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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 18 January 2006

WALES

Offshore Wind Farms

8. Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future development of offshore wind farms in Wales. [41801]

9. Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future development of offshore wind farms in Wales. [41802]

Mr. Hain: The Government are deeply concerned about the extent of climate change and the future security of energy supply. Offshore wind and other forms of renewables will be vital to meeting the UK's energy needs.

National Health Service (Capital Investment)

10. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with National Assembly for Wales colleagues on capital investment in the NHS in Wales over the next three years. [41803]

Nick Ainger: I have regular discussions with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of issued including the capital investment programme in Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government is overseeing significant new capital expenditure in the NHS which will increase from £120 million in 2005–06 to £309 million in 2007–08.

Employment Levels

11. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what change has occurred in the level of employment in Wales since 1997. [41804]

Mr. Hain: There are over 100,000 more people in employment in Wales today than there were in 1997. This represents an increase in the employment rate of almost 4 percentage points.

12. Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on employment levels in (a) Alyn and Deeside and (b) Wales. [41805]

Mr. Hain: Over the past year, employment levels in Wales have been historically high-over 1.3 million peple in Wales are in employment. Alyn and Deeside also enjoys high employment, with an employment rate that is higher than the Wales average.

Wylfa Nuclear Power Station

13. Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Wylfa nuclear power station. [41806]

 
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Nick Ainger: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) assumed responsibility for the decommissioning and clean up of the UK's civil nuclear legacy on 1 April 2005. The NDA has set out its plans for the decommissioning and clean up of its sites including Wylfa in its draft Strategy. The draft indicates that Wylfa will cease generation by 2010.

Anglesey Aluminium Metal Ltd, which is a significant employer to the area, currently takes most of its energy from Wylfa, is reviewing its future energy supply beyond 2010, in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government.

Homelessness

14. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the take-up of benefits available to tackle homelessness in Wales. [41807]

Nick Ainger: In 2004–05 housing benefit payments in Wales totalled £560 million.

An additional £900,000 was provided in discretionary housing payments to claimants who needed further assistance in meeting rent or council tax payments.

This year, the Welsh Assembly Government have provided £76.4 million in social housing grant. This is an increase of £17 million over last year and will rise to £96.4 million in 2007–08.

National Police Force

15. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the proportion of the Welsh electorate which supports the establishment of a national police force for Wales. [41808]

Mr. Hain: I have not made such an estimate. Police authorities in Wales have led on consultation with the public and stakeholders in developing their proposals for restructuring. I expect that this consultation will continue throughout January.

However, having discussed the issue with a wide-range of interested parties, I can see no realistic alternative to a single strategic force for Wales.

Anti-poverty Strategies

Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aberavon of 15 December 2005, Official Report, columns 2275–6W, on anti-poverty strategies, under what section of the Government of Wales Act 1998 the National Assembly is empowered to formulate an international development strategy. [42282]

Mr. Hain [holding answer 16 January 2006]: The draft Welsh international sustainable development framework covers a broad range of activity some of which will fall within the Assembly's duty to promote sustainable development under s 121 of the Government of Wales Act 1998.

The National Assembly for Wales will have additional powers from April 2006 under the International Development Act 2002. These powers are subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for International Development.
 
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CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what proportion of the premises occupied by the Church Commissioners is fitted with audible fire alarms. [42887]

Sir Stuart Bell: All the offices occupied by Church Commissioners' staff (at 1 Millbank and Elizabeth House, Waterloo) are fitted with audible fire alarms.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House what proportion of the premises occupied by his Office is fitted with audible fire alarms. [42876]

Mr. Hoon: All space occupied by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons at 2 Carlton Gardens is fitted with an audible fire alarm.

My Office also occupies office space in the House of Commons. Fire alarms are the responsibility of the Serjeant at Arms.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a definitive statement about the deployment of troops into Helmand Province in Afghanistan; and what their role will be. [42047]

John Reid: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the statement made on 14 November 2005, Official Report, column 41WS by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces.

As he said then, and as I previously informed the House on 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 479, the United Kingdom has preliminary plans to support the expansion of the NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan by establishing a British-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in the province of Helmand.

Work continues within NATO on the configuration of the international force package for ISAF expansion in southern Afghanistan. We will take decisions in light of this work, and will inform the House at the earliest opportunity.

Atomic Weapons Establishment (Aldermaston)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Crown immunity applies in the case of the AWE planning application for a new laser facility at Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement. [41945]

Mr. Touhig: The normal planning process cannot be used for the proposed Atomic Weapons Establishment Orion Laser Development at Aldermaston because the Ministry of Defence (MOD), as a Crown Department,
 
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is not subject to the statutory planning process and is therefore not legally able to submit formal planning applications.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 7 December 2005, Official Report, column 1348W. It explained that the MOD follows a consultation process with the local planning authority under DoE Circular 18/84 which largely mirrors the statutory planning system. It is this Department's policy to support any development proposals with the same level of background information that would be required under the statutory planning system.

The MOD works closely with local authorities to address any concerns raised in connection with any development proposals. The Local Planning Authority can also stipulate conditions when responding. While the perception may be that my Department claims Crown Immunity" from planning regulation, it does in fact follow the practice of the normal planning process and also strives to follow its principles.

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