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European Judicial System

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the European Commission on the report of the Reflexion Group on the future of the judicial system in the European Communities. [124073]

Mr. Vaz: We are in regular contact with the Commission on the full range of IGC issues. The 'Friends of the Presidency' group on reform of the European Court of Justice is not a Commission group. It is part of the IGC and is made up of member states' representatives. But it has provided a useful forum to discuss proposals for reform of the EC judicial system, including papers from the ECJ itself and from the Commission.

"Your Britain, Your Europe"

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" visit to Leeds on 12 May; and what the budget is for the remaining roadshow events planned for 2000. [124067]

Mr. Vaz: We have minimised costs for the current series of city visits by inviting local councils to organise the programme. The accommodation and transport bill for the "Your Britain, Your Europe" visit to Leeds came to £1,012. The total budget for the remaining city visits in 2000 is £18,000.

European Treaties

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Commission on the report from the Florence European University Institute on the reorganisation of the European Treaties. [124072]

Mr. Vaz: We are in regular contact with the Commission on the full range of issues that have been raised in the context of the current Intergovernmental Conference.

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 24 April 1999, (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [124130]

Mr. Battle: For the period 23 April 1999 to 31 March 2000, special advisers in my Department have travelled overseas in an official capacity on seven occasions. The special advisers travelled by both commercial means and by RAF charter flights.

All travel complied with the requirements of the ministerial code and the Civil Service Management code.

5 Jun 2000 : Column: 46W

WALES

Sterling

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the value of sterling upon manufacturing in Wales. [124425]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I understand the concerns over the strength of sterling against the euro. But the Government are determined to take the long-term view. The Government's policies are aimed at achieving sustained growth, sound public finances and low and stable inflation. Manufacturers who have suffered from the old boom and bust cycle would not want a return to short-term, quick fixes, which jeopardise long-term stability.

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions since 28 February 1999 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [124113]

Mr. Paul Murphy: From 28 February 1999 to 30 June 1999, no departmental or non-departmental special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity on behalf of the Welsh Office.

From 1 July 1999 to date, one special adviser has travelled abroad twice in an official capacity on behalf of the Wales Office, including a visit to Brussels.

Departmental Responsibilities

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123837]

Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 25 May 2000]: My Department does not compile any statistics by parliamentary constituency.

Water Services

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when and for what reasons the safeguards to prevent the takeover of the company undertaking water services in Wales in a manner that is contrary to the public interest have been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [122685]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Under the Water Act 1989, the appropriate Secretaries of State were awarded a special share in the privatised water companies, empowering them to prevent anyone owning more than 15 per cent. of a company's shares. All such shares, including that held by the Secretary of State for Wales in Welsh Water, were to be redeemed on 31 December 1994, five years after privatisation, and this duly took place.

In addition, and uniquely, the Articles of Association of Welsh Water plc continued to provide for the 15 per cent. limit on individual voting share rights following redemption of the Golden Share. The removal of this provision required the approval of 75 per cent. of the company's shareholders. At an Extraordinary General

5 Jun 2000 : Column: 47W

Meeting on 21 March 1996, shareholders resolved to remove the 15 per cent. limitation from the company's Articles of Association.

I note that the Assembly has passed representations and comments on public interest principles to the Office of Fair Trading, who are evaluating bids and advising my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Digital Television

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by Castle Transmission International in respect of increasing the availability of digital terrestrial television in Wales. [121834]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Castle Transmission International were commissioned by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) to research and investigate possible methods of expanding digital terrestrial coverage in the UK. The report was published on 17 March 1999 and is available on ITC's website, www.itc.org.uk.

New Deal

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the New Deal in Wales, with particular reference to (a) the under 25s, (b) the over 25s and (c) the over 50s; and if he will make a statement. [116234]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Secretary and discuss a range of issues including the New Deal.

(a) The New Deal for Young People (18-24 year olds) has been making excellent progress in Wales. Latest figures show that over 12,700 young people have now secured employment from the New Deal (of which 9,500 have been sustained for over 13 weeks) and nearly 8,000 young people are currently still on the programme.

(b) The New Deal for 25 plus (Long Term Unemployed) has been making steady progress since its launch in June 1998. At the latest count (end of December 1999) nearly 2,300 people had secured employment and over 4,800 are currently still on the programme.

(c) The New Deal for 50 plus is currently still in the pilot phase with nine "Pathfinder" areas across the UK (Flintshire and Wrexham in Wales). Full nation-wide implementation is scheduled to start on 3 April 2000.

Aerospace Industry

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the prospects for the aerospace industry in Wales, with specific reference to Airbus, Broughton; and if he will make a statement. [116233]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I am in frequent contact with the First Secretary on a range of issues and we discuss many aspects of industry in Wales. This has included the BAe facility at Broughton.

5 Jun 2000 : Column: 48W

I was pleased to hear that the first orders have been received for the A3XX Airbus, and also welcome the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence that the United Kingdom will be placing an order for 25 A400M aircraft.

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he plans with the First Secretary concerning BAe Systems' application for an regional selective assistance grant; and if he will make a statement. [115202]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have raised the issue during my regular discussions with the First Secretary. As I have stated previously, details of RSA applications are treated as commercial in confidence between the Assembly and the applicant. Any decision on awarding RSA grant is entirely a matter for the Assembly, or the First Secretary in cases involving grant of the magnitude sought by BAe.

Forms

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the net change in each year since May 1997 in the number of forms issued by his Department which (a) charities and (b) other voluntary organisations are required to complete. [123941]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Since it was established on 1 July 1999, the Wales Office has issued no forms which charities or other voluntary organisations are required to complete. Figures for Welsh Office forms prior to that date are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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