​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 8 July 2016 for answer on 15 July 2016

R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self-identifying question no. shown in brackets)

Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): How will the Road and Street Works Strategy ensure that future road projects are delivered on time and in a cost-effective manner? (WAQ70643)
 
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): How will the Welsh Government measure what a "cost-effective" road is under the Road and Street Works Strategy? (WAQ70644)
 
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Welsh Government provide further clarification on what each stage of the summary of actions in the Road and Street Works Strategy will entail? (WAQ70645)
 
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Welsh Government provide a detailed costing of each stage of the summary of actions in the Road and Street Works Strategy? (WAQ70646)
 
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Welsh Government provide details of the measures included in the voluntary code of practice to "improve collaborative working" with major stakeholders, as stated in the Road and Street Works Strategy? (WAQ70647)

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Road and Street Works Strategy, will the Welsh Government outline which "major stakeholders" with whom it would like to "improve collaborative working"? (WAQ70648)

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What steps will the Welsh Government take to ensure effective communication between the public sector and business groups in future road work projects? (WAQ70649)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): On 30June 2016 we released the National Approach for Road and Street Works in Wales, which supersedes the Street Works Strategy.

The National Approach sets out improvements in five key areas: the planning, coordination and implementation of road and street works; the delivery of major road projects; communication with the public and business; skills and training; and fostering within the road and street works community a culture of cooperation and continuous improvement. Working groups will be key to achieving each intervention. There are no direct costs associated with the actions as the National Approach identifies inventions working within the existing street work legislation.

To ensure that future road projects are delivered on time and in a cost-effective manner, our Trunk Road Agents are fully engaged in regional street works co-ordination meetings. Works are co-ordinated through a road space booking system which enables the agents to control the works scheduling. Data from the Quarterly Performance Scorecard will be used to measure the performance and value for money of works.
 
The National Approach sets out the remit for developing a voluntary code. We will be reviewing previous work on diversionary works and looking to see where recent case studies from the utility sector could be used to inform this code. There are currently no set measures.
 
Our major stakeholders will vary with each scheme, dependant upon what diversionary works are required and therefore which utility company we will need to liaise with. In terms of communication with the public, we are looking at ways to improve the flow of information on the Traffic Wales website and associated apps. 

 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central):
Will the Minister provide the cost to the Welsh Government of the purchase of the hangar at St Athan? (WAQ70668)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

Ken Skates: The price is market value, confirmed by an independent valuation and will be a matter of public record once the transaction is registered at HM Land Registry.
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many GP positions are currently vacant in each of Wales' health boards? (WAQ70636)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): The Welsh Government does not collect or hold this data centrally, given that many practices are independent contractors. However, the GP sustainability framework, agreed by GPC Wales includes a requirement to identify vacancy levels in order to access additional support for a range of matters, including workforce. That information is held by individual health boards, but will only include those practices that have applied for support under the framework. Primary care workforce data is however an issue that we are continuing to look at. 
 
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the average waiting time for a GP appointment in each of Wales' health boards? (WAQ70637)

Answer received on 13 July 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething):
Welsh Government does not collect information from GP practices on the average wait to see a GP.
Statistics on GP access, which includes appointment times, are published annually.
http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/gp-access-wales/?lang=en

As independent contractors, GPs are required to provide an appointment system that meets the needs of their patients. Patients with an urgent need to see a doctor, for example, something that could not wait until the next day, such as an acute infection or severe pain, should be able to do so that day. For routine appointments, GP practices should aim to give patients a consultation within 24 hours, where requested. However, there will be times of high demand where this may not be possible. Under these circumstances, doctors will need to use their clinical judgement in triaging patient demand.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the Welsh Government doing to curb the use of self-medication and raise awareness of the dangers of self-medicating and online purchasing of medicines? (WAQ70638)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

Vaughan Gething: For people seeking advice on medicines and self care, community pharmacists provide expert advice without the need for a GP appointment. We are rolling out the Common Ailment Service across Wales which encourages people to seek advice and treatment from their community pharmacy for common problems such as colds, coughs, indigestion and muscular pains as well as general advice about health and well being.
We have recently issued a Welsh Health Circular to provide advice for prescribers on the risk of the misuse of the prescription only medicines, pregabalin and gabapentin. The advice is targeted at a number of areas including general practice, substance misuse treatment and recovery, rheumatology and orthopaedics. The circular has been produced by healthcare professionals and includes suggestions for a balanced and rational use of these medications.
In November 2015 the Welsh Government’s independent Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse (APoSM) published a review into the deaths related to tramadol and other prescription only medicines and provided several recommendations, intended to reduce misuse in Wales. These are being taken forward as part of our Substance Misuse Delivery Plan 2016-18, where the Welsh Government will work with stakeholders to implement work in this area.
Since 2015, anyone in the UK selling medicines online to the general public must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). All online medicine retailers must display the European common logo on each page of their website.
The European common logo scheme provides people buying medicines online with the reassurance that they are buying from a legitimate site. People are able to click through the common logo to a list of registered sellers so they know the site is properly registered. People should not buy medicines from any website that is not registered with the MHRA.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many trainee doctors are working in each of Wales's health hoards, and how many trainee doctors' positions are currently unfilled? (WAQ70639)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

