Written Assembly Questions tabled on 26 January 2015 for answer on 2 February 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 Natural Resources
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on assistance for households that live off the gas network? (WAQ68276)
Answer received on 3 February 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant): The Welsh Government is assisting households living off the gas network through the provision of advice and support through our energy efficiency programme, the Resource Efficient Wales service and our community energy programme, Ynni'r Fro. We are also investing in a pilot project in Ceredigion to support households who rely on oil to heat their homes.
This year we are investing £70 million in our energy efficiency programme, which includes the Nest and Arbed schemes and grant funding for local authorities to deliver area based improvements in their communities. We are making this significant investment despite wider budget cuts.
In its first three years of operation, our demand-led Nest scheme has provided advice and support to over 56,000 households with over 13,400 of these receiving free home energy improvements. Over 4,800 of the homes improved were located in predominantly rural local authorities and over 600 received a package that included connection to the gas network. The higher cost of improving rural, off-gas, hard to treat homes was recognised in the development of Nest and the level of grant funding available for an individual off-gas home is £4,000 higher than for an on-gas home.
Under our area based schemes we have set criteria for local authorities which prioritise the most disadvantaged areas. Under Arbed 2 we give priority to those low income areas that have a high number of off-gas or hard to treat homes. To date, Arbed 2 has delivered 32 schemes in 19 of the 22 local authorities across Wales. Of these, 7 were off the gas network and 4 had the gas main extended into their community with 482 homes having new connections
Our Resource Efficient Wales (REW) service provides households with information, advice and support on the efficient use of energy, waste and water and on household heating and energy generation solutions.
For areas that are off the gas grid, locally generated renewable energy is a potential solution .Our Ynni'r Fro programme offers a wide range of support and funding to communities to identify and develop renewable energy schemes in their area. This support includes advice and guidance from a network of development officers as well as access to start-up grants and capital loans and grants. Ynni'r Fro is currently supporting 48 pipeline projects, many of which are in areas off the gas network.
The pilot project we are funding in Ceredigion aims to increase the number of oil buying clubs in the county and to develop a methodology for establishing sustainable, volunteer-led oil buying syndicates across Wales. This project will help more households living off the gas network to benefit from reduced energy costs through the bulk purchasing of oil.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What steps are being taken by the Welsh Government to increase the uptake of cervical screening throughout Wales? (WAQ68277)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase cervical screening rates in (a) the regions of Wales where rates fall below the national average and (b) Wales nationally? (WAQ68279)
Answer received on 3 February 2015 (WAQ68277 & 79)
The Minster for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Together for Health - Cancer Delivery Plan for the NHS sets out the Welsh Government's commitment to encourage participation in national population screening programmes. Coverage of cervical screening in Wales is 78.6% for women aged 25-64. Nearly 8 out of 10 eligible women in Wales have attended for a smear test in the last 5 years. The Welsh Government is working with Public Health Wales to increase uptake still further. Public Health Wales has established a Screening Engagement Team which works across all screening programmes to raise awareness, promote informed choice and encourage people to make an active decision about taking part in screening. Targeted support is provided to primary care practices where coverage does not meet targets. Cervical screening is also promoted as part of the annual Screening for Life campaign and during European Cervical Cancer Prevention week through social media and community events.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What steps are being taken to increase HPV vaccination rates in (a) areas of Wales which fall below the national average for HPV vaccination and (b) Wales nationally? (WAQ68278)
Answer received on 3 February 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Every health board in Wales has a designated Immunisation Co-ordinator who works with local schools and communities to regularly review HPV uptake and take appropriate action. Health boards are supported by Public Health Wales.
From September 2014, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the number of doses for a complete course of HPV vaccine was reduced from three to two doses, for those receiving their first dose before 15 years of age. It is anticipated that the change to a shorter course for the majority of girls, and the longer potential period between the first and second dose (up to 24 months), will improve uptake of a complete course of the vaccine.
The new schedule allows more opportunities for the girls who have missed their routine vaccination to catch up. Revised consent forms for school based programmes issued by the Child Health System now include a full immunisation history for each child enabling the identification of any missed vaccination at every vaccination opportunity. The Welsh Government is also in discussion with stakeholders on a National Enhanced Service Specification to enable girls who have missed routine vaccination opportunities and school catch up sessions to attend their GP to complete the course. Any girl who has received her first dose before the age of 18 years remains eligible to complete the course.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase public awareness of cervical cancer symptoms in Wales? (WAQ68280)
Answer received on 3 February 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Fact sheets are provided by the Cervical Screening Wales Programme to raise awareness of the symptoms of cervical cancer, and what to do if women experience these symptoms. The 'Key Messages' fact sheets are used in training and at community awareness raising events.
This information can be found at: http://www.cervicalscreeningwales.wales.nhs.uk/key-messages-about-the-screening-program
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What steps are being taken to reduce inequalities in (a) cervical screening uptake and (b) HPV vaccination rates? (WAQ68281)
Answer received on 3 February 2015
Mark Drakeford: The Public Health Wales Screening Engagement Team works closely with Communities First to raise awareness of screening in deprived communities across Wales. Targeted work is being carried out with groups where we know that coverage is low. These projects include work with the transgender community, gypsy traveller groups, and people with sensory loss, to explore their needs and co-produce tailored solutions.
Every health board in Wales has a designated Immunisation Co-ordinator to regularly review HPV uptake and to identify and address barriers where they exist. In 2013/2014, some of the traditionally more deprived areas of Wales recorded the highest uptake of the HPV vaccine. The four local authority areas with the highest uptake were Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea, all recording uptake over 90% compared to the Wales average of 86% for a complete course of three doses. The lowest uptake was recorded in Powys and Monmouthshire (77%).