§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the areas of responsibility within his Office which have seen the largest real terms increase in spending since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement on the outcomes. [59457]
§ Mr. MichaelIn Wales, in line with our Manifesto commitment, we have ensured that health and education have received the largest real terms increases in spending since we took office.
For health, since July 1997, we have added more than £100 million in cash to the inherited plans and this has resulted in easing of pressures on the health and social care system last winter—and we have just announced more cash to provide similar support this coming winter; hospital activity has increased by 4 per cent.; training has continued for over 1,800 doctors and 2,000 nurses; additional staff have been made available for cancer services and there is a package of measures to tackle prescription fraud. It is also expected that in-patient and day-case waiting lists will be reduced to below the inherited level.
For education, we have increased the previous Administration's spending plans by about £80 million. This has enabled us to start reducing infant class sizes, to begin the long process of improving the capital stock so neglected over the past few years, and to provide local authorities with funding for schools. We have also been able to begin to redress the underfunding of the Further Education sector in Wales, so that it can play its vital role in our lifelong learning strategy.