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Kosovo Refugees
18. Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps the Welsh Office is taking to co-ordinate the reception of refugees from Kosovo. [85172]
Mr. Michael: My officials have been liaising closely with colleagues at the Home Office who are in the lead on this issue on arrangements which would need to be put in place should we receive refugees from Kosovo in Wales. They are also providing information to all agencies in Wales who have an interest in this matter. My Department is also considering what resources would be required to co-ordinate these arrangements although the Home Office has advised that there are no immediate plans for refugees to come to Wales.
The role currently undertaken by my Department will be taken over by the National Assembly for Wales with effect from 1 July.
Ministerial Responsibilities
19. Mr. St. Aubyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of Ministers in his Department following the transfer of powers to the National Assembly for Wales. [85174]
Mr. Michael: Ministers in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales will have the following functions after the transfer of functions to the Assembly on 1 July:
Functions relating to their membership of the UK Government.
Responsibility to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully considered in the workings of the UK Government.
Responsibility to steer primary legislation relating to Wales through Parliament.
Functions relating to the fact that this House will vote the Main Estimate to the Secretary of State for Wales, who will make a grant to the Assembly after deducting the cost of running his own office.
Responsibility to consult the Assembly on the Government's legislative programme.
Responsibility to ensure that the arrangements for co-operation between the Assembly and the UK Government are working effectively.
Mr. Tredinnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact that his newly acquired responsibilities in the National Assembly will have upon the discharge of his functions as Secretary of State. [85173]
Mr. Michael:
The advent of the National Assembly for Wales will strengthen the United Kingdom and improve the way that services are delivered to the people of Wales. I shall be able to achieve substantial improvement in the effectiveness of my role of Secretary of State as a result of close co-operation with Members of the Assembly and others.
9 Jun 1999 : Column: 359
20. Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans the Government have for increasing funding from the European Union to Wales for investment in infrastructure and the public services. [85175]
Mr. Hain:
Under the relevant EU Regulations, West Wales and the Valleys qualify for Objective 1 funding. We are currently consulting on possible Objective 2 areas. Infrastructure measures could be eligible for funding in both Objective 1 and Objective 2 areas.
21. Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received regarding the levels of farm incomes in Wales. [85176]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The latest estimates of incomes for full-time farmers in Wales were published in February 1999. The figures show the cash income for dairy and livestock farms in Wales is forecast to fall by 21 per cent. in 1998-99, to £17,900.
22. Mr. Gray:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received with regard to the future of rural livestock markets. [85177]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
We have received no recent representations with regard to the future of rural livestock markets.
The Lamb and Beef Action Plan, prepared by the industry-led working groups which my right hon. Friend launched together with the group chairmen on 8 March, encourages livestock markets in Wales to re-appraise their position and plan for the future. It is important for the competitive health of the Welsh livestock industry that a strategic network of livestock marketing centres should remain.
Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.
23. Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new jobs have been created in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [85178]
Mr. Hain:
The unadjusted number of employee jobs in Wales increased by 11,100 (1.1 per cent.) between December 1997 and December 1998. It now stands at just over 1 million.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
24. Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the concordat between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Welsh Office governing the relationship between Government departments and the National Assembly of Wales to be published. [85179]
9 Jun 1999 : Column: 360
Mr. Michael:
All concordats will be agreed between the National Assembly for Wales and the UK Government. They will be published as soon as agreement has been secured.
25. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures will be employed to evaluate project proposals for objective 1 funding in the months before the Government have made a decision on match funding. [85180]
Mr. Hain:
No decisions have yet been taken about implementation procedures for Structural Fund programmes under the new Regulations for 2000-06. This will be a matter for the National Assembly.
26. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of (a) the capital cost and (b) the running cost of the Welsh National Assembly in its first year of operation. [85181]
Mr. Michael:
The capital cost of providing temporary and permanent accommodation for the National Assembly for Wales is estimated at £17 million to £20 million, although this estimate must be regarded as provisional until the final design for the new building is agreed.
We are continuing to plan within the overall estimate of £15 million to £20 million for the annual additional running costs of the Assembly which was contained with the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Government of Wales Bill and which will be balanced by savings in the budgets of Welsh quangos; our latest detailed estimate for 1999-2000 is £19.2 million.
Following the transfer of functions on 1 July, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
27. Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the employment effect of the new deal in Wales to date. [85182]
Mr. Hain:
I have been very pleased with the progress of the New Deal in Wales. The latest information shows that over 8,600 New Deal participants have obtained jobs through one or other of the New Deal initiatives.
Within this total, the New Deal for 18-24s has seen over 6,500 jobs secured by young people, including over 4,800 sustained jobs lasting at least 13 weeks.
The impact on youth unemployment has been there for all to see, with a massive 44 per cent. drop in the number of 18-24-year-olds claiming JSA for 6 months or more in Wales between April 1998 and April 1999.
28. Mr. Win Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what funding he has made available for the current year for specialist regional services in the national health service. [85183]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The funding of specialised health services is a matter for health authorities and the Specialised Health Services Commission for Wales.
9 Jun 1999 : Column: 361
Welsh health authorities will receive more than £2 billion for 1999-2000, some £1.5 billion of which will be included within their discretionary allocations, an increase of 10.3 per cent. over 1998-99.
A further £120 million is included with allocations for protected and ring fenced services. Included within this is:
29. Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to safeguard the position of the Welsh milk industry. [85184]
9 Jun 1999 : Column: 362
Mr. Michael:
With the National Assembly Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Christine Gwyther I met farming leaders on Monday 24 May. The Action Plan for the Dairy industry in Wales, published in March 1999, sets out a positive agenda through which the Welsh Development Agency and the National Assembly will be able to work with the industry to help it adapt and invest in the dairy processing facilities which are essential for future prosperity in the sector.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received since 1 May 1997 from the Vegetarian Society on livestock farming in Wales. [85167]
Mr. Michael:
None.
9 Jun 1999 : Column: 361
£9.2 million which is the final year of ring-fenced funding for the Morriston cardiac centre
£12.6 million for the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service
£6.7 million for High Security Psychiatric Services
£1.9 million for Paediatric Intensive Care services.
Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.