Written Assembly Questions tabled on 3 February 2014 for answer on 10 February 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)
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister publish the Risk Adjusted Mortality Data (RAMI 2013 baseline) for each Welsh Local Health Board for the period 1st April 2013 to 30th June 2013 (and by Welsh hospital, where this is available)? (WAQ66378)
Answer received for publication on 14 February 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): It is for the Health Boards and not for the Welsh Government to publish hospital level mortality information and they already do this. I am committed to full transparency but in a way that aids public understanding. The reporting of mortality is extremely complicated and it is widely agreed that reporting a single measure is unhelpful. I will therefore require each health board to publish a suite of indicators relating to mortality over the next 6 months. This will include a measure of risk adjusted mortality that is more meaningful in Wales.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): What assessment has the Minister or his department made of the levels of compliance with the voluntary Code of Practice on snaring by those setting animal neck snares in Wales? (WAQ66371)
Answer received for publication on 13 February 2014
The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): The Code of Practice is not a statutory code, but is a document which lays down best practice.
The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) carried out research on the use of the Code of Practice on an England and Wales basis. The report into determining the extent of use and humaneness of snares was published in 2012. The report highlighted that compliance with the Code of Practice needs to be improved.
My officials have been considering the report and will be discussing the implications of the report with interested parties in April.
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): What figures does the Minister or his department hold on the number of illegal, self-locking animal snares that are used in Wales annually? (WAQ66372)
Answer received for publication on 14 February 2014
Alun Davies: My Officials have contacted the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), a UK wide Police intelligence unit. NWCU has no recorded incidents of the use of self-locking snares in Wales.
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): What assessment has the Minister’s department made of the impact of animal neck snares? (WAQ66373)
Answer received for publication on 14 February 2014
Alun Davies: Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act free running snares can be legally used in Wales.
My officials have considered a report from the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) on the humaneness of neck snares and in April will be discussing the implications of the report with interested parties.
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): What assessment has the Minister’s department made of the impact on game bird welfare of the lack of a minimum size requirement for game bird rearing cages in the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes? (WAQ66374)
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): What assessment has the Minister’s department made of the impact on the welfare of wildlife and gamebirds of the lack of any requirement for those shooting game birds to be trained? (WAQ66375)
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): How many gamebirds are (a) bred, (b) reared, (c) released, and (d) shot in Wales annually? (WAQ66376)
Answer received for publication on 14 February 2014 (WAQ66374 - 376)
Alun Davies: No assessment has been undertaken by my department. My officials advise that a report will be published following the conclusion of a study commissioned collectively by Defra covering England, Scotland and Wales to provide scientific evidence on whether cage-based breeding for pheasants and partridges can fully meet birds’ needs, and if not to identify best practice for improving the breeding environment for gamebirds. The recommendations and results of assessments will be presented and considered by Government, industry and stakeholders with a view to improve the standards of gamebirds reared in Wales and other parts of Great Britain.
The Welsh Government produced a Code of Practice for the welfare of gamebirds reared for shooting purpose in January 2011. The code that provides practical guidance in relation to section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act refers to all birds bred and reared under controlled conditions for the purposes of release for sport shooting and birds retained for breeding purposes.
The data request is not held by the Welsh Government but can be obtained from the Gamebirds and shooting industry.
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): What figures does the Department for National Resources and Food hold on a) the number of illegal, self-locking animal neck snares used annually in Wales and b) the total number of animal neck snares used in Wales annually? (WAQ66377)
Answer received for publication on 14 February 2014
Alun Davies: My Officials have contacted the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), a UK wide Police intelligence unit, and have been informed that NWCU have no recorded incidents of the use of self-locking snares in Wales.
Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) on behalf of my department estimated that in Wales, the number of fox snares set was at a minimum in December of 17,231 and at a maximum in March at 51,641. There is no record of actual annual usage.