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Exchange Rate
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his Department's latest estimates for the real effective exchange rate on a monthly basis since May 1997, taking into account relative inflation and United Kingdom trade-weighted movements in other exchange rates. [95638]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Neither the Treasury nor the Office for National Statistics publishes monthly estimates of the real effective exchange rate. However, the OECD produce monthly estimates in their publication "Main Economic Indicators", with the latest estimates summarised on page 36 of the September 1999 Edition.
Pensions
Mr. Field:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public service widows currently receive a pension based on (a) one half of their husband's pension entitlement and (b) one-third of that entitlement. [95516]
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Mr. Andrew Smith:
The major public service pension schemes do not hold information disaggregated on this basis, with the exception of the Teachers' Pension Scheme which can identify some 3,500 widows receiving a pension at one half rate; 60 at one third rate; and 31,700 receiving a widow's pension at the rate of some other fraction of their husband's pension. A widow's pension at a rate of between half and one third would result if the scheme member's service straddled the point at which public service pension schemes raised the rate of widow's pension from one third to one half, in 1972, and the member did not pay the maximum additional contributions fully to upgrade the entitlement in respect of previous service.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of the number of people who have taken out both a mini and a maxi ISA. [95519]
Miss Melanie Johnson
[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The Inland Revenue holds no data to enable it to make estimates of this kind.
Barnett Formula
8. Mr. Livsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Treasury Ministers in relation to the operation of the Barnett Formula as regards Wales. [94082]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have not had any discussions with Treasury Ministers regarding the operation of the Barnett Formula for Wales, as a sound framework is already in place.
Cross-border Environmental Management
9. Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the liaison between his office, the National Assembly and the Welsh region of the Environment Agency on issues which affect Welsh-English cross-border environmental management issues. [94084]
Mr. Hanson: I have regular discussions with Assembly Secretaries and with Government Colleagues.
NHS Technical and Scientific Staff
10. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about pay, recruitment and retention of qualified technical and scientific staff in the NHS in Wales. [94085]
Mr. Hanson:
I have had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on these issues. When considering the annual pay settlements for NHS staff, the pay review bodies will take evidence from the Assembly along with the Department of Health and other devolved administrations.
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11. Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the total amount of funding allocated to the National Assembly for Wales. [94086]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have received a number of representations about this matter, including in particular about the need for funding to permit Wales to take advantage of its access to funds under Objective 1.
12. Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Department of Health concerning the impact of the abolition of fundholding on waiting lists in English health authority areas adjacent to the Welsh border. [94087]
14. Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the staffing of his office in (a) Cardiff and (b) London. [94089]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
At present I have just over 30 staff. All except my special adviser and my legal adviser are based in London.
15. Mr. John Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the Department of Trade and Industry following the publication of the new Assisted Areas map in Wales. [94091]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
None. The Assisted Areas map published on 15 July 1999 constituted the Government's proposals to the European Commission. It is the European Commission which must approve the map and the matter is now with the Commission for a decision.
16. Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Executive on policing needs over the millennium period. [94092]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I understand that there have been liaison meetings between the National Assembly for Wales and local service providers, including the police services, in the interests of co-ordinating activities at the local level.
However, I have not had any discussions with the National Assembly for Wales on policing needs over the millennium period. Police issues are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and millennium preparations in Wales are the responsibility of the National Assembly.
17. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the UKRep regarding the presentation of Welsh interests to the European Commission. [94093]
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Mr. Paul Murphy:
I plan to visit Brussels and meet senior UKRep officials shortly to discuss a range of issues. The UK Government remain responsible for relations with the European Union but wishes to involve the Assembly as fully as possible in decision-making on EU matters which touch on devolved areas. The concordat between the UK Government and the National Assembly for Wales on co-ordination of European Union policy issues, published earlier this month, sets out the framework for ensuring that the Assembly's interests are adequately represented.
18. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the responsibilities of his Department in relation to (a) health and (b) education. [94094]
Mr. Hanson:
The Secretary of State has been in consultation with the Assembly on aspects of Health and Education policy affecting Wales, which may be the subject of primary legislation in the near future.
19. Mr. Opik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what negotiations he has had on measures to improve flood control in mid-Wales this winter. [94095]
Mr. Hanson:
None. This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
20. Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the DfEE to ensure that Welsh universities receive a greater share of grants from UK research councils. [94096]
Mr. Hanson:
None. I am aware of measures being undertaken by the National Assembly for Wales to address this situation.
21. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about UK Government actions to tackle poverty in Wales. [94097]
Mr. Hanson:
I regularly discuss this issue with colleagues and the appropriate Assembly Secretary to ensure that we are working together to reduce poverty in Wales.
22. Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received during the past three months with regard to the adequacy of the block grant provided for the National Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [94098]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have received a number of representations on this subject over the last three months, including in particular the need for Wales to have adequate funding to take advantage of its access to Objective 1 grants.
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 901
23. Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the First Secretary of the National Assembly with regard to providing match funding for European structural funds for Wales. [94099]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I meet the Assembly First Secretary on a weekly basis to discuss a range of issues.
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