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Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many of his Department's PFI contracts KPMG has been an adviser. [132868]
Ms Beverley Hughes [pursuant to her reply, 27 July 2000, c. 773W]: I have now been advised that KPMG have also acted as a financial adviser and quality assurance to the Vehicle Inspectorate for the procurement process of the computerisation of MOT testing project. The contract was signed in April 1998.
Supporting People Programme
Mr. Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will make further information available on the structure and resourcing of the Supporting People programme. [133617]
Mr. Raynsford [pursuant to his reply, 27 July 2000, c. 778W]: I would like to confirm that we will be providing £153 million of revenue funding over three years to enable to implement the Supporting People programme and not £140 million as printed in the Official Report.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Security Situation
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2000, Official Report, column 491W, what steps have been taken to reduce the security presence consistent with the level of threat; and what steps will be taken in the next three months. [134883]
Mr. Ingram: Further to the Secretary of State's statement in the House on 12 June 2000, Official Report, columns 491-92W, all the measures have now been completed except for the Cookstown base and the Fort George army base. These should be finalised this month and the beginning of December respectively.
6 Nov 2000 : Column: 30W
On 29 September the Chief Constable announced a further tranche of normalisation measures. These were:
- demolition of six patrol bases in Co. Fermanagh;
- closure and demolition of Long Kesh Army base situated beside HM Prison, Maze;
- return to its owners of land at Newtownhamilton, currently used by security forces; and
- closure of Strand Road Holding Centre in Londonderry and granting of solicitor access to terrorist suspects held at Gough Barracks, Armagh.
Secondary Education
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the report published by the Northern Ireland Department of Education, 'The Effects of the Selective System of Secondary Education in Northern Ireland'. [135825]
Mr. Mandelson: A copy of the report will be placed in the Library shortly.
WALES
Fuel Protests
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to prevent disruption by fuel protests in Wales. [136614]
Mrs. Liddell: I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published on 29 September a memorandum of understanding signed by all members of the Fuel Supply Task Force aimed at putting in place more robust systems to avoid disruption of fuel supplies throughout the United Kingdom. He also made a statement to the House on 2 November 2000, the details of which are contained in the Official Report, columns 837-52.
My right hon. Friend the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales is a member of the task force and a signatory of the memorandum and will continue to be fully involved in the task force's work.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the troops trained to drive fuel tankers in the event of fuel protests will be stationed in Wales. [136615]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
Should the armed forces be asked to provide assistance, their precise disposition will be determined at the time in consultation with the relevant civil authorities. This will take into account a number of factors, in particular the relative need for military support for the delivery of fuel in different parts of the country.
6 Nov 2000 : Column: 31W
University Spaces
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) applications for degree courses were received and (b) vacant university spaces there were in each of the past five years in Wales. [134913]
Mr. Hanson: The numbers of applications to Welsh higher education institutions 1 are shown in the table:
| Year of admission | Number of applications(6) |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 116,455 |
| 1996 | 88,131 |
| 1997 | 91,173 |
| 1998 | 89,548 |
| 1999 | 88,247 |
(5) The number of higher education institutions in Wales, within the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), was 15 for the years 1995 to 1998, rising to 16 in 1999.
(6) In 1995 up to eight selections were available to each applicant, subsequently reduced to six.
Source:
UCAS
Information on the number of vacant university spaces is not available centrally.
Foreign Investment
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are being pursued by his Department to attract foreign investment in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [134899]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Since primary responsibility for promoting Wales as a location for inward investment now rests with the National Assembly for Wales, my Department is pursuing no specific initiatives to this end. However, I maintain close contact with the First Minister and his Cabinet and with the Chairman of the WDA. I and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State also emphasise the attractions of Wales for foreign investment when our duties involve meetings with people from overseas.
The National Assembly, in conjunction with its "Team Wales" partners, continues to enjoy considerable success in securing projects from foreign investors. Important developments announced during the current year have included:
- One2One Personal Communications Ltd. at Merthyr Tydfil;
- Cycle City Ltd. at Bangor;
- SPX Contech at Welshpool;
- General Domestic Appliances Ltd. at Bodelwyddan; and
- Manpower plc at Pembroke Dock.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much foreign investment Wales received in the last 10 years. [135226]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Between April 1990 and March 2000, capital expenditure reported by overseas-owned companies at the time of the investment decision was £8,603 million.
