Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 14 July 2010

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

Contents

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Questions to a Representative of the Assembly Commission

To ask the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Further to the Minister’s answer to WAQ56166, what was the overall sum of funds allocated in support of fee waiver costs for students studying at Welsh HE Institutions in 2009/10. (WAQ56199)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Further to the Minister’s answer to WAQ56166, is the sum of £1.2 million predicted to cover all tuition fee waiver costs, or just a part of it, simultaneously forcing students of Welsh Higher Education Institutions to pay some tuition fee for 2010/11. (WAQ56200)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

The overall sum allocated by HEFCW in support of fee waiver costs for students studying at Welsh HE Institutions in 2009/10 was £1,221,700. This was sufficient to cover the full fee waiver costs for 2009/10.

As I said previously, HEFCW has allocated the same amount again in support of fee waiver costs for students studying at Welsh HE Institutions in 2010/11.  However, we will not know the full costs of meeting Erasmus registrations in 2010/11 until January 2011 when numbers are confirmed.

HEFCW’s letter of 22nd April set out the position should this ultimately prove insufficient to cover the full costs of the fee waiver scheme.

To ask the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What assessment has been made of the profile of recipients of the 5000 vouchers under the Welsh Boiler Scrappage Scheme to ensure the scheme benefited those in most need. (WAQ56193)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

The boiler scrappage scheme was targeted at homeowners in Wales who are over the age of 60 and all available vouchers have now been allocated.

To date, 2,619 of the vouchers issued have been redeemed and a profile of these householders, by Local Authority area and age, is set out below.  This information will be updated as further vouchers are redeemed.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Why wasn’t the Welsh Boiler Scrappage Scheme means tested to ensure the 5000 vouchers went to those in most need. (WAQ56194)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

The Welsh Boiler Scrappage Scheme operated according to the Regulations that govern the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) partial grant.  The partial grant is non-means tested and is available to homeowners who are over 60.  The same criteria were therefore applied to the Boiler Scrappage Scheme.

Providing a non-means tested element to energy efficiency grants for householders in Wales is a One Wales commitment.

Brian Gibbons (Aberavon): Further to the Minister’s answer to WAQ56095, will she clarify what the minimum standard (level) is that house builders must achieve under the sustainable homes code as set out in TAN 22 when constructing new homes in Wales. (WAQ56201)

Answer issued on 13 July 2010

Technical Advice Note 22 does not set out the minimum standard expected by the Welsh Assembly Government. This is contained in Section 4.11- Planning for Sustainable Building, of Planning Policy Wales. The policy was published in May 2009 in a Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statement and has since been incorporated into the consolidated version of Planning Policy Wales.

This states that applications for residential development of 5 or more dwellings submitted for planning permission after 1st September 2009 are expected to meet Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 and obtain 6 credits under issue Ene1 - Dwelling Emission Rate.

From 1st September 2010 this will apply to all applications for 1 or more dwellings.

TAN22 provides the procedural guidance for local planning authorities in implementing the national planning policy.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail the amount spent by the Welsh Assembly Government on early natal care in Wales in each year since 2005. (WAQ56197)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

This information is in the public domain and can be accessed on the StatsWales website at: http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=6109

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the levels of early natal care in Wales during the current financial year and will she detail what consideration she has given to future levels. (WAQ56198)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

I am currently considering the Neonatal report published by the Health Wellbeing and Local Government Committee and will provide my response to that report in mid August.  

Brian Gibbons (Aberavon): How many new NHS primary care facilities accommodating a general practice model have opened in the last three years. (WAQ56202)

Brian Gibbons (Aberavon): How many NHS primary care facilities opened in the last three years accommodating general medical practice have been provided by private sector developers. (WAQ56203)

Brian Gibbons (Aberavon): How many primary care facilities opened in the last three years accommodating general medical practice have been provided directly by the NHS. (WAQ56204)

Brian Gibbons (Aberavon): How many primary care facilities opened in the last three years accommodating general medical practices have been based on the resource centre model. (WAQ56205)

Answer issued on 13 July 2010

Each primary care facility is different.  Primary care development schemes are taken forward by Local Health Boards (LHBs). Based on their estate priorities and through discussions with key stakeholders they decide who, along with the GP Practice(s), should occupy the building and the new build is designed accordingly to provide the best service to the local community.

Since 2007 twenty two new primary care facilities have opened. Of these, twenty have been provided by private sector developers, one directly by the NHS and the other is a university based practice.  

