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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 23 November 2000
WALES
Job Losses
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received from labour organisations regarding job losses in Wales over the last six months; and if he will make a statement; [136648]
- (2) what representations he has received from labour organisations regarding job losses in Wales over the past six months; and if he will make a statement; [136647]
(3) what representations he has received from companies in Wales which have made job reductions in the past six months; and if he will make a statement. [136649]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have had correspondence and discussions with several individuals and groups, including trade unions and company managers.
Job losses are always unwelcome but it must be for individual companies to determine their response to market forces. The Government will continue to pursue its objective of securing long-term economic stability based on low inflation, allowing business to invest and plan ahead with confidence. The success of our policies is demonstrated by the steady fall in unemployment since May 1997.
When redundancies do occur, the Employment Service has a range of measures available to assist workers in securing suitable fresh employment opportunities. For large-scale job losses, this can include an on-site presence.
Drugs and Substance Abuse
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning (a) measures to tackle drugs and substance abuse in Wales and (b) the provision of new money for this purpose; and if he will make a statement. [138064]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including measures to tackle substance abuse.
I understand that the Assembly's draft budget provides for an annual increase in direct funding for drug and alcohol initiatives of £1.5 million by 2003-04. These extra resources will support measures set out in the Welsh substance misuse strategy, which was launched earlier this year.
Council House Sales
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the First Secretary concerning the amounts of extra money released
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from council house sales to (a) housing authorities in Wales and (b) Flintshire County Council in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [137020]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a range of topics, including local authority finances.
I understand that the forecast of total receipts from the sale of council dwellings in the current financial year in Wales is £39,081,000, of which £1,600,000 relates to Flintshire County Council. Individual authorities are permitted to apply 25 per cent. of these receipts to the financing of new capital expenditure.
Foreign Investment
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of investment in Wales was of foreign origin in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [135227]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000, capital expenditure by overseas-owned companies, as reported at the time of the investment decision, was £512,264,000. This cannot be expressed in percentage terms since a comparable figure of total investment in Wales is not available.
Housing Legislation
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that proposed legislation on housing takes due consideration of its impact on Wales. [135410]
Mr. Hanson: I have a statutory duty to consult with the National Assembly for Wales about the Government's legislative programme for each session of Parliament. However, my office and other Government Departments also liaise closely with the Assembly as policy develops. This means that consideration will already have been given to many Wales-specific issues before the commencement of the statutory consultation.
Floods
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure adequate levels of funding for flood prevention measures in North East Wales. [139334]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Following the bad weather and flooding in Wales, I am happy to confirm that the Welsh budget will be increased by £3 million over a four year period to 2003-04 as a consequence of additional funding made available because of the recent flooding in England. The Assembly can allocate its resources among individual programmes according to its own priorities.
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he (a) has had and (b) is planning to have with other Cabinet colleagues and the First Secretary of the National Assembly to ensure a co-ordinated approach to flood prevention in North East Wales. [139333]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friends about a range of matters affecting Wales, including the important topic of flood prevention.
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An interdepartmental group, chaired by the Minister responsible for fisheries and the countryside, is looking at a number of issues arising out of the recent floods. This will include the sharing of best practice in relation to flood prevention measures. The National Assembly for Wales is represented on the group.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received from farmers' organisations on the loss of silage and other animal foodstuffs as a direct result of the recent floods; [139461]
- (2) what plans he has to assist uninsured farmers in Wales who have suffered financial losses as a result of the recent floods; [139680]
(3) what representations he has received from farmers' organisations on the replacement of hay and straw lost during the recent floods. [139589]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Having visited several parts of Wales in recent weeks, I am acutely aware of the serious impact of the floods on the farming community. It is for the National Assembly to decide what measures may be needed to assist farmers who have suffered loss.
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional funding will be made available for the National Assembly of Wales to meet the unforeseen additional costs incurred by local authorities and other public sector agencies in Wales arising from recent acute bad weather and flooding; and if he will make a statement. [138025]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Following the bad weather and flooding in Wales, I am happy to confirm that the Welsh budget will be increased by £3 million over a four year period to 2003-04 as a consequence of additional funding made available because of the recent flooding in England.
There is an existing scheme, the Bellwin scheme, to help local authorities who incur unexpected costs in the work of dealing with floods and other emergencies, and the National Assembly for Wales is responsible for the operation of this scheme in Wales.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to request the assistance of armed forces personnel in clearing-up those parts of Wales most damaged by the recent floods. [139588]
Mr. Paul Murphy: It is for individual local authorities to request assistance from the Ministry of Defence if they consider this appropriate.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to make use of National Lottery funds as compensation for residents and businesses in Wales most damaged by the recent floods. [139592]
Kate Hoey: I have been asked to reply.
Lottery-funded relief of the type suggested by my hon. Friend would not be an appropriate use of Lottery money, which funds specific time-limited initiatives that are additional to taxpayer-funded programmes. The Bellwin scheme, which in Wales is administered by the National Assembly, reimburses local authorities for excess costs incurred as a result of severe weather conditions. The Assembly Secretary for Finance and Communities
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(Edwina Hart) has announced that councils will receive 100 per cent. reimbursement of eligible expenditure above the threshold.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on planned improvements to the Bellwin Scheme of assistance to local authorities in Wales. [139507]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Operation of the Bellwin Scheme in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly.
New Deal for Young People
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of people completing the New Deal for Young People have (a) ceased to be in work after 13 weeks and (b) returned to Income Support within 12 months. [137888]
Mr. Paul Murphy: This information is not available.
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