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8 Dec 2004 : Column 546W—continued

Oil-fired Heating

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the (a) Environment Agency and (b) Oil Firing Technical Association on improving the training of installers of oil-fired heating equipment. [203410]

Phil Hope: There have been no representations to Ministers on improving the training of installers of oil fired heating equipment. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are in discussion with both the Environment Agency and the Oil Firing Technical Association however on improving compliance with the Building Regulations for controlling the risks of oil pollution from domestic oil fuel tanks.

Traveller Caravans

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Traveller caravans were on (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised sites in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [203589]

Keith Hill: The information is as follows:

(a) Figures for caravans on authorised sites in the Greater London area are as follows:

	Number
January 2002	649
July 2002	741
January 2003	621
July 2003	701
January 2004	699
July 2004	638

(b) figures for caravans on unauthorised sites in the Greater London area are as follows:

	Number
January 2002	163
July 2002	90
January 2003	100
July 2003	124
January 2004	170
July 2004	209

WALES

Railways Bill

13. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Cabinet and National Assembly for Wales Government colleagues on the impact of the Railways Bill on transport in Wales. [201789]

 
8 Dec 2004 : Column 547W
 

Mr. Touhig: I have regular discussions with colleagues about railways in Wales. Taken together with the Transport (Wales) Bill, the powers to be included in the Railways Bill will enable the Assembly to take forward its integrated transport strategy.

Rail Services

14. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the provision of rail services in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [201790]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Assembly Secretaries on a number of issues, including rail provision. The Railways Bill will devolve additional responsibilities to the Assembly for the Wales and Borders franchise, and the Assembly will be able to appoint a member to the Rail Passengers Council.

Public Service Broadcasting

15. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the future of public service broadcasting in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [201791]

Mr. Hain: I fully recognise the vital role public service broadcasting plays in Wales. I am supportive of the need to maintain a high standard of programming and productions relevant to Wales.

Invoice Payments

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to his Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it. [200629]

Mr. Touhig: The Wales Office publishes its policy on the payment of invoices issued to it and performance against the related target yearly in its Annual Report.

The most recent Annual Report (Cm 6228) was published in April 2004 and copies were laid in the parliamentary Libraries.

National Assembly for Wales

Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the memoranda of understanding under which responsibilities for specific services have been transferred to the National Assembly for Wales; and if he will put a copy of each memorandum in the Library. [199884]

Mr. Touhig: Responsibility for specific services can only be transferred to the Assembly by primary legislation or by Order under the Government of Wales Act 1998 (the Act).
 
8 Dec 2004 : Column 548W
 

Section 41 of the Act provides that arrangements may be made between the Assembly and any relevant authority for any functions of one of them to be exercised by, or by the staff of, the other. "Relevant authority" is defined as

"any Government Department, any local or public authority or the holder of any public office."

Such agreements do not transfer responsibility; they deal with administrative arrangements as to how it will be exercised.

No central record is kept of such agreements, but I am aware that a number are in force in both directions. The Act does not specify any particular form for these agreements.

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004; [201422]

(2) if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [201447]

Mr. Hain: The information is not held in the format requested. All special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the code of Conduct of Special Advisers.

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [203475]

Mr. Hain: None.

Post Office

Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Secretaries in the National Assembly for Wales Government on financial support for rural post offices in Wales. [201785]

Mr. Hain: I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues and the Assembly First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including the post office network in Wales.

Social Exclusion

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with National Assembly for Wales Secretaries and Cabinet colleagues on the impact of transport on social exclusion in Wales. [201786]

Mr. Touhig: I have regular discussions about matters affecting transport in Wales. This year, the Assembly is providing more than £8.5 million to local authorities under the local transport grant scheme, enabling them to boost the number and range of subsidised bus services, and support community transport projects.
 
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Welsh Development Agency

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the future of the Welsh Development Agency. [201788]

Mr. Hain: I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide variety of subjects, including the work of the Welsh Development Agency.

DEFENCE

Army Training Camp (Fremington)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Army training camp at Fremington, North Devon. [199950]

Mr. Caplin: At present we have no plans to change our use of Fremington camp. Should our intentions change in the future, I will ensure that the hon. Member and all the relevant local authorities are informed.

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