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WALES

Antisocial Behaviour

10. Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Office on introducing fixed penalty notices for antisocial behaviour in parts of Wales. [83077]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues about matters affecting Wales.

The Government are committed to tackling antisocial behaviour, which can cause considerable distress and upset to those who live in the localities where it occurs.

Fixed penalty notices for certain types of antisocial behaviour are currently being piloted in a part of North Wales.

The intention is to roll the scheme out nationally.

26. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the use of antisocial behaviour order in Wales. [83093]

Peter Hain: The targeted use of antisocial behaviour orders—and less formal sanctions such as acceptable behaviour contracts, curfew and parenting orders and 'On the Spot' fines has been effective in tackling offenders.

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We are committed to legislation in this session to reduce further the scourge of anti-social behaviour.

Socially Deprived Communities

11. Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about measures to improve the health of individuals in socially deprived communities in Wales. [83078]

Mr. Touhig: I have regular meetings with my ministerial colleagues at the National Assembly for Wales and health care is an issue that regularly arises in our discussions.

Red Dragon Project

12. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Ministers on the Red Dragon Project in the Vale of Glamorgan. [83079]

Peter Hain: I very much welcome the agreement on the Red Dragon Project in St Athan between the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, DARA and WDA, in August, for a state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance facility and a high tech aerospace park which will safeguard around 4,000 jobs.

Assembly Finance

13. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss the implications of the pre-Budget review for the financing of the Assembly with the First Secretary. [83080]

Peter Hain: I have already discussed this with the First Minister.

Crime Statistics

14. Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on levels of crime in Wales. [83081]

Mr. Touhig: Recorded crime in Wales has fallen by 16 per cent. since 1997.

Aerospace Industry

15. Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Trade and Industry and (b) the Treasury on repayable launch aid for the development of the aerospace industry in Wales. [83082]

Peter Hain: The Government have been, and continue to be, supportive of the aerospace industry in the UK. Since 1997, we have committed nearly £1 billion in Launch Investment (previously known as Launch Aid) for major new large aircraft and engine projects.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, announced on 16 May this year the establishment of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (IGT), led by Sir Richard Evans. The IGT, as part of its remit, is considering medium to long-term strategic issues affecting the aerospace sector, including the future of Government support mechanisms. Sir Richard and his team are currently about halfway

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through their work, and I expect the IGT to report by next spring with recommendations and an agreed action plan to take the industry forward.

Eye Tests

16. Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales about the degree to which exemption from charges for eye tests can be extended. [83083]

Mr. Touhig: The National Assembly for Wales is able to determine fees for NHS sight tests and the groups that qualify for free sight tests, in the same way as the Department of Health can in England.

Sight tests should not be confused with eye health examinations. The Wales Eye Care Initiative provides for free eye health examinations for certain groups of people identified as being at higher risk of developing eye disease than the rest of the population.

Industrial Relations

17. Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding industrial relations in north-west Wales. [83084]

Peter Hain: I regularly meet Cabinet colleagues and discuss a range of issues including industrial relations.

The Government have noted the decision of the Employment Tribunal in respect of Friction Dynamics, and will study the full judgment once it is available.

The law on dismissal of striking workers is under review as part of the Employment Relations Act 1999. The Government are currently talking to unions, employers and others to gather evidence, and will produce a consultation document in early 2003.

GP Services

18. 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 GP services in Wales. [83085]

Mr. Touhig: I have regular meetings with the Assembly's First Minister, and the provision of health care in all parts of Wales is a matter that we regularly discuss. The National Assembly has put in place a number of actions to attract GPs to Valley's communities—for example, the discretionary recruitment and retention initiatives, and improvements to premises.

Objective 5

19. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress being made under Objective 5 of his 2002–03 objectives. [83086]

Peter Hain: A revised version of the Statement of Funding Policy, XFunding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly" was published in July this year at the time of

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Spending Review 2002. It is available from HM Treasury and can also be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fundingguidance.

Top-up Fees

20. Mr. Robathan: 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 top-up fees for Welsh universities. [83087]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend meets regularly with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including higher education.

Bovine TB

21. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the spread of bovine TB in Wales and in English/Welsh border areas. [83088]

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with the First Secretary about a variety of agricultural matters.

I welcome the recent announcement of relaxation on movements from mid January, which will come as some relief to the industry.

However, this UK wide relaxation will be based on rigorous risk assessment as part of the on-going drive towards control and eradication of this disease.

Police Community Support

22. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Office on the use of police community support officers in Wales. [83089]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues about matters affecting Wales.

Community Support Officers are a key part of our Police Reform programme. They are an additional resource aimed at further reducing crime and the fear of crime. They will be police authority employees who will help provide a highly visible policing presence on the streets and help tackle nuisance crime.

27 forces in England and Wales have successfully bid for funding. Gwent is one of these forces and will receive £900,000, which will pay for 30 officers in 2003–04.

Manufacturing

24. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the state of manufacturing in Wales. [83091]

Peter Hain: While manufacturing output in Wales fell in the last four quarters by 7.3 per cent. compared with the same figures a year ago, output for the last quarter rose by 2.6 per cent.

The general UK slowdown in manufacturing, which began in 2001, was clearly influenced by the synchronised global slowdown, collapse in demand for ICT-related goods and heightened uncertainty in the aftermath of 11 September.

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The slowdown remains a global phenomenon, but Wales and the UK stand ready to benefit from any sustained recovery due to the Government's pro-active enterprise agenda.

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