Written Assembly Questions tabled on 31 March 2014 for answer on 7 April 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
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Has Finance Wales given a loan of over £1 million to Exwavia? (WAQ66661)
Answer received on 4 April 2014
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): I refer you to my answer to WAQ66564, WAQ66565 and WAQ66567
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on whether Welsh Government Ministers have taken an equity stake in the company Exwavia and, if so, what is the percentage of their equity holding? (WAQ66662)
Answer received on 4 April 2014
Edwina Hart: Welsh Government Ministers do not have an equity stake in the company Exwavia.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the availability of Avastin to treat metastatic colorectal cancer in Welsh patients? (WAQ66660)
Answer received on 4 April 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): All medicines approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) or the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) are made routinely available for patients in Wales.
NICE have appraised bevacizumab (Avastin) for use in a number of conditions including colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. On each occasion NICE have not recommended the use of bevacizumab and as a consequence it is not routinely available in Wales.
Mike Hedges (Swansea East): Will the Minister outline the aims and objectives of the forthcoming Public Health (Wales) Bill? (WAQ66663)
Answer received on 4 April 2014
Mark Drakeford: I published a Public Health White Paper on 2 April which sets out a series of practical actions to address challenges, both old and new, in improving public health in Wales.
The White Paper consults on a number of significant proposals, including;
Introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol of 50p per unit;
Restricting the use of electronic cigarettes in enclosed public places; and,
Improving access to toilets for public use.
The proposals seek to work alongside the overarching legislative approach being taken through the Future Generations (Wales) Bill (working title), in order to further advance health and well-being in Wales.
The White Paper can be accessed online at:
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/healthsocialcare/white-paper/?skip=1&lang=en
The consultation will end on 24 June 2014.