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New Deal (Local Authorities)

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal placements have been offered this year by local authorities. [123350]

Ms Jowell: We do not hold figures which show separately how many New Deal placements have been offered to people by local authorities.

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 352W

However, Local Government National Training Organisation figures indicate that local authorities have taken on over 4,200 people into New Deal options.

College Principals

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) further education college principals and (b) sixth form college principals are (i) in post and (ii) from ethnic minorities. [124690]

Mr. Wicks: Two of the 320 principals of general further education, tertiary and specialist colleges are from ethnic minorities. None of the principals of the 104 sixth form colleges is from an ethnic minority.

The Government are encouraging the Commission for Black Staff in Further Education in its aims of challenging racism, breaking down barriers for black staff and raising achievement for all who work and learn in further education.

We shall also require the Learning and Skills Council to promote equality of opportunity and report annually to the Secretary of State on this issue.

WALES

NHS Waiting Lists

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes there were each month in Welsh NHS waiting lists in each health authority area from May 1997 to July 1999. [124328]

Mr. Hanson: The information my hon. Friend has requested is in the table:

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 351W

Waiting list data from May 1997 to July 1999: Welsh residents waiting for in-patient or day case treatment

	Bro Taf Health Authority			Dyfed Powys Health Authority
Actual date	Number	Change month on month	Percentage change per month	Number	Change month on month	Percentage change per month
31 May 1997	17,513	--	--	14,064	--	--
30 June 1997	17,364	-149	-0.9	13,915	-149	-1.1
31 July 1997	17,191	-173	-1.0	12,615	-1,300	-9.3
31 August 1997	16,942	-249	-1.4	13,449	834	6.6
30 September 1997	17,043	101	0.6	13,970	521	3.9
31 October 1997	17,119	76	0.4	13,963	-7	-0.1
30 November 1997	17,210	91	0.5	13,836	-127	-0.9
31 December 1997	17,920	710	4.1	14,070	234	1.7
31 January 1998	17,854	-66	-0.4	13,267	-803	-5.7
28 February 1998	18,222	368	2.1	14,330	1,063	830
31 March 1998	18,524	302	1.7	14,428	98	0.7
30 April 1998	18,679	155	0.8	14,141	-287	-2.0
31 May 1998	18,495	-184	-1.0	14,310	169	1.2
30 June 1998	18,922	427	2.3	14,353	43	0.3
31 July 1998	18,763	-159	-0.8	13,993	-360	-2.5
31 August 1998	18,483	-280	-1.5	14,192	199	1.4
30 September 1998	18,045	-438	-2.4	14,036	-156	-1.1
31 October 1998	18,265	220	1.2	13,789	-247	-1.8
30 November 1998	17,914	-351	-1.9	13,387	-402	-2.9
31 December 1998	17,838	-76	-0.4	13,510	123	0.9
31 January 1999	18,024	186	1.0	13,392	-118	-0.9
28 February 1999	17,585	-439	-2.4	13,280	-112	-0.8
31 March 1999	16,918	-667	-3.8	13,009	-271	-2.0
30 April 1999	16,822	-96	-0.6	13,517	508	3.9
31 May 1999	17,041	219	1.3	13,693	176	1.3
30 June 1999	14,328	287	1.7	13,292	-401	-2.9
31 July 1999	17,325	-3	0.0	13,436	144	1.1

