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Horse Riders
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish proposals permitting horse riders to use certain footpaths; and if he will make a statement. [88351]
Mr. Meacher: We are considering recommendations for improvements to rights of way legislation submitted by the Countryside Commission (now the Countryside Agency) and expect to issue a consultation paper shortly.
London and South Wales Multi-modal Study
Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account the London and South Wales multi-modal study has taken of the report by MDS Transmodal on the benefits of increasing the gauge to allow piggyback freight. [88736]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The study will address these issues.
EU Regional Chambers
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 1999, Official Report, column 377, who appoints the members of European Regional Chambers; what are their duties; with what other regional bodies they are in partnership; by what tests they are considered suitable for designation under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998; and what further responsibilities arise from that designation. [88686]
28 Jun 1999 : Column: 30
Mr. Caborn:
As I said in my answer on 10 June 1999, Official Report, column 377, regional chambers have no formal status in relation to the European Union; they are therefore not "European" regional chambers.
Regional chambers are voluntary partnerships formed by local authorities and other regional stakeholders with an interest in the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the region. Membership is decided by the stakeholders themselves. However, for the chamber to achieve designation the basis for the selection of the membership must meet criteria set out in the White Paper 'Building Partnerships for Prosperity' published in December 1997, and general principles set out in further guidance issued by the Department in August 1998. The White Paper criteria and the further guidance also cover non-membership issues. Copies are in the Library.
The Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 imposes no duties or responsibilities on regional chambers but designation enables them to play a consultative and scrutiny role in relation to the Regional Development Agencies. The Government also believe that regional chambers are well placed to take over the role of regional planning bodies, but it is for the existing planning bodies to decide whether and how this should be done.
Otherwise, it is for the regional chambers themselves, as voluntary partnerships, to decide their own work programmes and the extent of their partnership activity.
Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to restructure the district salmon fishery boards; and if he will make a statement. [87691]
Mr. Macdonald:
The District Salmon Fishery Boards Order 1999 came into effect on 3 May. It replaced the previous provisions of Schedule 2 of the Salmon Act 1986 on the composition of district salmon fishery boards, allowing boards greater freedom to determine optimum size and structure for themselves. The Order will facilitate mergers of boards, through offering the scope for pooling resources and promoting more science-based fisheries management in line with the Report of the Scottish Salmon Strategy Task Force. A number of boards have already elected to take advantage of the new Order and this is reflected in the Lochaber Salmon Fishery District Designation Order 1999, the Conon Salmon Fishery District Designation Order 1999 and the North and West Salmon Fishery District Designation Order 1999.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many clinical and medical oncologists are employed per head of population in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [87869]
28 Jun 1999 : Column: 31
| Rate per 100,000 population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | WTE (8) | Headcount | WTE (8) | |
| Medical oncologists | 38 | 30.7 | 0.74 | 0.60 |
| Clinical oncologists | 75 | 70.3 | 1.46 | 1.37 |
(8) Whole-time equivalent
Source:
Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Local Government Finance
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to cap local authority spending in the current year. [89115]
Dr. Reid: None. This year we fulfilled our Manifesto commitment to abolish crude and universal capping; instead Scottish local authorities were issued with indicative expenditure guidelines. Most authorities have exercised their new discretion sensibly. Eight authorities have set budgets in excess of the guideline, although in most cases by small amounts. Three authorities have made large increases; they are East Dunbartonshire, Aberdeenshire and Perth and Kinross.
I have consulted the First Minister, who will be responsible for this matter after 1 July. We have decided not to cap any authorities this year. However we have called in the three authorities named above to discuss why they have made such large increases and put them on warning that we will expect them to return to guideline next year.
WALES
Hospital Waiting Lists (North Glamorgan)
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what estimate he has of the number of patients within the North Glamorgan Trust who are awaiting cardiac surgery (a) at the University of Wales Hospital and (b) at Morriston Hospital; and what is the average waiting time for each list; [86834]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the number of patients with the North Glamorgan Trust who are awaiting orthopaedic surgery (a) at the University of Wales Hospital and (b) at Morriston Hospital; and what is the average waiting time for each list. [86835]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: Data are not held centrally on the numbers of patients waiting for in-patient or day case treatment in one NHS trust following an out-patient consultation in a hospital of another NHS trust.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
28 Jun 1999 : Column: 32
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the letter from Keith Blake of the Health Services and Management Division of the Welsh Office, addressed to Gwynfor Hughes of Porthmadog, dated 9 June, in relation to the future of the proposals for the new community hospital at Porthmadog. [88588]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The Department's letter of 9 June set out the current position regarding funding for the North Merionydd/East Dwyfor Community Hospital scheme.
An Outline Business Case for the new hospital was approved by the Department in February 1999 and the scheme was considered for public funding in 1999-2000.
The Secretary of State's spending decisions for 1999-2000 made provision of £83 million for NHS capital expenditure to complete on-going schemes and for discretionary capital expenditure by Trusts. Funding was not allocated to this scheme.
Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the business plan submitted by North Wales Heath Authority for a new community hospital to serve North Meirionydd and Eastern Dwyfor was accepted by his Department; and what the current position is with regard to this project. [88620]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The Outline Business Case for the North Merionydd/East Dwyfor Community Hospital was formally approved by the Department in February 1999.
Funding has not been allocated for this project to commence in 1999-2000.
I am unable to comment on the funding position for 2000-01.
Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is his Department's policy that the decision on whether to include in the 1999-2000 Capital Programme provision for a new community hospital to serve North Meirionnydd and Eastern Dwyfor, at Porthmadog, is a matter for the North Wales Health Authority. [88619]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
It is a matter for the North Wales Health Authority to decide if it wishes to continue its support for the provision of a new Community Hospital at Porthmadog.
The Department's policy is that NHS Trusts must provide confirmation of Health Authority support before a Business Case can be approved.
North Wales Health Authority did support in full the proposals from Gwynedd Community Health NHS Trust for the new Community Hospital at Porthmadog, and the Outline Business Case was subsequently approved by the Department and the scheme was considered for public funding in 1999-2000.
28 Jun 1999 : Column: 33
The Health Authority has confirmed that its position remains unchanged and it will continue to support the Trust's proposals.
Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.
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