HC Deb 02 May 1995 vol 259 cc135-6W
Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities matters. [21470]

Mr. Redwood

I have overall responsibility for the whole Department which includes equal opportunities issues which are integral to many policies. The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones), has responsibility for equality issues and the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards), has special responsibility for women's issues and issues relating to disability.

Ms Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21473]

Mr. Redwood

My Department, in line with other Departments, is committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth UN world conference on women. We have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so.

Housing revenue account subsidy
Local Authority 1992–93 £ 1993–94 £ Percentage change 1993–94 over 1992–93 1994–951 £ Percentage change 1994–95 over 1993–94 (provisional)
Aberconwy 1,584,274 1,515,817 -4.32 1,524,838 0.60
Alyn and Deeside 2,520,527 2,719,472 7.89 2,751,136 1.16
Arfon 2,942,801 3,116,312 5.90 2,825,706 -9.33
Blaenau Gwent 10,775,958 11,272,511 4.61 11,286,414 0.12

The progress of women, ethnic minority and disabled employees through the management grades towards senior posts, along with overall representation and examples of particular initiatives being taken, will be covered in the Welsh Office departmental report for 1996 onwards.