| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
WALES
Departmental Consultation
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the public consultation exercises on policy matters carried out by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; who was consulted and by what means; how responses were analysed; how and in what form the results were transmitted to those responsible for the consultation; how the results of the consultation were published; and what analysis has been carried out of the extent and nature of policy changes resulting from the consultation. [106294]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Government want to hear what people have to say about suggested new proposals and policies, and this is an important aspect of the modernising government initiative. However, for the Welsh Office up until 30 June 1999, the information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
For the Wales Office from 1 July 1999, a joint consultation with DETR titled "Improving Rights of Way in England and Wales" has been carried out. The actual consultation was carried out by the Assembly, on my behalf, and they wrote to me summarising the responses, and copied them to the relevant Whitehall department, to ensure that the responses were fed into the outcome. The results have not yet been published, and it is too soon for any analysis of the extent and nature of policy changes arising from the consultation to have been conducted.
A further consultation, again in conjunction with DETR, into "High Hedges: the Problems and Possible solutions in England and Wales" has also been carried out in Wales by the Assembly on my behalf. The consultation period has just concluded, and responses are now being analysed.
I have also asked the Assembly to carry out a consultation on "The Physical Punishment of Children". The Assembly will be issuing this consultation shortly. A similar consultation has been issued for England by the Department of Health.
Mr. Walter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Minister of Agriculture regarding the state of farming in Wales. [105570]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 18 January 2000]: I speak regularly with my colleagues in Whitehall, and we discuss a wide range of issues. I am acutely aware of the long-term problems facing Welsh agriculture and the current difficulties. Our priority must be to work towards a stable, sustainable and prosperous future for Welsh farming. Support for this objective is a matter for the Assembly and they are pursuing it through their Food Strategy and Rural Development Plan.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals are being considered by his Department to help sustain and develop the viability of rural and urban sub-post offices. [105855]
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 125W
Mr. Hanson:
I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Minister for Competitiveness, my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, West and Hessle (Mr. Johnson) on 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 520W, as these matters relate to my hon. Friend's responsibilities within the Department of Trade and Industry.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly concerning the Cubie report. [105927]
Mr. Hanson
[holding answer 24 January 2000]: I recently met the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Training and Education Tom Middlehurst, when we discussed the Cubie report. The Cubie report is a report to the Scottish Executive on student finance, an area of responsibility that has not been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has announced that he has set aside resources for a major new package of extra measures to widen access to higher education and tackle student hardship in England and Wales. Mr. Middlehurst will be announcing in due course increased help for students at higher education institutions in Wales through the Assembly's HE Student Access funds.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 2000, Official Report, column 370W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108200]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The standard contract for Research Services which is used by my Department provides that researchers shall obtain the approval of the Client before making any communication to the press or others on the Project, its contents, or the results.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways he has publicised the working families tax credit in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [107423]
Mr. Hanson:
My right hon. Friend and I take every opportunity to publicise the Working Families Tax Credit which demonstrates this Government's strong commitment to improving the lot of working families and to eradicating child poverty.
In a statement on 7 September 1999, my right hon. Friend said
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 126W
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has made to the Secretary of State for the Environment concerning improved rail transport in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [107420]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have regular contact with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to discuss a range of issues. In particular I have discussed with him and with the Minister for Transport how we can ensure that Welsh interests are properly reflected on the face of the Transport Bill.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the First Secretary the situation of dairy farmers in Alyn and Deeside. [106702]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I meet the First Secretary regularly and we discuss a wide range of issues, including various aspects of the agriculture industry, and we are aware of the problems currently facing dairy producers. The Assembly is supporting the farming industry, in particular through their Food Strategy and Rural Development Plan.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many questions to her Department tabled for written answer on a named day during Session 1998-99 were answered (a) on or before a named day, (b) within one week of a named day, (c) within one month of a named day, (d) within three months of a named day and (e) after three months of a named day. [106483]
Mr. Stringer:
The information is not held in the form requested. In the Session 1998-99, 154 named day questions were tabled to the Cabinet Office of which 68 per cent. received a substantive answer on the day specified.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many questions to her Department tabled for ordinary written answer during Session 1998-99 were answered (a) within two weeks of tabling, (b) within one month of tabling, (c) within three months of tabling and (d) after three months of tabling. [106488]
Mr. Stringer:
The information is not held in the form requested. In the Session 1998-99, 291 ordinary written questions were tabled to the Cabinet Office of which 83 per cent. received a substantive reply within five working days.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many questions to her Department were tabled for written answer during Session 1998-99; and how many of these she replied to (a) by means of a letter placed in the Library rather than by substantive answer in the Official Report, (b) by stating that a substantive answer could not be given due to information not being held centrally and (c) by stating that a substantive answer could not be given due to disproportionate cost. [106484]
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 127W
Mr. Stringer:
In the Session 1998-99, 676 questions for written answer were tabled to the Cabinet Office of which 12 were replied to by means of a letter placed in the Libraries of the House. Five questions received an answer in part in so far as information was available, and 13 were replied to by stating that the information requested was not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
"The Working Families Tax Credit represents a major step forward in making work worthwhile, and in helping those workers who were most disadvantaged by the previous system. This is especially good news for Wales, which has suffered from amongst the lowest wage levels in the UK".
A copy of the press release is available from the Library of the House.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |