Answers issued to Members on 13 August 2008

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What considerations did the Welsh Assembly Government give to the application for a Lidl store on the A483 in Newtown? (WAQ52377)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): The Welsh Assembly Government raised traffic concerns with the local planning authority, Powys County Council when the planning application for the development was first received. The Assembly, through its agent authority commissioned consultants to create a Paramics traffic model to enable the traffic situation to be analysed and assessed. This identified the need for modifications to the traffic signals at A483/A489 junction to accommodate future traffic growth. These works are currently held in abeyance, pending consideration of other developments in Newtown.

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How much has the Welsh Assembly Government spent on new school buildings for each year since 1999? (WAQ52280)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): The Assembly Government provides ring-fenced grant to local authorities for the improvement of school buildings. In addition, they have their own general capital funding together with capital receipts and prudential borrowing. Decisions on school improvement is a matter for individual authorities. Grant is also provided to voluntary aided schools.

During the last Assembly period, 2004-05 to 2007-08, the Welsh Assembly Government will have provided £667m for school buildings in Wales. Total local authority capital expenditure on education for 1999-2000 to 2006-07 to include all Assembly specific grants is £934.439m. Forecast education capital expenditure for 2007-08 is £188.453m and for 2008-09 is £199.149m

Individual education capital spend per authority can be found at the following website.

http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=1326

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many new schools have been built since 1999 and will the Minister provide a breakdown for each LEA in Wales and each year since 1999? (WAQ52281)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Jane Hutt: The information you request is not collated centrally, however, information collected from school buildings improvement grant proposal forms submitted by LEAs, since 2002-03 up to 2007-08 indicates that there have been over 107 capital projects providing new schools, significant extensions or substantial refurbishment. This does not account for projects funded through a local authority’s own capital programme, or where schools have been established in existing buildings.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many primary and secondary schools have been rebuilt since 1999 and will the Minister present these figures as a proportion of all primary and secondary schools in Wales? (WAQ52282)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Jane Hutt: I would refer you to my previous answer to WAQ52281.

It would not be realistic to present figures as a proportion of all schools in Wales as it would not take account of issues such as school closures, amalgamations of infant and junior schools, or new schools established in existing buildings.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How much has the Welsh Assembly Government spent on repairing existing school buildings in each LEA and for each year since 1999 and will the Minister present the figures as a percentage of all schools in that particular LEA? (WAQ52283)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Jane Hutt: I would refer you to my previous answer to WAQ52280.

The Welsh Assembly Government does not provide specific grant solely for expenditure on repair and maintenance of schools buildings. Authorities receive ring-fenced grant in the form of school buildings improvement grant in addition to their own general capital funding, it is a matter for each individual local authority to determine expenditure for its schools in respect of repair and maintenance issues. Schools also receive funding for revenue repairs and maintenance, through their schools delegated budget.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): What assessment has the Minister made of the impact that a state of the art learning environment can have on educational attainment levels? (WAQ52284)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Jane Hutt: In 2006-07, the Welsh Assembly Government commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate, Estyn, to provide an evaluation of the performance of schools before and after moving into new buildings or significantly refurbished premises.

The main findings from their report are:

• In all schools, better buildings contribute to improving one or more of the performance areas that are defined in the report. This generally agrees with the outcomes found by other research studies.

• Estyn found that leadership and management are major influences on improving performance in those schools with new or refurbished buildings.

• Ageing school buildings which are in a poor state or repair cannot meet modern teaching and learning needs. Inadequate buildings make improvements in standards of achievement more challenging.

• In nearly all schools with new or refurbished buildings that were surveyed, pupils’ attainment and achievement have improved. In some cases the improvement in attainment has been significant, especially in a few schools in communities with high levels of social and economic deprivation.

• Estyn inspection report findings show that the quality of teaching has improved in those schools that have moved into new or refurbished buildings. Improvements in the quality of buildings have a very beneficial effect on the quality of teaching and morale of staff which has a positive effect on pupil performance.

• Pupils’ attendance in their new school is similar when compared to their old school. Behaviour of pupils generally improves in their new school, there are less permanent and fixed term exclusions.

• Most schools offer pupils more choices than in their previous buildings because they have more space and better facilities. Provision of before-school and after-school activities significantly improves.

• Local education authorities within the survey were found to be doing a lot to improve the quality of school buildings. Most LEAs in the survey use grants and capital monies wisely. They spend their money in order to manage the increasing challenge of surplus places. The best LEAs in the survey develop their school asset management plans alongside their policies for improving pupil performance.

• In those LEAs visited, very few produced reports about the difference that improving school buildings can have on the quality of pupils’ education. As a result, elected members do not have a clear enough view about the issue.

The full report can be accessed on Estyn’s website.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on how much funding has been allocated to Powys County Council for community focussed schools? (WAQ52288)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Jane Hutt: Community focussed schools were first introduced in 2005/06. Within the grant there is also funding for small and rural schools. The childcare element of the funding, which is ringfenced, has been introduced for 2008/09 onwards. Funding for 2009/10 and 2010/11 is indicative. To date, Powys LEA has received £585,193 through the scheme. A more detailed breakdown of the funding allocated to Powys County Council is set out in the table below.

