Written Assembly Questions tabled on 4 April 2014 for answer on 11 April 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)
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 Culture and Sport
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the additional resources made available to Wales as a result of the recent UK Government budget, will the Minister make a statement on whether he intends to establish a fund for the restoration of cathedrals in Wales and, if so, how will the fund be administrated? (WAQ66695)
Answer received on 16 April 2014
The Minister for Culture and Sport (John Griffiths): The allocation of additional consequential funding to the Welsh Government will be subject to the usual budget setting process.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What consideration has the Minister given to the role of the funeral and bereavement industry in the proposed new organ donation arrangements in Wales? (WAQ66691)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Does the Minister intend to consult with the funerals and bereavement industry on the development of guidance and codes of practice for the proposed new organ donation system in Wales? (WAQ66692)
Answer received on 16 April 2014 (WAQ66691-92)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): One of my officials gave a presentation to Welsh representatives of the British Institute of Embalmers and National Association of Funeral Directors in October 2013. There was a very positive discussion at the meeting about how we may engage with the sector on the new organ donation legislation and this will form part of our engagement strategy over the next two years.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): By Local Health Board, will the Minister make a statement on the number of operations performed by the Welsh NHS in each month since January 2012? (WAQ66693)
Answer received on 16 April 2014
Mark Drakeford: Management information giving the number of operations carried out since January 2012 is shown in the table below.
The data collection changed in April 2013 to report all admitted procedures, and management information giving the total number of procedures carried out since April 2013 is in the table below. As Health Boards were migrating to the new data collection system, no data was available for February and March 2013.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): By Local Health Board, will the Minister make a statement on the number of operations postponed or cancelled by the Welsh NHS in each month since January 2012? (WAQ66694)
Answer received on 16 April 2014
Mark Drakeford: The number of operations postponed since January 2012 is shown in the tables below. This covers all postponements, including patient postponements, which account for approximately 40% of the total, hospital clinical postponements, which account for 30% of the total, and hospital non-clinical postponements, which make up the remaining 30%.
A new data collection was introduced in April 2013 to cover postponed admitted procedures. This new measure better reflects the wide range of treatments patients undergo within the NHS beyond what could be described as an operation, and would account for the rise in the numbers reported. Again, this data covers all postponements, including patient, hospital clinical and hospital non-clinical. No data was available for February and March 2013 as Health Boards were migrating to the new system.
To ask the Minister for Local Government and Government Business
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister explain the implications for the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales of the scrapping of the local government boundary review? (WAQ66696)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How much money had been spent by the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales and the Welsh Government on the local government boundary review before it was scrapped? (WAQ66697)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How many jobs will be lost in the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales as a result of the scrapping of the local government boundary review? (WAQ66698)
Answer received on 29 April 2014 (WAQ66696-8)
The Minister for Local Government and Government Business (Lesley Griffiths): The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales work programme relating to electoral reviews for principal Councils has been suspended not scrapped. The Commission is currently focusing on other areas of work.
As no reviews had commenced, no expenditure has been incurred.
Staffing is a matter for the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Byron Davies (South Wales West): What measures are in place in instances where ‘spillages’ occur into fisheries from sewerage plants, and what targets and punitive measures does the Welsh Government have in place relating to spillages? (WAQ66687)
Answer received on 16 April 2014
Alun Davies: When accidental or illegal spillages occur, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) take action to minimise any damage to the environment. They theninvestigate to establish who is responsible and the extent of the damage caused, and determine what further action might be appropriate, including prosecution if required.
NRW permit sites for sewerage discharges (“spillages”), and set targets that have to be complied with. The majority of permitted sites are owned by the public water companies and as part of their Environmental Performance Assessment they agree targets with Ofwat for reducing the number of pollution incidents caused by their assets.
NRW and Ofwat can take enforcement action if these targets are exceeded, which can lead to prosecution and a financial penalty imposed by the courts.
Byron Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister disclose the budget for each of the last four years, up to and including 2014/15, for Natural Resources Wales (or predecessor agencies) to deal with ‘parasitology’? (WAQ66689)
Answer received on 16 April 2014
Alun Davies: The Welsh Government funds Natural Resources Wales (and its predecessor bodies) via grant in aid. Parasitology is not a ring fenced budget within the grant in aid, therefore it is a matter for Natural Resources Wales how they determine the budget.
Byron Davies (South Wales West): What discussions has the Minister had with the cockle industry in Burry Inlet since taking up his post? (WAQ66688)
Byron Davies (South Wales West): When does the Minister envisage publishing the Welsh Government’s response to the draft management plan for the Burry Inlet and what further steps need to be taken before the plan can be implemented? (WAQ66690)
Answer received on 16 April 2014 (WAQ66688 + 90)
Alun Davies: Detailed matters on cockle gathering within the Burry Inlet, including communication with the gatherers, are primarily a matter for Natural Resources Wales as the grantee of the Burry Inlet Cockle Fishery Order 1965. There are some complex legal issues regarding the draft management plan for the Burry Inlet Cockle Fishery Order which need to be resolved. I expect to do be able to finalise this soon. My officials are in discussion with Natural Resources Wales on matter, and with representatives of the cockle industry on an ongoing basis.