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 353W

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 353W

	Gwent Health Authority			Morgannwg Health Authority
Actual date	Number	Change month on month	Percentage change per month	Number	Change month on month	Percentage change per month
31 May 1997	14,490	--	--	9,521	--	--
30 June 1997	13,821	-669	-4.6	9,310	-211	-2.2
31 July 1997	13,749	-72	-0.5	9,271	-39	-0.4
31 August 1997	14,259	510	3.7	8,880	-391	-4.2
30 September 1997	13,619	-640	-4.5	8,714	-166	-1.9
31 October 1997	13,855	236	1.7	8,989	275	3.2
30 November 1997	13,579	-276	-2.0	9,162	173	1.9
31 December 1997	14,135	556	4.1	9,619	457	5.0
31 January 1998	13,954	-181	-1.3	9,650	31	0.3
28 February 1998	14,246	292	2.1	9,985	335	3.5
31 March 1998	14,357	111	0.8	10,131	146	1.5
30 April 1998	13,954	-403	-2.8	10,167	36	0.4
31 May 1998	14,284	330	2.4	10,296	126	1.2
30 June 1998	14,544	260	1.8	10,436	143	1.4
31 July 1998	15,658	1,114	7.7	10,429	-7	-0.1
31 August 1998	15,550	-108	-0.7	10,536	107	1.0
30 September 1998	14,831	-719	-4.6	10,660	124	1.2
31 October 1998	14,330	-501	-3.4	10,380	-280	-2.6
30 November 1998	13,860	-470	-3.3	10,256	-127	-1.2
31 December 1998	13,804	-56	-0.4	10,209	-44	-0.4
31 January 1999	13,646	-158	-1.1	10,070	-139	-1.4
28 February 1999	13,279	-367	-2.7	9,877	-193	-1.9
31 March 1999	12,916	-363	-2.7	9,467	-410	-4.2
30 April 1999	13,065	149	1.2	9,867	400	4.2
31 May 1999	13,170	105	0.8	9,998	131	1.3
30 June 1999	13,230	60	0.5	9,775	-223	-2.2
31 July 1999	13,463	233	1.8	9,737	-38	-0.4

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 353W

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 353W

	North Wales Health Authority			Grand total
Actual date	Number	Change month on month	Percentage change per month	Number	Change month on month	Percentage change per month
31 May 1997	12,598	--	--	68,186	--	--
30 June 1997	12,973	375	3.0	67,383	-803	-1.2
31 July 1997	13,942	969	7.5	66,768	-615	-0.9
31 August 1997	14,314	372	2.7	67,844	1,076	1.6
30 September 1997	14,439	125	0.9	67,785	-59	-0.1
31 October 1997	14,361	-78	-0.5	68,287	502	0.7
30 November 1997	14,458	97	0.7	68,245	-42	-0.1
31 December 1997	15,185	727	5.0	70,929	2-684	3.9
31 January 1998	15,399	214	1.4	70,124	-805	-1.1
28 February 1998	15,733	334	2.2	72,516	2,392	3.4
31 March 1998	15,979	246	1.6	73,419	903	1.2
30 April 1998	16,406	427	2.7	73,347	-72	-0.1
31 May 1998	16,687	281	1.7	74,069	722	1.0
30 June 1998	16,892	205	1.2	75,147	1,078	1.5
31 July 1998	17,107	215	1.3	75,950	803	1.1
31 August 1998	17,255	148	0.9	76,016	66	0.1
30 September 1998	16,697	-558	-3.2	74,269	-1,747	-2.3
31 October 1998	16,263	-434	-2.6	73,027	-1,242	-1.7
30 November 1998	15,850	-413	-2.5	71,264	-1,763	-2.4
31 December 1998	16,003	153	1.0	71,364	100	0.1
31 January 1999	15,207	-796	-5.0	70,339	-1,025	-1.4
28 February 1999	14,042	-1,165	-7.7	68,063	-2,276	-3.2
31 March 1999	13,005	-1,037	-7.4	65,315	-2,748	-4.0
30 April 1999	13,236	231	1.8	66,507	1,192	1.8
31 May 1999	13,045	-191	-1.4	66,947	440	0.7
30 June 1999	13,654	609	4.7	67,279	332	0.5
31 July 1999	13,677	23	0.2	67,638	359	0.5

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 355W

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 355W

PRIME MINISTER

Civil Service (Political Neutrality)

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister what changes he has made to the rules on political neutrality of the Civil Service. [123131]

The Prime Minister: None.

Central Railway

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Prime Minister what recent contacts have taken place between his policy unit and representatives of Central Railway; and if he will make a statement. [125060]

The Prime Minister: My staff and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals.

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