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Incinerator, Wrexham
24. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the assessment being made of the effects on Cheshire residents of proposals for an incinerator in Wrexham. [151071]
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Mr. Paul Murphy: The National Assembly for Wales Planning Committee is responsible for making a decision on the proposal, on the basis of a report currently being prepared by the planning inspector, with specialist advice from an assessor. To that end, a public inquiry on this application opened on 11 October 2000 and closed on 10 January 2001. I understand that the inquiry took evidence from a significant number of individuals and groups on all aspects of the case and that the views of Cheshire residents were well represented.
Crime Reduction
25. Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to visit west Wales to discuss crime reduction. [151072]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have no immediate plans to visit west Wales to discuss crime reduction. However, I meet the chief constables of all four Welsh police authorities regularly to discuss a range of issues, including crime reduction. My most recent meeting with chief constables was on 15 January. The Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I also make regular visits to organisations across Wales to discuss a wide range of issues, including crime reduction.
27. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the Chief Constable of South Wales to discuss crime reduction in the Vale of Glamorgan. [151074]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I met the Chief Constable of South Wales on 15 January to discuss a range of issues affecting policing in Wales, including crime reduction. South Wales police are doing an excellent job in tackling crime, and recent crime figures published by the Home Office show that south Wales has experienced a record 16.9 per cent. fall in crime in the 12 months to September 2000--the largest fall of any police force area in England and Wales.
29. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about crime levels in Wales and joint efforts to reduce them. [151076]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the Home Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including crime levels and joint efforts to reduce crime.
I welcome the work being done by statutory crime and disorder reduction partnerships across Wales in implementing local crime reduction strategies, and in particular the close co-operation between police and local authorities on crime reduction issues.
Wales has so far attracted investment of £5.6 million from the Government's Crime Reduction Programme and the programme is supported in Wales by complementary Assembly initiatives tackling a range of related issues. These joint efforts to reduce crime will be instrumental in building safer communities throughout Wales.
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has discussed with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales the role of the health service in crime reduction in Wales. [151053]
Mr. Hanson: NHS Trusts in Wales have a crucial role to play in local crime and disorder reduction partnerships. There have been some notable examples of best practice,
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and both the UK Government and the Assembly are actively encouraging greater participation by NHS Trusts and the Health Service across Wales.
I know that my right hon. Friend has been closely involved with the violence reduction project focused on the Accident and Emergency Unit at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and that both he, as First Secretary, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary have commended it as an example of best practice.
Floods
28. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Rural Affairs Secretary of the National Assembly on the recent floods in border areas; and if he will make a statement. [151075]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with the First Minister which have included both agriculture and flooding. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State also has discussions on a regular basis with both the Assembly Rural Affairs Secretary and the Assembly Minister for the Environment.
In November the Assembly Rural Affairs Secretary announced that farmers who have lost crops would not lose out on European Arable Area Subsidy payments and an extension to the latest sowing date from 15 May to 31 May has been agreed. Farmers in Wales will also be allowed to set aside 100 per cent. of their eligible land where it has been affected by flooding, as well as provision for flexibility in normal requirements for green cover on set-aside land.
On January 25 the Assembly Secretary for the Environment announced plans to spend nearly £25 million over three years on flood and coastal defence in Wales. Much of this work will clearly benefit farmers, as repairs to flood banks will protect agricultural land.
I welcome these initiatives to alleviate the suffering of farmers in Wales resulting from the exceptional recent flooding.
CABINET OFFICE
Executive Agencies
Mr. Goggins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to review arrangements for delivering public services through executive agencies. [152985]
Mr. Ian McCartney: Executive Agencies play a crucial role in delivering high quality public services to specific and visible targets. They have ensured and strengthened managerial accountability.
However, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, we have decided that it is an opportune time to review the arrangements for
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Executive Agencies to see what lessons can be drawn from current models. The review will be sponsored jointly by the Cabinet Office and the Treasury. In the context of Modernising Government and the Civil Service Reform Programme, it will focus on:
- what versions of the agency model have been most successful and least, and in what context, focusing on the output and services delivered by organisations, and taking into account other models of service delivery;
how agency objectives and targets can best be aligned with PSA and SDA objectives and targets and given the right degree of stretch;
what degree of control from parent departments and the centre and what degree of freedom to manage is appropriate;
- how appropriate the current level and scope of central scrutiny is, including quinquennial reviews, better quality services reviews and PSA/SDA monitoring;
how joined up service delivery can best be promoted via the agency model;
how service delivery and policy can best be integrated to ensure that policy is properly informed by practicalities;
how to ensure that agencies have in place appropriate corporate governance including the roles of ministerial advisory boards and "Fraser" figures;
how best to secure transparency and thoroughness in reporting on agency matters including performance to the public.
E-strategy (Benefit Payments)
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made by her Department in ensuring that Departments of State charged with the payment of benefits comply with the Government's e-strategy. [152422]
Mr. Ian McCartney: The e-government strategy published in April 2000 committed Departments to
- "report on how their current IT plans will converge"
The office of the e-envoy has received these strategies, which represent an important first step towards putting Government services online and changing the way Government is organised to deliver those services.
Further work remains to be done and Departments will continue to develop and publish further versions of their strategies. The office of the e-envoy will be working with Departments to help deliver these strategies.
Progress by Departments of State on the delivery by 2005 of all their services contained in their Public Service Agreements and Service Delivery Agreements is monitored on a six monthly cycle and the latest report was laid before the House on 16 January 2001, Official Report, column 176W, and may be found on the web at: www.e-envoy.gov.uk/esd.htm.
Links to Departmental e-business strategies may be found on the web at: www.e-envoy.gov.uk/estrats.htm.
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SCOTLAND
Tanker Traffic (The Minch)
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her Department's policy is on the proposed establishment of a European Maritime Safety Agency, with specific reference to the issue of tanker traffic in the Minch; and if she will make a statement. [149427]
Mrs. Liddell: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Under Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill) on 14 February 2001, Official Report, columns 147-48W.
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