Huw
Irranca-Davies: I assure the hon. Gentleman, who raises
important points about the nature of community pharmacies in Wales,
that the Assembly Health Minister and I have met Community Pharmacy
Wales, as I mentioned. We have listened to its concerns and are in
active discussions with the Assembly and United Kingdom Health
Ministers about them. The good news is that action is already under way
in response to that to forge an agreement between the Assembly Health
Minister and pharmacy representatives in Wales to have a staged action
plan for further development of a community pharmacist role in Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Minister envisages completion of that later this
summer. Chris
Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): The Minister knows that Wales has
one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe. As many young
people in my constituency have said to me, pharmacies are important in
making sure that they have access to contraception and to emergency
contraception in particular. Will he talk to Welsh Health Ministers
about extending the pilot scheme that has been advanced in some areas
whereby emergency contraception is available free across the whole of
Wales? Will he also ensure that free contraception is more readily
available to youngsters so that they can take safe
precautions?
Huw
Irranca-Davies: Indeed, I am more than happy to raise the
matter in one of our regular discussions with the Assembly Health
Minister. My hon. Friend
raises an important issue and one that has been pointed out in terms of
many communities, including those that we represent. We must address
the problem of the high rate of teenage pregnancies and consider the
better support that we can give. England and Wales have a shared agenda
to ensure that the right policies are in place and that the right
action is happening on the ground so that we can eat into our current
high teenage pregnancy
rate. Mark
Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): I understand the comments of
the hon. Member for Rhondda. He will know that his constituency has one
of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in not only Wales, but the
United Kingdom.
Chris
Bryant: I do not know that
actually.
Mark
Pritchard: If the hon. Gentleman wants to check the facts,
I think he will find that that is the case.
[Interruption.] I checked the figures last week.
When was the last time he checked
them? The
fact remains that the only way in which we can deal with the issue is
to improve sex education. I hope that the hon. Gentleman at least
agrees with that. The way to reduce teenage pregnancies is not to
encourage the use of emergency contraception, which I believe will only
increase teenage pregnancies. Does the Minister agree that we need to
improve sex education and access to contraception? What we do not need
is quick fixes. We need to get to the root of the
problem.
Huw
Irranca-Davies: The hon. Gentleman raises an important
point. An immediate magic bullet solution will not solve the problem.
The solution is joined up to education, and good quality appropriate
sex and relationship education is certainly a key part of that. I take
his comments on board and, once again, in my discussions with Assembly
colleagues, I shall pass on his concerns. It is certainly right that we
should take a joined-up approach to resolving the problem that has been
long embedded in many of our areas.
Ann
Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): As my hon. Friend knows,
Remploy in my constituency makes products only for the NHS.
Unfortunately, it has failed to secure public procurement contracts in
Wales. Will he do everything possible to ensure that the process is
assisted because it is essential for the future of Remploy in the Cynon
Valley?
Huw
Irranca-Davies: Perhaps I can meet my right hon. Friend to
discuss the matter further. The Wales Office will certainly be more
than willing to assist in whatever way it can in advancing the case for
the workers within her Remploy factory. I know she has already done a
sterling job in advancing that case
already. Telephone
Boxes4.
Mr.
Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy) (PC):
What recent representations he has received on the
announcement by BT that it is seeking to reduce the number of its
public telephone boxes in Wales; and if he will make a
statement. [210774] The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Huw
Irranca-Davies): I have a one-word answer
here—none. We have had no representations as
yet.
Mr.
Llwyd: It is better than two words. I welcome you to the
Chair of the Welsh Grand Committee, Mr. Atkinson—I
hope that you have a wonderful day out.
May I draw
attention to my early-day motion 1680, which is currently doing the
rounds? BT intends to cut at least 25 per cent. of pay phones
throughout Wales, and I understand that rural areas will be hardest
hit. My concern is that many rural areas do not have any mobile
telephone coverage, and that the cut will cause danger. In the county
of Conwy, 28 per cent. of pay phones are going to disappear; in
Gwynedd, the figure is 27 per cent; in Powys, it is 43 per cent; in
Ceredigion, it is 35 per cent, and in Ynys Môn, it is 35 per
cent. There is a big issue here, and I am sure that the Under-Secretary
will engage with BT on
it.
