Written Assembly Questions tabled on 5 September 2012 for answer on 12 September 2012
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)
To ask the First Minister
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister provide a list of engagements he has attended outside of Wales during the fourth Assembly. (WAQ61143)
Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister provide full details of all events attended by himself and Welsh Ministers as part of their official duties during the London 2012 Olympics. (WAQ61150)
Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister provide full details of all events that he and Welsh Ministers are scheduled to attend as part of their official duties during the London 2012 Paralympics. (WAQ61151)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many times has the First Minister met with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) during the Fourth Assembly, and on what dates did these meetings occur. (WAQ61155)
To ask the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline how many representations have been made by the Welsh Government on behalf of Welsh companies through UK Trade and Industry and to which countries these representations were made. (WAQ61144)
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): With reference to the Minister’s response to WAQ61108, will the Minister confirm that the budget for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships has risen as a result of the decision to discontinue Welsh Government funding to POWIS and does the Minister plan to establish any additional successor programmes to POWIS. (WAQ61152)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Following the Programme for Government Annual Report, how many workshops have been held since January 2012 in support of new and established exporters (p.75); and how many planned workshops are there. (WAQ61157)
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the continuation of the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme. (WAQ61168)
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What factors led to the Minister’s quote; “Our students’ performance in GCSEs shows the overall pass rate remains at 98.7 per cent, with passes at A*-C at 65.4 per cent which is encouraging.” given the decline in A*-C grades achieved in comparison to the result of 66.5 per cent in 2011. (WAQ61138)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline what steps the Welsh Government has taken during the Fourth Assembly to increase collaboration between FE and HE providers in Wales. (WAQ61139)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What steps have been taken during the Fourth Assembly to ensure that Key Stage 2 teacher assessments are robust and consistent with nationally defined standards. (WAQ61140)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline all steps taken during the Fourth Assembly to improve ICT provisions in schools across Wales. (WAQ61141)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline all costs associated with the establishment of new regional school improvement consortia. (WAQ61145)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister indicate whether or not the costs associated with the creation of new regional school improvement consortia will be found from existing budgets and please provide details. (WAQ61146)
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had during the past 6 weeks with the UK Education Minister regarding English GCSE exams this year. (WAQ61171) W
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister’s department had with OFQUAL (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) during the past 6 weeks regarding the English GCSE results this year. (WAQ61173) W
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister give a statement on who is conducting a review of English GCSE results this year. (WAQ61174) W
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister give a statement on the timetable for a review of the English GCSE results this year. (WAQ61175) W
To ask the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government intends to achieve the objectives of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy in terms of outcomes, strategy and implementation and in terms of its impact across the divided Ministerial portfolios. (WAQ61156)
William Powell (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide a detailed account of the Welsh Government's present policy with regards to zero grazing facilities ("megadaries") in Wales. (WAQ61161)
William Powell (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister outline the target generating capacities (in MWs) for each of the Strategic Search Areas contained in the Welsh Government's TAN 8 document; how these targets have changed since TAN 8's publication; how they were originally derived, and the justification for each change. (WAQ61162)
To ask the Minister for Finance and Leader of the House
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Further to the answer to WAQ61023, will the Minister provide a list of all property, including land owned by the Welsh Government in North Wales that has been offered for sale in each of the last three years. (WAQ61160)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister list the destination of the proceeds from the sale of Welsh Government owned land in the South Wales West region for each of the last five years. (WAQ61169)
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What is the date for the last time the all-Wales percentage met the Government target that 95 per cent of new patients should spend no longer than 4 hours in all emergency care facilities from arrival until admission, transfer or discharge. (WAQ61149)
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Will the Minister please outline what the Welsh Government is doing to help Service and Forces Veterans who have been injured both physically and mentally in adjusting back into everyday life. (WAQ61163)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): How many people in Wales regularly take statins and what is the cost to the NHS each year. (WAQ61164)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Who has the contract to supply statins to the Welsh NHS and where is the manufacturer based. (WAQ61165)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): How many people previously prescribed statins have stopped taking them over the last year. (WAQ61166)
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister give a statement on neo-natal care following publication of the Children and Young People Committee’s Report. (WAQ61172) W
To ask the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What is the status of the mortgage guarantee scheme, announced as part of the last Welsh government budget; when will it be open to applicants; and when will potential applicants be able to find out the application criteria and process. (WAQ61142)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail all projects and programmes the Welsh Government is supporting to bring empty properties in town centers back into use. (WAQ61158)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail how the Welsh Government has encouraged the greater use of the Design Commission for Wales’ Design Review Service, and how many times has the Design Review Service been used since May 2011. (WAQ61159)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What assessment has the Minister made of the concerns raised by the Royal Commission that the advice received regarding the merger between them and Cadw fell well below the standards of objectivity and impartiality required by the Civil Service Code. (WAQ61167)
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Minister outline all steps taken by the Welsh Government during the Fourth Assembly to promote the importance of physical activity to older people. (WAQ61170)
To ask the Minister for Local Government and Communities
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide a list of meetings he's held with the Rail Industry during June, July and August 2012 and to give a summary of what was discussed and with whom at each meeting. (WAQ61147)
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide a list of meetings he's held with UK Government Ministers during June, July and August 2012 and to give a summary of what was discussed and with whom at each meeting. (WAQ61148)
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Further to his answer to WAQ60109, what are the results of the evaluation undertaken into the bus trial service between Rogerstone and Newport and its implications for an hourly rail service between Ebbw Vale and Newport. (WAQ61153)
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Minister provide an update on proposals for a railway station at Bassaleg (Pye Corner) and how it has been affected by the recent announcements on rail electrification. (WAQ61154)