Written Assembly Questions tabled on 25 May 2017 for answer on 2 June 2017
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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Mark Reckless (South Wales East): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement following his meeting with the Magor Action Group on Rail on prospects for a Magor and Undy train station, and state how these compare, and its cost benefit ratio with, the 12 potential stations referenced in his written statement on 27 April? (WAQ73611)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): As outlined in my letter to Assembly Members on 26 April, the first stage in this work programme involved an initial assessment of all 46 new station proposals using the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) criteria and consideration of the Well–being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 goals.
This is an on-going and iterative process. The assessment sought to focus and prioritise that work and identified 12 stations for the first round of development work. It is anticipated that this work will take around 6 months to complete, whereupon we propose to develop the next set of prioritised stations on the list.
Our initial assessment is that Magor Station scored well against the benefit to cost ratio criteria and would be taken forward in the next focussed round of work once the initial set is delivered.
Leanne Wood (Rhondda): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the proposed facility from SPC in Maerdy? (WAQ73614)
Leanne Wood (Rhondda): What is the latest projected number of jobs created by SPC's proposed facility in Maerdy? (WAQ73615)
Leanne Wood (Rhondda): What is the full extent of the grant aid provided by the Welsh Government or other publicly funded sources for SPC's proposed facility in Maerdy? (WAQ73616)
Answer received on 31 May 2017
Ken Skates: The new facility is set to create up to 40 new jobs over the next two years and we are providing a £150,000 grant to back the large investment SPC Europe is making to refurbish and fit out their Maerdy premises.
The payment of the grant will be made in instalments on the basis of progress with capital commitments and jobs created, my Officials understand the company have made good progress in this regard and are on schedule for their first claim.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Following the Cabinet Secretary's answers to WAQ71481 and WAQ71482, when does he expect AWMSG to complete it's appraisal of Avastin for advanced cervical cancer? (WAQ73603)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Cabinet secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport(Vaughan Gething): (Vaughan Gething): The All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) has recommended that bevacizumab (Avastin®) for the treatment of recurrent or advanced cancer of the cervix should not be routinely available within NHS Wales.
The AWMSG membership comprises experts from within NHS Wales across the medical, pharmacology, pharmacy, nursing and health economic professions. The group also has a lay representative and a member of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Cymru Wales. In reaching their decision, AWMSG took account of clinical expert views and views submitted by Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.
The group were cognisant of the devastating consequences of this disease and the lack of treatment options. However, they concluded, reluctantly, that the uncertainties in the economic modelling and the limited health benefits for these patients were such that the cost effectiveness ratio was far higher than the accepted threshold of between £20,000 - £30,000.
Welsh Government has a responsibility and a duty to ensure that NHS funding is targeted to best effect. In terms of access to medicines, we must ensure our finite resources enable patients to access routinely, those medicines that have proven clinical benefits in balance with their costs. For these reasons, I must accept the advice of the AWMSG.
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on front-line staff, of the duty on relevant persons exercising functions under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act to have due regard to the UNCRC? (WAQ73604)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Vaughan Gething: The impact of the duty on relevant public bodies to have due regard to the UNCRC when exercising functions under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 will be assessed as part of the formal evaluation of the Act, which is due to commence in September 2018. The specification for tender will be published in December 2017.
The evaluation will consider the impact of the Act on the wellbeing outcomes for people who receive care and support and carers who receive support.
It will consider the duty to have due regard to the UNCRC in order to explore how effectively this is being achieved across Wales and the impact of the duty on staff, systems and procedures.
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that access to outpatient services for people with Parkinson's is being improved? (WAQ73606)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Vaughan Gething: Health boards are responsible for ensuring suitable outpatient services are available for Parkinson's patients and any shortfall in services is addressed promptly.
Our Neurological Conditions Delivery Plan, managed by the Neurological Conditions Implementation Group, sets out our ambitions in respect of treatment and support for people living with conditions such as Parkinson's. The plan is currently being updated by the Implementation Group and will be published later this summer.
