Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 7 December 2009

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

To ask the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Nick Bourne (Mid & West Wales): Will the Minister provide a figure for the number of students expected to be enrolled on the Welsh Baccalaureate for the academic year 2010-11. (WAQ55226)

Answer issued on 03 December 2009

I am delighted that the roll-out of Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification continues to be success.  We are delivering the broader based Baccalaureate that we promised in One Wales and there are now 168 centres offering the Qualification and some 34,000 learners are following Welsh Baccalaureate courses.

Centres have recently applied to participate in the next phase of the roll-out, which will commence in September 2010.  Interest in offering the Welsh Baccalaureate was again high, with some 68 centres applying to commence delivery, or to expand their existing provision.  In addition, 22 applications to deliver new Principal Learning Qualifications within the Welsh Baccalaureate have been received from 10 14-19 Network based consortia.  Outcomes of these applications will be announced shortly.

When the new centres commence delivery in September 2010, we anticipate that there will be some 48,000 Welsh Baccalaureate learners, this will rise to 54,000 in 2011, when these centres enter their second year of delivery.

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): With the planned withdrawal of continuous professional development (CPD) funds by Welsh Assembly Government, how does the Minister intend to ensure that all teachers receive the ongoing personalised training they require. (WAQ55229)

Answer issued on 08 December 2009

The School Effectiveness Framework is the overarching framework for building capacity in our classrooms in Wales and for creating and sustaining school improvement at school, local authority and government levels.    Excellent teaching and learning supported by effective CPD is central to the School Effectiveness Framework.  The latest academic research, however, demonstrates clearly that the most effective professional development involves teachers working in close collaboration with each other to develop and share best practice, and focussing their professional development on robust enquiry and dialogue within professional learning communities.  A review of Professional Standards, CPD and performance management is currently underway.  As part of this review, consideration will be given to how the Professional Standards, CPD and Performance Management systems can work as a whole and effectively balance the development of the individual teacher with the focus on improving outcomes for all of our children and young people.

To ask the Minister for the Economy and Transport

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister list all the floor space let in each of the Techniums. (WAQ55221)

Answer issued on 21 January 2010

Further to the holding reply you received for WAQ 55221, I am now in a position to provide you with a response.

As at October 2009 the floor space let within the Technium Centres across Wales is broken down into:

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister list all the Techniums, together with how much each one cost. (WAQ55222)

Answer issued on 21 January 2010

Further to the holding reply you received for WAQ 55222, I am now in a position to provide you with a response.

The list of Techniums and their costs are:

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What assessment has the Welsh Assembly Government made in relation to the fifth Distribution Price Control Review, regarding the impact a settlement below that requested by the distribution network operators would have on delivering sustainable economic growth in Wales. (WAQ55227)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What assessment has the Welsh Assembly Government made in relation to the fifth Distribution Price Control Review, regarding the impact a settlement below that requested by the distribution network operators would have on securing and creating highly skilled jobs in Wales. (WAQ55228)

Answer issued on 1 March 2010

The Assembly Government meets regularly with Ofgem to discuss the implementation of policies and programmes under their regulatory control.

Ofgem’s initial proposals for the Electricity Distribution Price Control Review (DPCR5) were published on 3rd August 2009.  The review sets the revenues for the seven Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) who are responsible for distributing electricity in fourteen licence areas in GB.  The initial proposals are the latest stage in the review process that will determine what companies can charge over the five year period from April 2010 to March 2015.

The review has to balance complex issues with regard to network reliability, delivery of a low carbon energy future and value for money for customers.

Officials within my department will be working with colleagues from the Department of Environment, Sustainability and Housing, who are working closely with Ofgem, to asses the impact of the settlement on the distribution network operators in Wales and on delivery of economic growth and jobs.

