§ Sir Wyn RobertsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the work of his Department since May 1993. [3485]
§ Mr. HagueMy Department's main achievements since May 1993 are as follows
The NHS has treated a record number of patients and waiting times have fallen substantially;Performance against patient's charter standards has continued to improve, and further expansion of the GP fundholder scheme has extended patient choice;Over 340 inward investment projects have been secured. promising nearly 16,000 new jobs and safeguarding a further 13,000, with capital investment of over £2 billion;Over 260 small or medium-sized businesses have been helped to enter market overseas;1154WModern apprenticeships were successfully introduced to manufacturing in 1994–95. By March 1996, the estimated number of participants will have grown to over 4,000 covering the manufacturing, service and business sectors;Increased levels of careers advice and guidance for young people are being delivered through the new careers service companies. Provision in 1995–96 represents an increase of over one third on previous local authority expenditure on the service;Plans have been made to launch Business Connect Wales on 15 January 1996. This new initiative, which can be accessed through one low-cost telephone call, will greatly simplify access to publicly funded business support services throughout Wales;At least £1 billion of private finance has been recorded in support of Welsh Office programmes;Construction of the Cardiff bay barrage has started;The final link of the M4 motorway and the dualling of the A55 across the mainland have been completed;Significant progress has been made in improving standards in schools in Wales and I have set the framework for the way ahead following the publication of "A Bright Future: Getting the Best for Every Pupil at School in Wales".Student enrolments on further and higher education courses in Wales have increased to record levels;Public and Crown bodies are working towards the provision of a better service in Welsh for the public in Wales in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993. The Welsh Office will have its Welsh language scheme operating by 1 April 1996;Local government is being reorganised into 22 unitary authorities under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994;More than £770 million has been made available for the renovation and improvement of the housing stock in Wales. By the end of March Housing for Wales will have secured over £12,000 additional units of social housing;More people have received community care in their own homes or in their choice of accommodation in the community;Implementation of the reformed common agricultural policy has progressed.Further details arc set out in the Welsh Office departmental reports for 1994, Cm 2515, and 1995, Cm 2815, together with the update which I gave to the Welsh Grand Committee on 29 November.