Huw
Irranca-Davies: I am more than happy to do so. The hon.
Gentleman is right. Although there are high levels of mobile phone
ownership in Wales and higher than average take-up of private land
lines, we must recognise that mobile phone blackspots cause major
challenges. I know that the hon. Gentleman has been leading a vigorous
campaign in his area. We urge hon. Members to make clear to BT their
concerns about their local areas, and we, too, will convey those
concerns. Mr.
Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con): One potential
solution to the mobile blackspots problem that the Under-Secretary
correctly identifies, which would partly solve the problem that the
hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy raised, is to encourage mobile
phone operators to share networks. It is technically possible, because
we can make emergency calls even in mobile blackspots. Will the
Under-Secretary look at the private Member’s Bill being promoted
by my hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), which
seeks to achieve exactly that, as part of the solution for
Wales?
Huw
Irranca-Davies: I have not yet come across that private
Member’s
Bill.
Mr.
Crabb: Ten-minute
Bill.
Huw
Irranca-Davies: I will, indeed, look at it. As with many
such issues, it is important that we do the right thing for our
constituents and consider the best way forward. If, under the auspices
of the Wales Office, we can apply a little pressure here and there to
examine how we can better join up connectivity across Wales, not only
for mobile phones but for land lines, we will certainly bring it to
bear. Seaside
Towns5.
Chris
Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab):What recent
discussions he has had with Cabinet and Welsh Assembly Government
colleagues on co-ordination of policy for the regeneration of seaside
towns in Wales. [210775] The
Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Paul Murphy):
My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary and I regularly meet ministerial and
Welsh Assembly Government colleagues to discuss issues affecting Wales,
especially the co-ordination of policies.
Chris
Ruane: May I inform my right hon. Friend of the hundreds
of millions of pounds that have been pumped by the private sector into
Rhyl? Modus has invested £85 million; there has been £60
million of redevelopment for the top of the high street, and local
developers Lee Webber and David Hague are redeveloping the whole of
Rhyl promenade. However, in the public sector, the fire service and the
police have relocated their headquarters outside the town of Rhyl; the
Department for Work and Pensions closed down the benefits agency three
years ago at a cost of 150 jobs; and HMRC now proposes to close the tax
office in Rhyl, with a loss of 50 jobs. What steps will my right hon.
Friend take to ensure that there is a joined-up approach to
regeneration in seaside
towns?
Mr.
Murphy: First, I want to say how well my hon. Friend has
worked as the leader of the unemployment group in Rhyl. His tireless
efforts have, I believe, led to the transformation of the town from
what it was 10 or 15 years ago. I entirely agree that there is a case
for looking at Welsh Assembly Government, UK Government and local
authority policies across the board—whether city strategies, the
old objective 1 funding, lottery money, and so on—and bringing
them together to ensure that the best possible solutions are found to
regenerate towns like Rhyl, which has been a success
story. Mr.
David Jones (Clwyd, West) (Con): The Secretary of State
knows that amusement arcades are major wet weather attractions in
seaside resorts. Since the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005,
arcades across the country have experienced a decline in income of
approximately 21 per cent. The Under-Secretary of State for Culture,
Media and Sport, the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr.
Sutcliffe) is considering reviewing the 2005 Act to increase the stakes
playable on arcade machines and to permit an increase in the number of
machines in amusement arcades. Given that we are now at the start of
the season, will the Secretary of State have words with the
Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and urge him to
complete that review as quickly as
possible?
Mr.
Murphy: I understand the hon. Gentleman’s points,
especially in view of the weather that Wales has from time to time. It
is important to have attractions other than the beach. I am not an
expert on arcades or gambling machines, but I will take the matter up
with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and
Sport. Employment
Guidelines6.
