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21 Feb 2007 : Column 712W—continued


21 Feb 2007 : Column 713W

Job Creation

9. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the jobs created in Wales since 2001 have been in central and local government. [121349]

Nick Ainger: Employment in Wales is at historically high levels.

Office for National Statistics figures for the year ending quarter 3 2006 show that public sector employment in Wales has increased by 14,000 since 2001.

A40: Upgrading

11. Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the Welsh First Minister the upgrading of the A40 road to facilitate movement between England and Ireland. [121351]

Nick Ainger: My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet with Welsh Assembly Government colleagues to discuss issues affecting Wales, including roads.

Crime Statistics

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on crime statistics for Wales. [121354]

Mr. Hain: I have regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on all matters affecting Wales.

I am pleased that during 2005-06 total recorded crime in Wales fell, and detection rates increased.

Departments: Appeals

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date. [121711]

Mr. Hain: The information is as follows.

Departments: Complaints

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints were received by his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date. [121710]

Mr. Hain: The Wales Office came into being on 1 July 1999 and has no Executive agencies. As confirmed in our annual reports, in the period 2001-06
21 Feb 2007 : Column 714W
we have received no formal complaints, and we have received no formal complaints in 2006-07 to date.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date. [121712]

Mr. Hain: The Wales Office was created in 1999.

As it is a very small Department (54 staff in 2005-06) and has no Executive responsibilities, it has never needed a dedicated complaints unit, and therefore no staff have been employed for such purposes.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that it and related bodies are in compliance with the gender equality duty in the Equality Act 2006 by the April 2007 deadline. [120992]

Mr. Hain: The Wales Office is part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs and will therefore be covered by the DCA Gender Equality Scheme, due to be implemented by 30 April 2007.

Departments: Official Cars

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many vehicles belonging to his Department were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each year since 1997; and what the (i) make and model and (ii) value was of each vehicle. [121367]

Mr. Hain: None.

Departments: Theft

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department’s buildings or premises in the last 12 months. [121969]

Mr. Hain: None.

Efficiency in Public Services Review

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he last met Ministers in HM Treasury to discuss the effects of Gershon job cuts on the Objective One area of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [120350]

Mr. Hain: My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State met the Paymaster General on 15 January 2007 to discuss the HM Revenue and Customs Change Programme and its impact on West Wales and the Valleys and Wales as a whole.

The Paymaster General and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary have agreed to meet with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government to discuss ways of ensuring that the Welsh Assembly Government are fully involved in the consultation
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process. This is the beginning of a genuine consultation process, no decision on the future of any particular office have been made.

HM Revenue and Customs Office

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Treasury and the Welsh Assembly Government on the proposed reorganisation of the HM Revenue and Customs office estate in West Wales and the Valleys. [121353]

Nick Ainger: I met the Paymaster General on 15 January 2007 to discuss the HM Revenue and Customs Change Programme and its impact on West Wales and the Valleys and Wales as a whole. I have also discussed this with the First Minister.

Legal Opinion

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has met Ministers in the Department for Constitutional Affairs to discuss the effects of the Carter reforms on the provision of publicly funded legal services in Wales. [120349]

Mr. Hain: The Wales Office has been in discussion with the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) at official level. We recognise that local factors are important, and what is done in Wales must be the subject of consultation there. My hon. Friend the Minister responsible for Legal Aid recently met with hon. Members representing Welsh constituencies to discuss the matter.

On 13 July 2006, DCA published a consultation paper “Legal Aid: A Sustainable Future”, simultaneously with the independent report by Lord Carter of Coles, “Legal Aid A Market-based Approach to Reform”. The Government are fully committed to the market-based approach set out by Lord Carter. On 28 November 2006 DCA published “Legal Aid Reform: The Way Ahead”. This sets out how the reforms to the procurement of legal aid services are to be taken forward, moving towards a market-based system, and taking account of the responses received to the consultation.

North Wales

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last visited a constituency in North West Wales. [120352]

Mr. Hain: I last visited North West Wales on 26 to 27 October 2006. I look forward to when I get an opportunity to visit the area again.

Transport

Departments: Official Cars

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles belonging to his Department were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each year since 1997; and what the (i) make and model and (ii) value was of each vehicle. [121365]


21 Feb 2007 : Column 716W

Gillian Merron: The Department was formed in May 2002. Based upon records kept in the Department and its agencies, the following vehicles it owns have been recorded as lost.

2006
Department or agency Lost or stolen Number Make and model Value (£000)

MCA

Lost(1)

5

Ford Focus

3.300

Vauxhall Astra

2,000

Ford Focus

3,300

Nissan Navara

8,200

Land Rover 90

3,000

GCDA

Lost(1)

4

Vauxhall Omega 2.6 Saloon

3,925

Vauxhall Omega 2.6 Saloon

3,400

Ford Transit SWB Duel Fuel

3,075

Ford Transit SWB Duel Fuel

3,550

HA

Lost(1)

4

Toyota Land Cruiser

15,000

Nissan Pathfinder

15,000

Mitsubishi Shogun

15,000

Nissan Pathfinder

15,000

VOSA

Lost(1)

3

Volkswagen Passat

5,300

Ford Galaxy

17,000

Ford Focus

2,250

Total

118,300


2005
Department or agency Lost or stolen Number Make and model Value (£000)

MCA

Lost(2)

1

Nissan Navara

20,000

GCDA

Lost(1)

1

Vauxhall Omega 2.6 Saloon

3,600

DVLA

Lost(1)

1

Vauxhall Astra

Not available(3)

HA

Lost(1)

2

Mitsubishi Shogun

15,000

Range Rover

15,000

VOSA

Lost(1)

1

Ford Galaxy

18,000

Total

71,600


21 Feb 2007 : Column 717W

2004
Department or agency Lost or stolen Number Make and model Value (£000)

MCA

Lost(1)

3

Ford Focus

3,100

Nissan Navara

10,800

Nissan Terrano

1,025

DVLA

Lost(1)

1

Peugeot Partner

Not applicable(4)

VOSA

Lost(1)

1

Skoda Octavia

7,500

Total

22,425

(1 )Accident
(2 )Arson
(3 )Not available (Hire Vehicles, costs covered and dealt with direct via insurance company,
(4 )Not applicable (car value was 3,300, costs recovered via insurance,

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