Answers issued to Members on 8 October 2008
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
Contents
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Jonathan Morgan (Cardiff North): Will the Minister clarify that the United Public Health Service and therefore the National Public Health Service leaving Velindre, will remain within the NHS? (WAQ52565)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): I have accepted recommendations that the Unified Public Health Organisation when established will be an independent statutory NHS organisation.
David Melding (South Wales Central): Does the Welsh Assembly Government have a target date by which no under-18s requiring psychiatric treatment will be treated on adult wards? (WAQ52566)
Edwina Hart: No, the Welsh Assembly Government does not have a target date. We are working with services to ensure that they are able to meet the requirements of the Mental Health Act 2007 as regards suitable accommodation for patients aged under 18 admitted to hospital.
David Melding (South Wales Central): How many patients under the age of 18 received Electroconvulsive Therapy in the last year for which figures are available? (WAQ52567)
Edwina Hart: During 2007-08 no patients aged under 18 were recorded as receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy in NHS Trusts in Wales (Source: Patient Episode Database Wales).
David Melding (South Wales Central): How many in-patients under 18 were treated in adult psychiatric wards in the last year for which figures are available? (WAQ52568)
Edwina Hart: Since July 2008, where a child or young person is admitted to an adult mental health ward the matter is reported under the 'Serious Incident’ reporting system.
Nine incidents were reported between October 2007 and September 2008.
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): In relation to the issue of businesses opening their toilets to public use, (a) has the Minister developed a strategy for how the funding will be distributed throughout Wales, and (b) what provisions will he make to ensure that a sufficient number of additional accessible toilets will be open to the public? (WAQ52574)
The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government (Brian Gibbons): a) The Assembly Government will provide each local authority with a grant of up to £17,500 to re-imburse any payments of up to £500 per business that they make to allow free public access to their toilets. This is sufficient to funding to provide public access to at least 35 facilities per local authority.
b) Local authorities are responsible for the provision of public toilets, but this will provide an incentive for local authorities and businesses to work together to provide facilities where they are needed. A condition of the grant is that local authorities must be satisfied that facilities provided by grant recipients meet acceptable standards of safety, hygiene, accessibility for disabled people and provision for both sexes.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the current review of burial ground legislation? (WAQ52576)
Brian Gibbons: The review is an ongoing process being undertaken by the Ministry of Justice in conjunction with relevant stakeholder organisations on the Burials and Cemeteries Advisory Group. My officials keep in close touch with those of the Ministry of Justice and are members of the Advisory Group. I have not held discussions directly with the UK Government, however, Government Ministers have kept me abreast of developments from time to time through correspondence.