Michael German (South Wales East): What assessment did the Minister make of the likely benefits of the Member proposed School Closures (Consultation and Categories) Measure? (WAQ52306)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Jane Hutt: I gave my view on the proposed Measure when it was debated on 7 November 2007. I saw merit in two of the policy objectives set out for the proposed measure. I reminded Members that those objectives, which were concerned with improved consultation and increased consideration of community interests, could be achieved through guidance which the Welsh Assembly Government already has the power to issue.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): Further to WAQ52218 and WAQ52219, would the Minister provide a breakdown for each year since 1999? (WAQ52365)

Jane Hutt: The numbers and fulltime equivalent of qualified teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools, by gender, for 1999-2007 are shown in the following tables:

Primary Schools

Secondary Schools

Source: Annual Schools Census

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Would the Minister make a statement on how many qualified teachers have not completed their statutory induction period in the past five years, and how many of these will be asked to repay grants? (WAQ52378)

Jane Hutt: Newly qualified teachers who obtain qualified teacher status must successfully complete an induction period if they wish to teach in a maintained school in Wales.  

The General Teaching Council for Wales records show that 5,715 teachers who obtained qualified teacher status after September 2003, have passed induction, and 1,111 have started the induction period but not yet completed it. These data reflect the position up to 11 August but are likely to change significantly in the next few weeks as induction results for the end of last term are processed.

It is not possible to say how many teachers have not yet either started or completed induction. The GCTW data are not a complete record as there is a flow of NQTs in and out of Wales. Some may train in Wales and complete induction elsewhere or train elsewhere and move to Wales to complete induction. Others may train as teachers but not work in teaching.  

Teaching grants are made available to eligible teachers who successfully gained qualified teacher status via a postgraduate secondary initial teacher training course in a priority subject, and who go on to teach that subject. They are only paid to teachers who have successfully completed their Induction period, so anyone who has not yet completed Induction would not have received a teaching grant.

Training grants are paid to eligible students on postgraduate initial teacher training courses. The Welsh Ministers have powers to recover grants paid. They have discretion about whether to exercise those powers and will consider all cases on their merits. Cases where these powers might be exercised will be where the recipient fails to meet any eligibility criteria; where the recipient has provided information which is false or materially misleading; or where there is firm evidence that the recipient had never intended to complete the course or, having completed it, to enter teaching. Unless there were some additional circumstances, failure to complete an induction period by a person who has entered teaching is not likely by itself to be a reason requiring repayment of a training grant.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Would the Minister make a statement on how the emerging thinking on NHS reform will impact on the commissioning and providing of services in the Powys LHB area, and what role Powys LHB will now have? (WAQ52366)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): In my statement to the National Assembly for Wales on 16 July, I confirmed that as part of the NHS restructuring programme I would be publishing a further consultation paper in the autumn.

I cannot comment any further on services in Powys until consultations are completed.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on funding for the role of patient safety champions to carry out their roles, expenses for telephone use and petrol consumption? (WAQ52367)

Edwina Hart: Although this work is indirectly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Health it is managed by the National Patient Safety Agency in partnership with the independent charity Action Against Medical Accidents. I understand that the role of the patient safety champions is voluntary but that expenses are reimbursed for the work they undertake.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): When does the Minister intend to publish the delayed blood borne viral hepatitis action plan for Wales? (WAQ52372)

Edwina Hart: I have approved initial investment of the draft action plan which will be used to take forward developmental work. The draft action plan will be published for consultation in September.

Michael German (South Wales East): Will the Minister please give an update on plans for the new critical care centre in Gwent, what stage the plans are at, and what consultations have been conducted? (WAQ52373)

Edwina Hart: An outline business case for the proposed specialist and critical care centre has been received by my officials from Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. My officials are now considering the document.  

No external consultations are being undertaken relating solely to the proposed specialist and critical care centre. However, I have asked Dr Christopher Jones, chair of Rhondda Cynon Taf tLHB, to provide a review of the current plans for primary care and community services that underpin the Clinical Futures Programme.

Irene James (Islwyn): What is the Welsh Assembly Government doing to improve patient experience in the Welsh NHS? (WAQ52381)

Edwina Hart: The Assembly Government is currently focussing on a number of initiatives designed to enhance patient experience of the NHS, including improving access to services, safety, food, cleanliness and quality outcomes. I want to ensure that patients receive the best possible service and experience whenever they come into contact with the NHS in Wales.

Irene James (Islwyn): What is the Welsh Assembly Government doing to encourage more people to donate blood? (WAQ52382)

Edwina Hart: The Welsh Blood Service is a division of Velindre NHS Trust and the Welsh Assembly Government supports WBS to raise awareness amongst the people of Wales of the benefits of donating blood and blood products. WBS runs regular donation sessions at a large number of sites across Wales and produces and publishes public information campaigns to increase the number of donors.

Irene James (Islwyn): Will the Minister make a statement on what the Welsh Assembly Government is doing to improve orthopaedic services in South East Wales? (WAQ52383)

Edwina Hart: Orthopaedic patient pathways have been reviewed in detail from referral to diagnosis and then on to treatment. Organisations such as the Delivery and Support Unit and National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare have worked closely with each provider in the region to improve patient pathways. Local health boards have also been involved in this work to promote more community led care and follow up; they have also worked closely with GP practices to improve the referral process.

The regional office and the DSU are supporting the Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust in producing an implementation plan to reduce waiting times breaches to zero. This will take some months, and will involve offering substantial numbers of patients’ treatment at other providers as well as increasing efficiency within the trust and a range of other measures.

An orthopaedic forum has been developed across South East Wales to review services and plan for future development.

Darren Miller (Clwyd West): What factors contribute to the longer waiting lists for Welsh patients who are awaiting treatment at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital compared to patients from England? (WAQ52386)

Edwina Hart: All Welsh residents are seen in order of their clinical need and in line with Welsh waiting times policy, whether they are seen in Wales or England.  

Sandy Mewies (Delyn): How much has the Welsh Assembly Government spent on health related matters in Flintshire in the last financial year? (WAQ52391)

Edwina Hart: This information is available in the published accounts of Flintshire Local Health Board.