HC Deb 29 April 1993 vol 223 cc517-9W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he had made of the effect on the populations of Coychurch Lower, Ewenny, Saint Bride's Major and Wick of a transfer of those communities into the South Glamorgan health authority in respect of access to the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend.

Mr. David Hunt

The function of health authorities is to purchase health care from providers on behalf of their resident populations. These providers need not necessarily be within the boundaries of the health authority, and often are outside those boundaries.

As a provider of health care, Bridgend and district NHS trust is well placed to offer services to a number of health authority purchasers, as well as fund-holding general practitioners. Purchasing decisions will be informecl by GP, community health council and patient preference rather than administrative boundaries.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the distances between(a) Wick, (b) Saint Bride's Major, (c) Ewenny and (d) Coychurch and (i) Bridgend and (ii) Barry using the shortest route by A and/or B roads.

Mr. David Hunt

The approximate distances are as follows:

Miles
Bridgend Barry
Wick to 6.0 13.6
St. Bride's Major to 3.4 16.2
Ewenny to 2.1 17.0
Coychurch Lower to 2.4 17.9

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect on children living and attending primary schools in Coychurch Lower, Ewenny, Saint Bride's Major and Wick of a transfer of those communities to the Vale of Glamorgan unitary authority in respect of access to comprehensive schools in the proposed Bridgend unitary authority.

Mr. David Hunt

Responsibility for the admission of pupils to local education authority maintained schools rests with local authorities, and that responsibility will be unchanged under any proposals for the reorganisation of local government. Admission authorities are required not to discriminate against pupils living outside their areas in implementing their admissions policies.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the distances, by A and/or B roads, from the place, closest by road, in(a) the community of Wick, (b) the community of Saint Bride's Major, (c) the community of Ewenny and (d) the community of Coychurch Lower to (i) Bridgend and (ii) Barry.

Mr. David Hunt

The approximate distances are as follows:

Miles
Bridgend Barry
The community of Wick to 5.1 13.3
The community of St. Bride's Major to 2.3 15.3
The community of Ewenny to 1.0 15.4
The community of Coychurch Lower to 1.3 16.2

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what specific criteria he used to determine that the communities of Coychurch Lower, Ewenny, Saint Bride's Major and Wick should be transferred from the borough of Ogwr to the Vale of Glamorgan under his plans for unitary authorities.

Mr. David Hunt

In considering the boundaries of the proposed unitary authorities I took account of the principles set out in the consultation paper, "The Structure of Local Government in Wales" which I published in June 1991 and, in particular:

  1. i. local authority boundaries should, as far as possible, reflect and strengthen existing community loyalties; and
  2. ii. local public services should be of high quality, and delivered efficiently, economically and effectively.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect on the communities of Coychurch Lower, Ewenny, Saint Bride's Major and Wick of a transfer of those communities into the Vale of Glamorgan in respect of access to the library facilities in the town of Bridgend.

Mr. David Hunt

The education, leisure and culture sub-group of the structures group of the WCCLG considered the provision of library services under a structure of unitary authorities.

A copy of their report has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the length of time it takes for a resident of the communities of(a) Coychurch Lower, (b) Ewenny, (c) Saint Bride's Major and (d) Wick to travel by public transport to (i) Bridgend and (ii) Barry.

Mr. David Hunt

These are matters which were put to me when I visited the area last Friday.