Written Assembly Questions tabled on 24 February 2014 for answer on 3 March 2014

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 5 working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within 7/8 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 Communities and Tackling Poverty

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How effective has Families First been in reaching children living in vulnerable families? (WAQ66499)

Answer received for publication on 5 March 2014

The Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty (Vaughan Gething): Through our significant investment in the Families First programme, we are continuing to develop effective, multi-agency support for families in order to improve outcomes, particularly those living in poverty, or at risk of poverty. This innovative programme has a clear emphasis on early intervention, prevention and multi-agency work with the whole family to help stop problems from escalating towards crisis. The most vulnerable families will be in receipt of statutory service support.

Families First is still in its early stages and the first two years of the programme have focused on systems change. The first evaluation report was published in December 2013 and provides vital feedback about the implementation and delivery of the programme.  

The evaluation reported that national and local stakeholders endorse the design of Families First. The ethos of Families First drives better coordination and deeper integration of services for children and families through multi-agency working. Findings suggest the programme addresses gaps and inefficiencies in previous ways of working. Local authorities reported that strategic commissioning promotes better multi-agency working and an outcome based culture.

All local authorities in Wales have now developed and embedded a ‘Team around the Family’ (TAF) approach. The evaluation demonstrated that between March and September 2013, 1,492 Joint Assessment Families Frameworks were conducted and at least 727 TAF action plans were in place for families across Wales. A Family Outcome Tool has been developed which will provide information on the impact the whole family approach is having on these families. Results will form part of the next phase of evaluation.

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What indicators/criteria were applied in identifying the various types and levels of play deprivation among vulnerable families and what indicators/criteria were applied in determining the level of success of the Families First programme? (WAQ66500)

Answer received for publication on 4 March 2014

Please refer to "Further Information to Written Assembly Question (WAQ66500)"

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What is the total amount the Welsh Government has directly distributed to Local Authorities for Play provision in Wales? (WAQ66501)

Answer received for publication on 3 March 2014

To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Jeff Cuthbert): In 2013 – 14 the Welsh Government has directly awarded a total of £1.25m to local authorities through the Increasing Play Opportunities for Children Grant.

This grant scheme is to support local authorities in implementing their Play Action Plans, which were developed in response to their Play Sufficiency Assessments and to increase play opportunities for children throughout Wales.

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How many communities have benefitted from financially sustained on-going Play provision in Wales? (WAQ66502)

Answer received for publication on 3 March 2014

Jeff Cuthbert: The Welsh Government provides all local authorities with financial support to sustain and promote play provision through the Increasing Play Opportunities for Children Grant (2013-2014).  Funding for play can also form part of the Families First Grant (2012-2016) and the Out of School Childcare Grant (2012-2015).

These grant schemes are available to local authorities which allocate resources according to local authority identified local needs. These needs in relation to play provision are assessed through local authority Play Sufficiency Assessments.  We will shortly be consulting on the second stage of the duty on local authorities to secure sufficient play opportunities for children and young people in their areas.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Will the Minister provide an update on the review of the Individual Patient Funding Request process? (WAQ66490)

Answer received for publication on 3 March 2014

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): A further all-Wales IPFR workshop for key NHS staff took place on 9 January which provided an opportunity to learn from others, identify how the current process is working and to discuss areas for improvement.

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and officials have also met with all local IPFR panels.  

Officials facilitated a meeting with patient group representatives which took place on 29 January.

This preparatory work will inform the work of the Review Group which has been established and met for the first time on 31 January.  The Review Group is tasked with considering a range of options to improve the current IPFR process and report to me by 31 March 2014.

Mike Hedges (Swansea East): What medical advice has the Welsh Government received regarding the safety of e-cigarettes? (WAQ66491)

Answer received for publication on 3 March 2014

Mark Drakeford:  The quality, safety and efficacy of licensed medicines are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).   Welsh Government is notified of safety concerns for licensed medicines by the MHRA and this is one of the reasons we support the regulation of e-cigarettes as medicines.  At present e-cigarettes are not regulated as medicines and therefore there is no formal process for raising clinical concerns.

Public Health Wales has issued a position statement on e-cigarettes.

As a result, the Welsh Government advises users to be cautious and would also urge people to speak to their GP or pharmacist, or contact Stop Smoking Wales for help to stop smoking.

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What was the average pay rise for hospital managers in Wales in the twelve months to November 2013? (WAQ66492)

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What was the average pay rise for nurses in Wales in the twelve months to November 2013? (WAQ66493)

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What was the average pay rise for ambulance staff in Wales in the twelve months to November 2013? (WAQ66494)

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What was the percentage increase awarded to both senior and middle managers in Wales in the twelve months to November 2013 as a result of bonuses, clinical merit awards and overtime? (WAQ66495)

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What was the percentage increase awarded to nurses in Wales in the twelve months to November 2013 as a result of bonuses, clinical merit awards and overtime? (WAQ66496)

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What was the percentage increase awarded to ambulance staff in Wales in the twelve months to November 2013 as a result of bonuses, clinical merit awards and overtime? (WAQ66497)

Answer received for publication on 3 March 2014 (WAQ66492/3/4/5/6/7)

Mark Drakeford: The staff groups for which you have requested information fall within the Agenda for Change (A4C) arrangements. Pay awards for this group are considered annually and if awarded normally take effect from 1st April.

During the period November 2012 to November 2013 there was a 1% pay uplift for staff within this category which took effect from 1st April 2013.

I am advised that no bonuses or clinical merit awards are paid to the staff groups you have identified. Overtime is managed locally to address specific service requirements. While the mechanism for calculating overtime payments has not changed, the 1% uplift applied to basic pay from 1st April 2013 will have a consequential impact on the value of subsequent payments.

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What is the difference in numbers of (a) managers, (b) administration staff, and (c) non-agency nurses employed by the LHBs in Wales from November 2010 to November 2013? (WAQ66498)

Answer received for publication on 3 March 2014

Mark Drakeford: Workforce numbers are set out in the below table.

Please note that published information on StatsWales represents the position at September 2010 and September 2012.  Information for September 2013 will be published after March 2014.  Unpublished management information indicates no substantial change in numbers from 2012.