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Local Government Elections
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the benefits of introducing a system of proportional representation for local government elections in Wales. [39737]
Mr. Win Griffiths: The emphasis so far has been on developing proposals for increasing the frequency of local elections. Little work has been done on the merits of alternative electoral systems for local government. Decisions on the way ahead in Wales will be informed by the response to the consultation document, "Local democracy and community leadership", published by my Department on 19 March.
Milk Industry
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent steps he has taken to support the Welsh milk industry. [39738]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
On 16 December 1997 officials from the Welsh Office attended the Mergers Panel meeting investigating the acquisition by Milk Marque of the Felinfach based Aeron Valley Cheese Company to underline the importance of this investment for the West
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Wales economy and dairy industry in particular. More recently, we have given written evidence to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry into the selling of raw milk reinforcing these points and more generally the important contribution that the dairy sector makes to agriculture in Wales.
The Welsh Office is currently considering an application for grant aid from Aeron Valley Cheese concerning their expansion plans.
I have also, in recent months, discussed with colleagues the Milk Development Council's campaign to be allowed to retain its exemption from Corporation Tax.
The EC's proposals for reform of the dairy sector as part of the Agenda 2000 are part of the on-going dialogue that I and my officials are having with the farming unions in Wales.
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to advertise publicly to fill the post of Chairman of the Dyfed Powys Health Authority when the present incumbent's term ends. [39949]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The post was advertised in October 1997 and an announcement will be made before the period of appointment of the present incumbent ends on 30 June 1998.
Mr. Livsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many training providers are currently on the promotional file of Business Connect; [40108]
Mr. Hain:
This information is not held centrally. However the Department will be compiling a training database with the assistance of TECs in Wales for 1998-99 in preparation for the planned start of inspection of vocational training by OHMCI from 1 April 1999. This is subject to the passage of the necessary enabling vires for OHMCI in the Teacher and Higher Education Bill which is currently before the House.
Mr. Livsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors underlie the differences in the administration arrangements of the assisted places scheme in Wales. [40107]
Mr. Hain:
Under the Education (Schools) Act 1997 and associated Regulations, the Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for the operation of the Assisted Places Scheme (APS) at participating independent schools in Wales.
The Secretary of State has powers to vary, subject to consultation and Parliamentary approval of revised Regulations, certain administrative and financial elements of the Scheme. These include the determination, usually annually, of the relevant income levels in the Parental Contribution Tables and the maximum level of fees and other incidental expenses that may be remitted in relation
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to APS pupils at participating schools. In practice, any changes in these elements have been consistent across England and Wales in percentage terms.
There are some differences in the coverage of the APS in Wales compared with England. In Wales, the Scheme does not include places for pupils below age 7 nor places at preparatory schools that are not an integral part of a school with secondary provision.
Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish his proposals for a new ethical framework for local government in Wales. [40787]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of the seventh and final consultation paper in the series inviting views on the options for modernising local government in Wales.
The paper sets out the Government's proposals for a new ethical framework for Welsh local government. It will underpin the modernising process by ensuring that councillors and council employees are aware of the conduct expected of them and that all allegations will be investigated and appropriate action taken if they are upheld. These changes will ensure that the public retains confidence in Welsh local government.
Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to tackle social exclusion in Wales. [40788]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I will announce tomorrow that funding of £750,000 will be made available for the initial, development phase of a new Social Exclusion Programme for Wales. The focus of the Programme will be on tackling social exclusion in a co-ordinated way, through community development and with an emphasis on action research.
Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what targets he has set for Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency. [40789]
Mr. Ron Davies:
Cadw has been set the following key targets for 1998-99:
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Full details of Cadw's performance against targets for 1998-99 will be published in the Agency's Annual Report.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those grants and bursaries to educational establishments which have been in existence for three years or more which it is his policy to withdraw. [40374]
Mr. Hain:
The following are to be withdrawn:
Grants to grant maintained schools under sections 250-252 of the Education Act 1996. Such schools will come within the local authority funding arrangements from 1 April 1999 under the provisions of the School Standards and Framework Bill.
Funding for assisted places under the Education (Schools) Act 1997, which is being phased out over a period of 7 years from September 1998.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those grants and bursaries for training which have been in existence for three years or more which it is his policy to withdraw. [40375]
Mr. Hain:
I have no plans to withdraw any training schemes which are currently open to new applicants, although, as with all such programmes, they are reviewed regularly.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of public appointees appointed since 1 May 1997 have been selected from outside the central list of nominees. [39690]
Dr. David Clark:
The Government are committed to obtaining a wide field of candidates for public appointments. Sources of candidates can include advertising, executive search, consultation with interested bodies, and searches of central and departmental lists.
Since May, the Public Appointments Unit has made nominations for around 700 appointments. Over the same period, it has learnt of 82 appointments which have been made following nomination by the Unit. A number of recent appointments will still be under consideration.
Figures on the total number of new appointments made to executive non-departmental public bodies and health bodies within his remit since April 97 will be published in the Annual Report of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
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Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his responsibilities relating to senior and public appointments; and what policy initiatives he has taken in this area. [39686]
Dr. David Clark:
My responsibility for public appointments includes setting the policy framework in which public appointments are made; liaising with the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments who sets standards for the process of making appointments within his remit; and responsibility for the Public Appointments Unit in OPS which works with departmental appointments units in disseminating best practice, and maintains a central list of potential candidates for public appointments. Recent initiatives in this area have included the publication of the green paper on Opening up Quangos which set out proposals on extending the Commissioner's remit and attracting a wider range of candidates to public appointments; and the development of a public appointments register on the internet. In addition, I have responsibility for a number of appointments to Cabinet Office non-departmental public bodies.
My responsibility for the senior civil service extends to policy oversight for their pay and personnel management framework, including general appointment procedures. Responsibility for appointments to the most senior civil service posts resides with the Prime Minister and the Head of the Home Civil Service. An important recent initiative in this field was the creation of an inter-departmental Working Group on Equal Opportunities in the Senior Civil Service.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the use of information technology in the selection of candidates for public appointment. [39689]
Dr. David Clark:
The Government are committed to effective and efficient use of modern technology in carrying out their function. Information technology is used in public appointments in a variety of ways, including maintaining databases of potential candidates. In addition, information technology is used to provide information about public appointments, for example via the public appointments website (Public Appointments Unit @ Cabinet-Office.gov.uk).
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the role of headhunting bodies in the selection of public appointees;
30 Apr 1998 : Column: 206
and what assessment he has made of the extent to which those from ethnic minority backgrounds are represented on such headhunting bodies. [39691]
Dr. David Clark:
The Government are committed to obtaining a wide field of candidates for public appointments. The guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments makes clear that sources of candidates can include advertising, consultation with interested bodies, search of central and departmental lists and the use of executive search can be particularly helpful in seeking to attract people who are not currently looking for a job, or who would not normally think of putting themselves forward for public appointment.
The employment of members of the ethnic minorities is a matter for the executive search companies themselves. Departments will engage such companies in line with normal Government rules on tendering. All government contracts have provision against unlawful discrimination; and oblige the contractor to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their employees or agents do not discriminate.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the average interval between the nomination of candidates for appointment to a public body, and the taking up of the appointment. [39688]
Dr. David Clark:
Information on the time between nomination and any appointment is not held centrally. The time is likely to differ substantially, depending on the circumstances.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the accountability of public appointments bodies to ministers. [39687]
Dr. David Clark:
Ministers are directly responsible for around 30,000 public appointments. The Commissioner for Public Appointments, appointed under the Public Appointments Commissioner Order in Council 1995, produces guidance on the public appointments process, which sets out the role of Ministers, the alternative sources of candidates and the Commissioner's own responsibility to monitor and report on public appointments within his remit.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by grade and by Government department the percentage of employees in the Civil Service who are disabled. [39913]
Dr. David Clark
[holding answer 27 April 1998]: The proportions of non-industrial civil servants by grade and by Government department who are disabled as at 1 April 1997 are set out in the table.
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(2) how many training providers have received contracts from each TEC in Wales for the year 1998-99. [40111]
1. To complete 90 per cent. of the approved conservation maintenance programme.
2. To complete 80 listing resurveys.
3. To resolve 75 per cent. of ad hoc listing cases within 17 weeks.
4. To complete 120 scheduling actions, of which at least 70 per cent. involve additional protection.
5. To resolve 80 per cent. of listed building consent cases within 4 weeks and 90 per cent. of cases in 7 weeks.
6. To resolve 75 per cent. of scheduled monument consent cases within 13 weeks and 90 per cent. of cases within 17 weeks.
7. To resolve 80 per cent. of historic buildings grant applications in 18 weeks.
8. To resolve 80 per cent. of ancient monument grant applications within 6 weeks.
9. To pay 90 per cent. of properly presented claims for historic buildings and ancient monuments grants within 5 weeks of receipt.
10. To achieve a market share of 63 per cent. of the number of visitors to the top twenty heritage sites in Wales.
11. To reduce the direct net cost per visitor at Cadw's sites to an average of 30p.
12. To operate within allocated programme and running cost budgets.
13. To achieve efficiency gains of at least 2 per cent.
(12) No staff at this responsibility level.
Note:
1. Figures are for non industrial staff and are calculated on a head count basis.
2. Since April 1996, service-wide grades no longer exists. The "responsibility levels" shown in this table assign staff to eight levels of responsibility broadly equivalent to the previous grades.
Source:
Mandate and Departmental Returns.
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