Answers issued to Members on 14 May 2009

[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 Minister for Heritage

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

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister outline the support he is giving to Welsh businesses to help them win more public sector contracts? (WAQ54075)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): We are providing support to businesses through the Supplier Development Service which has a particular emphasis on public sector supply chain developments, providing both sourcing advice, working with buyers and procurement officers within public sector organisations and supplier development. This includes holding 'How to Tender’ workshops, 'Meet the Buyer’ events and working alongside Relationship Managers and others to develop the capability of Welsh suppliers.

Eleanor Burnham (North Wales): Given the recent UK budget announcements, how likely is it that budgetary reductions will be made to subsidies currently enjoyed by Arriva Trains Wales? (WAQ54117)

The Deputy First Minister: Subsidy payments made to Arriva Trains Wales are contained within the Franchise Agreement, which is contractually binding.

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

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Will the Minister please provide the methodology used to allocate the additional £8.9 million recently announced for Further Education in Wales? (WAQ54102)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): The additional funding identified by the Deputy Minister for Skills is being used to increase the protection level, previously set at 7.5 percent, so that no Further Education Institution experiences any reduction in funding, unless activity has declined, when compared to the 2008/09 allocations.

There are a number of Further Education Institutions that experienced an increased 2009/2010 allocation. The allocations to these institutions have not changed.

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): What plans are in place to support the planned merger of Trinity College, Carmarthen and University of Wales, Lampeter? (WAQ54110)

Jane Hutt: In order for the two institutions to achieve their plans announced on the 16th April, the two institutions will have to make significant changes to their governance arrangements. This will require amendments to Lampeter’s Charter and Statutes which will need to be approved by the Privy Council. The Privy Council will consult with both Welsh Assembly Government officials and Wales Office officials. Assembly Government officials are working closely with the institutions, the Privy Council and Wales Office to ensure that the two institutions are advised and supported in proceeding with the necessary governance arrangements and that the merger process is managed smoothly. Assembly Government officials are also working closely with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) regarding the funding of the merged institution.

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): How many supply teachers are currently working in each of Wales’ 22 local authorities? (WAQ54111)

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): How many recently retired teachers are now working in schools in a short term contract or as a supply teacher? (WAQ54112)

Jane Hutt: Data on retired teachers working in schools on short term contracts or as a supply teacher are not available.

Data on supply teachers working in maintained schools are collected via the STATS3 Census. The table below shows supply teachers or teachers on occasional service who were employed on 15 January 2008.

Qualified Supply teachers or teachers in occasional service (including agency staff) by LEA, in maintained schools, January 2008

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What is the total number of music teachers employed in a) primary and b) secondary schools in each year since 1999, broken down into local education authority area? (WAQ54132)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): How many a) primary and b) secondary school pupils received music lessons in each year since 1999, broken down into local education authority area? (WAQ54133)

Jane Hutt: This information is not collected centrally.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): What is the total cost of providing colour-coded uniforms to NHS nurses in Wales as per the Minister’s announcement on May 7th, 2009? (WAQ54097)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): The roll out of the new national nurses uniform is expected to cost at the most £2.7 million over two years.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): Will NHS nurses in Wales be expected to meet the cost of buying their own new colour-coded uniforms from their own finances following the Minister’s announcement on May 7th, 2009? (WAQ54100)

Edwina Hart: No NHS Wales nurse, midwife or healthcare support worker will be expected to buy their own new national colour coded uniform.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many colour-coded uniforms are to be provided (a) in total and (b) to each NHS nurse in Wales following the Minister’s announcement on May 7th, 2009? (WAQ54101)

Edwina Hart: The total number of uniforms to be provided across NHS Wales is in the region of 30,000; the exact figure will be established during the procurement process. It is our intention that nurses/midwives who work full time will receive five tunic tops and five pairs of trouser; those nurses/midwives working part-time will be issued uniforms on a pro rata basis.

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What assurance can you provide that if tertiary service purchasing is done in Cardiff, North Wales patients who would currently be sent to Liverpool, Manchester or Oswestry will not be sent to South Wales? (WAQ54103)

Edwina Hart: My NHS reorganisation plans do not include proposals to purchase tertiary services from Cardiff.

As provided in the Consultation Paper: Proposals on the Future of Specialised and Tertiary Services, the proposed Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee would plan, fund and secure specialised and tertiary services on behalf of all 7 Local Health Boards, including Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board. This consultation ends on 19 June 2009.

This Committee, which would be hosted by Cwm Taf Local Health Board, would take account of the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to ensuring patients are assessed and treated as locally as possible, where there are safe, sustainable and high quality services.  

Irene James (Islwyn): Will the Minister make a statement on the additional funding per year to assist patients with arrhythmias? (WAQ54104)

Irene James (Islwyn): Will the Minister guarantee the continuation of the extra funding for patients with arrhythmias for the next five years? (WAQ54106)

Edwina Hart: £2.550 million additional recurrent funding has been provided to develop services to treat patients with arrhythmias.

Irene James (Islwyn): What measures has the Minister’s department taken to increase the uptake levels of Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators and pacemakers in Wales? (WAQ54108)

Edwina Hart: Issuing a new standard in the Cardiac Disease National Service Framework for managing the care of patients with arrhythmias and families of young victims of cardiac arrest focuses attention on the needs of those who may require Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators and pacemakers.

This standard outlines the indications for referral of patients with arrhythmias to heart rhythm specialists for appropriate treatment.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Assembly Government’s priorities for continence supply services for children and young people in Wales? (WAQ54116)

Edwina Hart: I am committed fully to improving continence supply services for children and young people in Wales. In March 2008, I commissioned a scoping study to examine the provision of continence supplies. The results of this exercise showed there were areas of inequality of provision of supplies and services across NHS Trusts. I have asked my officials to consider these findings as a matter of priority and to implement measures to ensure consistency across Wales in the delivery of services.    

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to respond to the Ombudsman’s call for the Welsh Assembly Government to issue guidance on continuing health care for children? (WAQ54119)

Edwina Hart: Work is currently underway to develop a Continuing Care Framework for Children and Young People. A multi-agency stakeholder working group has been established to develop this guidance. The group will be meeting shortly to discuss the 1st draft of the proposed framework which will be issued for public consultation later this year.    

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline progress so far on developing an all Wales policy on continence supplies for children in Wales? (WAQ54120)

Edwina Hart: I refer you to the answer given to WAQ54116.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister advise on the waiting times for people referred with wet AMD and give an assurance that they are all being treated within the two weeks laid down in Royal College guidance? (WAQ54175)

Edwina Hart: The Welsh Assembly Government does not hold information on the waiting times for individual illnesses, such as wet AMD.

Ophthalmologists take clinical responsibility for the treatment times of their patients, taking into account available professional guidance.

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What is the total cost of administering the free entry to Cadw sites for the over 60s? (WAQ540092)

The Minister for Heritage (Alun Ffred Jones): The total cost to date of administering the free entry pass scheme for Welsh resident pensioners aged 60 and over and Welsh children aged 16 and under is £30,780. As only one set of administrative arrangements exist it is not possible to provide a cost for over 60s alone.