| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
9 Jun 2004 : Column 482W—continued
WALES
Dentistry
11. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with National Assembly for Wales Secretaries on funding for dentistry in Wales. [177364]
Mr. Hain: Health care in Wales, including dentistry, is a matter that I frequently discuss in my regular meetings with the Assembly First Minister.
Tax Credits
12. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the take-up of tax credits in Wales. [177365]
Mr. Touhig: The take-up of tax credits has been successful in Wales. There were 245,000 families in Wales receiving tax credits on 5 April this year, and this includes almost 228,000 families with around 400,000 children.
NHS Waiting Times
13. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales about progress in reducing NHS waiting times. [177366]
9 Jun 2004 : Column 483W
Mr. Hain: I regularly meet the Assembly First Minister and the health service in Wales is one of the topics that we frequently discuss.
Departmental Secondments
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in his Department were seconded from the (a) private and (b) academic sector in each of the last three years. [175369]
Mr. Hain: There have been no inward secondments to the Wales Office from the private and academic sectors during the last three years.
Ministerial Visits
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many journeys were made by helicopter by each Minister in his Department and its predecessors in each of the last 10 years; and what the journey length was in each case. [175733]
Mr. Hain: In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
Since the establishment of the Wales Office in 1999, my predecessor and I have made a total of two helicopter flights:
in 2002, my predecessor had 30-minute flight from Cardiff to Swansea during an official visit to Wales of Commissioner Prodi; and
in 2003, I had a 15-minute demonstration flight as part of a ministerial visit to a Cardiff based helicopter company.
National Assembly
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of the Welsh Assembly to the public purse was estimated to be at the commencement of the project. [174033]
Mr. Hain: The Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Government of Wales Bill estimated that the additional running costs to the Assembly would be £15 to £20 million more than the costs of running the Welsh Office.
There has been no increase in the block grant to Wales to meet the additional costs of devolution.
Any additional administrative costs arising from devolution are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
9 Jun 2004 : Column 484W
Smoking Ban
Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Health Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales on introducing a ban on smoking in public places in Wales. [177362]
Mr. Hain: My hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues across Government and with the Assembly about a number of issues, including those relating to smoking.
Welsh Language
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his policy to propose that Welsh be awarded official language status within the European Union. [177367]
Mr. Touhig: At home they say Welsh is the language of Heaven. But I am afraid I have to disappoint the hon. Gentleman and tell him that there are no plans to make Welsh an official language of the European Union.
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
Directorships (FTSE 100)
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women what plans she has for introducing (a) legislation and (b) other initiatives to encourage the appointment of more women as (a) executive directors and (b) non-executive directors to the boards of FTSE 100 companies; and if she will make a statement. [175927]
Ms Hewitt: Board appointments are a matter for companies and their nomination committees and shareholders. The Government recognises the need for all board members to be recruited on merit.
The Higgs Review drew attention to the importance of a rigorous selection process. As a consequence, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC)'s Combined Code, issued in July 2003 contains revised principles and provisions in this area.
Following publication of the Higgs and Tyson reports, a series of roundtable meetings were organised by my Department in partnership with several leading companies. This took forward discussion with Chairs, Chief Executives and senior figures from business, to raise awareness about the business case for greater diversity on boards and to gather examples of good practice.
We have also commissioned research to assess the current representation of directors from diverse backgrounds on FTSE 100 boards. This research has now been completed and will inform our thinking in this are which is one to which my right hon. Friend and I attach great importance.