Written Assembly Questions tabled on 26 November 2013 for answer on 3 December 2013

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

(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

To ask the Minister for Culture and Sport

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): With reference to the Green Paper consultation on access legislation in Wales, due to be published in December, does the Minister deem it necessary to introduce new legislation regarding access and will he detail whether this will be a priority for the remainder of the Fourth Assembly? (WAQ66000)

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister detail what requests have been received calling for a review of existing legislation for access to the countryside, listing all organisations who have submitted requests? (WAQ66001)

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister provide a date for the launch of the Green Paper consultation on access legislation in Wales? (WAQ66002)

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): What discussions has the Minister had and how many meetings have been held with representatives from Scotland regarding access to the countryside? (WAQ66003)

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): What discussions has the Minister had and how many meetings have been held with representatives from the UK Government regarding access to the countryside? (WAQ66004)

Answer received on 3 December 2013 (WAQ66003-04)

John Griffiths: I met Baroness Randerson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales, on 11 November 2013 to discuss a number of matters, one of which was access to the countryside.

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Please list all meetings held with organisations regarding access to the countryside since the start of the Fourth Assembly, providing the date and attendees of each meeting? (WAQ66005)

Answer received on 3 December 2013

John Griffiths: It is unclear as to whether you are seeking information on Ministerial level meetings or meetings at official level. In either case the request is unreasonable because of the scale of the task. If you wish to be more specific I will endeavour to provide the required information.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Minister confirm what resources he plans to make available to support the diagnosis and care of people who require augmentative and alternative communication aids? (WAQ65996)

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Minister confirm what assessment he has made of the commissioning arrangements for augmentative and alternative communication aids? (WAQ65997)

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Minister provide an update on the Review of Communication Equipment? (WAQ65998)

Answer received on 3 December 2013 (WAQ65996-98)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): An Expert Panel has been established to undertake a focused study into the provision of communication aids. The report is currently being discussed with key stakeholders and I am expecting to receive the final copy of the report early in the New Year. I will write and provide you with more detail at that stage.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide an update on progress of the work on nurse staffing levels? (WAQ65999)

Answer received on 2 December 2013

Mark Drakeford: All NHS organisations in Wales are working towards a set of core principles to determine nurse staffing on adult medical and surgical wards. We announced an additional £10 million in July to ensure these recommended staffing levels are achieved across Wales and we are monitoring progress regularly.

NHS Wales is in the process of introducing an acuity tool for adult acute in-patient settings as this will give a far more accurate indication of required staffing levels based on the needs of patients. It will be rolled out across Wales from April 2014.