​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 28 September 2016 for answer on 5 October 2016

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 Health, Well-being and Sport

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): To what extent do Charities fund health services in Wales? (WAQ71064)

Answer received on 5 October 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): Since the establishment of the NHS, health services in Wales, as elsewhere in the UK, have been funded mainly by taxation and national insurance. A small amount of funding comes from patient charges (e.g. for dental care). Charities do not provide core funding for the delivery of health services in Wales and information about the totality of charitable amounts donated are not held centrally, although we recognise that charitable giving makes a significant contribution to continued innovation in the quality of patient care.
There are nine NHS Charities in Wales linked to NHS Wales bodies. These are independent charitable organisations. They produce annual reports which provide the details of funds raised and donations made in support of the enhancement of care, treatment and experience of patients:
· Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University LHB Charitable Fund and other related charities
· Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board Charitable Fund and other related charities
· Awyr Las/Blue Sky is the working title of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Charity and other related charities
· Cwm Taf NHS General Charitable Fund
· Cardiff and Vale Health Charity
· Hywel Dda Health Charities
· Powys Teaching Local Health Board Charitable Fund
· Velindre NHS Trust Charitable Fund
· Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charity
Charitable and other contributions to expenditure and the receipt of donated assets are disclosed in the Annual Accounts of the Local Health Boards and NHS trusts in Wales.

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Why doesn't the Welsh Government allow hospital chaplaincy services to be funded privately? (WAQ71065)

Answer received on 5 October 2016

Vaughan Gething: The NHS Health and Care Standards (2015) require the NHS to provide for the spiritual needs of service users. Therefore, we shall continue to provide financial support for hospital chaplaincy services through the NHS.

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Why doesn't the Welsh Government encourage the reuse of appliances such as crutches and support boots after proper sterilization in the Welsh NHS? (WAQ71069)

Answer received on 5 October 2016

Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government is committed to making savings in the NHS in Wales.  It is essential, therefore, that the NHS and all providers of public services in Wales avoid waste and make the best use of the resources available to them.  We actively encourage health boards to consider ways to reduce waste by addressing the over-prescription of medicines and medical equipment and ensuring equipment is returned and reused wherever possible.

People given walking aids are asked to return these to their local physiotherapy department when no longer needed so they can be reused, repaired or disposed of if they are no longer suitable for reuse.  While older or damaged items are disposed of, health boards make their best efforts to repair and reuse as many items as possible in order to reduce the cost of providing these aids.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How many local authorities in Wales have service level agreements with organisations able to carry out inspections of dog breeding premises on their behalf? (WAQ71059)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): How many injuries have been recorded from property fires in Wales where the cause has been identified as electrical  in each year of the last five years? (WAQ71067)

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): How many electrical fires have taken place in Wales each year in the last five years? (WAQ71068)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant):  The following table shows all of these data.

In this table, "electrial fires" includes all fires where the source of ignition was electrically powered, and the cause of the fire was a faulty power supply, faulty leads or a faulty appliance.  The data do not include fires caused by misuse of electrically-powered equipment or appliances.

"Casualties" includes fatalities but not people who were simply recommended to seek precautionary medical advice after a fire, and/or who only received first aid at the scene. 

While the overall incidence of fire continues to fall, the number of some types of electrical fire is increasing.  We are working with Fire and Rescue Authorities and others to understand and address these trends.    

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

Leanne Wood (Rhondda): How much money do you anticipate spending from the current round of EU Programmes before the UK officially leaves the EU, and can you give a commitment to secure that funding and ensure that it is spent? (WAQ71062)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): The Welsh Government is committed to spending every penny of EU funds subject to UK Government timescales for leaving the EU and confirmation of the Chancellor's announcement (3 October 2016) that all funding secured by projects prior to the UK exiting the EU will have their payments guaranteed, even after the UK has left the EU.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What guidance does the Welsh Government issue to schools on preventing and dealing with anaphylaxis in children with allergies? (WAQ71066)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): The Welsh Government is committed to promoting equal access to education for all children and young people and recognises the important part that health, education and social care play in their well being. In 2010, the Welsh Government produced the 'Access to Education and Support for Children and Young People with Medical Needs' guidance in collaboration with health professionals and it was issued to local authorities, schools and nurseries.

All local authorities, schools and governing bodies should formulate policies to educate children and young people who have medical needs in the light of their statutory responsibilities and their own assessment of local needs and resources.

The guidance provides advice on meeting the educational needs of children and young people with medical needs. It emphasises the need for continuity in education and the impact medical conditions can have on a child or young person's education, health and well-being. It contains information on producing health care plans and a template which set out individual health care needs, medication and clear procedures for emergency situations.

