Written Assembly Questions tabled on 3 June 2015 for answer on 10 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 First Minister
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What discussions has the First Minister had with the UK Prime Minister with regards to flood protection and assistance for flood victims in Rhyl East? (WAQ68741)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
The First Minister of Wales (Carwyn Jones):
To date, I have had no discussions with the Prime Minister regarding flood protection and assistance for those flooded in Rhyl East.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Food wrote to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Water, Forestry, Rural Affairs and Resource Management in the UK Government in February 2014 requesting that Wales receives a share of any additional funding to assist in the recovery from the winter storms of 2013/14. However, no additional funding was made available by the UK Government. Flood risk management is devolved and, as such, programme funding comes directly from the Welsh Government.
The Welsh Government has allocated over £10 million from existing budgets to rebuild resilience in coastal communities and businesses following the coastal storms. This included £364,000 for work at Rhyl East. Denbighshire County Council is also working on plans to further improve coastal infrastructure to benefit residents in this community.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): With regard to the basic payments scheme, will the Minister commit to carrying out a wide ranging remapping exercise for the whole of Wales at the earliest possible opportunity? (WAQ68739)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
The Deputy Minister for Farming and Food (Rebecca Evans):
The Welsh Government is currently consulting on payment options for the Basic Payment Scheme. The re-map of Wales is a significant task in terms of both time and resources, and therefore we will await the outcome of the consultation before considering this further.
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide details of the rationale behind the decision to reduce the maximum discount available through the Right-to-Buy scheme? (WAQ68745)
Answer received on 15 June 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): The rationale for reducing the maximum discount was set out in my Social Housing White Paper. Essentially this is a shorter term measure to help protect our essential social housing stock from further reduction.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the introduction of modern foreign languages in Welsh primary schools? (WAQ68744)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis):
On 1 June I set out a new approach to supporting the teaching and learning of MFL through 'Global Futures - a plan to improve and promote MFL in Wales'. The new approach will come into effect in from September and will be supported by £480,000 of Welsh Government funding in the first academic year which will see the establishment of four Centres for Excellence for MFL. The centres will work in partnership with language institutes and universities with the expectation that, in turn, the centres will work with their feeder primary schools and partner secondary schools to improve the teaching and learning of MFL.
As part of the Global Futures plan, I have re-emphasised how important it is that primary schools are supported to teach a modern foreign language and primary schools will benefit from enhanced support through the Schools Centres of Excellence, CPD opportunities and new resources. Modern foreign languages is already a non-statutory subject in primary school and the Welsh Government has published comprehensive guidance for those schools that want to teach a modern foreign language at key stage 2. In addition, in 2011, the Welsh Government published "Supporting triple literacy: language learning in key stage 2 and key stage 3" - guidance for schools on effective approaches to triple literacy so that the learning of a foreign language complements the wider development of literacy and skills in English and Welsh.
Looking to the future, the place of modern foreign languages in the curriculum was considered in Professor Graham Donaldson's independent review of curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales. Professor Donaldson's report, Successful Futures, recognises the importance of language learning and places language development as part of the 'Languages, Literacy and Communication' Area of Learning and Experience. I will be responding to Professor Donaldson's report in the summer.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's actions with regards to the establishment of a Development Bank for Wales? (WAQ68747)
Answer received on 9 June 2015
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): I would refer you to the Record of Proceedings for the Welsh Conservatives Debate on Finance Wales on 20 May.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on his response to the recommendations in Ruth Marks's report on her review of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales? (WAQ68740)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Ruth Marks' review concluded that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales' (HIW) role and function is largely fit for purpose. She made a series of recommendations to make HIW a stronger, more independent inspectorate, including the possibility of having one single regulator for health and social care. I am committed to bringing forward a Green Paper this year to consider these options.
A written statement in response to the publication of Ruth Marks' report is available here: http://gov.wales/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2015/hiwreport/?lang=en
Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East): What consideration has the Minister given to extending the availability of Ivacaftor, which is currently available for cystic fibrosis patients with the G551D mutation, to all patients in Wales who are eligible to receive the treatment? (WAQ68741)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
Mark Drakeford: The All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group has begun the appraisal process of ivacaftor (Kaledyco®) for the additional indications (G1244E, G1349D, G178R, G551S, S1251N, S1255P, S549N and S549R) reflected in the extended marketing authorisation. A final decision is expected in October 2015.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on access to breast augmentation treatment for gender dysphoric patients and why access in Wales is more difficult than access in England? (WAQ68742)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
Mark Drakeford: Breast augmentation is not routinely funded by NHS Wales for female patients who have little or no breast tissue unless this is related to cancer, trauma, accident, infection, congenital deformity/illness or other disease.
In relation to a transgender patient, bilateral mastectomy or reduction mammoplasty is supported. Gynaecomastia is funded for men if they meet the policy criteria as this avoids respiratory and other physical difficulties related to wearing a chest binder.
The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) commissions gender dysphoria services in Wales. There are a limited number of facilities able to carry out gender reassignment surgery because of the very specialist nature of treatment.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What steps is the Welsh Government taking to address the £3.5 billion funding gap in the Welsh NHS budget, which is predicted by the Royal College of Physicians by 2025/26? (WAQ68743) WITHDRAWN
To ask the Minister for Public Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): In light of the Wales Audit Office's corporate assessment of Newport City Council, what steps is the Welsh Government taking to work with that local authority to ensure that key decisions are not made without the formal public meeting process? (WAQ68746)
Answer received on 11 June 2015
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews):
It is Newport City Council's legal obligation to comply with its statutory duties and to make decisions in an open and transparent manner.