| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Middle East
Mr. Faber: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to further the Middle East peace process through the targeting of (a) the UK's and (b) the EU's aid to the region. [34727]
Mr. Foulkes: The Department for International Development plans to continue a programme of high quality development projects in the West Bank and Gaza, which are designed to be supportive of the Middle East Peace Process. Our projects are targeted at reducing poverty, strengthening the private sector and building up the Palestinian Authority's (PA) administrative capacity. We will do what we can to help give a new impetus to the peace process.
The EC aid programme to the PA, which is due to expire in 1998, has helped the Peace Process survive under very difficult circumstances. The UK will support its renewal which would demonstrate the EU's continuing commitment to the process. The programme is currently being evaluated by the European Commission and we will be seeking to ensure that lessons learned about quality and effectiveness are fully taken into account in the future.
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 454
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in her plans to develop sanctions which hit elites rather than the mass of the people. [34769]
Mr. Foulkes:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development on 28 January 1998, Official Report, column 288.
National Assembly
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost to each council which put forward a bid for the site of the National Assembly for Wales of that bid. [33279]
Mr. Ron Davies: This is a matter for each individual Council, who will have determined the level of expenditure appropriate to the submission of their proposal.
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking in respect of the representation of Welsh farming interests in the European Council of Ministers after the setting up of the National Assembly for Wales. [34587]
Mr. Ron Davies: Assembly Secretaries will be able to play a part in relevant meetings of the Council of Ministers as part of the UK team. As the UK lead Minister, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will have overall responsibility for the UK's line in agricultural negotiations. Assembly Secretaries will be able to speak, with the Minister's agreement, to advance the UK line in Brussels.
The arrangements will be spelled out in concordats which will be agreed in due course between the Assembly and the Government.
Civil Servants
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many non-career civil servants were appointed to his Department between 1 May 1996 and 30 April 1997. [33275]
Mr. Ron Davies: Between 1 May 1996 and 30 April 1997, my Department appointed 293 non-career civil servants on short term, temporary appointments.
Tuberculosis
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many TB cases there were in Wales in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [33536]
Mr. Win Griffiths: The information is given in the following table.
Source:
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 455
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 455
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if, in respect of the projects for which Gwent Tertiary College successfully requested EU funding in the past three years, he will list the projects which (a) have and (b) have not received that funding and in each case the amounts received by (i) the college and (ii) the project; [34532]
(3) if he will list the projects submitted by the Gwent Tertiary College for European funding in the past three years; which were successful; and what sums they involved. [33457]
Mr. Hain:
A list of the projects has been placed in the Library of the House. ERDF Payments are made in arrears on receipt of claims submitted quarterly for the actual expenditure incurred by the college on a project. ESF payments are made to the successful applicant and not directly to projects. The applicant organisation is then responsible for delivering the project in line with the approved project specification.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the grant-in-aid to the Welsh Tourist Board in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99. [33503]
Mr. Hain:
Welsh Office grant-in-aid for the Wales Tourist Board in the period 1996 to 1999 is as follows:
(2) if he will list the projects for which Gwent Tertiary College received European Union funding in each of the last three years; [33904]
| £ million | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
| Outturn | Forecast outturn | Plans | |
| Net provision | 14.7 | 15.0 | 14.4 |
Farmers Subsidies
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the total sum paid to farmers in Wales under the (a) sheep annual premium, (b) suckler cow premium, (c) hill livestock compensation allowance, (d) arable area payment, (e) Tir Cymen and (f) environmentally sensitive area payment schemes in the last full year for which figures are available. [34510]
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 456
Mr. Win Griffiths:
Total expenditure in Wales during 1996-97 was as follows:
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| (a) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme | 131,481 |
| (b) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme | 38,320 |
| (c) Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances Scheme | 27,852 |
| (d) Arable Crops Area Payments | 11,983 |
| (e) Tir Cymen | 4,900 |
| (f) Environmentally Sensitive Areas | 3,456 |
Road Maintenance
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the amount spent by each unitary authority on road maintenance in each of the last five years. [34350]
Mr. Hain: The available information is given in the following table. Information for unitary authorities is not available prior to 1996-97.
(1) Includes structural maintenance of roads, bridges and other structures, and other highways maintenance expenditure including lighting and street cleaning.
(2) Revised estimates.
(3)Budget.
(4)Detailed capital expenditure information is not yet available for 1996-97 or 1997-98.
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 457
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |