Answers issued to Members on 14 May 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 Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Minister for Heritage
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What assessment has been made of the impact on the people of Wales of the withdrawal of the 10p tax band? (WAQ51673)
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What representations have the First Minister and the government made to the UK Government about the withdrawal of the 10p tax band? (WAQ51679)
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): The taxation system, as a reserved matter, is the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. We have expressed our concern about the effects of the abolition of the 10p income tax rate on families in Wales with low incomes and look forward to seeing details of the Chancellor’s plans to mitigate these effects through changes elsewhere in the tax system.
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the use of credit and/or debit cards to pay tolls on the Severn crossings? (WAQ51707)
The Deputy First Minister: None.
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with Severn River Crossing plc regarding the use of credit and/or debit cards to pay tolls on the Severn crossings? (WAQ51708)
The Deputy First Minister: None.
Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister list the number of noise abatement orders issued by each local authority in Wales in each year since 1999? (WAQ51718)
The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): The Welsh Assembly Government does not collect data on noise abatement orders issued by local authorities in Wales. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) undertakes annual surveys of noise abatement orders issued by local authorities across England and Wales. The CIEH does not publish this information on an individual local authority basis but summary statistics are available from:
Kim Willis,
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health,
Chadwick Court ,
15 Hatfields,
London
SE1 8DJ
Email NoiseStats@CIEH.org
Website http://noisestats.cieh.org
Telephone 020 7827 5822
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Irene James (Islwyn): What is Welsh Assembly Government doing to tackle the problem of hospital related infections? (WAQ51691)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): The Welsh Assembly Government takes the issue of reducing all healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) very seriously. Since the launch of the 'HCAIs—a Strategy for Hospitals in Wales’, 2004, we have taken a more generic approach to HCAIs and have not set reduction targets focusing on specific organisms. Under the 2008-09 Annual Operating Framework, trusts agree locally based targets.
We have continued to emphasise that infection control is the responsibility of all healthcare staff and that hygiene and infection control issues are embedded in the management agenda in hospitals.
The results of a prevalence study in 2006 showed that Wales’ HCAI prevalence rate was 6.4%, which was lower than the UK and ROI rate of 7.6%. This illustrates that the current approach being taken is the right one.
In November 2007, the Wales Audit Office produced a report, 'Minimising Healthcare Associated Infections in NHS Trusts in Wales’. This report was subsequently considered by the Assembly’s Audit Committee whose own HCAI report has recently been published. I will respond formally to these reports in June and will consider the need for any new investment in this area and whether the 2004 strategy is in need of refreshment.
Questions to the Minister for Heritage
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): When did the Minister last meet management at Glamorgan County Cricket Club regarding the 2009 Ashes test match, and what was the outcome? (WAQ51717)
The Minister for Heritage (Rhodri Glyn Thomas): I met with the management of Glamorgan County Cricket Club on Friday 9th May 2008 at the inaugural game of the SWALEC Stadium where I was updated on progress towards hosting the Ashes Test in 2009. I am pleased to report that preparations are well underway.
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on measures being taken to ban the use of electric shock dog collars in Wales? (WAQ51687)
The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): We received 173 responses to the consultation that finished earlier this year. The evidence is being critically examined to ensure that any proposals which are developed are appropriate.