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Ministerial Duties
9. Mr. Ian Bruce (South Dorset): What proportion of his working time is taken up by his duties as Secretary of State for Wales; and how he separates his responsibilities to this House and to the National Assembly. [88531]
The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Alun Michael): At the present time, my key priority is to achieve the smooth transition from the previous role of the Secretary of State, as it was until 1 July, to the role of the Secretary of State following devolution on the one hand, and to the role of First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on the other hand. In both roles, I serve the interests of this House, the interests of the Assembly and the interests of the people in Wales.
Mr. Bruce: I hope the right hon. Gentleman will not take it amiss if I say that it seems extraordinary that a person can be responsible within Cabinet as Secretary of State and as First Minister, where he has a clear responsibility to the Assembly in Wales. Surely this should not continue constitutionally. Why does not the right hon. Gentleman immediately resign from at least one of those posts?
Mr. Michael: That shows the hon. Gentleman's lack of understanding of the process that we must go through. Obviously, he does not understand the versatility that we are able to demonstrate on this side of the House. I have always said that I would step down as Secretary of State for Wales after weeks rather than months, but the experience to date confirms that it was wise to combine the two roles during the period of transition. That is obvious from a Welsh perspective, but not from the jaundiced point of view of the hon. Gentleman.
Barnett Formula
11. Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): What representations he has received with regard to the Barnett formula in relation to Wales; and if he will make a statement. [88533]
The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Alun Michael): There have been a number of presentations, mainly during my predecessor's time when the Government of Wales Bill was under consideration in this House.
The principle behind the formula--that Wales gets a population share of changes in the comparable programmes in England--is clear and easy to understand. Most criticism of the formula confuses the absolute size of the block with the formula for changes. They are two different things.
Mr. Llwyd:
I wish to refer to the additionality principle in terms of bringing in further moneys to bring forth objective 1 projects. I seek the Secretary of State's assurance that his office will adhere to the additionality principle, and that any moneys coming in will be over and above those already provided for in the Barnett block.
Mr. Michael:
The hon. Gentleman goes off at a tangent. I think that he is referring to structural funds. I can reassure him that the principle of additionality is an obligation on the UK Government, which they will seek to fulfil, as they have in the past. As the Prime Minister stated when he was asked a similar question in Cardiff, the Government will not let Wales down.
Mr. Gareth Thomas (Clwyd, West):
Does the Secretary of State agree that, before we even begin to think of devolution as a process, not a change, the Assembly must be seen to exercise its existing powers effectively? Does he further agree that it can do so only if Wales is sufficiently funded under the Barnett formula, and if sufficient attention is given to matched funding, particularly in relation to objective 1 funding?
Mr. Michael:
My hon. Friend goes off on another tangent. Those are matters that must be dealt with in the process of the comprehensive spending review, when the burdens and the opportunities available will be considered. My hon. Friend refers to the fact that we achieved objective 1 status, which is so important for the valleys of south Wales, for mid-Wales and for north Wales. That achievement was brought about through the success of a Labour Government fighting for Wales. Over the next few years, the Government will continue to pursue the opportunity that it represents, and I am certain that the Assembly will make a massive contribution to ensure that it brings success to the economy of Wales.
12. Mr. Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):
If he will make a statement on the Welsh Development Agency's support for the manufacturing sector in Wales. [88534]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Hain):
The Government are giving considerable support to manufacturing in Wales, but the specific measures being undertaken by the Welsh Development Agency are, of course, a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Winterton:
I am grateful to the Minister for that somewhat inadequate reply. Does he agree with many business men and women in Wales, as well as business
Mr. Hain:
I acknowledge the hon. Gentleman's interest in and support for manufacturing throughout Britain, and I am sure that that includes Wales. Will he acknowledge that there is now a better climate in Britain for business, including manufacturers, than there has been for generations? That contrasts starkly with the massacre of manufacturing that the Conservative Government carried out in the early 1980s and again 10 years later. Such a policy destroyed manufacturing. This Government's commitment to a healthy business climate to build a high-skill, high-quality economy throughout Britain, including Wales, is achieving success.
Mr. Huw Edwards (Monmouth):
Does my hon. Friend agree that the Welsh Development Agency provides invaluable support to companies throughout Wales, including a company in my constituency, Cambrian Consultants, which last week was presented with the Queen's award for export achievement? Will he join me in congratulating that company on its outstanding achievement?
Mr. Hain:
Yes, I will. I acknowledge that success as one of the many successes that businesses are enjoying in Wales, as they strive to turn Wales into a high-quality world-class economy with the backing of the Government's policies.
13. Mr. Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire):
What discussions he has had with the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services on the provision of care for the elderly. [88535]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Jon Owen Jones):
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on asking that question during Alzheimer's week. Before the transfer of functions, I had a number of meetings with Jane Hutt, the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services. During those meetings, we discussed a wide range of issues that are in her portfolio.
Mr. Öpik:
Does the Minister accept that funding on care for the elderly is still far too low in Wales? Indeed, the availability of provision for the elderly in Wales has fallen below that in England. Will he carry on making representations to try to equalise investment in elderly care provision in England and in Wales?
Mr. Jones:
I am sure that the Assembly will be very sympathetic to the points that the hon. Gentleman has raised, but it is for the Assembly to decide on the allocation of resources.
PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister was asked--
Minsterial Visits
Q1. [88551] Mr. Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford): What plans he has to visit Bexleyheath and Crayford.
The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair): I have no immediate plans to do so.
Mr. Beard: I am sorry that the Prime Minister will not be coming to Bexleyheath and Crayford. If he were able to do so, he would meet members of a community, which is a cross-section of the whole country, who admire and applaud his strenuous efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland. When he next meets Unionist and nationalist leaders, will he tell them of the incomprehension, impatience and anger that will be felt in such communities if the best prospect for a settlement in Northern Ireland this century collapses because one side has made no gesture in many months to recognise legitimate concerns for arms decommissioning and the other side is too intransigent to wait 30 days for decommissioning to begin?
The Prime Minister: There are difficult decisions for all sides in Northern Ireland. All I ask is that people keep an open mind and carry on discussing the nature of the legislation with the Government so that we can put proposals that are agreed by everybody to the House next week. I very much hope that that will be the case.
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