Written Assembly Questions tabled on 30 January 2015 for answer on 6 February 2015
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 Communities and Tackling Poverty
Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East): How much has the Welsh Government spent on welfare reform mitigation since April 2013 and how much does it plan to spend in 2015-16, broken down by type of mitigation? (WAQ68296)
Answer received on 9 February 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): The Welsh Government does not have the resources to meet the entire financial shortfall resulting from the UK Government's welfare changes. We do not identify separate budgets for mitigating the impact of these reforms, however, we do all we can to support our most vulnerable communities as they try and deal with the disproportionate and unfair impact of welfare reform.
320,000 households have continued to receive their full entitlement to Council Tax support in both 2013/14 and 2014/15 and will continue to do so for at least a further two years, following the Welsh Government continuing to provide funding. We are investing a further £20 million through the Social Housing Grant over the next two years to support the building of one and two bedroom affordable homes by Registered Social Landlords across Wales for individuals and families who may be adversely affected as a result of the bedroom tax.
An additional £2 million has been made available this year to support independent front line advice services offering help with welfare benefits, debt and money advice. Through our 'Better Advice, Better Lives' project we help people, including older people, to access their full benefit entitlements. In its first year our Discretionary Assistance Fund has helped over 270,000 people with over £7.2million spent to support the most vulnerable people in Wales and so far this year nearly £4.9 million has been awarded in grants.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with Carmarthenshire Council to introduce a local list of important heritage sites in the county? (WAQ68294)
Answer received on 9 February 2015
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism (Ken Skates): I have not had any discussions with Carmarthenshire County Council about producing a local list of heritage sites. Local listing is the responsibility of the local authority who will be familiar with those sites that have particular resonance within the local community. I recognise that listing is an issue that can divide communities when sites are proposed for demolition. The issue of local listing by local authorities is therefore being considered as part of the package of measures associated with the forthcoming Heritage Bill. My officials in Cadw will produce guidance to promote and encourage the development of local lists and development control policies so that the significance of such sites is recognised as a material consideration in the planning process.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the feasibility of assessing the Ritz Building in Llanelli for listed status? (WAQ68295)
Answer received on 9 February 2015
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism (Ken Skates): To qualify for listing, candidate buildings must be of nationally significant architectural or historic interest and must satisfy published listing criteria. Where these are met, the Welsh Ministers (in practice Cadw) are under a duty to list but cannot do so otherwise. The approach to the assessment of twentieth century buildings is to identify key examples for each range of building type, and to treat these examples as the benchmark against which to judge proposals for additions to the statutory list.
Cadw assessed the Ritz for listing when the community of Llanelli was surveyed for historic buildings in 1990 and again in 2011 following a request from a member of the public. There is some historic interest in the building's architect (S Crocker) and the architectural quality of its exterior (a stripped down vertical Art Deco in artificial stone) as well as some historic association in the acts that performed in the building. It also formed part of a small group of inter-war entertainment buildings with the slightly earlier, but now demolished, Regal Cinema next door. However, there should normally be some nationally significant and well preserved quality in the exterior of a building and its physical fabric to justify listing. Unfortunately, the Ritz falls short of the benchmark that has been set by the early twentieth century entertainment buildings that have been listed. Those buildings display higher levels of architectural character and, on the evidence available, the Ritz does not meet the criteria to be listed.
The quality of the interior of such entertainment buildings, whilst variable, can contribute quite significantly to the special interest of the overall building. In this instance, and despite numerous attempts by my officials, it was not possible to obtain the owner's permission to inspect the interior of the Ritz. One final attempt to gain permission to access the interior of the building is planned to consider if it retains a remarkable and well preserved interior that tips the balance in favour of listing. Any new evidence that also demonstrates that building retains such an interior, will be considered.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What regulations are in place to ensure that personal medical records are not made available to any second parties, other than those in the medical profession? (WAQ68297)
Answer received on 9 February 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): All NHS Employees are contractually bound by the NHS Code of Confidentiality, meaning that information about the patient must be kept confidential at all times and only shared when strictly necessary.
Staff are also bound by the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act classifies medical Information as "sensitive personal information" and as such requires organisations to apply stricter controls on the use of patient medical information outside of those that would have a clinical responsibility
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What Will the Minister provide assurances that personal medical records are not being made available to charitable organisations or lobby groups? (WAQ68298)
Answer received on 9 February 2015
Mark Drakeford: Some charitable organisations that support the patient may have legitimate access to patient information, but only if it is commensurate with the individual's ongoing care. Organisations that provide palliative care (and are also registered charities) to cancer patients such as Marie Curie and Macmillan will have access to patients' records.
Lobby groups will not have direct access to medical information about a patient unless they are representing the patient and he/she has consented to that sharing
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What Has the Minister been contacted by any individuals concerned that their personal medical records may have been made available to any second parties, other than those in the medical profession? (WAQ68299)
Answer received on 9 February 2015
Mark Drakeford: Yes.