Written Assembly Questions tabled on 2 June 2015 for answer on 9 June 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
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): In relation to the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, what guidance has been issued to private sector landlords in Wales? (WAQ68735)
Answer received on 15 June 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths):
No guidance has been issued to private sector landlords in relation to Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. However, there is detailed information on the Welsh Government website, which is updated regularly as the Act is implemented. The designated Licensing Authority (Cardiff Council) will create a central website through which landlords and agents can apply to register and for a licence. This website will have additional information on the process for landlords and agents once operational.
There have also been several recent consultations on Regulations and Orders that need to be introduced in order to introduce the registration and licensing scheme for landlords and letting and management agents. Links to the information and consultation exercises are attached for your information:
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): In relation to section 95(1) of the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill, will the Minister state the Welsh Government's definition of 'reasonable expense'? (WAQ68738)
Answer received 9 June 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths):
It would ultimately be a matter for the courts to decide what would constitute "reasonable expense" under section 95 (1). Each case would differ and reasonableness would depend on a range of factors, not least the level of repair required and the ability of the landlord to fully, or at least partially, meet the cost of the repairs to a satisfactory standard. Courts have considerable experience of adjudicating such matters.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What plans does the Minister have to review the way in which local authorities identify deafblind people and its reliance on registration as both hearing and sight impaired? (WAQ68736)
Answer received 9 June 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Section 18 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to establish and maintain a register of the people ordinarily resident in the authority's area who have sight and hearing impairments which, in combination, have a significant effect on their day-to-day lives. This functional definition is intended to increase the identification of people who are deafblind so they receive the care and support that they need.
The Act requires local authorities and health boards to jointly undertake a population assessment of needs for care and support, including sensory loss. This will provide for a clear and specific evidence base to inform a range of planning and operational decisions, including the requirement to provide preventative services. Registers of sight and hearing impaired people will form part of the wide range of data and information necessary to undertake the assessment and will include engagement with people who have experience of using care and support services.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on the shortfall in the identification and recording of deafblind people across Wales? (WAQ68737)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
Mark Drakeford: The recording of deafblind people on local authority registers is voluntary in nature and is unlikely therefore to represent a full reflection of the numbers of people who are deafblind in Wales. In terms of the identification of deafblind people, the Welsh Government worked with SENSE Cymru in 2008 to issue guidance for local authorities about services for deafblind people. This sought to address issues around consistency of approach to collecting deafblind data, including identifying and making contact with deafblind people, a suggested definition of deafblindness, guidance on determining local prevalence rates and on recording information. We will continue to work with SENSE to consider whether this needs to be updated or revised.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What consideration has the Welsh Government given to bringing forward legislation that places a requirement on local authorities to provide youth services to residents? (WAQ68734)
Answer received on 15 June 2015
The Deputy Minister for Skills (Julie James):
In Wales the youth service is a universal entitlement, open to all young people. Through the Learning and Skills Act 2000, section 123(1), Welsh Ministers have directed local authorities to provide, secure the provision of, or participate in, the provision of youth support services.
Extending Entitlement: support for 11 to 25 year olds in Wales – Direction and Guidance July 2002 (2002) set out a statutory basis and directions for the Youth Service in Wales for the first time. It stated that, in the context of youth work provision, 'informal education' refers to a process of learning which involves the voluntary engagement of young people with services that enable them to participate in a wide range of experiences and activities that promote their personal and social development. It also set out to raise the bar on our expectations and aspirations for all young people, and close the gap between the most and least advantaged.