| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Health Funding
15. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about health funding in Wales. [118449]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with the First Secretary and the Assembly Health Secretary to discuss Health issues in Wales. In the light of the recent Budget announcements we have, of course, discussed health funding specifically. However, it is for the National Assembly to decide how the additional funding allocated to Wales is distributed.
Genetically Modified Crops
16. Mr. David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the policy of the National Assembly concerning genetically modified crops. [118450]
19 Apr 2000 : Column: 530W
Mr. Hanson: I have regular meetings with the Assembly Agriculture Secretary Christine Gwyther and we have frequently discussed the issue of genetically modified crops.
Education Funding
17. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about education funding in Wales. [118451]
Mr. Hanson: I regularly meet the Assembly Secretaries when I discuss a variety of issues. In the light of the recent Budget announcements, I will be discussing education funding. However, it is for the National Assembly to decide how the additional funding allocated to Wales is distributed.
Sport
18. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss access to sport with the First Secretary; and if he will make a statement. [118452]
Mr. Hanson: I meet the Assembly Secretaries on a regular basis to discuss a variety of issues including the development of sport in Wales.
Agriculture
19. Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the recently announced support package for farmers in Wales. [118454]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The farming unions in Wales have broadly welcomed the support package for farmers in Wales which was announced at the recent agriculture summit chaired by the Prime Minister on 30 March.
20. Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the First Secretary to discuss the future of agriculture in Wales. [118455]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary on a weekly basis and discuss a wide range of issues, including the agriculture industry in Wales. The farming summit on 30 March chaired by the Prime Minister demonstrated the Government's commitment to the future of farming, agreeing a package of measures and additional funding for farmers across the UK. This will include measures to help them adapt to the problems facing agricultural economies in the 21st century. This should mean an additional £28 million in total for Welsh farmers.
24. Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary with regard to the state of farming in Wales. [118459]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary on a regular weekly basis and we discuss a wide range of issues including the Welsh farming industry. This subject was addressed at the Agriculture Summit chaired by the Prime Minister on 30 March, when a package of measures worth £200 million across the UK was agreed. The Finance Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales has subsequently confirmed that over £28 million of this will be available to Welsh farmers.
19 Apr 2000 : Column: 531W
Education Maintenance Allowances
21. Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Assembly Secretary for Education to discuss education maintenance allowances in Wales. [118456]
Mr. Hanson: I regularly meet the Assembly Secretaries to discuss a variety of issues.
There are currently 15 pilot areas in England covering a wide range of social and geographical circumstances that will allow for valid conclusions to be drawn for Wales.
Once the pilots are completed, the National Assembly for Wales will take the opportunity to consider the information collected and whether or not the scheme should be introduced in Wales.
Car Components Industry
22. Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the consequences for the car components industry in Wales of the sale of Rover. [118457]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I discussed this matter with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry last week and have also discussed the Assembly's response with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales. I am following with interest the work of the Task Force established by the Welsh Automotive Forum and the work of the West Midlands Task Force.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
25. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the impact of the 2000 Budget on small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales. [118460]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with the First Secretary and discuss a wide range of issues including the Budget and other related matters.
The Chancellor's Budget is excellent news for Wales. It allows the National Assembly for Wales to provide extra resources to support enterprise including help via Welsh Training and Enterprise Councils for over 1,000 new business start-ups. The Budget also sets out a substantial
19 Apr 2000 : Column: 532W
package of tax and spending measures that build on existing measures to help small and medium-sized enterprises up the ladder of opportunity.
Transport
26. Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet the First Secretary to discuss the transport needs of Wales. [118461]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary on a weekly basis, and discuss a wide range of issues, including the transport needs of Wales.
As a result of the Chancellor's Budget, the Assembly will receive a total of £158 million additional funding in 2000-01. This has allowed the Assembly to announce additional funding of over £16 million to local authority integrated transport packages, safer community transport projects, the Transport Grant and many small-scale safety schemes.
Waterhouse Inquiry
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the former Welsh Office civil servant, Derek Brushett, attended any of the preliminary hearings held by Sir Ronald Waterhouse to discuss procedure with the North Wales child abuse inquiry on 10 September, 15 October, 26 November 1996 and 3 January 1997. [113486]
Mr. Paul Murphy: In so far as it can be established, there is no record of Mr. Brushett attending any of the preliminary hearings in his official capacity.
An examination of the transcripts of evidence shows that he did not take part in any of the preliminary hearings.
Quangos
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the quangos in Wales, and their membership, in (a) 1992, (b) 1993, (c) 1994, (d) 1995, (e) 1996, (f) 1997, (g) 1998 and (h) 1999. [116338]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The information given in the table provides all available details.
All non-departmental public bodies in Wales in existence between 1995 and 1999 are listed, with the number of members between 1995 and 1998 given where this information is available. Information is not held centrally before 1995, and is not yet available for 1999, as records are collected from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000.
All of these bodies transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999.
19 Apr 2000 : Column: 531W
(5) Indicates that that particular body did not exist in the relevant year, and
(6) Indicates that the information is not available for that particular body in the relevant year
19 Apr 2000 : Column: 533W
19 Apr 2000 : Column: 533W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |