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PRIME MINISTER
Task Forces
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many reviews and task forces he has established since May 1997; and how many of them have reported, [71151]
- (2) if he will list the consultative and advisory committees set up by the Government since May 1997. [73345]
The Prime Minister: The Government are determined to deliver its Manifesto commitments. Reviews, task forces and advisory and consultative committees are helping to ensure that decisions are soundly based and representative of a wide range of views. The establishment and management of individual reviews, task forces, consultative and advisory committees is a matter for Ministers in the Department concerned.
WALES
Child Care
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on after-school child care places and activities. [72032]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: Guidance to the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships in each local authority area in Wales was issued last month. The Partnerships are now preparing plans for the development of child care provision to meet the needs of their areas, including new out of school child care, which may be eligible for funding from the New Opportunities Fund.
The New Opportunities Fund has allocated £14.3 million over the next three years for out of school child care in Wales, of which £1.3 million is to support integrated child care and education projects. In 1999-2000, the Training and Enterprise Councils in Wales will have funding of £0.9 million to provide infrastructure support (including training, business support and information) for out of school child care provision eligible for NOF funding.
In addition funding of £1.5 million will be available in 1999-2000 for the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships to take forward the development of child care provision, including out of school provision, in their areas.
The New Opportunities Fund has allocated £11.7 million specifically for out of school learning activities in Wales over the next three years. Funding is targeted at
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disadvantaged areas and NOF plan that provision is available in at least one quarter of primary schools and a half of secondary schools and special schools.
Following the transfer of functions, these issues will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about proposals for an international standard 50 metre swimming pool for Wales. [73545]
Mr. Michael:
In December last year the SPORTLOT National Panel invited bids from local authorities interested in developing a replacement facility for the Wales Empire Pool. The local authorities in Cardiff, Swansea and Torfaen have expressed their interest and have been given until 15 March to submit detailed plans. A special meeting of the SPORTLOT National Panel will then be held on 7 May to consider all the applications. As with all applications for Lottery funding, the Panel will take its decision independently of Government.
Sir Alastair Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were discharged from mental illness hospitals in Wales in each of the last three years; and how many of them were taken into local authority residential care in the same year. [73361]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The following table gives, for NHS trusts in Wales, the number of deaths and discharges relating to patients whose main diagnosis was schizophrenia. The number discharged may include cases of the same patient being discharged more than once for separate periods of care. Reliable estimates of the number discharged to local authority care are not available.
| Year | Number of deaths and discharges |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,715 |
| 1997 | 1,815 |
| 1998 | 1,713 |
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
Sir Alastair Goodlad: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research projects his Department is funding in the current year to test the effectiveness of community care for people suffering from schizophrenia psychoses; and if he will make a statement. [73366]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: There are no research projects being funded into schizophrenia in the current year. The Welsh Office is funding a conference on "Effective Interventions in Schizophrenia" on 16 March following a two year research project which started in 1996-97. This project demonstrated clinical effectiveness in Schizophrenia and was undertaken by Llandough Hospital, Cardiff at a cost of £75,000.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
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Sir Alastair Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of those convicted of crimes in Wales in the last year for which figures are available have ever been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses. [73356]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 25 February 1999, Official Report, column 393. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has responsibility for this issue.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what official visits he, his Ministers or officials have paid to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73555]
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which company or companies gave his Department professional advice (a) on the use of Crickhowell House as part of the National Assembly project and (b) when Crickhowell House was first let in 1991-92; and if he will make a statement. [73608]
Mr. Michael:
Professional advice was given to my Department regarding the use of Crickhowell House as part of the National Assembly for Wales by PACE (Property Advisers to the Civil Estate), Symonds Group, Crown and Company and the Powell Dobson Partnership. An independent review of their work was undertaken by Gooch and Wagstaffe and the AYH Partnership.
Negotiations in 1991-92 for the acquisition of Crickhowell House for the Welsh Health Commons Services Authority were undertaken by Gooch and Wagstaffe and Bevan Ashford.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will allow representatives of (a) Plaid Cymru, (b) Wales Liberal Democrats and (c) the Conservative Party to view, on a confidential basis, papers relating to (i) funding already allocated by his Department and (ii) contracts signed by his Department, for the period after 1 July relating to spending within the control of the National Assembly for Wales. [74297]
Mr. Michael:
I announced on 14 December 1998 my Department's future budgets and expenditure plans, which will be inherited by the Assembly. Further details will be included in the Welsh Office's Departmental Report, which will be published in late March.
I should also be happy for my Department to provide information on public expenditure in Wales in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, in response to any request received.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given to local authority social services departments in Wales regarding the criteria to be employed under best value assessments for autism- specific services. [73627]
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Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
The Local Government Bill, which includes best value provisions, is currently being considered by Parliament. The Bill makes provision for the National Assembly to be responsible for administering best value in Wales. The Bill provides a broad framework for best value and it will be for the Assembly to determine the more detailed aspects of the policy and how it will operate in Wales. The Assembly is likely to want to draw on the experience of all Welsh authorities involved in best value pilot studies. Once the Bill is enacted and the pilot studies have made further progress, the Assembly will wish to consider what guidance to issue to local authorities on best value.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many autism-specific places are currently provided by social services departments in Wales for individuals with autism-specific disorders within (a) residential services, (b) day services and (c) respite case services. [73628]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
While information on services for the disabled is collected centrally, this does not include information on the autism-specific places provided by social services departments in Wales.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
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