Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 2 December 2009

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Questions to  the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

To ask the Minister for the Economy and Transport

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): What percentage of the total population within the Heads of the Valleys Strategic Regeneration Area (SRA) comes from each of the local authorities. (WAQ55195) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Regeneration

Answer issued on 02 December 2009

The Deputy Minister for Regeneration (Leighton Andrews): Based on 2008 mid year estimates of population the percentage of the total population within the Heads of the Valleys Strategic Regeneration Area (SRA) coming from each of the local authorities covered by the programme boundary area is:

Rhondda Cynon Taff: 30%

Merthyr Tydfil: 22%

Caerphilly: 12%

Blaenau Gwent: 28%

Torfaen: 8%

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): What was the amount and percentage of the total expenditure of the Heads of the Valleys Strategic Regeneration Area (SRA) allocated to each of the local authorities for each year of the SRA programme to date. (WAQ55196) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Regeneration

Answer issued on 02 December 2009

Leighton Andrews: Since 2005 the Heads of the Valleys SRA has invested over £68m in regeneration activity across the programme area. In the first three years of the programme investment was targeted on major impact projects in each of the five local authority areas. In the last year a population/deprivation funding model has begun to direct resources to deliver Holistic Area regeneration plans in each area. The resulting breakdown of funding (year, amount, percentage) by local authority area is set out below:

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the progress made towards a fifth service on the Heart of Wales Line. (WAQ55197)

Answer issued on 01 December 2009

My officials and industry stakeholders including Arriva Trains Wales, Network Rail and the Heart of Wales Line Forum are revisiting the 2008 Welsh Transport Planning and Appraisal Guidance (WELTAG) appraisal study for additional services on the Heart of Wales Line.

The feasibility is well advanced and I am expecting the results in the early part of the New Year.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on speeds that trains are allowed to travel on the Heart of Wales line and what discussions he has had with appropriate stakeholders with a view to capital works that could help trains travel faster. (WAQ55198)

Answer issued on 01 December 2009

The maximum speed that trains are allowed to travel on the Heart of Wales Line is 60 mph although the large number of level crossings and farm crossings on the line reduces this considerably in places.

I have not had any discussions about capital works for the Heart of Wales Line. The current WELTAG appraisal study that I have commissioned to identify possible timetabling solutions to provide an enhanced service for this line are not dependant on infrastructure improvements.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on what progress has been made towards establishing a Park Homes’ Residents’ Forum. (WAQ55199) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Housing

Answer issued on 03 December 2009

The Deputy Minister for Housing (Jocelyn Davies): We are currently undertaking a major exercise on data collection in relation to park homes in order to have a more complete picture of the numbers of sites, owners and residents in Wales.  Once we have this information we will be in a better position to take the establishment of a forum forward.  We have also recently been prioritising work on establishing the Residential Property Tribunal as the adjudicatory body for dispute resolution and revised site licensing arrangements.  Both measures will further safeguard the interests of park home residents.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much money is currently spent by the Welsh Assembly Government on adult oral health in Wrexham. (WAQ55192)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much money is currently spent by the Welsh Assembly Government on adult oral health in Wales. (WAQ55193)

Answer issued on 01 December 2009

The Welsh Assembly Government does not collate this information.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm that all patients moved from the orthopaedic waiting lists in 2007/08 in Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust and subsequently reinstated in 2008/09 have been treated. (WAQ55194)

Answer issued on 01 December 2009

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What steps are being taken to ensure that all forensic mental health service patients have access to necessary drug and alcohol treatment services. (WAQ55186)

Answer issued on 07 December 2009

The Welsh Assembly Government 10 year substance misuse strategy 'Working Together to Reduce Harm’ stresses the need for services to collaborate to meet the needs of service users with both substance misuse and mental health problems.

The substance misuse and mental health module of the substance misuse treatment framework was first published in November 2004 and provides clear guidance on developing integrated care pathways and setting up protocols between substance misuse and mental health services for this client group. This module was re-launched in December 2007 and the emphasis placed on mental health service managers to take the lead role in establishing these protocols.

Establishing these protocols is a requirement under Key Action 37 of the revised adult mental health National Service Framework (NSF).

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Assembly Government’s national drug treatment monitoring system. (WAQ55187)

Answer issued on 03 December 2009

The Welsh National Database for Substance Misuse provides data on people receiving treatment for a substance misuse problem. All service providers that are funded by the Welsh Assembly Government are required to submit information to the database.

The database provides the information needed to monitor achievements against the substance misuse Key Performance Indicators and all quarterly and annual reports are published on the Welsh Assembly Government’s website.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How does the Welsh Assembly Government assess and meet the needs of children living with substance abusing parents. (WAQ55188)

Answer issued on 03 December 2009

The Welsh Assembly Government’s 10 year substance misuse strategy 'Working Together to Reduce Harm’ sets out the actions that are being taken to reduce the harm to children and young people as a consequence of the substance misusing behaviour of a family member. These actions are crucial to supporting the Welsh Assembly Government’s child poverty and domestic abuse strategies.

Such actions include the implementation of the Wales In-depth Integrated Substance Misuse Assessment Tool (WIISMAT) and Joint Working Protocols between Domestic Abuse and Substance Misuse services, both of which provide best practice guidance on assessing risk to children and young people and the appropriate onward referral processes. Guidance has also been issued to the statutory partners of Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards which includes particular reference to responding to the needs of children with substance misusing parents.

Other initiatives being implemented to protect vulnerable children and support family interventions include the roll out of the Strengthening Families Programme and the establishment of the multi-disciplinary Integrated Family Support Teams. These teams will be skilled, experienced and well supported professionals delivering a prescribed model of family interventions to fragile families where parental substance misuse and child welfare coexist and children are at risk.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many adults undergoing drug or alcohol treatment are parents. (WAQ55189)

Answer issued on 03 December 2009

According to the latest management information available from the Welsh National Database for Substance Misuse, as at 30th June 2009 there were 4,360 substance misuse clients (who are currently engaged with treatment services) who had at least one child either living with them or living elsewhere.

David Melding (South Wales Central): What involvement did the Welsh Assembly Government have in the appointment of the Wales Commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). (WAQ55190)

Answers issued on 01 December 2009

The Welsh Assembly Government was represented at official level in the appointment process, and the consent of the First Minister was sought for the appointment.  

David Melding (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline the appointment process for the Wales Commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and will he make a statement. (WAQ55191)

Answers issued on 01 December 2009

This is a statutory appointment under the Equality Act 2006.  The appointments are made in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.  I welcome the appointment of Ann Beynon OBE as Wales Commissioner. I would also like to thank Dr Neil Wooding, the former Commissioner, for his very positive contribution to Equality and Human Rights in Wales.