§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current major issues being examined by each department devoted to rural strategic policy planning in(a) the Development Board for Rural Wales and (b) the Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Redwood(a) The DBRW's corporate plan identifies the following strategic issues which will impact on its policy in the medium term:
- —impact of the recession
- —agricultural change and the impact of CAP
- —the closure of Trawsfynydd power station
- —future European priorities
- —environmental improvement, especially the Board's sites and property
- —partnership with other public bodies
- —private sector involvement in property development
- —Newtown housing transfers
More generally the board will also take account of the impact of other policies which might affect rural areas in co-operation, where appropriate, with other agencies such as the Welsh Development Agency and the Rural Development Commission.
(b) The Welsh Development Agency's rural development programme for 1994–95 will continue to support the rural economy by targeting resources at specific rural locations, working in partnership with other organisations, and identifying new economic opportunities. The agency will continue to become involved in European Commission initiatives specifically designed for rural areas, and will continue to support sectoral initiatives.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many posts there are on(a) the Development Board for Rural Wales and (b) the Welsh Development Agency devoted to strategic rural policy planning; and if he will list the departments and their responsibilities and the grades of those posts.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe development and marketing departments of the Development Board for Rural Wales, which employ some 55 professional staff, have the main responsibility for strategic rural policy planning. However, a number of other board staff have some involvement in the development of its rural policies, but this is not separately identifiable or measurable. The Welsh Development Agency also has a number of staff with responsibilities for strategic rural planning, although some have other responsibilities too.
I have asked the chief executive of the DBRW and the chief executive's office at the WDA to write to the hon. 191W Member with details of the grades and responsibilities of the posts involved. Copies of the replies will be placed in the Library of the House.