Answers issued to Members on 10 December 2007

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Nerys Evans (Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru): A oes unrhyw gynlluniau i newid rheoliadau llywodraeth leol ynglŷn â chyllido ysgolion? (WAQ50772) [W]

Jane Hutt: Nodir y fframwaith deddfwriaethol sy’n llywodraethu’r broses o ariannu ysgolion a gynhelir yng Nghymru yn Neddf Safonau a Fframwaith Ysgolion 1998 ac yn y rheoliadau canlynol a wnaed o dan ddarpariaethau yn y Ddeddf honno:

• Rheoliadau Cyllidebau AALl, Cyllidebau Ysgolion a Chyllidebau Ysgolion Unigol (Cymru) 2003;

• Rheoliadau Addysg (Cynlluniau Ariannol AALl) (Cymru) 2004;

• Rheoliadau Cyfrannau Cyllideb Ysgolion (Cymru) 2004.

Rydym yn bwriadu cyflwyno cyllidebau tair blynedd i ysgolion yn wirfoddol o 2008-09 ymlaen. Bydd yn ofynnol gwneud newidiadau i’r fframwaith hwn yn sgîl y rheoliadau sy’n cyflwyno cyllidebau tair blynedd i ysgolion am y blynyddoedd dilynol yn statudol o dan ddarpariaethau yn Neddf Addysg 2005. Byddwn yn cynnal ymgynghoriad ar unrhyw reoliadau newydd neu ddiwygiedig drafft cyn y cânt eu rhoi gerbron y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol i’w cymeradwyo, a disgwylir i hyn ddigwydd yn ystod 2008.

Rydym hefyd yn adolygu rôl fforymau ysgolion ac efallai y bydd angen rheoliadau newydd neu ddiwygiedig i wneud unrhyw newidiadau sy’n deillio o’r gwaith hwnnw.

Nerys Evans (Mid and West Wales): Are there any plans to change local government regulations regarding school funding? (WAQ50772) [W]

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): The legislative framework governing the financing of maintained schools in Wales is set out in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and in the following regulations made under provisions in that Act:

• The LEA Budget, Schools Budget and Individual Schools Budget (Wales) Regulations 2003;

• The Education (LEA Financial Schemes) (Wales) Regulations 2004; and,

• The School Budget Shares (Wales) Regulations 2004.

We are looking to introduce three year budgets for schools on a voluntary basis from 2008-09.  Regulations introducing three-year budgets for schools for subsequent years on a statutory basis under provisions in the Education Act 2005 will require changes to this framework.  We will consult on any new or revised regulations in draft before they are brought before the National Assembly for approval, expected to be during 2008.  

We are also reviewing the role of school forums and new or amending regulations may be needed to make any changes emerging from that work.

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Michael German (South Wales East): Will the Minister outline how the Government is planning to increase affordable housing to 6,500 over the next four years? (WAQ50796)

The Deputy Minister for Housing (Jocelyn Davies): In addition to increasing the budget for the SHG programme we expect to see a considerable increase in the provision of affordable housing without public subsidy through the planning system and other mechanisms. We will be making further policy interventions to ensure that this takes place.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): What guidelines does the Minister produce for local authorities in placing children with foster parents with appropriate specialist training, for example that blind or deaf children are placed with foster parents who have blind/deaf awareness training? (WAQ50789)

The Deputy Minister for Social Services (Gwenda Thomas): We have produced a range of policies, guidance and tools for local authorities to ensure that placements are high quality and meet the specific needs of children. These include:

• The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families and associated practice guidance on assessing the needs of disabled children.

• Statutory guidance on Social Care for deafblind children and adults (National Assembly for Wales Circular 10/01). This requires local authorities to keep a record of deafblind people in their area; ensure specifically specifically trained people carry out assessments and that deafblind people are able to access specifically trained one-to-one support workers, if assessed as requiring such support. In addition one member of senior management must include overall responsibility for deafblind services within his/her responsibilities.

• Core Key actions within the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, to ensure professionals and parents/carers of disabled children including foster carers receive appropriate training and information.

• A toolkit to assist practitioners responsible for assessing need and providing services to deafblind children and young people and their families. This will be of direct value those who live with, care for, or work with deafblind children and young people, including foster carers.

• Regulations and National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Fostering, which emphasise the need for children to be placed in foster care placements capable of meeting the child’s assessed needs.

• The Children’s commissioning Support resource; a database of cross sector placements across Wales to assist local authorities in better matching of placements to need, including in foster care.

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide an update of the Sustainable Farming and Environment Task and Finish Group? (WAQ50762)

The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): The independent Sustainable Farming and Environment: Action Towards 2020 Group completed its work in presenting a report to me on 11 September.

I intend to consult early next year with the farming and wider countryside interests on the outline of a refined and refreshed strategy, setting out the future direction for the agricultural industry. The aim is that the strategy will be in place by the summer 2008.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Following the announcement by Commissioner Dimas that he is minded to refuse consent for the growing and commercialization of the GM maize varieties BT11 and 1507, on scientific and precautionary grounds, will the Minister write to Commissioner Dimas with an expression of support from the Welsh Territorial Competent Authority? (WAQ50767)

Elin Jones: I am aware of Commissioner Dimas’s concerns and I have therefore asked for advice on the research on the potential for this insect resistant maize to damage the environment and aquatic ecosystems from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). ACRE is the independent scientific advisory body to the UK Government and devolved administrations on the risk to human health and the environment from the marketing of GMOs.

I understand that these maize lines are not suitable for cultivation in Wales.