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Health and Social Care (Monmouth)

15. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the proposed health and social care facility for Monmouth. [53159]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I discuss health issues on a regular basis with the First Minister and the Health and Social Care Minister on a regular basis.

I am aware that the proposed health and social care joint facility project (Monnow Court) is a collaboration between the local authority, Gwent NHS Trust, Gwent HA, LHG, CHC and the voluntary sector.

Social Services

16. Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding improvements in the provision of social services in Wales. [53160]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the First Minister on a range of matters, including improvements in the provision of social services in Wales.

European Union (Funding)

17. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the value in 2001–02 of (a) EU structural funding and agricultural support payments in Wales and (b) the share of the UK's EU contribution that is represented by the Welsh share of UK GDP. [53161]

Mr. Paul Murphy: In 2001–02 structural fund payments in Wales amounted to £146 million and agricultural support payments amounted to £155 million.

Tourism

18. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the use of the cultural and heritage assets of Wales in encouraging inbound tourism. [53162]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with my ministerial colleagues to discuss a range of issues including the tourism industry in Wales.

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I am pleased to note that to help encourage tourists to visit Wales and enable them to make the most of Wales' unique historical and cultural assets, the Wales Tourist Board is working with a range of partners to develop a Cultural Tourism Strategy for Wales. This strategy will help visitors access and experience the various aspects of Welsh culture.

Pensioners (Transport Use)

19. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has held with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the use of transport by pensioners in Wales. [53164]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I regularly meet the First Minister and discuss a variety of issues relating to transport in Wales.

From April 2001, the Assembly introduced free bus passes and discounts of at least 50 per cent. on bus fares for pensioners (men aged 65 and over, and women aged 60 and over) and disabled people.

From April 2002 the Assembly introduced free bus travel for pensioners and disabled people.

In both cases the Assembly is supporting the measures by funding local authorities through the revenue settlement.

The Assembly shares the UK Government's commitment to eradicate the inequality in the concessions ages for men and women at the earliest opportunity, and a Bill is proceeding through Parliament to enable that policy to be implemented throughout England and Wales.

Small Businesses

20. Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury about fiscal measures to assist small businesses in Wales. [53165]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to discuss a wide range of issues, including small businesses.

The Chancellor's recent Budget announcement included a number of fiscal measures to support small businesses at every stage. These include simplification of VAT for small businesses by increasing the VAT registration threshold, extending optional flat rate scheme and further reforms of the VAT annual accounting scheme.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury about measures to assist small businesses in Wales. [53144]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to discuss a wide range of issues, including small businesses.

The Chancellor's recent Budget announcement included a number of fiscal measures to support small businesses at every stage. These include a reduction in the corporation tax starting rate from 10 per cent. to zero, helping small businesses throughout the UK and Wales to continue to flourish and prosper.

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Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about measures to assist small businesses in Wales. [53163]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to discuss a wide range of issues, including small businesses.

The Chancellor's recent Budget announcement included a number of fiscal measures to support small businesses at every stage. These include Research and Development tax credit, benefiting 50 large firms in Wales.

Small and Medium Enterprises

22. Mr. Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the encouragement of small and medium enterprises in Wales. [53167]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The Chancellor's recent Budget announcement included a number of fiscal measures to support SMEs at every stage. These include measures to promote enterprise in disadvantaged communities in Wales with stamp duty relief and Community Investment Tax Credit.

Dentistry

21. Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had on provision of NHS dental treatment in Wales. [53166]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Minister and the Health and Social Services Minister to discuss the NHS and other health matters.

Brussels (Welsh Representation)

23. Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with colleagues in the National Assembly in relation to official Welsh representation in Brussels. [53168]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with my ministerial colleagues to discuss a range of issues including representation of Wales in Europe. However, the issue of official Welsh representation in Brussels is entirely an internal matter for the Assembly.

I am pleased to note that the Assembly Executive recognises the importance of Wales having a strong voice in Europe and that it plans to clarify who represents Wales in Brussels—thereby strengthening its own representation in this region.

Devolution

25. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the devolution settlement. [53170]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The devolution settlement continues to work well, serving the interests of people both in Wales and the rest of the UK.

Climate Change Levy

26. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with

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ministerial colleagues about the impact of the climate change levy on manufacturing employment in Wales. [53171]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues and discuss a wide range of issues, including the impact of the climate change levy on manufacturing employment.

Part of the Government's strategy of encouraging energy efficiency through the Climate Change Levy (CCL) has been to move the burden of tax from 'goods' such as jobs to 'bads' such as pollution. The Government is committed to making Britain one of the most competitive environments for business in the world, which is demonstrated, for example, by the fact that the overall tax burden in the UK is much lower than the EU average. It is also important to consider the less-easily quantifiable costs on operating a business, such as employment regulation.

The climate change levy is small in proportion to total energy costs, and energy costs themselves are only a small proportion of total business costs. All sectors can reduce the impact of the levy on their costs by improving energy efficiency, and taking advantage of the available incentives.

Young People

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what subjects and on which dates his Department has recently consulted organisations representing young people; and if he will list such organisations. [52490]

Mr. Paul Murphy: None, the nature of its functions means that the Wales Office undertakes very few consultations. When it does so, though, my Department will take account of the new core principles for the involvement of children and young people published by my hon. Friend the Minister for Young People in November 2001.

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