Answers issued to Members on 11 June 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 Health and Social Services Questions to the Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the accountability of the health service in Wales? (WAQ50004)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): Chief Executives of NHS organisations are the Accountable Officers for the organisations and are personally accountable for the performance of the organisations that they lead. They are directly accountable to the Head of Health and Social Services within the Welsh Assembly Government. Chairs of the organisations are required to lead the Boards, and are directly accountable to me as the Minister for Health and Social Services.Bethan Jenkins: What plans does the Minister have to provide free walking frames to those in need? (WAQ50017)
Edwina Hart: The majority of walking aids, including walking frames, are provided by the NHS free of charge where the need for such a walking aid is identified as a result of an assessment by an appropriate member of staff.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the funding of the Wales Air Ambulance? (WAQ50018)
Edwina Hart: The Welsh Assembly Government funds the salary costs for Air Ambulance paramedics, via Health Commission Wales.
Questions to the Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development
Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Minister detail a timetable for a final decision on the planning application affecting Stradey Park, Llanelli? (WAQ50006)
The Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development (Jane Davidson): The application is in the final stages of consideration and advice will be put to me in due course. I will then deal with the matter as quickly as possible.Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): How many holdings with dairy cows are there in Wales, what is the average size of both dairy and beef herds and how does this compare with figures over the past ten years? (WAQ50028)
Jane Davidson: The June 2006 Survey of Agriculture showed that there were 3368 holdings with a dairy herd in Wales. The average size of dairy herd was 83 animals and the average size of beef herd was 26 animals. Corresponding averages for earlier years are shown in the table below:
Year |
Average Dairy Herd |
Average Beef Herd |
1997 |
57 |
21 |
1998 |
58 |
22 |
1999 |
61 |
23 |
2000 |
62 |
24 |
2001 |
66 |
24 |
2002 |
67 |
22 |
2003 |
71 |
25 |
2004 |
74 |
26 |
2005 |
75 |
26 |
2006 |
83 |
26 |
NB the dairy and beef herds defined above do not include animals who will in future enter the breeding herd (ie heifers in first calf and intended herd replacements)