Nia
Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): What assessment
he has made of the potential impact on Wales of new employment
guidelines for temporary and agency workers.
[210776] The
Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Paul Murphy):
I begin by placing on record my appreciation and recognition of the
work my hon. Friend has undertaken in this important field. Last week,
the Government reached agreement with other European member states,
which will mean that agency workers receive equal treatment after 12
weeks’ employment. That will give increased protection to agency
workers and guard against unfair wage undercutting without putting jobs
at risk or cutting off a valuable route into
employment.
Nia
Griffith: As my right hon. Friend knows, the use of agency
workers is widespread in my constituency and across Wales. For many
years, agency workers have worked in well established companies and in
the public sector, receiving far lower wages and working in far worse
conditions than permanent employees. Will my right hon. Friend give
assurances that the implementation of the agency worker directive will
apply to workers who are already working for agencies under existing
contracts with their
employers?
Mr.
Murphy: As far as I know, I can give that assurance. I
will have to check the detail of the legislation with my colleagues in
the Government. I think that my hon. Friend would agree that somewhere
between 50,000 and 70,000 agency workers in Wales will benefit from the
measure. It will lead to benefits in basic employment conditions that
agency workers did not previously have, relating to pay, holidays,
overtime, breaks, rest periods, night work and duration of working
time. I will take up the specific point up with my Government
colleagues. Cross
Border
Health7.
Mark
Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): If he will
hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Health about health
inequalities between border counties in Wales and England, which share
acute and primary services.
[210777] The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Huw
Irranca-Davies): I regularly discuss a wide range of
issues with my colleagues in the Department of Health, including the
delivery of health care for Welsh and English patients in border
areas.
Mark
Pritchard: When it comes to the NHS in Wales, the fine
people of Wales are unfortunately treated as second-class citizens. I
was surprised last week when the First Minister admitted before the
Select Committee on Welsh Affairs to having no aspiration or policy to
increase health solutions in Wales. That must come as not only a shock,
but a disappointment to the people of Wales, who want more in-Wales
solutions. Does the Under-Secretary share the aspiration for more
in-Wales health solutions or does he agree with the First Minister, who
seems ambivalent on the
issue?
Huw
Irranca-Davies: It is important that patients in north,
south or mid-Wales receive the appropriate treatment, whether or not
that comes from an in-Wales solution. As the hon. Gentleman said, there
is a case for delivering as much as possible through in-Wales
solutions, but we cannot ignore the cross-border flows or the fact that
some delivery is provided on both sides of Offa’s dyke.
There are strong relationships between trusts on both sides of
Offa’s dyke. While I understand his point, we cannot be overly
prescriptive—to misuse the phrase—and say that there
should be one model. We cannot say that there should be an in-Wales
solution or an out-of-Wales solution. The rational way of proceeding is
surely to do what is best for the
patient. Dr.
Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): The hon. Member for The
Wrekin must have attended a rather different meeting from the one that
I attended. The tone and approach of the First Minister were positive,
and the two words that came over were “practical” and
“pragmatic”. Does my hon. Friend agree that the approach
of the First Minister at that session should be
welcomed?
Huw
Irranca-Davies: My hon. Friend makes an important point,
because I was struggling to recognise which part of the transcript the
hon. Member for The Wrekin was citing. It is right that people want a
pragmatic, rational approach to health care. Ultimately, it is down to
the experience of the patient. They want the best possible care in the
best possible way, and that requires a pragmatic, rational
approach. Lembit
Öpik (Montgomeryshire) (LD): Is the Under-Secretary
not aware that my constituents in Montgomeryshire are repeatedly told
that they would get treatment more quickly if they lived in England,
and that, because they come from Wales, there are longer waiting lists
and they have to wait longer to have their suffering alleviated? Is he
not aware that that does untold damage to the reputation of the Welsh
Assembly Government? When will my constituents and those of other
constituencies along the border of England and Wales be treated on an
equal basis when they require the services of the health service in
England?
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