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Objective 1

13. Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the progress of objective 1 programmes in Wales. [35119]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including progress with the objective 1 programme. At 12 February 2002, over 470 objective 1 projects had been approved, worth a total of

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over £300 million in European grants. Over £64 million of Objective 1 grant has already been paid out by the Assembly.

Cross-border Flooding

15. Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he had with the Environment Agency concerning cross-border flooding. [35121]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular contact with the Environment Agency, which include discussions on floods and related matters.

Additionally, the Wales Office and the Assembly are represented on the Interdepartmental Floods Task Force established by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Crime Reduction Partnerships

16. Mr. Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with UK Government Ministers and representatives of the National Assembly for Wales on the work of crime reduction partnerships in Wales. [35122]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are in regular contact with colleagues and with the First Minister and his Cabinet colleagues about issues affecting Wales.

The Government's partnership approach to fighting crime is making a significant difference in communities across Wales. With funding running into millions of pounds, local crime and disorder reduction partnerships are implementing projects targeted at crime hotspots, domestic violence and drug related crime. Partnerships are currently undertaking the first formal review of their strategies, which are due for completion in April 2002. The Crime Reduction Director for Wales encourages partnerships to link this work with other local community strategies, particularly the Communities First programme.

Domestic Violence

17. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about projects to combat domestic violence in Wales. [35123]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are in regular contact with colleagues about issues affecting Wales, including the need for measures to combat domestic violence and to protect its victims.

As part of our response, a new Ministerial Committee, Chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Police, Courts and Drugs has been established to co-ordinate action across Government.

A number of important initiatives in Wales have been supported both by the Government and the National Assembly. Later this year, the Crime Reduction Unit for Wales will host two major conferences on domestic violence.

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Violent Crime

18. Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly about the level of violent crime in Wales. [35124]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with the First Minister and his Cabinet colleagues about a range of issues including levels of crime, and measures aimed at combating it.

The Government are committed to continuing to improve the reporting and detection of violent crime, and to tackling its underlying causes.

28. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department regarding violent crime in Wales. [35135]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are in regular contact with colleagues about issues affecting Wales, including levels of crime, and measures aimed at combating it.

The Government are committed to continuing to improve the reporting and detection of violent crime, and to tackling its underlying causes.

Crime Reduction

19. Mr. Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Whitehall colleagues and the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the implementation of measures to reduce crime in Wales. [35125]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are in regular contact with colleagues and with the First Minister and his Cabinet colleagues about issues affecting Wales.

The Government's partnership approach to fighting crime is making a significant difference in communities across Wales. With funding running into millions of pounds, local crime and disorder reduction partnerships are implementing projects targeted at crime hotspots, domestic violence and drug related crime. The Crime Reduction Director for Wales encourages partnerships to link this work with other local community strategies, particularly the Communities First programme.

NHS Consultants' Contracts

21. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the First Secretary of the National Assembly the reform of NHS consultants' contracts. [35127]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet with the National Assembly First Minister and the Assembly Health and Social Services Minister to discuss the NHS in Wales.

I am aware that the Department of Health and the devolved Administrations have published a suggested framework for a new consultant contract together with proposals for combining the existing distinction award and discretionary points schemes to a single scheme, providing rewards for excellence.

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Representatives from the Department of Health and the devolved Administrations are meeting the profession on a fortnightly basis to formulate a new form of contract which will have the support of both parties.

Business Regulation

22. Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations his Department has made to other Government Ministers concerning the level of regulation on business in Wales. [35128]

Mr. Paul Murphy: As a Cabinet member I have regular discussions on a range of issues including regulation on business.

In July last year, I made a representation to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on certain aspects of the Government's move toward improving the efficiency of dispute resolution in Britain for both employees and employers.

The Government's Regulatory Impact Unit (RIU) in the Cabinet Office is working to reduce regulation, bureaucracy and red tape in both the private and public sectors.

For example, when business told us we could reduce the administrative burden of the National Minimum Wage and the Working Time Directive without affecting entitlements, we did so. The Government are keen to ensure that regulations do not damage business competitiveness.

Training

23. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues and the First Secretary of the National Assembly about the progress of Government measures to improve the training and skills of the Welsh work force. [35129]

Mr. Touhig: I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues and the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales.

The Government together with devolved Administrations are putting in place UK-wide arrangements for industry-led skills development, with new Sector Skills Councils supported by a Sector Skills Development Agency.

I understand that the National Assembly for Wales will publish its Skills and Employment action plan today that will set out over 50 actions to raise skills and economic activity and help address skills gaps and shortages experienced by employers.

Economy

24. Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues and the First Secretary of the National Assembly about the performance of the Welsh economy. [35130]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues and with the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales on a range of issues.

The Government understand that some parts of the economy, such as manufacturing, continue to face difficulties.

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There are no simple solutions. However, the Government are convinced that their robust macro- economic policies will continue to provide the right economic environment for sustained growth with low inflation.

Manufacturing

25. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussion he has had with the First Secretary about the future viability of the manufacturing sector in Wales. [35131]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales on a range of issues including manufacturing in Wales.

In Wales, under DTl's £15 million UK-wide scheme, a Welsh Centre of Manufacturing Excellence is being set up, which will benefit up to 2,000 firms in the first three years.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on new initiatives to assist manufacturing industries in Wales. [35111]

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

The Government understand that 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 and Assembly 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.

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