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What mechanisms have been put in place by the Welsh Government to ensure that data collection is improved for those with Parkinson's, to reflect: i) the current population of those with Parkinson's; ii) Nurse caseloads; iii) access to support services? (WAQ73607)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Vaughan Gething: Health boards have a duty to collect local data to ensure their services are fit and proper for the local population they serve.
Our Neurological Conditions Delivery Plan sets out our ambitions in respect of treatment and support for people living with conditions such as Parkinson's. The plan is currently being updated and will be published later this summer.
The Delivery Plan is managed by the Neurological Conditions Implementation Group, which, along with the Stroke Implementation Group, has prioritised the development of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient reported experience measures (PREMs). It is anticipated the measures will be available within the next year. These measures will be able to be administered, collected and collated on an all Wales level.
Responsibility for planning and funding services for people with Parkinson's sits with health boards, including the provision of specialist nurses and access to support.
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What steps has the Welsh Government taken to ensure access to speech and language therapy services for people with neurological conditions? (WAQ73608)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What support has the Welsh Government given to training for speech and language therapists within the NHS, pertaining to those with neurological conditions? (WAQ73609)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What representations has the Welsh Government made to improve speech and language therapy services, in line with best practice guidance from the neurological stakeholder community in Wales? (WAQ73610)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Vaughan Gething: It is the responsibility of health boards to ensure they provide adequate access to therapy services, including speech and language therapy, and as part of this we would expect them to take account of relevant best practice.
Our Neurological Conditions Delivery Plan, first published in 2014 and currently being updated, sets out how the NHS will deliver to meet the needs patients. Included within the Delivery Plan is an aim to improve support for neurological patients with effective neurological rehabilitation and to that end the Neurological Conditions Implementation Group, in collaboration with the Stroke Implementation Group, have invested an additional £1.2 million to improve access to neurological rehabilitation.
Health boards have prioritised where to invest the additional funding to provide greatest impact on services, including access to speech and language therapy.
I launched the Post Registration framework for Allied Health Professionals on 3 October 2016. The framework provides robust and consistent guidance for education and training to ensure future resources are targeted and utilised in line with the prudent healthcare agenda and meet future service needs more effectively including neurological conditions.
We continue to invest in training opportunities in speech and language therapy and will continue to keep the number of training places commissioned under review. We are also working with our commissioners to explore what further education and training arrangements can be put in place to support speech and language therapy service.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What plans does the Welsh Government have to update the Pet Animals Act 1951? (WAQ73601)
Answe received on 6 June 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Environmen(Lesley Griffiths):(Lesley Griffiths): There are currently no plans to update the Pet Animals Act 1951. The Pet Animals Act 1951 and Pet Animals (Amendment) Act 1983 protect the welfare of animals sold as pets, requiring any person keeping a pet shop to be licensed by the Local Authority. The Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014 controls the licensing of Dog Breeding in Wales. Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of these Regulations.
All animals kept in captivity are subject to the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the duty of care set out in section 9 of the Act. Those who own, or are responsible for, animals have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to ensure their welfare needs are met.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary explain why dog warden services in Wales lost an average of 10 per cent of their budget between 2013-2015, which is higher than Scotland or England? (WAQ73602)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Lesley Griffiths: It is for each local authority to determine its own spending plans taking account of its local priorities and needs.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of European Commission proposals to modify the Rural Development Programme, and the impact this will have on the £957m budget? (WAQ73612)
Answer received on 2 June 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The European Commission has not proposed to modify the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What is the total value of EU funds drawn down for the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme to 1 May 2017? (WAQ73613)
Answer received on 6 June 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The total value of EU funds drawn down for the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 up to, but not including, 01 May 2017 is £61.5m.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many new homes were built in Wales between 5 May 2016 and 4 May 2017? (WAQ73605)
Answer received on 7 June 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be placed on the internet.