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Joint Ministerial Committee on Health

13. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the Joint Ministerial Committee on Health which met on Friday 16 June. [126706]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The purpose of the Joint Ministerial Committee on Health was to provide an opportunity for all parts of the UK to share ideas and best practices.

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I know that everyone has found the exchange of experiences a useful tool for putting together plans for the future.

Following the three meetings held so far I understand that Jane Hutt, the Assembly Health and Social Services Secretary will be making a statement to the National Assembly for Wales in July on progress in improving the NHS in Wales and her plans for further action.

Cross-border Issues

15. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had recently with the First Secretary on Welsh-English cross-border issues; and if he will make a statement. [126708]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues including this one.

Where decisions affect communities on the English/ Welsh border, the Assembly engages in discussions with the lead Whitehall department. I would become involved only if I were asked to intervene to help resolve a difficulty.

Sheepmeat Premium

16. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the sheepmeat premium. [126709]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I discuss a wide range of topics with my colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales on a regular basis and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary meets the Assembly Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development every quarter. The UK Agriculture Ministers have been in discussion to agree a UK position on the anticipated Commission proposals for reform of the sheepmeat regime, expected in the autumn. The Assembly Agriculture and Rural Development Secretary is responsible for these matters in Wales, but my office is being kept fully informed of progress.

Hunting with Hounds

17. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of a ban on hunting with hounds on (a) the Welsh countryside and (b) employment, tourism and economic development in Wales. [126710]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have made no specific assessment of the impact of a ban on hunting with hounds. However I am following this issue very closely as the potential repercussions on the Welsh countryside and employment, tourism and economic development in Wales are of course of great importance to me. The decision on the merits of hunting is a matter for Parliament and a free vote. It is a matter for each Member of Parliament to reach their own conclusion in the light of information which the Burns Report has added to the debate.

21. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had this year about further transfer of powers to the Welsh Assembly relating to hunting. [126714]

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Mr. Paul Murphy: I regularly discuss a wide range of topics with my colleagues both in Whitehall and the National Assembly for Wales. It is anticipated that a Government Bill containing a series of legislative options will be introduced early in the next Parliamentary Session. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary stated in the House on 12 June 2000, Official Report, columns 639-41 Wales and England are one common-law jurisdiction and as such the issue is not the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales. We have no plans for a transfer of functions to the Assembly in relation to hunting.

29. Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received about banning the hunting of foxes with dogs. [126722]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have received no specific representations about banning the hunting of foxes with dogs, but am in close contact with colleagues in Whitehall as Government policy on this issue progresses.

Unemployment

18. Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the number of unemployed people in Wales in May 1997 and May 2000. [126711]

Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend regularly meets the First Secretary and discusses a wide range of issues including employment in Wales. In addition, I hold quarterly liaison meetings with the Assembly Secretary for Education and Training.

This Government's record of continuing commitment to getting people off benefits and back into work is highlighted by the fact that the number of claimants on Jobseeker's Allowance for April 2000 has been significantly reduced to 59,170 compared to 80,322 for May 1997 when this Government took office.

22. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on assistance for long-term unemployed people over the age of 25 years. [126715]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The New Deal programmes, Work Based Learning for Adults, "Employment Zones", and a range of Employment Service programmes provide training to equip workless people aged 25 and over with the skills they need to gain and hold down a job. The latest statistical information on the "New Deal for 25 Plus" indicates that, in Wales, 13,200 people had joined the programme, and 2,700 had entered employment (of which 2,300 had secured sustained jobs).

Some improvements, including the introduction of a New Deal Gateway and access to a range of external Gateway services, were put in place on the "New Deal for 25 Plus" in April. A more comprehensive package of measures will operate from April 2001, with the aim of broadening the attractiveness of the programme to clients by providing a wider range of opportunities.

Hospital Waiting Lists

19. Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the impact of funding on the change in NHS waiting lists in Wales for those waiting over six months since 1 May 1997. [126712]

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Mr. 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 the wide range of health issues affecting Wales.

The subject of waiting lists and the impact on them of additional funding allocated by the Assembly is, of course, an important part of these discussions.

Severn Bridge

20. Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussion he has had with the First Secretary on charging VAT on crossing the Severn bridge. [126713]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussion with the First Secretary on a wide range of transport issues and I recognise the significance of this issue to Wales.

The issue of whether to charge VAT on toll charges is presently the subject of proceedings before the European Court of Justice. We understand that the judgment of the court is not due until 12 September.

The Severn Crossings, which are mainly in England, remain the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Assisted Areas

23. Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly and with officials of the EU Commission on the introduction of the new regional development maps for Wales. [126716]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The Assisted Areas map is a matter for the UK Government, but I have, of course, discussed the designation of Welsh areas with the First Secretary and the UK Government maintain close contact with both the European Commission and the National Assembly for Wales on this issue.

The Government are still in discussion with the European Commission and are pressing for early approval of the Assisted Areas map. Within the framework set by the European Commission, all concerned have tried to include, so far as possible, revised proposals reflecting local and national priorities. The Government will make an announcement when the map is approved.

NHS (Private Capital)

25. Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary and the Welsh Health and Social Services Secretary with regard to the use of private capital in the running of the NHS. [126718]

Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with the First Secretary and the Assembly Health and Social Services Secretary about the wide range of issues that affect the NHS in Wales.

It is encouraging to see the range of schemes that are being provided under the Private Finance Initiative.

Local Government

26. Mr. Ouml;pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the consequences arising

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from the proposed Cabinet structure for local government for those councils which consist mainly of independent councillors. [126719]

Mr. Hanson: I have discussed the proposals with Welsh local councils individually and with the WLGA. The majority of Welsh councils--including some of those consisting mainly of independents--are currently piloting some form of executive style decision making. We have made no general assessment of pilots individual councils are currently pursuing, however these innovations are being carried out under the existing legislative framework which is not designed for executive arrangements.

The Local Government Bill [Lords] provides a tailor made framework for executive arrangements including cabinets and directly elected mayors. The National Assembly for Wales will have the power to make further forms of executive available to Welsh councils if appropriate.

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