01/12/2015 - Written Assembly Questions and Answers

Published 25/11/2015   |   Last Updated 02/12/2015

Written Assembly Questions tabled on 24 November 2015 for answer on 1 December 2015

R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self-identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What independent assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effectiveness of Gardasil for human papillomavirus since its introduction? (WAQ69493)

Answer received on 1 December 2015

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): The Welsh Government has a statutory agreement with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent UK panel of experts, to provide advice on all immunisation matters. JCVI has kept the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme under review since its introduction in 2008. Gardasil® replaced Cervarix® as the vaccine offered in the routine national programme for adolescent girls in 2012.

In March 2014, JCVI recommended a change from a three to a two dose HPV vaccination schedule. This was based on recent research which shows that antibody response to two doses in adolescent girls is as good as a three dose course and lasts as long. Emerging evidence from evaluation of HPV programmes around the world has also shown that the number of young women with pre-cancerous lesions is falling and the indications are that protection is expected to be long term.

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What independent assessment has the Welsh Government made of any side-effects of Gardasil for human papillomavirus since its introduction? (WAQ69494)

Answer received on 1 December 2015

Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government has a statutory agreement with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent UK panel of experts, to provide advice on all immunisation matters.

Following a number of reports about side effects associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, including those made to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the UK regulator on vaccine safety), in June 2015, the JCVI published the minutes of the HPV sub-committee which concluded that it has no concerns about the safety of the HPV vaccine.  The minutes are attached.

JCVI stated that reports of a range of possible reactions occurring around the time of HPV vaccination are broadly similar to those seen for other vaccination programmes delivered to adolescent populations, and largely include non-serious complaints associated with vaccines which rapidly resolve (such as headache, pain at the injection site) or symptoms associated with group vaccination in adolescents (such as fainting and panic attacks). JCVI specifically reviewed available information on reports of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a chronic health condition associated with an abnormal increase in heart rate after standing up, and concluded that, the available evidence does not support a causative link between HPV vaccination and POTS.

JCVI recognises vaccine safety is of paramount concern and takes any safety reports extremely seriously. The Committee strongly supports continued use of the HPV vaccine to prevent infection with human papillomavirus and reduce cases of cervical cancer.

http://www.assembly.wales/written%20questions%20documents/information%20further%20to%20written%20assembly%20question%2069494/151201%2069494-e.pdf

To ask the Minister for Public Services

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What is the response of the Welsh Government to the view of the leader of Newport City Council that reform of local government in Wales has been "Lenin-like"? (WAQ69495) WITHDRAWN

Answer to follow

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What consideration has the Minister given to the general support by respondents to the 'Power to Local People' White Paper for community bodies to have the right of first refusal in relation to community assets that are on the private market? (WAQ69496)

Answer received on 1 December 2015

The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews):  Following the response to the consultation on 'Power to Local People', the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty consulted on specific proposals to enable the protection of community assets.  The consultation closed in September and the Minister will make a statement on next steps on 10 December.

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What consideration has the Minister given to the need for the Public Services Staff Commission to ensure compliance with the code of practice on workplace matters by local authorities? (WAQ69497)

Answer received on 1 December 2015

Leighton Andrews:

The Public Services Staff Commission is an advisory body not a regulatory one.  Organisations are required to report annually on implementation of the refreshed Code of Practice on Workforce Matters (Two Tier Code) (issued June 2014) to the Welsh Government.  The implementation of the Code was considered by the Workforce Partnership Council in July 2015.  The report for the period 2014-2015 showed strong adherence to the Code. I wrote to one Authority which had not included the Code terms in two contracts and have since received an assurance from the Leader that they are now compliant in this matter. We will continue to monitor the application of the Code and take action if issues arise.

The Workforce Partnership Council will consider the next annual report for the period 2015-2016, following which consideration could be given to referring any issues to the Public Services Staff Commission for advice.  

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline what type of council tax harmonisation he would prefer to be used in potential local authority mergers? (WAQ69498)

Answer received on 1 December 2015

Leighton Andrews:

The overall Council Tax requirement in Wales should not increase as a consequence of mergers.  Average council tax bills in Wales for 2015-16 are £156 lower than in England.

The setting of Council Tax levels is a key political decision taken locally by Councils and one for which they are directly accountable to their electorates.  I will be assessing any potential impacts on the Council Tax system which might arise solely as a result of bringing Local Authorities together.   

Transition Committees will have a vital role in undertaking important preparatory work in relation to finance prior to the establishment of the Shadow Authorities.

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What consideration has the Minister given to ongoing collaborative arrangements between local authorities in Wales, and how potential local authority mergers would affect these? (WAQ69499)

Answer received on 1 December 2015

Leighton Andrews: The Welsh Government does not propose to take any action on aligning collaborations and partnerships ahead of a final decision on Local Authority areas. However, there is a moratorium on the establishment of any new collaborations and partnerships prior to finalising the map. This is set out in our current Consultation Paper.

http://gov.wales/consultations/localgovernment/draft-local-government-(wales)-bill-consultation/?lang=en

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What consideration has the Minister given to Unison and CIPFA recommendations that the Welsh Government should provide financial support to local authorities, so that the process is not undertaken to the detriment of local services? (WAQ69500)

Answer received on 1 December 2015

Leighton Andrews:

Whilst UNISON has made recommendations to the Welsh Government regarding the provision of financial support to Local Authorities, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has not.  As CIPFA recognises, Local Government reform in Wales will deliver significant savings which will outweigh the initial costs in the medium term. 

The Draft Local Government (Wales) Bill is the start of a formal consultation process on the proposals for Local Authority mergers.  The Draft Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the Bill estimates net savings of up to £650 million could be achieved over ten years.  Local Government should aim to achieve these savings as soon as possible, through taking action early on areas such as estate rationalisation and increasing efficiency.