To ask the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What assessment was made of the heating requirements for the Letterston social housing development being developed by Pembrokeshire Housing Association. (WAQ55217) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Housing

Answer issued on 09 December 2009

The Deputy Minister for Housing (Jocelyn Davies): Housing Association schemes funded by Social Housing Grant are required to meet Code of Sustainable Homes Level 3. In addition as of September 9th 2009 all new housing developments over 5 dwellings requiring a planning application will have to meet code level 3 with enhanced energy efficiency requirements. Compliance with the code is based on an energy assessment which takes account of the fuel type, building fabric and heating system provided.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What representations has the Welsh Assembly Government made to Ofgem in relation to the fifth Distribution Price Control Review. (WAQ55223)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What assessment has the Welsh Assembly Government made in relation to the fifth Distribution Price Control Review, regarding the impact a settlement below that requested by the distribution network operators would have on a) maintaining secure energy supplies in Wales and b) improving the standard of service for customers in Wales, particularly those living in rural areas. (WAQ55224)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What assessment has the Welsh Assembly Government made in relation to the fifth Distribution Price Control Review, regarding the impact a settlement below that requested by the distribution network operators would have on connecting new onshore renewables necessary to achieving the Welsh Assembly Government’s renewables targets. (WAQ55225)

Answer issued on 08 December 2009

The Assembly Government meets regularly with Ofgem to discuss the implementation of policies and programmes under their regulatory control.

Ofgem attend both Energy Summits, which are roundtable meetings attended by industry, environmental bodies and key stakeholders and Fuel Poverty Advisory Group meetings, where they sit as observers. Issues raised for discussion at these meetings have included price differentials, transmission costs, social price support, smart meters, energy supplier social obligations, the Carbon Emission Reductions Target (CERT) and the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).

Ofgem’s initial proposals for the Electricity Distribution Price Control Review (DPCR5) were published on 3rd August 2009. The review sets the revenues for the seven Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) who are responsible for distributing electricity in fourteen licence areas in GB. It is the fifth such price review since privatisation of the electricity sector.  The initial proposals are the latest stage in the review process that will determine what companies can charge over the five year period from April 2010 to March 2015. The Welsh Assembly Government  is grateful that Ofgem has recognised the importance of meeting the challenge of distributed generation (DG) in the consultation. DPCR5 falls at the cusp of a step change in the need for investment in the DNO network.

Much of today's transmission system was constructed in the 1950's and 1960's to transport and distribute electricity generated from coal power stations. As a result, the UK 'Grid' is designed for the distribution of electricity from a small number of large power stations, rather than a large number of relatively small renewable installations.

The review has to balance complex issues. It must provide the money companies need to replace, modernise and strengthen their networks to maintain the high levels of network reliability that customers enjoy and expect. It also has to enable the DNOs to prepare for the significant changes to their businesses that will be required for them to play their part in the delivery of a low carbon energy future whilst ensuring that customers continue to receive value for money.

If the UK is to deploy sufficient resource to meet renewables targets, it is essential the transmission system be reconfigured to support its supply and distribution.  We consider that the proposed banding of the Renewables Obligation (RO), and the likely introduction of a feed in tariff for smaller scale generation will transform the demand for connections to the distributed network, leading to a step change in the need for network management and investment.  

The costs of network upgrades within a DNO should be socialised to ensure the maximum penetration of smaller scale renewables. We have been working closely with Ofgem and will continue to do so.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister identify on what date the provisions of the NHS Redress Measure became active within the NHS in Wales. (WAQ55218)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What progress has the Minister made in making use of the NHS Redress Measure since it was passed by the Assembly. (WAQ55219)

Answer issued on 03 December 2009

In relation to the implementation of the NHS Redress (Wales) Measure 2008  a set of draft regulations is currently being finalised and will be subject to a full consultation shortly, before introduction in the Assembly in the spring of 2010. A commencement order will come forward at the same time to bring the relevant provisions of the Measure into force.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Minister had regarding the implications for public health of the presence of asbestos in public buildings. (WAQ55220)

Answer issued on 08 December 2009

It is the responsibility of the duty holder to comply with the requirements of the control of asbestos at work regulations. The duty holder is defined in the regulations as anyone responsible for maintaining and repairing all or part of a property or has control of a property.  It is therefore a matter for the Local Health Boards and other NHS property holdings bodies to comply with its requirements.