19 Jun 2002 : Column 325W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 19 June 2002
WALES
Coastal Emergencies
8. Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding placing planning for coastal emergencies on a statutory footing in Wales. [59913]
Respite Facilities
9. Ann Clwyd: 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 provision of respite facilities in Wales. [59914]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I discuss health issues on a regular basis with the First Minister and the Health and Social Services Minister.
The principal services providers of respite facilities in Wales are: the social services department of local authorities; the NHS; the voluntary sector; and the independent care home sector.
Refrigerators
10. Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what facilities are in operation in Wales to recycle refrigerators in accordance with the EU Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations 2037/2000. [59916]
Mr. Touhig: I meet regularly with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues including recycling.
It is expected that two facilities for the recovery of ozone depleting substances from refrigerators and freezers will be operational in Wales by the end of the year.
Responsibility for disposal lies with the local authorities, with the policy responsibility resting with the National Assembly for Wales.
Millennium Stadium
11. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Home Department about additional resources for the policing of events of national significance at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. [59917]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with colleagues about a number of issues affecting Wales, including policing matters.
In recognition of additional policing costs arising in Cardiff while major football matches are being played at the Millennium Stadium, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has approved special payments of £300,000 to South Wales police in both 2001–02 and 2002–03.
19 Jun 2002 : Column 326W
Further and Higher Education
12. Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with (a) the National Assembly and (b) his Cabinet colleagues about cross-border access to higher and further education. [59919]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with colleagues to discuss a range of issues, including access to higher and further education.
M4 and Severn Bridge Closures
13. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the recent closures of the M4 and Severn Bridge. [59920]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I recently had the pleasure of meeting my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Edwards) to discuss this issue. I have received no other representations on this matter.
Family Farms
14. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the future viability of small family farms in Wales. [59921]
Mr. Paul Murphy: None. Such assessments are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, who have responsibility for agriculture in Wales.
I do, however, have regular discussions with the First Minister, which include agricultural matters.
The National Assembly has launched "Farming for the Future: a New Direction for Farming in Wales"—a distinctively Welsh agriculture strategy produced with the help and support of the industry. The strategy recognises the importance of family farms; gives prominence to developing high quality produce; and most importantly, sets out a vision based on sustainability in all its aspects—economically, environmentally and socially.
Unemployment
15. Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in North Wales. [59922]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Government's long-term ambition is that by the end of the decade there will be a higher proportion of people in work than ever before.
The latest labour market statistics, published last Friday, show that we are making excellent progress—3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before. The statistics also show that claimant rates are down compared to a year before across the whole of North Wales.
21. Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the effect in Wales of Government measures to create job opportunities for unemployed people. [59928]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Employment measures such as the New Deal have been a huge success in Wales and we have seen a 65 per cent. fall in youth claimants and a 58 per cent. fall in long-term claimants since those policies were introduced. The latest labour market
19 Jun 2002 : Column 327W
statistics for Wales, published last Friday, show that 3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before.
Regeneration
16. Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary regarding economic regeneration in towns. [59923]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues including economic regeneration in towns.
The Welsh Development Agency published its community regeneration policy for Wales in May 2000. The document sets out an area-based approach to community regeneration, integrating economic, social, cultural and environmental measures.
Building on its Market Towns Initiative, Small Towns and Villages Initiative and earlier work on both urban and rural regeneration, the WDA has developed a community regeneration toolkit, providing both revenue and capital support. This allows for mixing and matching of a number of support mechanisms for community regeneration.
SMEs in WDA project areas can also access the WDA's mainstream grant schemes, for example town improvement grants and environmental improvement grants.
Crime
17. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department about the impact in Wales of measures to reduce crime. [59924]
23. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department about the impact in Wales of measures to reduce crime. [59930]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with colleagues about a number of issues that impact on Wales.
Tackling crime is a priority for the Government. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales regularly meets the Crime Reduction Director for Wales, Mr. David A'Herne, who is charged with taking forward our key policies and initiatives aimed at fighting crime and disorder. Our co-ordinated approach is making a marked difference in communities throughout Wales.
Departmental Representation
18. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how often, in the last year, his office has been represented on Cabinet committees dealing with home affairs. [59925]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Both my hon. Friend and I are members of committees dealing with home affairs, which we attend on a regular basis.
Appeals Service
19. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Appeals Service in Wales to ensure that bilingual medical officers are available to users. [59926]
19 Jun 2002 : Column 328W
Mr. Touhig: Responsibility for the Appeals Service rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Persons are appointed to the appeal tribunal panel, including those medically qualified, by my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor. Operational matters rest with the chief executive of the Appeals Service.
Where an appeal tribunal requires a medically qualified panel member it is normally the case that the panel member will reside locally. However it will not always be the case that the medically qualified panel member will be bilingual. An interpreter will be made available where necessary.
Red Dragon Project
20. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the Red Dragon project; and if he will make a statement. [59927]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues at the Ministry of Defence.
Very little has changed since my earlier reply to a parliamentary question from the hon. Gentleman. The Welsh Development Agency continues to work with the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) and Defence Estates on the proposals to develop the site facilities, including the possibility of establishing an aerospace park at St. Athan.
There have been seven public meetings so far and I understand that the Ministry of Defence will continue to work closely with the local community, to keep it informed of developments as they take shape.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |