§ 7. Mr. Donald AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on transport in Wales. [130883]
§ Mr. HansonI discuss many aspects of transport with the First Secretary during our regular meetings. The settlement announced for Wales last week has given Wales an extra £299 million transport consequential under the Barnett Formula. As my hon. Friend will be aware, any decisions on how the settlement is allocated within Wales will be for the Assembly to decide and will be announced in their budget plans later this year.
There will also be scope under European Structural funded schemes for ambitious transport infrastructure projects, which the National Assembly for Wales will evaluate alongside all other bids.
§ 12. Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on police funding in Wales. [130888]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues.
685WLast Wednesday's announcement by the Home Secretary of an extra £1.6 billion for police funding in England and Wales for the next three years is very good news. It represents an average annual increase in police funding of 7 per cent. and will mean a further 4,000 recruits for England and Wales, bringing the total to 9,000 extra recruits over the next three years. Police forces in North Wales, Dyfed Powys and Gwent will also benefit from extra funding in recognition of the special challenges which they face in policing sparsely populated rural areas.
§ 14. Mrs. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Assembly First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 comprehensive spending review on EU structural funds in Wales. [130890]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI have discussed this matter with the First Secretary on a number of occasions.
The settlement covers in full the increase in EU Structural Funds receipts, outside of the Barnett formula, and he welcomes it as much as I do.
§ 15. Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on police chief constables in Wales. [130891]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues.
Last Wednesday's announcement by the Home Secretary of an extra £1.6 billion for police funding in England and Wales for the next three years is very good news. It represents an average annual increase in police funding of 7 per cent. and will mean a further 4,000 recruits for England and Wales, bringing the total to 9,000 extra recruits over the next three years. Police forces in North Wales, Dyfed Powys and Gwent will also benefit from extra funding in recognition of the special challenges which they face in policing sparsely populated rural areas.
It will be for individual chief constables in Wales to determine how they spend the funds allocated to them.
§ 17. Mrs. Betty WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on education in Wales. [130893]
§ 23. Mr. Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on education in Wales. [130899]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI met with the First Secretary on a regular basis in the run-up to the 2000 Spending Review.
I welcome the excellent settlement secured for Wales, which includes amounts consequential on allocations to the Department for Education and Employment.
§ 18. Ms Julie MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on health and social services in Wales. [130894]
§ Mr. HansonMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State met with the First Secretary on a regular basis in the run-up to the 2000 Spending Review.
686WThe excellent settlement secured for Wales includes amounts consequential on allocations to the Department of Health which can be allocated by the National Assembly to improve healthcare.