Written Assembly Questions tabled on 27 November 2014 for answer on 4 December 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 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 Economy, Science and Transport
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline how the availability of engineers is affecting the delivery of the Superfast Cymru project? (WAQ68070)
Answer received on 8 December 2014
The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (Julie James): Wales has a significant number of BT and BT sub-contracted engineers working to deliver fast fibre broadband to premises across Wales under the Superfast Cymru programme. BT is working hard on the ground to meet the challenging targets and to maximise the number of premises which can benefit from the new services as quickly as possible. The works have to be phased, and engineers deployed accordingly, to make the most efficient and effective use of resources. To date BT has already provided fast fibre broadband access to over 293,000 premises across Wales.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline what progress has been made in commissioning a new report on Wales's funding levels, which updates current figures? (WAQ68071)
Answer received on 4 December 2014
The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt): I am in regular contact with UK Ministers to make the case for an improved funding settlement for Wales. On 17 November, the Secretary of State for Wales announced that the UK Government’s St David’s Day Process will include a funding work stream. I am pressing for talks on funding levels to get underway as quickly as possible as part of that work stream, with the priority being to secure a funding floor.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister provide figures of how many patients in England are accessing primary care services in Powys, and how many Powys patients are accessing primary care services in England? (WAQ68072)
Answer received on 2 December 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Management information shows:
In relation to general medical services, at January 2014, 6,089 Welsh residents in Powys were registered with English GP practices and 3,349 English residents were registered with Welsh GP practices in Powys.
In relation to dentistry services, in 2013/14, 6,785 patients travelled from England to Powys to access dental services and 6,872 patients travelled from Powys to England.