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30 Oct 2002 : Column 864W—continued

Hospital Building

14. Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Health Minister in Wales to discuss her hospital building programme. [76071]

Mr. Touhig: My right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State will continue to meet regularly with the National Assembly of Wales Health and Social Services Minister to discuss a range of issues, including the NHS in Wales.

Gravel Extraction

15. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary to discuss alternatives to sand and gravel extraction from the Bristol channel. [76072]

Peter Hain: Like my predecessor, I intend to have regular discussions with the First Minister about issues affecting Wales.

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I understand that it is primarily sand, which is extracted from the Bristol channel. This is currently the primary source of fine aggregates for the south-east Wales market.

I know that the Assembly is looking at a range of options for satisfying this demand. Their objective is to find a long-term solution which is economically viable, as well as being environmentally acceptable.

SMEs

16. Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about prospects for small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales. [76073]

Peter Hain: My predecessor met regularly with Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to discuss a wide range of issues, including small businesses and I will of course continue to do so.

Small and medium-sized enterprises account for over 99 per cent. of all businesses in Wales and are therefore crucial to the economic success of Wales. A number of measures in the Chancellor's budget will make a significant contribution to supporting small businesses in Wales. 6,000 Welsh SMEs will benefit from the corporation tax starting rate cut from 10 per cent. to zero and a further 13,000 will be helped by the 1 per cent. reduction in the small companies' rate. In addition, thousands of Welsh SMEs will benefit from measures to simplify their VAT.

Employment

17. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly concerning unemployment in Wales. [76075]

Peter Hain: I fully intend to continue to hold regular discussions with the First Minister on a range of issues including unemployment in Wales.

The Government recognise that certain sectors, particularly manufacturing, have experienced tough times, due largely to the world economic slowdown.

However, based on the non census adjusted figures for both Wales and the UK, there is evidence that we are closing the traditional gap between Welsh unemployment and UK unemployment. Welsh unemployment, at 5.3 per cent., is now barely higher than the comparable UK rate of 5.2 per cent.

22. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly on reducing long-term unemployment in Wales. [76079]

Peter Hain: 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.

Based on non-census adjusted figures for both Wales and the UK, there is evidence that we are closing the traditional gap between Welsh unemployment and UK unemployment. Welsh unemployment, at 5.3 per cent., is now barely higher than the comparable UK rate of 5.2 per cent.

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Employment measures such as the New Deal have been a huge success in Wales and are having an impact on long-term unemployment. In total, some 6,300 long-term unemployed people in Wales have secured sustained jobs through New Deal between the start of the New Deal 25+ programme in July 1998 and June 2002, when the most recent figures were published.

Flooding

18. Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what actions have been taken to reduce flooding of the rivers Teme and Severn in areas which cross the Welsh-English border. [76074]

Peter Hain: Flood prevention measures to protect land and property in Wales are a matter for the National Assembly.

Cardiff Art Gallery

19. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the creation in Cardiff of a gallery for contemporary Welsh artists. [76076]

Peter Hain: Like my predecessor, I plan to have regular discussions with the First Minister about a range of matters affecting Wales.

On 19 June, the National Museums and Galleries of Wales published a consultation paper, 'Views of the Future', setting out options for displaying the nation's art collection, including the work of contemporary Welsh artists.

In due course, the museum will report on the outcome of this consultation to the Assembly's Culture Minister.

Dairy Farming

20. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on dairy farming in Wales. [76077]

Peter Hain: This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Waiting Lists

21. Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales regarding the length of waiting lists in Wales. [76078]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I will continue to meet the National Assembly First Minister and Health Minister regularly to discuss a range of issues including the length of waiting lists.

I know that the Assembly and Welsh Trusts are working on a range of initiatives to tackle waiting lists, including recruitment and retention plans and the appointment of out-patient managers to manage booking arrangements for patients attending clinics.

Drugs and Crime

23. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the co-ordination

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taking place between his Department, other Whitehall departments and the Wales Assembly to combat drug abuse and drug-related crime. [76080]

Mr. Touhig: The UK Government, both the Wales Office and other Whitehall Departments, are committed to working with the National Assembly for Wales to tackle drug abuse and drug-related crime in Wales; I have regular meetings with my Ministerial colleagues, both in Whitehall and in the Assembly, to discuss these issues.

The National Assembly has developed its own strategy for tackling substance misuse: "Tackling Substance Misuse: A Partnership Approach". This strategy focuses on the problems in Wales and has Welsh solutions. This is one of the strengths of devolution: it enables the unique situations in Wales to be addressed by solutions that are tailor made for our communities.

In addition, the UK Government, working in conjunction with the National Assembly, is working to tackle the underlying causes of social deprivation. People in more affluent areas have better opportunities and life choices than people in deprived areas, who may turn to drugs as a means of escaping from their lifestyles.

Ministerial Meetings

24. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how often has (a) he and (b) his Under-Secretary attended meetings of the (i) Agriculture, (ii) Justice and Home Affairs, (iii) Environment and (iv) Transport Councils of Ministers in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and if he will make a statement. [76081]

Peter Hain: Neither my predecessor nor the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has attended any meetings of the Council of Ministers.

Clearly there is a limit to the number of people who can participate in any one delegation. Where council meetings cover issues of particular interest to the devolved administrations, the priority must be to accommodate Ministers from the devolved Administrations wherever possible.

Assembly Ministers have attended numerous council meetings as part of the UK delegation, including seven meetings of the Agriculture Council and one Environment Council.

The Government are committed to involving the devolved Administrations in formulating the UK's policy position in Europe, wherever appropriate.

Steelworkers' Pensions

25. Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly Government First Secretary and other Government colleagues concerning the pension situation of Welsh steel workers. [76082]

Peter Hain : My predecessor had regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues and the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales and discussed a range of issues including steelworkers pensions. I will of course continue to take a close interest and this will include discussions with stakeholders.

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The issue of ASW workers' pensions was also raised at Welsh Affairs Committee on 15 October 2002, at which my predecessor participated. The Government is trying to address the issue of security for pension scheme members and will consider this in the forthcoming Green Paper.

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