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Mr. Gwilym Jones : Our rural housing reserve offers local authorities the opportunity to address a range of priority social housing needs.
Housing
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to issue new guidelines to local authorities in Wales on (a) housing needs assessment research and (b) the development of housing needs strategies.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : I have no immediate plans to do so.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to establish an agency to co-ordinate housing needs research and the development of localised housing needs assessment plans in Wales, with the responsibility for providing guidelines and funding for such localised initiatives.
Nature Conservation
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) nature conservation review sites and (b) national nature reserves there are in Wales ; and if he
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will list the nature conservation review sites which have been created as national nature reserves in Wales in each of the last five years.Sir Wyn Roberts : The numbers of nature conservation review sites and national nature reserves in Wales are 111 and 49 respectively. The nature conservation review sites which have been declared as national nature reserves within the last five years are as follows :
Year |Declared as national
|nature reserve
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |Coed y Cerrig
1989 |None
1990 |Kenfig
1991 |Coedmor
|Corsydd Llangloffan
|Crymlyn Bog (Extension)
1992 |Coed Rheidol (Extension)
|Cors Caron (Extension)
|Dyfi (Extension)
|Rhos Llawr-Cwrt (Extension)
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase available funding to nature conservation review sites for the maintenance of the sites of special scientific interest network and their effective monitoring.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The Countryside Council for Wales, which has statutory responsibility for these activities, determines the amount of resources to be allocated to each of its programmes within its overall budget. Decisions on the future funding of the council will be announced shortly.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to set a target of transferring at least 10 nature conservation review sites into national nature reserves per annum.
Sir Wyn Roberts : No. The responsibility for declaring national nature reserves in Wales rests with the Countryside Council for Wales. The rate of progress depends on the funds available and the willingness of site owners to enter into the required commitments.
Smoke Control Orders
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many smoke control orders were in force in Wales, what area was covered in thousands of hectares and how many premises were affected in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985 and (iii) 1990.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information on the number of smoke control orders in force in Wales is not held centrally. However, Welsh Office records indicate that 37 such orders were introduced in Wales in the period 1960- 1988, covering over 1,500 hectares and more than 24,000 premises. No new orders have been made since 1988.
Dentistry
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of whether discharges of mercury from dental surgeries pose an environmental risk.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones : All persons charged with the maintenance and operation of dental surgeries are covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988, as amended. On the basis of an international standard specification, dental practices are required to install units to extract solid amalgam for recycling.
The Health and Safety Executive has inspectorial rights generally, and family health service authorities have the right of access to premises where general dental services are provided, to confirm appropriate standards of provision.
There is no evidence to suggest that free metallic mercury from dental practices is presenting a significant hazard to the environment. The use of capsulated materials prevents the release of mercury vapour or liquid into the environment.
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by family health service authority area the general dental practitioners who are now de-registering national health services patients.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information is not held centrally. I am aware that some de-registration is taking place in all authority areas, for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, the overall number of NHS registrations in Wales continues to rise, and stood at 58.5 per cent. of the population as at 30 September 1992. This is a higher proportion than health departments or the profession anticipated at this stage of the contract.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many new patients have been registered with dentists in Wales in each of the last three years ; and how many were (a) children receiving NHS treatment, (b) children receiving non-NHS treatment, (c) adults receiving non-NHS treatment, (d) adults receiving NHS treatment but not entitled to exemption payments and (e) adults receiving NHS dental treatment and receiving exemption payment ; (2) how many dentists have been operational in Wales in each of the last three years ; and what are (a) the total numbers of (i) NHS and (ii) non-NHS children treated in each year and (b) the total numbers of (1) NHS and (2) non-NHS adult patients treated.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The number of dental practitioners who were in contract with family health services authorities in Wales in each of the past three years is as follows :
As at 1 October 1990:837
As at 1 October 1991:832
As at 30 June 1992 :844
Information is not held centrally on non-NHS treatment. Information on the number of patients receiving NHS treatment is not available, however the number of patients registered with a GDP in Wales is as follows :
|Children |Adults
------------------------------------------------------
As at 30 September 1991 |388,495 |891,380
As at 30 September 1992 |416,308 |1,270,178
Since the introduction of the new contract in October 1990, information is not available centrally on the number of NHS courses of treatment undergone by children as
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treatment for children is now paid for on a capitation basis. The number of NHS courses of treatment undergone by adults in Wales in 1991-92 was 1,342,273. Of these 74.8 per cent. had a patient charge and 25.2 per cent. had remission or exemption of charges. As charges and remission/exemption are for a particular course of treatment, it is not possible to say how many people these figures relate to.Public Appointments
Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reconsider his policy of appointing the same person to more than one public body in Wales, especially when the posts are paid.
Mr. David Hunt : No, all public appointments will continue to be made on the basis of aptitude and merit.
South Glamorgan Health Authority
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures he will follow in filling the vacancy on the board of the South Glamorgan health authority.
