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Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made since 11 September 2001 of the security of nuclear plants and radioactive materials in transit against terrorist attack; and if he has discussed the security of nuclear facilities with (a) his European Union counterparts and (b) the United States President, since that date. [28646]

The Prime Minister: Security and safety precautions at nuclear sites are kept under regular review. The UK's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures regulated by the security regulator, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security.

The security of nuclear material in transit is similarly kept under review. We are also reviewing the transportation of other radioactive materials.

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I have discussed the issue with the Irish Taoiseach. Officials have also discussed the matter with their overseas counterparts since 11 September.

It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken at civil nuclear sites, or of nuclear materials in transit.

Lord Birt

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 297W, on Lord Birt, under which section of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information he withheld information on the projects worked upon by Lord Birt. [29653]

The Prime Minister: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is not disclosed under Exemption 2, Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Afghanistan

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 11 December 2001, concerning the UN-led conference at Bonn of the main Afghan factions on 27 November, for what reason the Northern Alliance has been allowed to keep troops in Kabul in breach of the Bonn agreement. [28021]

The Prime Minister: The Bonn agreement gave a basis for an Interim Administration to be formed in Afghanistan. That Administration is responsible for security within Afghanistan, and is using its police forces in Kabul to provide this with the support of the International Security Assistance Force. Under the terms of the Military Technical Agreement between the Interim Administration and the International Security Assistance Force (signed on 4 January), some military units have left Kabul. All other armed groups in the Kabul area are confined to designated barracks.

International Criminal Court

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his written answer of 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 89W, on the International Criminal Court, if he will place in the Library copies of the written demarches sent to Secretary of State Powell on ratification of the statute of the International Criminal Court. [29654]

The Prime Minister: Further to my answer of 14 January, two demarches were sent to the US Department of State by the Belgian presidency. One was written, and I am happy to place a copy of that in the Library. The other, I now understand, was changed from a written to an oral demarche by the Belgian presidency.

WALES

Manufacturing

8. Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on Government support for manufacturing industry in Wales. [27064]

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Mr. Touhig: Despite recent labour market statistics which reflect the fundamental strength of the Welsh economy, some parts of the economy, such as manufacturing, continue to face real and sustained difficulties.

There are no simple solutions at hand to ease these problems, but the Government are helping British manufacturing to raise its game and to shift its focus from competing on the basis of cost alone towards high skill, high value-added products and processes.

10. Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about Government support for manufacturing industry in Wales. [27066]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Minister regularly to discuss a range of issues, including manufacturing in Wales.

Despite recent labour market statistics which reflect the fundamental strength of the Welsh economy, some parts of the economy, such as manufacturing, continue to face real and sustained difficulties.

There are no simple solutions at hand to ease these problems, but the Government are helping British manufacturing to raise its game and to shift its focus from competing on the basis of cost alone towards high skill, high value-added products and processes.

Miners' Compensation

9. Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the number of claims in Wales under the miners' compensation scheme for respiratory disease that have been settled in full. [27065]

Mr. Touhig: I regularly discuss coal health compensation issues with my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy and attend the UK Coal Health Monitoring Group that he chairs.

As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales established the Welsh sub-group of the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group specifically to address coal health issues in Wales and to report back to the GB-wide group. I am convinced the measures discussed, and the actions so far agreed, will further speed up the processing of coal health claims.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy attended the Welsh sub-group of the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group in November to discuss the operation of the scheme in Wales.

Special Advisers

12. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers he has working for him. [27068]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have two special advisers.

14. Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the number and cost of special advisers in the Wales Office. [27070]

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Mr. Paul Murphy: They are paid in accordance with the Cabinet Office pay scales for special advisers: these are currently under review.

Rural Economy

13. Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss regeneration of the rural economy with National Assembly for Wales Secretaries. [27069]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the Welsh Assembly secretaries regularly to discuss a range of issues, including the Welsh rural economy.

Welsh Language

15. Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what instructions are given to his offices in Wales on whether to answer the telephone in Welsh or English. [27071]

Mr. Paul Murphy: My Cardiff office is served by the National Assembly for Wales switchboard, which answers with a bilingual greeting.

Dairy Farming

16. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the Agriculture Secretary to discuss dairy farming in Wales. [27072]

Mr. Paul Murphy: My hon. Friend the Under- Secretary has regular meetings with the Assembly Agriculture Secretary and discusses many aspects of Welsh agriculture.

The recent FMD outbreak has exacerbated an already difficult situation for Welsh farmers. I therefore welcome the Assembly's strategy "Farming for the Future", which sets out a vision for the industry to achieve future sustainability, supported by the Assembly and key stakeholders. I would encourage farmers to work with the Assembly and its partners to face up to the changes necessary to create a viable agricultural future for Wales.

EU Structural Funds

17. Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly about the progress of the Objective 1 programme in Wales. [27073]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Minister regularly to discuss a range of issues, including progress with the Objective 1 programme. At 9 January 2002, 421 Objective 1 projects had been approved, worth a total of £280 million in European grants. £64.3 million worth of Objective 1 grant has already been paid out by the Assembly.

Proportional Representation

18. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the operation of the proportional representation system in National Assembly for Wales elections. [27074]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The electoral system is that outlined in the White Paper "A Voice for Wales" which was subsequently endorsed by the people of Wales in a

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referendum. The electoral system is a matter reserved to Parliament under the devolution settlement and the Government have no plans to bring forward legislation to change it.

Crime

19. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the measures taken by the Government to tackle crime in Wales. [27075]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Communities in Wales are gaining the full benefits of our partnership approach to fighting crime. With funding running into millions of pounds, local partnerships are implementing projects targeted at crime hotspots, domestic violence and drug related crime. Much of this funding is being channelled specifically into the most deprived communities and is going a long way towards building safer and more inclusive communities.

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