Answers issued to Members on 12 September 2007
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh. Contents
Questions to the First Minister
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Minister for Heritage
Questions to the First Minister
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What further relocations of Assembly divisions to North Wales, West Wales and the South Wales Valleys does the Assembly Government propose to implement? (WAQ50351)
The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): There are currently no plans to relocate any further posts into the Welsh Assembly Government office in Merthyr Tydfil.I can confirm posts from the following departments will relocate to the new office in Llandudno Junction in North Wales; Social Justice and Local Government, Economy and Transport, Rural Affairs and Heritage, Public Service and Performance, Health and Social Services, Environment, Sustainability and Housing and Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.
For the Aberystwyth office in Mid Wales, the focus will be on Countryside and Rural Affairs with posts from the following departments relocating; Rural Affairs and Heritage, Economy and Transport, Health and Social Services and Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills. There are no plans to relocate any further departments to either of these offices at this time.
There will also be a number of new posts generated to support the running of the offices.
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): Of the new applicants for the Tir Gofal scheme, who applied to join in the last window, how many have been offered a Tir Gofal agreement? (WAQ50358)
The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): I announced at the Royal Welsh Show that, following formal submission of the Rural Development Plan to the European Commission, the Welsh Assembly Government was in a position to progress the 1,444 applications that had been received to participate in the Tir Gofal scheme. Action is now underway to advise applicants whether they have met the entry requirements as the basis for negotiating formal agreements. This process should lead to new agreements from the latter part of this financial year.Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many Tir Gofal agreement holders have been paid at the due date in the last twelve months? (WAQ50359)
Elin Jones: Since 1 September 2006, 25 Tir Gofal agreement holders were paid on the due date and a further 1,239 were paid once the claim form had been received, albeit after the due date. 444 were paid within 30 days of the due date. The 30-day period for validating Tir Gofal payments has been used in principle for a number of years and is acceptable to the industry.
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Will the Minister state whether there are any plans to increase funding for the treatment of macular degeneration in Wales? (WAQ50356)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): The financial position will be reviewed in the light of the final NICE guidance which is expected to be published during the early part of next year.Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Will the Minister state the number of people in Wales diagnosed with early-stage macular degeneration who are being denied access to Anti-VEGF therapies? (WAQ50357)
Edwina Hart: This information is not held centrally.
Questions to the Minister for Heritage
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): Does the Welsh Assembly Government have any estimates for the number of international tourists visiting Wales for each year since 1999? (WAQ50360)
The Minister for Heritage (Rhodri Glyn Thomas): The number of international visitors to Wales for each year since 1999 is shown in the table below.
Number of International Visitors to Wales 1999 - 2006
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitors (000) |
1,010 |
980 |
916 |
861 |
894 |
1,013 |
973 |
1,136 |
Source: International Passenger Survey.
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How much has the Welsh Assembly Government spent on promoting Wales abroad for each year since 1999? (WAQ50361)
Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Since 1999 the Assembly Government has spent the following amounts on promoting tourism in Wales in international markets*:
Financial Year |
Expenditure (£ million) |
|---|---|
1999-2000 |
1.72 |
2000-01 |
1.66 |
2001-02 |
4.25 |
2002-03 |
4.27 |
2003-04 |
5.16 |
2004-05 |
4.4 |
2005-06 |
5.07 |
2006-07 |
2.39 |
2007-08 (budget) |
3.0 |
*Figures include EU receipts and Assembly Government match funding. Up to and including 2005-06 figures relate to Wales Tourist Board expenditure from funding provided by the Assembly Government.