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Pig Sector
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the pig industry. [105108]
Ms Quin [holding answer 17 January 2000]: Although pig market prices are 12 per cent. higher this year than last, they remain below the cost of production. As a result, pig producers are experiencing severe difficulties and the British pig breeding herd is contracting. Market prospects continue to be depressed, but there should be some further recovery in prices. Our policy is to continue to draw attention to the quality standards and high animal welfare standards in British pig production methods and to encourage retailers and caterers to take this into account when sourcing pigmeat products. The work of MAFF's verification officer is important in these respects. Frequent discussions are held with representatives of the industry.
Sulphuric Acid
Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) received on the effect on wildlife of spraying sulphuric acid on crops; and if he will publish the results of such studies. [103394]
Ms Quin: Sulphuric acid is approved as "commodity chemical"--a substance which has pesticidal uses but for which the major uses are non-pesticidal and which no company wishes to market as a pesticide. Commodity chemicals are assessed on the basis of information in the public domain and MAFF has not commissioned studies concerning effects on wildlife. However, under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme, MAFF encourages the reporting of incidents suspected of being caused by pesticides and investigates all reports received. No incidents involving sulphuric acid have been reported in the past decade.
The most recent evaluation of sulphuric acid has been published and the underlying information is available for inspection at the Pesticides Safety Directorate in York.
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Children in Care
10. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about children in care in Wales. [108919]
Mr. Hanson: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a number of issues and my hon. Friend has regular discussions with Jane Hutt the Assembly Health and Social Services Secretary with responsibility for children in care.
Rail Transport
11. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about rail transport in Wales. [108921]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet with the First Secretary on a weekly basis and we discuss a range of issues, including transport in Wales generally and rail transport specifically.
21. Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about rail transport in Wales. [108932]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet with the First Secretary on a weekly basis and we discuss a range of issues, including transport in Wales generally and rail transport specifically. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State also meets regularly with the Assembly Secretary for Local Government, Environment and Transport.
Cross-border Co-ordination
12. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a formal mechanism to ensure cross-border co-ordination of decisions affecting communities living close to the English/Welsh border. [108922]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Assembly and its sponsored bodies already have effective arrangements for cross- border co-ordination of decisions with Departments and NDPBs dealing with England. An additional central mechanism would add nothing to these arrangements.
Local Government Finance
13. Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to meet the First Secretary to discuss the funding of local government in Wales. [108923]
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Mr. Hanson:
My right hon. Friend meets the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues including the funding of local government in Wales. The allocation of funding to local authorities is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
14. Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last received correspondence from the leadership of the National Farmers Union in Wales. [108924]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I last received correspondence from the leadership of the National Farmers Union in Wales in late December and I addressed their Welsh Surgery on 1 February.
15. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary to discuss the Government's legislative programme and its impact on transport in Wales. [108925]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have regular meetings with the First Secretary to discuss a wide range of issues including the impact of transport in Wales and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State also meets regularly with the Assembly Secretary for Local Government, Environment and Transport and has discussed the Transport Bill with him.
The Transport Bill was introduced on 1 December 1999 and plays a key role in the implementation of the integrated transport strategy for England and Wales. Responsibility for many aspects of transport in Wales was transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999. The main exceptions are railways, air and sea transport, which remain a central Government responsibility, working in close co-operation with the Assembly on matters affecting Wales. I am keen to continue dialogue with the Assembly and Cabinet colleagues in order to determine how best to meet the transport needs of Wales.
16. Mrs. Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the development of policies to promote social inclusion in Wales. [108926]
17. Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the development of policies to promote social inclusion in Wales. [108927]
Mr. Hanson:
This Government are committed to tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion. My right hon. Friend and I are keen to ensure that central Government and the devolved administration in Wales are working together in partnership to promote social inclusion.
I attended the launch of the Government's new Anti-Poverty Strategy in Wales with the Assembly Health Secretary, Jane Hutt, in September. The Assembly is committed to promoting social inclusion and ensuring that strategies, objectives and targets are integrated and give a high priority to the most disadvantaged.
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The Joint Ministerial Group on Poverty, on which both the Assembly and the Wales Office are represented, had been set up to tackle poverty and social exclusion in a co-ordinated way.
18. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of additionality in the New Deal for Young People in Wales. [108928]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have made no such assessment. New Deal for young people is the responsibility of the Department for Education and Employment, on an England and Wales basis. I understand that the Department for Education and Employment have recently undertaken such an assessment covering England and Wales.
19. Mr. Caton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been created in Wales since May 1997. [108929]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Figures are not kept for numbers of jobs created in Wales. However, between May 1997 and December 1999 the seasonally adjusted count of claimants of unemployment-related benefit (i.e. Jobseeker's Allowance) has fallen from 81,800 to 59,200, a fall of 22,400 or 27 per cent.
20. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with members of the Welsh Assembly on the funding of students at universities in Wales. [108931]
Mr. Hanson:
I recently met with the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Education and Training, when we discussed a number of issues including the funding of students at universities in Wales. Mr. Middlehurst has said that he will announce in due course increased help for students at higher education institutions in Wales through the Assembly's Higher Education Student Access funds.
22. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about overall public expenditure in Wales. [108933]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I usually meet the Assembly First Secretary on a weekly basis to discuss a range of issues, including this one.
23. Sir Raymond Powell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the budget for the National Assembly for Wales for 2000-01. [108934]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I normally meet the Assembly First Secretary on a weekly basis to discuss a range of issues, including this one.
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