Answers issued to Members on 13 June 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 the Economy and Transport Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Public Service Delivery Questions to the Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development
Questions to the First Minister
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the First Minister provide a list of his engagements for Tuesday 5 June 2007, together with the times scheduled for those engagements? (WAQ50023)
The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): In addition to many media interviews, my engagements for the day related entirely to my role in the opening of the third Assembly by Her Majesty The Queen.
Questions to the Minister for the Economy and Transport
Alun Ffred Jones (Caernarfon): Will the Minister clarify whether residential car parking bays for disabled people may be located on roads with a single yellow line? (WAQ50037)
The Minister for the Economy and Transport (Brian Gibbons): Yes. A single yellow line is used when the prohibition of waiting applies for a period of less than 24 hours each day (e.g. peak hours). If the disabled parking bay is only operational outside those hours then the single yellow line would be continued through the bay.If the bay is designated for use 24 hours a day and 7 days a week then the single yellow line would be terminated either side of the bay marking.
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): How many qualified nurse practitioners are there in Wales in total and by area? (WAQ50020)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): The number of nurse practitioners cannot be separately identified centrally.Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): How many practice nurses are there in Wales in total and by area? (WAQ50021)
Edwina Hart: Information on the number of practice nurses currently in post is not available centrally.
Mike German (South East Wales): Will the Minister comment on the cost implications of the moratorium on changes at community hospital level? (WAQ50031)
Mike German (South East Wales): Will the Minister comment on the cost implications of the decision not to implement agreed changes in Direct General Hospital services unless and until associated community services are in place? (WAQ50035)
Edwina Hart: The cost of the current service configuration is included within current NHS costs. The proposed reconfiguration is about improving services and not about saving money.
Helen Mary Jones (Llanelli): What plans does the Minister have regarding the future availability of a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Huntingdon’s [sic]
Disease, and will she make a statement on current availability? (WAQ50041)
Helen Mary Jones (Llanelli): Will the Minister detail the reasons for the withdrawal of funding for the Huntingdon’s [sic]
Disease Management Clinic? (WAQ50042)
Edwina Hart: Funding has not been withdrawn. For many years the centre has provided services for the care and management of patients with Huntington’s disease and their families through the Clinical Nurse Specialist who was based at the Medical Genetics Service. This was not tenable as Medical Genetics Services have a very specific role to play in diagnosis and counselling relating to hereditary conditions. The Service’s role and training do not extend to the care and management of individual patients. The Clinical Nurse Specialist post—which is currently vacant—will therefore be re-located out of the Medical Genetics Service to ensure that the nurse will focus on the care and management of patients. Discussions about a more appropriate clinical setting for this post are currently on-going between Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Cardiff University.
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Public Service Delivery
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the impact the business rate relief scheme has on the income made from holiday homes? (WAQ50005)
The Minister for Social Justice and Public Service Delivery (Andrew Davies): Holiday homes used primarily by their owners and are not on the rating list are liable for council tax, so the small business rate relief scheme has not had any impact on income from these properties.
In respect of commercially let self catering properties that are liable to pay business rates, I refer you to my Statement to the Assembly on 12th June 2007.
Questions to the Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development
Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Minister make a statement on any late Tir Gofal payments, and what explanation has been given to farmers affected? (WAQ50007)
The Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development (Jane Davidson): Any current delays in making Tir Gofal payments are due to the Welsh Assembly Government’s obligation to carry out administrative checks as required by the European Commission. The checks include cross checks against the Assembly Government’s Land Parcel Identification database and information contained in annual Single Application Forms to confirm that there is no aspect of double funding, no inappropriate land usage and that all relevant scheme conditions have been met.Other delays are generally attributable to an agreement holder’s five-year review, which involves the processing of new maps and other details that are required to integrate with the cross checking system. The Welsh Assembly Government is now in a position to contact those agreement holders subject of this review with a view to advancing payments shortly.
Applicants are being informed in respect of their particular payments on an individual basis and where the Welsh Assembly Government raise queries, applicants are strongly advised to act promptly to resolve such matters.
Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Minister make a statement on the availability of new entrants to the Tir Gofal scheme, and what explanation has been given to farmers that have been prevented from entering the scheme? (WAQ50008)
Jane Davidson: The Welsh Assembly Government remains committed to developing the further opportunities to enable the farming community to make a contribution to the broader sustainable environment agenda, including the delivery on biodiversity targets and enhancing public access to the countryside.
Some 1,400 applications have been received to join the Tir Gofal Scheme in response to the recent application window for the Scheme in November 2006. The way forward is subject to final decisions relating to the final preparation of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, a matter that is one of the key priorities for the Welsh Assembly Government. It is expected that the Plan will be finalised in the next few weeks and farmers will be informed of the position in respect of their respective applications accordingly.
Elin Jones (Ceredigion): Will the Minister detail the level of European modulation for each year to 2013. (WAQ50009)
Jane Davidson: Article 10 of Council Regulation 1782/2003 provides that the rate of compulsory modulation is 5 per cent for each year 2007-2012.
Elin Jones (Ceredigion): Will the Minister detail the level of national modulation for each year to 2013? (WAQ50010)
Jane Davidson: Following my recent discussions with representatives of the Opposition Parties, I have decided that the following rates of voluntary modulation will apply for the purposes of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2012:
Per cent |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
0 |
2.50 |
4.20 |
5.80 |
6.50 |
6.50 |
These rates are below those that are to apply in England, Scotland and N Ireland.
The Welsh Assembly Government will provide co-financing (at 45 per cent, the maximum permitted) for the receipts generated by voluntary modulation
80 per cent of the receipts will be directed to axis 2 of the RDP underpinning the Assembly Government’s commitment to advance environmental actions by the farming community. The increase in the rate from 2009 will provide the funding to implement measures agreed under the RDP axis 2 review and in my judgement is necessary if the Assembly Government is to secure Commission approval to the RDP overall and thus able to deploy a significant level of investment to the benefit of rural Wales.
Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): With regard to the windfarm development at Blaengwen, Pencader; will the Minister detail the value of Welsh Assembly Government Funds made available, and detail the recipients? (WAQ50019)
Jane Davidson: Onshore wind is considered to be commercial viable and would not normally attract Welsh Assembly Government aid and I am unaware of any being made available.
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): What discussions has the Minister had with the Government on the progress in the drilling for gas at Lletybrongu, Llangynnwyd, Maesteg? (WAQ50022)
Jane Davidson: I have held no discussions about gas exploration at Lletybrongu, Llangynnwyd, Maesteg.