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Care Provision
14. Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the Government's legislative programme and its impact on care provision in Wales. [103502]
- 23. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the impact on care provision of the Government's legislative programme. [103511]
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the Government's legislative programme and its impact on care provision in Wales. [103498]
Mr. Hanson:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have both had discussions with the First Secretary and Assembly members about the Government's legislative programme. The Bills that will impact on care provision in Wales have, of course, been included in these discussions.
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15. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he has attended and participated in the proceedings of the Assembly. [103503]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have attended and participated in one plenary session of the Assembly, the debate on the Government's legislative programme.
16. Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the Government's legislative programme and its impact on transport in Wales. [103504]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have regular meetings with the First Secretary to discuss a wide range of issues including transport and its impact in Wales.
The introduction of the Transport Bill on 1 December 1999 shows the Government's continued commitment to provide an integrated transport policy for both England and Wales.
I am keen to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully met and will maintain dialogue with Cabinet colleagues and the Assembly.
17. Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what occasions a Minister of the Welsh Executive has (a) accompanied a United Kingdom Minister for discussions with the European Union and (b) led on behalf of the UK at discussions with the European Union. [103505]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding and Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues between the United Kingdom Government, Scottish Ministers and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales, Assembly Secretaries are eligible to form part of UK delegations to the Council of Ministers, by agreement. Decisions on Ministerial attendance, and on whether Ministers from the devolved administrations could speak on behalf of the UK in Council, are taken on a case by case basis by the lead Minister.
To date, no Assembly Secretary has done so. However, I understand that Assembly Secretaries are actively considering which Councils they will be seeking to attend in future.
18. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to increase the use of the worldwide web by his Department. [103506]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have no immediate plans to increase the use of the Web by my Department.
19. Mr. Geraint Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy
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of the size of individual unitary authorities in relation to (a) financial viability and (b) maintaining consistent standards of service delivery. [103507]
Mr. Hanson:
I meet the Assembly Cabinet's Secretary for Local Government on a regular basis to ensure that I am well informed on local government in Wales. However, the adequacy of the size of individual unitary authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, to which responsibility for local government has been devolved.
20. Mrs. Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget Statement and the Government's legislative programme. [103508]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I regularly meet the First Secretary to discuss a variety of issues including SMEs. The First Secretary, the Government and I recognise the importance of SMEs to the Welsh economy and the UK as a whole. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget Statement unveiled plans for £45 million of enterprise grants to foster the growth of SMEs throughout the UK and represents the Government's continuing commitment to stimulate an already established enterprise culture.
21. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about United Kingdom assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. [103509]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I meet the First Secretary regularly and discuss a variety of issues, including assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. Measures giving assistance to small and medium-size businesses were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's last pre-budget statement. The introduction of funds for the UK is expected to be worth at least £125 million. These funds will provide welcome but necessary development and support to new and already established ventures.
22. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the regulatory burden on businesses in Wales arising from primary legislation. [103510]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The Government will introduce the Regulatory Reform Bill this Session. This Bill will make provision to widen the deregulation order making power currently available under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.
The National Assembly for Wales is being consulted on this and the Wales Office are working to ensure that burdens on business in Wales, as well as in England, stemming from inappropriate or excessive regulation can be tackled under the proposed new order-making power.
Information about the impact of all regulations--which is not held separately for primary and secondary legislation--is held centrally by the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit. It is not broken down for different areas of the UK but relates to the UK as a whole.
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24. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the funding of students at Welsh universities. [103512]
25. Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent discussions with the First Minister on the allocation of health resources in Wales. [103513]
Mr. Hanson:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions about the NHS in Wales with the First Secretary. These discussions often cover health resources, but it is for the Assembly to decide on the allocation of the resources in Wales.
26. Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss with the First Secretary issues relating to the theatre in education in Wales. [103514]
Mr. Hanson:
Following the Adjournment debate on 1 December 1999, Official Report, columns 93-100WH, I have written to Tom Middlehurst, Assembly Secretary responsible for post-16 education and training, on this issue. The Secretary of State and I will decide whether further discussions with the First Secretary are required when we have had an opportunity to consider Mr. Middlehurst's reply.
27. Mr. Alan Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the First Secretary the proposal to establish a Swansea Medical School in collaboration with the University of Wales College of Medicine. [103515]
Mr. Hanson:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions with the First Secretary about health and education issues in Wales. Future discussions may include the proposals to establish a Swansea Medical School in collaboration with the University of Wales College of Medicine. I understand that, at this point, the Assembly, along with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, is still considering how the collaboration will work.
28. Mr. Stephen O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the problems surrounding the proposed extension to the Deeside industrial park. [103516]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I understand that a public and local inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate into the proposed extension to the Deeside Industrial Park will be undertaken shortly. The inquiry's findings and conclusions will be reported to the National Assembly for Wales, which will then determine this application.
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