Welsh Management Council has met; and what are the Council's current membership and terms of reference. [82933]
Mr. Hain:
The Wales Management Council was relaunched on 30 November 1998, since when it has met in plenary session only once more. In the meantime, however, a sub-group of members has also met four times to oversee a research project commissioned to inform the preparation of a draft 5-year Business Plan.
The Council currently comprises eighteen members-- 8 employers and 10 representing a variety of constituencies, ranging from education to government. However, the Council is also considering recruiting additional members in order to bring industry/employer representation into the majority.
4 May 1999 : Column: 340
The Council's Mission is "To shape and promote the development of managers and management in Wales for the benefit of organisations, individuals, and the wider community; in particular, to expand the pool of well qualified managers able to provide effective leadership."
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to publish a strategic plan for the NHS in Wales. [83187]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The intention is to produce a long-term corporate strategy and priorities for NHS Wales and its partners. It will be informed by an examination of the issues bearing upon key service areas. The outcome of the first review, into acute general hospital services, is expected in mid-2000.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sums have been allocated to each (a) health authority and (b) NHS trust in Wales for 1999-2000; on what date the allocation was made; and on what dates the moneys will be received by health authorities and NHS trusts. [83255]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced our plans for spending on the NHS in Wales, and for health authorities in 1999-2000, on 30 March. He referred to this in his answer of 31 March 1999, Official Report, column 718. The detailed health authority resource allocations will be issued following the National Assembly elections. In the meantime, health authorities and trusts have been authorised to draw down funding on an interim basis.
Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce his decision on the outline business case submitted by Swansea NHS Trust for the development of Morriston Hospital. [83151]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The Swansea NHS Trust have submitted an initial strategic outline of their proposals for the development of Morriston Hospital. This was received on 26 April. The Department will be discussing these proposals with the Morgannwg Health Authority and the Trust and will determine whether the business case should undergo further development.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the pay increases for 1999-2000 agreed by Her
4 May 1999 : Column: 341
Majesty's Government following the NHS Pay Review Bodies recommendations were included in the April payments to staff; and if he will make a statement. [83154]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
Following the agreement reached with the respective negotiating councils, the Advance Letters promulgating the new salary scales for staff covered by the NHS Pay Review Bodies were issued on 12 March for hospital medical and dental staff and on 8 April for nurses and midwives and the professions allied to medicine. It is then up to individual employers to arrange for the pay increases to be made to their staff as soon as practicable.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |