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New Trains (North Wales Economy)
3. Mrs. Betty Williams (Conwy): What recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the economic impact on north Wales of the introduction of new trains. [122178]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. David Hanson): Transport issues are covered in the weekly meeting between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and the First Secretary. I also discuss transport in my quarterly meetings with the Assembly Secretary responsible for
transport issues. I am convinced that the provision of new trains, coupled with line speed improvements, will have a positive effect on the local economy.
Mrs. Williams: Is my hon. Friend aware that there are many rumours--not denied by First North Western Trains--that there are problems with platforms and tunnels along the north Wales coast that the new trains will use? Will he use his good offices with the First Secretary to seek to ensure that the new trains are introduced without delay, as they are due to start with the new summer timetable on 28 May? Does he agree that it is about time that we had some good news about railway services in north Wales, which have been appalling in the past?
Mr. Hanson: There are works that need to be undertaken to improve the line services in north Wales and ensure that the targets are met. Those works will be undertaken shortly and will ensure, for example, that the number of trains from Holyhead to Euston will double in 2002, from three a day to six, and potentially seven. There will be additional stops in several constituencies along the north Wales coast, including one at Flint in my constituency.
Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): I was very disappointed in the Government's response to the recent paper produced by the Welsh Affairs Committee, in effect rejecting all its proposals.
To return to the question put by the hon. Member for Conwy (Mrs. Williams), there is a big problem with Penmaenmawr tunnel: incredibly, the new train will not go through it. Will the Minister look into that and ensure that we have a decent train service in north Wales?
Mr. Hanson: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for bringing that tunnel to the attention of the House. Steps are being taken to improve the service. Railtrack, Virgin Trains and First North Western are all committed to improving the service. There will be additional trains, making additional stops. The work needs to be done, and the companies have set themselves a target of 2002-03. I am convinced that there will be improvements, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the Government and the Assembly in helping and supporting them.
Economy
4. Mr. Alun Michael (Cardiff, South and Penarth): What discussions he has had with businesses in Wales about the prospects for the Welsh economy. [122180]
The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Paul Murphy): Both my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary and I have held many meetings with businesses and representatives of business in Wales, ranging from the chief executive of Corus and people at the opening of Dow Corning's new factory in Barry, to representatives of small and medium enterprises. We are both acutely aware of the issues faced by business and continue to relay their concerns to Cabinet colleagues and to the First Secretary as appropriate.
Mr. Michael: Clearly, the current weakness of the euro poses a problem for exporters in Wales, as elsewhere.
Will my right hon. Friend reflect on the need for investment in business in Wales? There are examples such as Dow Corning, to which he referred, and Matsui, which has taken its European manufacturing headquarters to Ammanford. Does he agree that the strength and stability of the economy leads to such long-term and important investments and that the policies of the Conservative party would pose a significant threat to their continuation?
Mr. Murphy: I could not agree more. Today, in Middleton in Carmarthenshire, another example of a job creation scheme is the first botanical garden to be opened in this country for 200 years. It will bring more than 200 jobs and boost our tourist industry, as well as being a major centre for plant research. I visited it with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport recently, and it was evident to both of us that this flagship project is another excellent example of our new Wales.
Mr. Robert Walter (North Dorset): I do not think that the House will have been impressed by the mutual self-congratulations of the Secretary of State and his predecessor in answering this question. As they will both know, under the stewardship of my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) and his predecessors, great advances were made in restructuring the Welsh economy. However, problems remain that this Government and the Assembly have not dealt with. The Welsh Development Agency, for example, in its recent analysis of the Welsh economy, identified a serious "enterprise deficit" in small and medium-sized businesses which, it said, were underperforming in
- new business formation, innovation, research and development and investment.
Mr. Murphy: If the hon. Gentleman went to Carmarthenshire and visited the botanical garden to which I referred, he would see that it is not a matter of self-congratulation but the result of many years of hard work by the people who undertook the task. On his general point, the latest inward investment figures for Wales show a total investment of £547 million for 1998-99, which is even higher than the figure of £334 million in the previous year.
If the hon. Gentleman talked to the more than 13,000 young people in Wales who have benefited from the new deal, he would find that that is not a matter of self-congratulation either. If he visited all those places in Wales that are now benefiting from this Government's strong economy, and learned about the thousands of jobs that are being created, in manufacturing and elsewhere, he would realise that it will be a long time before there are any Conservative MPs in Wales.
Mr. Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney): I am sure that my right hon. Friend is aware of the importance to business and the Welsh economy of higher education standards. In that respect, is he aware that the National Assembly has not yet introduced a single pilot project to introduce education maintenance allowances to
support the poorest students in our communities to stay on at school and college? Will my right hon. Friend seek an explanation for that obvious and glaring omission?
Mr. Murphy: I shall, of course, give that assurance to my hon. Friend. He has spent many years in the House championing the needs of those who need better training. I shall raise the issue he has just mentioned when I next meet the First Secretary.
Waiting Lists
5. Mr. David Amess (Southend, West): What discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the number of patients waiting over six months for an out-patient appointment. [122181]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. David Hanson): My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet the First Secretary and the Assembly Health and Social Services Secretary to discuss health issues in Wales. The subject of waiting lists and waiting times has, of course, been included in our discussions.
Mr. Amess: Is the Minister aware that many of my constituents in Southend, West complain about the problems that their Welsh relatives encounter in obtaining out-patient appointments? Will he explain to the House how it is that out-patient appointments have trebled since that dreadful day in May 1997? Will he take this opportunity to apologise to the Welsh people for the incompetence of this Government in mismanaging the health service?
Mr. Hanson: I will happily tell the hon. Gentleman's relatives in Southend, West--and in Basildon, if he has any left there--about the situation in Wales. More than 1,000 more people are treated by the national health service in Wales than when his Government left office. If he had taken an interest--when he represented Basildon in the previous Parliament--in the performance of the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague), he would have known that Wales lost 1,200 beds, waiting lists went up and GP numbers went down in that time. This Government have committed £1.3 billion over the next four years to help the very health service that his party would destroy.
Mr. Win Griffiths (Bridgend): In the discussions that my hon. Friend has held with the Secretary of State for Health, were the problems arising from the legacy in Wales of the Leader of the Opposition mentioned? When the right hon. Gentleman was Secretary of State for Wales, 1,200 beds were cut, there were 300 fewer nurses and midwives, and in-patient waiting lists grew by 5,800. Will not the extra £51 million being made available to tackle waiting-list problems help us in Wales to overcome that legacy? Will my hon. Friend publish further information on activity rates, which show that the health service in Wales is on the mend and getting better?
Mr. Hanson: I shall certainly consider publishing information on activity rates in the national health service in Wales. The record of the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) is there for all to see.
When he ran the health service in Wales, he did what he will do if he ever runs the health service in the United Kingdom. He reduced the number of beds and nurses and cut investment in the health service.The £1.3 billion that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has given to the national health service in Wales will lead to real improvements in that service this year, next year and in forthcoming years.
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