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WALES
Wages Growth
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the average percentage growth in wages in Wales in 1997 and 1998 respectively. [94873]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Figures for the percentage increase in average gross weekly earnings of full time employees, on adult rates in Wales for 1997 and 1998 are set out in the following table:
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| April 1996 to April 1997 | 5.3 |
| April 1997 to April 1998 | 4.1 |
| April 1998 to April 1999 | 3.2 |
Source:
New Earnings Survey, Office for National Statistics
GDP
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the percentage GDP growth in Wales in 1997 and 1998. [94875]
Mr. Paul Murphy: There is no official estimate for GDP growth in Wales.
Departmental Title
Ms Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the title of his Department. [96245]
Mr. Paul Murphy: With the agreement of the Prime Minister, my Department is known as "Wales Office (Office of the Secretary of State for Wales)".
The name is designed to address the new, post-devolution, role of my post in Government. It is important that it is clear that I do not retain responsibility for matters which are devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. The name reflects the responsibilities I have for representing Wales in Parliament and in the UK Government. At the same time it points to my role in
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Wales--that is promoting Government policies and making sure that a wide constituency of interest in Wales are able to make their views known directly to the UK Government.
In Cardiff, I have an office in the National Assembly for Wales building; to avoid confusion my Department will be known there as "The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales".
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to secure a Wales Identifier on the World Wide Web. [95159]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The Wales Office has already secured such an identity on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ossw.wales.gov.uk.
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Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what role he played with regard to negotiating with the European Commission about the acceptance of the calf scheme proposed by the National Assembly for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [95777]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
It is for the UK Government to put any proposals for a calf-processing scheme to the Commission, and for the National Assembly for Wales to develop any proposals for such a scheme in Wales. I have every confidence in the way the Assembly contributed to the informal discussions which MAFF and UKRep held with the Commission on the proposal. I have been in close contact throughout with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and with the First Secretary and Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development of the National Assembly for Wales.