Written Assembly Questions tabled on 1 July 2013 for answer on 8 July 2013

R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on what assistance the Welsh Government is giving to Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board to reduce the large number of vacancies currently advertised in hospitals across North Wales? (WAQ65016)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on increased staff absences in every field of the NHS between 2011 and 2012? (WAQ65017)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the link between NHS staff absences and staff dissatisfaction? (WAQ65018)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on whether the Welsh government is planning on adopting a similar programme of releasing individual surgeon statistics for patients to see, as has been recently adopted in England; if not then what plans does the Welsh government have to improve surgical transparency within the NHS? (WAQ65019)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to promote the availability of tamoxifen to women at high or medium risk of breast cancer to avoid the need for many women to have mastectomies? (WAQ65020)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister provide data on the smoking rates in Wales by Local Health Boards? (WAQ65021)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the link between smoking rates and levels of deprivation and will he outline the action being taken by the Welsh Government to tackle this? (WAQ65022)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on how the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) has helped smoking cessation in Wales, and whether an incentive-based approach for GPs is the best way of helping smokers? (WAQ65023)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Has the Minister discussed with local Health Boards how the Tobacco Control Action Plan (TCAP) is to be broken down so as individual Health Boards across Wales are aware of their own individual targets for smoking cessation? (WAQ65024)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government is monitoring the success of local Health Boards across Wales in measuring the prevalence targets set in the Tobacco Control Action Plan (TCAP)? (WAQ65025)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on any financial incentives that are available to GPs as a result of a referral through the Quality and Outcomes Framework scheme? (WAQ65026)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What is the Welsh Government doing to encourage local Health Boards to follow best practice as shown by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in offering the quit support that most suits an individual’s circumstances? (WAQ65027)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister provide data on which methods of therapy have had the highest success rates in aiding smoking cessation in Wales by local Health Boards? (WAQ65028)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Has the Minister discussed other options for the promotion of smoking cessation in Wales as well as the Stop Smoking Wales (SSW) service? (WAQ65029)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What contribution to achieving the Tobacco Control Action Plan targets does the Minister envisage the specialist Stop Smoking Wales service will make? (WAQ65030)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Has the Welsh Government made efforts to stress the importance of smoking cessation in areas where smoking is high, by encouraging and supporting local Health Boards in these areas in particular? (WAQ65031)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on what action the Welsh Government is taking to support Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in reducing the number of non-specialised positions that are vacant in BCUHB, and what action it is taking to reduce these vacancies alongside the reduction of specialised positions? (WAQ65032)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister publish the Allegra report on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (referred to in the joint HIW and WAO report An Overview of Governance Arrangements: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board published on the 27th June 2013)? (WAQ65036)

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister publish the Chris Hurst report on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (referred to in the joint HIW and WAO report An Overview of Governance Arrangements: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board published on the 27th June 2013)? (WAQ65037)

To ask the Minister for Housing and Regeneration

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the responsibility of local Councils to provide fire doors in domestic Council-owned properties? (WAQ65035)

To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister confirm that the pre-introduction draft Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill was drafted in April 2013, as indicated by the "DRAFT-04-13" reference on the draft Bill paper circulated to Members on 27 June 2013? (WAQ65015)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm whether he is intending to make any changes to the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) Regulations as laid on 11 June 2013 prior to a vote by Assembly Members under the affirmative procedure and, if so, what plans does he have to re-consult with stakeholders? (WAQ65033)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm whether the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) Regulations will be put before Assembly Members for a vote under the affirmative procedure prior to the beginning of the 2013 summer recess? (WAQ65034)