Mr. David Hunt : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 24 November, at column 633.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the names of chairmen-elect of the second-wave NHS trusts.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : An announcement was made on 23 November.
National Nature Reserves
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total amount of funding granted to national nature reserves by his Department in each of the last five years.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Prior to 1 April 1991, this was the responsibility of the Nature Conservancy Council and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. Funding made available by the Countryside Council for Wales for National Nature Reserves in 1991-92 was as follows :
|1991-92
|£
--------------------------------------
Acquisition costs |820,393
Management costs |1,032,097
|-------
Totals |1,852,490
These figures include expenditure on marine nature reserves.
Treatment Centres
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by how much West Glamorgan health authority will increase its use of the treatment centre at Bridgend, and the treatment centre in Bangor, in accordance with his decision letter on the future provision of night-time casualty services in west Glamorgan of 29 October.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones : The use of these treatment centres, beyond that level centrally funded by the Welsh Office, is a matter for each health authority to negotiate directly with the centres.
Pollution
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing concentration rates of (a) sulphur dioxide, (b) black smoke and (c) nitrogen oxides at each monitoring site in Wales in each year since 1976 ; and what was the corresponding EC limit value in each case.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Figures showing the concentration rates of sulphur dioxide and black smoke at urban and rural air monitoring sites in Wales are on pages 98 and 99 of the "Environmental Digest for Wales No. 6 1991", copies of which are held in the Library of the House. Tables giving EC directive limit and guide values for smoke and sulphur dioxide are at page 97.
Nitrogen oxides have been monitored continuously since 1987, but no specific figures are available for Wales. However, the "Survey of Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations in the United Kingdom Using Diffusion Tubes, 1991", a copy of which is also in the Library of the House, indicates that, on the basis of the monitoring undertaken, nitrogen dioxide levels in Wales are below recommended EC directive limits.
Education Bill
Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place the results of consultation on the Education Bill in the Library.
Sir Wyn Roberts : No. Such correspondence is a private matter between the individual and the Department. It is nevertheless open to those who responded to make their comments public and indeed, some organisations have already done so.
Deeside Industrial Park
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement concerning planning applications by the Welsh Development Agency and Alyn and Deeside district council to extend Deeside industrial park ;
(2) when he expects to rule upon applications to extend Deeside industrial park.
Mr. David Hunt : My hon. Friend the Minister of State called in the planning application for proposed business and industrial development on land north of Shotwick road, Deeside because it raises planning issues of more than local importance. A decision on the application will be issued as soon as possible after the inspector's report has been received following a public local inquiry.
Car Journeys
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of car journeys in Wales were for distances of 5 miles or less for the latest year for which figures are available.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The 1985-86 national travel survey--the latest for which results are available for Wales--found that 65 per cent. of car journeys in Wales covered distances of 5 miles or less.
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Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each local authority in Wales (a) the number of young people between the ages of 15 and 17 years who have been placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) the cost of such placements.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information requested is not available centrally.
Smoke Alarms
Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide figures for the number of properties in council ownership in Wales, by authority, that have smoke alarms fitted.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information requested is not available centrally.
Transport Efficiency
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the relative efficiency in Wales in terms of megajoules per passenger kilometre of (a) cars in urban areas, (b) cars in rural areas, (c) taxis, (d) buses, (e) motor cycles and (f) British Rail trains.
Sir Wyn Roberts : This information is not collected centrally. Figures on United Kingdom energy consumption by transport mode are given in "Transport Statistics : Great Britain 1992", a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.
Bus Deregulation
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the bus routes which have ceased to operate since the implementation of the bus deregulation proposals in Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : This information is not held centrally.
Agricultural Tenancy Law
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will propose measures to facilitate the introduction of retirement tenancies as part of reforms of agricultural tenancy law.
Mr. David Hunt : The Government's proposals for reform of agricultural tenancy law would give landlords and tenants the freedom to agree the period of tenancy which was suited to their particular needs. The parties would be able to take account of all factors in deciding the appropriate period including any retirement plans of the tenant.
Seven-year-olds (Testing)
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to increase funding for rural schools in Wales in light of his proposal to introduce mandatory testing for seven-year-olds ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Statutory testing of seven-year-olds has been in place since the summer term 1991. Rural
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schools benefit from the significant levels of support already being made for assessment. Test material and related teacher guidance is issued free of charge to all participating schools. Additionally £2.5 million was approved in 1992-93 under the grants for education support and training arrangements for providing teachers with assessment skills and for local education authority support.Community Care
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified nurses are currently employed in care in the community in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information requested is not held centrally.
Hydroelectric Scheme
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the possible environmental impact of the proposed hydroelectric scheme on the Afon Conwy ; if he will establish a public inquiry into the proposal ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The environmental impact of the proposed hydroelectric scheme on the Afon Conwy will be considered by the local planning authority during the determination of the planning application and by the National Rivers Authority when considering the necessary application for an abstraction licence.
We will consider fully the hon. and learned Gentleman's request that there be a public inquiry into the proposal and I will write to him when a decision is taken.