The mix of services varies in each facility. In addition to general medical services it may include health visitors, district nurses, dentists, opticians, a pharmacy and other community services.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): When does the Minister plan to publish a single National Dementia Plan for Wales. (WAQ56206)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How does the Welsh Assembly Government plan to communicate the Dementia Action Plans to Local Health Boards, local authorities, the voluntary and private sectors and others involved in delivering services for people with dementia and their carers. (WAQ56207)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How will the Dementia Action Plans be communicated to people with dementia and their carers so they are clear about what the Welsh Assembly Government expects to see in terms of improved dementia care services. (WAQ56208)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Has additional money been allocated to support the implementation of the Dementia Action Plans and will such money be ringfenced for dementia services. (WAQ56209)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How will the Welsh Assembly Government monitor the implementation of the Dementia Action Plans. (WAQ56210)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm whether there are any plans for an audit of dementia services in Wales. (WAQ56211)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Does the Welsh Assembly Government have any plans to launch a public awareness campaign on dementia. (WAQ56212)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

I refer you to my statement of 11 May 2010 and my letter to AMs dated 12 July 2010 on how dementia services are being improved across Wales.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Does the Minister have any intention to update guidance on joint working practices in the NHS. (WAQ56213)

Answer issued on 13 July 2010

The new integrated organisations set up following the NHS reform will transform joint working within the NHS.  The recently published document Delivering a Five-Year Service, Workforce and Financial Strategic Framework for NHS Wales provides guidance on how this opportunity should be used:

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/page.cfm?orgid=1&pid=7452

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What action is the Minister taking to encourage co-operative joint working between the Welsh NHS and pharmaceutical companies. (WAQ56214)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI Cymru Wales) Therapeutic Development Appraisal User Group meet regularly (generally bi-monthly) with the AWMSG Secretariat (the Welsh Medicines Partnership) on an informal basis to facilitate working relationships.  This two-way communication channel between industry and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) informs process improvement and methodology relating to the appraisal of new therapeutic technologies in Wales.  The Director of ABPI Wales (currently Acting Chairman of the NHS Industry Forum) attends monthly AWMSG Steering Committee meetings.  AWMSG membership includes representation from ABPI and, more recently, three representatives from ABPI Wales have attended meetings of the All Wales Prescribing Advisory Group (a sub-group of AWMSG).

In addition the Welsh Medicines Partnership undertake regular communication with industry colleagues on a day to day basis, meet annually with the wider ABPI Group, and seek written feedback on the appraisal process in Wales. The NHS Industry Forum also have a seat on the WAG Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee.

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What assessment has been made of the benefits that the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 could bring to Wales. (WAQ56195)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

I have not made any assessment of the benefits that the Act could bring to Wales. The provisions of the 2007 Act are largely covered by other Assembly Government policies.

The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 seeks to ensure that local services are provided in ways that sustain local communities and which facilitate the greatest possible public involvement. This will be further enhanced by the provisions of the Local Government Political Structures Measure that was introduced on 12th July 2010.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What consideration has the Minister given to implementing a similar act to the UK Government’s Sustainable Communities Act 2007 in Wales. (WAQ56196)

Answer issued on 03 August 2010

I do not consider it necessary to implement a similar act in Wales. While the Welsh Assembly Government fully supports viable action to sustain local communities, we do not believe that we need the provisions of the 2007 Act to secure this aim here.  

The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 seeks to ensure that local services are provided in ways that sustain local communities and which facilitate the greatest possible public involvement. This will be further enhanced by the provisions of the Local Government Political Structures Measure that was introduced on 12th July 2010.

To ask a Representative of the Assembly Commission

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What consideration has the Assembly Commission given to creating an 'Our People’ awards scheme for all its employees. (WAQ56215)

Answer issued on 13 July 2010

Assembly Commissioner for Assembly Resources, William Graham AM:

The Assembly’s recent success in becoming only the third organisation in Wales and the only legislature in the UK to achieve recognition against the Investors in People (IiP) Gold standard was the result of us demonstrating conclusively that we value and recognise the contribution of all our people.

As part of the independent assessment for the IiP award, which included a portfolio of evidence as well as face to face interviews with over 40 staff selected at random, we were required to demonstrate that:

• top managers can describe how they have created an environment where giving and receiving constructive feedback is valued;

• people can describe how their contribution to the organisation is recognised and valued; and

• people can describe the organisation’s reward and recognition strategy and what they need to do to be valued, recognised and rewarded.

This external assessment against an internationally recognised standard provides us with the necessary confidence to be sure that our ways of recognising the contributions made by staff are effective.  Schemes which single out individual efforts have proved to be unpopular amongst staff when we have tried them in the past.  On this basis, we do not intend to introduce other schemes at the moment, but if the Member would like to discuss her suggestion further with the Chief Executive this would be welcomed.