The guidance also includes a section on Anaphylaxis (pages 88-90), covering:

- what anaphylaxis is;
- identification and symptoms of allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock;
- medicine, control and storage, including adrenaline devices;
- day to day policy measures on prevention of anaphylaxis, for example food management and catering staff awareness of allergies; and
- specific issues to be covered within a healthcare plan for the learner. 

We are currently revising the guidance. A public consultation on a draft was held in spring 2016 and the guidance is now being updated in light of the responses. The consultation responses and revised guidance will be published shortly.

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Does the Minister have any plans to extend and improve financial literacy advice to potential higher education students, including advice on levels and repayment of student debt? (WAQ71070)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

Kirsty Williams: I appreciate that for many young people enrolling at university will be their first experience of managing their own finances.  Ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to manage their money effectively is an important element of their overall student experience.
Financial literacy is a priority for this government and we made a commitment to refresh our Financial Inclusion Strategy, including in relation to education and the curriculum. 

The Financial Inclusion Strategy (published in March 2016) sets out commitments on three core themes: access to affordable credit and financial services; access to financial information, including debt advice; and building financial understanding and capability.  A Delivery Plan, setting out how the Welsh Government and partner organisations will take forward the commitments will be published by the end of this year.

Financial Education has had a place on the school curriculum in Wales since 2008.  We have remitted Estyn to review the teaching and learning of financial education in Wales.  The resulting report will be available in the spring. 
 
In terms of potential HE students, HEFCW's Fee and Access Plan Guidance states that fee and access plan applications must include provision to:

The provision of financial assistance to applicants and students was a criterion for assessment for the 2017/18 fee and access plans.   

Higher Education Providers (HEPs) provide a broad range of financial information and support services to potential students and applicants both in terms of the financial assistance available to them and in relation to broader management of their finances.  Services are provided through their marketing and recruitment activities, open days, HE fairs, school liaison events and include activities to build confidence, talks on money management, details of student support available and how to apply, financial support available from institutions and student finance calculators.  

They also provide a range of services to their students during their studies including Advice, Information and Money teams and Drop-in advice sessions (and by telephone and email) providing advice on Student Hardship funds, money management, budgeting, managing costs and increasing income. In addition to financial assistance provided by the teams, they can also signpost students to other potential sources of external funds such as from charities and trusts. Money teams provide free, impartial, non-judgemental and confidential advice on money alongside a wide range of other matters including housing, academic issues and employment.  Additional targeted services are provided for care leavers and disabled students providing information on additional sources of funding and support.  

As outlined in the Joint Repayment Strategy we are working with HMRC  and the Student Loans Company to improve communications with students to ensure they understand the terms on which they are entering the student loan system.  We are also working to improve clarity for students on their obligations to repay and to ensure they have the information they need to manage their repayments.  We will also work with the SLC to develop effective communication strategies so that prospective students have the right information at the right time prior to making an application for student support.

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Does the Minister intend to accept Professor Diamond's recommendation that Welsh domiciled students should receive the new package of support regardless of where they intend to study in the UK, and should this be extended to those who study in Europe or the rest of the world as well? (WAQ71071)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

Kirsty Williams: I announced in my plenary statement on 27 September that I and my Cabinet colleagues have endorsed the principles contained in the report.  However, I will now need to consider the practical implications of implementing the Review Panel's recommendations before finalising the Welsh Government's formal response.

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the decision not to increase tuition fees for the 2017/18 academic year put Welsh universities at a financial disadvantage, compared to English higher education institutions, who have had an inflationary increase to maximum tuition fees of £9,250 p.a.? (WAQ71072)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

Kirsty Williams: My decision on the level of the maximum tuition fees in Wales for the 2017/18 academic year took account of the financial sustainability of our institutions as well as their ability to be competitive in a national and international context.
The most recent information on higher education finances confirms that overall income continues to increase despite the impact of austerity on public services in Wales. This is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future.

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister confirm that there will be no negative effect on the higher education budget if the recommendations from the Diamond Review are accepted in full? (WAQ71073)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

Kirsty Williams: The Welsh Government will need to consider the practical implications of implementing the Review Panel's recommendations before finalising our formal response. However, I can confirm that any response will be consistent with my agreement with the First Minister and that there will be no negative effect on the higher education budget.
 
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What factors might cause a deviation to the estimated costs of the Diamond Review recommendations, such as increasing numbers of students going to higher education, on full-time; part time and postgraduate courses? (WAQ71074)

Answer received on 4 October 2016

Kirsty Williams: There are several key factors that affect financial modelling, such as that undertaken as part of the Diamond Review. The most relevant factors are noted in Professor Diamond's report and include, but are not limited to: student numbers entering different modes and levels of higher education; inflationary pressures on support for living costs and tuition fees; and student loan repayment arrangements.