Canada Geese
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to prevent agricultural damage in Wales caused by Canada geese ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in Wales provides guidance to farmers on various methods of controlling Canada geese. Farmers suffering agricultural damage from Canada geese can control these birds during the open season by legal methods which include shooting or deploying scaring techniques. During the close season, which runs from 21 February to 31 August, licences to shoot Canada geese are available from the Welsh Office, provided applicants can demonstrate the need to prevent serious agricultural damage.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Canada geese were estimated to be inhabiting Wales in 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1992 ; what is the estimated agricultural damage these geese have caused since 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : This information is not collected centrally. There have been reported increases in the numbers of Canada geese in recent years. Various measures to control them are available to the farming industry.
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Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the recent investigation of the accounts of the Welsh Development Agency, in particular severance payments made to departing staff.
Mr. David Hunt : The Department and the agency are studying the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Craig y Nos Castle
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to increase the funding for Craig y Nos castle ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The importance of Craig y Nos castle and its related theatre is recognised. The castle is listed as a building of special architectural or historical importance at grade II and the theatre at grade I.
On the basis of advice from the Historic Buildings Council for Wales, we have made available a grant of £22,500 for works to the theatre. Part of this grant has been claimed but we have not received further requests for assistance. If a further application for assistance with conservation work to the structure is received, we shall consider it as soon as possible.
Historic Buildings
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to increase the funding for the architectural heritage of Powys ; what proposals he has to increase funding for the upkeep of buildings of special architectural interest ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Funding for the architectural heritage is allocated according to the needs of individual structures rather than geographically. We are guided in this by the Historic Buildings Council for Wales and substantial grants have been made on its advice to properties such as
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Powis castle. I will shortly decide on the allocation of resources to individual programmes for future years under the normal arrangements.However, considerable financial support to the built heritage is provided through maintenance and restoration of the properties in the care of the state. The estate in care is administered by Cadw : Welsh Historic Monuments. Examples of such support are the development of a new car park, interpretative panels and ongoing conservation works at Montgomery castle in Powys.
Bathing Beaches
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to clean up beaches in Wales that have banned swimming due to pollution ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The Welsh Office has agreed with Dwr Cymru, as a first priority, a programme of improvement works to bathing waters in Wales designated under the terms of the EC bathing waters directive which presently fail or are at risk of failing to meet the bacteriological standards of the directive. I am not aware of bathing having been banned at any of those locations. Once this improvement programme has been completed, it will be for the National Rivers Authority to agree priorities with Dwr Cymru about improvement work remaining to be done.
Chest Medical Services
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the hospitals in South Glamorgan which provide chest medical services and to provide a table showing the number of beds available (a) in each of those hospitals in each of the past five years, (b) currently and (c) projected for 1992-93.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The available information for the latest five years, which relates to the number of beds in the specialty of thoracic medicine, is given as follows :
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|c|Average daily available beds|c|
|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
----------------------------------------------------------
Llandough |52.6 |54.4 |55.1 |54.5 |56.5
Sully |47.8 |44.4 |49.8 |49.2 |29.0
Comparable information for 1992-93 is not available centrally. The South Glamorgan health plan, however, states that activity for thoracic medicine will remain constant.
Hamilton Oil plc
Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the result of the public inquiry into the application by Hamilton Oil plc with regard to developments at Talacre, Clwyd.
Sir Wyn Roberts : As soon as possible.
Sully Hospital
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what proposals he has received regarding the future of X-ray facilities at Sully hospital ;
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(2) if he will make it his policy that any proposals for the closure or reduction of X-ray services at Sully hospital should be subject to formal consultation processes.Mr. Gwilym Jones : None. Any proposals which represent a substantial change in the provision of these services will be subject to the normal consultation procedure.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures of consultation were followed prior to the temporary closure of Powys ward at Sully hospital ; and when it is planned to reopen Powys at Sully hospital.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Temporary closures are a matter for local management and do not require formal consultation. The reopening of this ward is a matter for the health authority at this stage.
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Further Education
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman-elect of the Welsh Further Education Council concerning the (a) funding, (b) start date and (c) course provision at the proposed new further education college extension at Lockwith, Cardiff.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I met Mr. Malcolm Wallace, chairman of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales, on 23 October to discuss a number of issues, including the funds which will be available to the council in 1993- 94. I also met Councillor P. Perkins, chairman of the education committee for South Glamorgan on 26 June to discuss the future of further education courses in the Cardiff area.
Responsibility for planning further education courses in the Cardiff area rests with South Glamorgan county council until 31 March 1993, after which the responsibility transfers to the Further Education Funding Council for Wales. The director of Education for South Glamorgan wrote to the Welsh Office on 12 October with certain proposals regarding the establishment of further education facilities at Leckwith. This has been drawn to the attention of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales. it will be for the council to determine its own expenditure priorities for 1993-94 when it is informed of the funding available to it.
I understand that the funding council is currently considering the pattern of provision for further education in Cardiff in the light of the letter from the director of education.
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