6 Nov 2000 : Column: 32W
School Closures
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of (a) junior and (b) secondary school closures by constituency in Wales in each of the last five years. [135221]
Mr. Hanson: Information is not available by constituency. Local education authorities (LEAs) notified the Welsh Office of the following school closures between 1 January 1995 and 30 June 1999. On 1 July 1999, responsibility for education transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.
| LEA | School |
|---|---|
| Primary(7) | |
| 1995 | |
| Dyfed | Blaenau CP School |
| Dyfed | Llanddeusant CP School |
| Clwyd | Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr CP School |
| Dyfed | Crugybar CP School |
| 1996 | |
| Mid Glamorgan | Ferndale Junior School |
| Mid Glamorgan | Dyffryn Infants School |
| 1997 | |
| Ceredigion | Brongest CP School |
| Conwy | Ysgol Llwydgoed |
| 1998 | |
| Pembrokeshire | Barham VC Primary School |
| Pembrokeshire | Rosemarket VC School |
| Carmarthenshire | Llandyfaelog VCP School |
| Conwy | Ysgol Cadnant |
| Conwy | Ysgol Bodlondeb |
| Conwy | Ysgol Babanod Gyffin |
| Caerphilly | Brithdir Primary School |
| 1999 (to 30 June) | |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | Dunraven Primary School |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | Blaenrhondda Primary School |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | Blaenycwm Primary School |
| Secondary | |
| 1995-97 | |
| No closures | -- |
| 1998 | |
| Blaenau Gwent | Glanyrafon Comprehensive School |
| 1999 (to 30 June) | |
| No closures | -- |
(7) It is not possible consistently to distinguish junior schools
In addition, there were 17 amalgamations of infant and junior school during the period covered by these figures. Some amalgamations might have resulted in the closure of premises.
Class Sizes
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average class sizes in (a) junior and (b) secondary schools in each local education authority in Wales in each of the last three years. [135224]
6 Nov 2000 : Column: 33W
Mr. Hanson: The following is the available information for 1997-98 and 1998-99. Responsibility for education transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999.
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|
| Isle of Anglesey | 24.6 | 24.2 |
| Gwynedd | 25.0 | 24.9 |
| Conwy | 27.2 | 27.2 |
| Denbighshire | 27.7 | 27.6 |
| Flintshire | 29.8 | 28.0 |
| Wrexham | 28.6 | 28.0 |
| Powys | 24.1 | 23.7 |
| Ceredigion | 22.4 | 21.9 |
| Pembrokeshire | 24.6 | 25.0 |
| Carmarthenshire | 23.5 | 23.9 |
| Swansea | 28.6 | 29.1 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 26.8 | 27.1 |
| Bridgend | 30.5 | 29.7 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 28.6 | 28.2 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | 28.8 | 28.0 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 28.9 | 28.3 |
| Caerphilly | 29.2 | 28.9 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 30.1 | 29.8 |
| Torfaen | 30.4 | 28.5 |
| Monmouthshire | 29.4 | 29.5 |
| Newport | 30.1 | 29.3 |
| Cardiff | 28.9 | 28.6 |
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|
| Isle of Anglesey | 19.5 | 20.5 |
| Gwynedd | 17.7 | 18.1 |
| Conwy | 20.8 | 22.1 |
| Denbighshire | 19.9 | 20.3 |
| Flintshire | 20.1 | 19.8 |
| Wrexham | 22.0 | 22.7 |
| Powys | 17.7 | 17.8 |
| Ceredigion | 19.7 | 18.2 |
| Pembrokeshire | 21.5 | 20.5 |
| Carmarthenshire | 20.9 | 20.8 |
| Swansea | 21.0 | 20.8 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 20.9 | 21.1 |
| Bridgend | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 22.4 | 21.0 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | 20.5 | 20.6 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 19.2 | 20.2 |
| Caerphilly | 20.5 | 20.9 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 19.3 | 19.5 |
| Torfaen | 21.0 | 21.2 |
| Monmouthshire | 20.2 | 21.2 |
| Newport | 21.4 | 21.8 |
| Cardiff | 22.5 | 23.2 |
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