Vaughan Gething: The latest information provided by the Wales Deanery is as follows:
 

 
It is important to note that vacancies fluctuate throughout the year as a result of both trainee changeover and career choices made by trainees.

Each Health Board / Trust will have arrangements in place to address these vacancies.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the Welsh Government doing to improve the health pathways for Trans people and those starting gender transition? (WAQ70640)
 
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the Welsh Government doing to create Trans specialist services here in Wales, so more clinical services can be offered in Wales, rather than across the border? (WAQ70641)

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the Welsh Government doing to deliver skills and training for GPs in supporting people to begin gender transition? (WAQ70642)

Answer received on 13 July 2016

Vaughan Gething: Welsh Government is aware of the difficulties Welsh citizens have been experiencing in accessing gender identity services, and has been working closely with WHSSC and NHS Wales over recent months to address these issues.
One of the commitments within the Welsh Government’s Transgender Action Plan published earlier this year is to develop an NHS Transgender Strategy for Wales which will include a care pathway and guidance for healthcare practitioners. The plan committed the NHS to progressing this work as a priority, with any service realignment required to support the pathway to begin during the current financial year.
To this end, a Gender Variance Clinical Pathway Task and Finish Group was established earlier this year, bringing together the health boards which have responsibility for endocrinology provision, WHSSC which commissions gender reassignment surgery, the NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights, service user representatives and other key stakeholders. The group has met several times and work on the pathway is now well underway.
When the pathway is rolled out, Welsh Government will also be supporting awareness-raising work among healthcare providers to increase knowledge and understanding of transgender and gender identity issues, and of the services available.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What discussions has the Minister or her officials had with local authorities regarding the sale and/or the disposal of council agricultural holdings? (WAQ70650)

Answer received on 23 October 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): I have written to Local Authorities and I am keen to explore with Local Authorities over the coming months how we might make best possible use of the estate to bring more new and young entrants into the farming industry. 

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of her budget by topic? (WAQ70651)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The budget for my portfolio is broken down by the following topics:

Environment and Sustainable Development: £288.5m
Agriculture, Food and Marine: £61.7m
Protecting & improving Animal Health and Welfare: £29.9m
Planning: £5.8m

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm the number of dog-fighting incidents that have been reported in the last year? (WAQ70652)

Answer received on 23 October 2017

Lesley Griffiths: This information is not held by the Welsh Government.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a list of her immediate priorities for the farming and agricultural industries following the EU referendum result? (WAQ70653)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths:  I set out my immediate priorities in a Written Statement of 6 July, following a Roundtable Event with stakeholders, hosted by the First Minister and I, to
discuss initial reactions to the referendum result.
I will be hosting a further event at the Royal Welsh Show.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm whether the Welsh Government has now ceased funding the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board and that the Board is now fully industry-led? (WAQ70654)

Amswer received on 13 July 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): Welsh Government continues to support the industry-led food and drink Board.  

Welsh Government covers remuneration to the Chair and Vice Chairs, and members' travel and subsistence, and costs associated with organising regular sessions and representational activity.

Welsh Government support for the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board to date as follows:

2015    £21,176.92
2016-  £6,624.28

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm how much money has been spent on the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board each year since its creation? (WAQ70655)

Answer received on 13 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths: Welsh Government covers remuneration to the Chair and Vice Chairs, and members' travel and subsistence, and costs associated with organising regular sessions and representational activity.

Welsh Government support for the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board to date as follows:

2015   £21,176.92
2016-  £6,624.28

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm what auditing work is done by the Welsh Government of food festivals to ensure that producers attending are (a) accredited and (b) local/Welsh? (WAQ70656)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths: All Food Festival applicants are required to ensure exhibitors adhere to quality assurance schemes which are at or above the legal minimum National and EU legal requirements in relation to Food Hygiene.  Prior to any funding payment Food Festivals are required to evidence that at least 70% of food and drink exhibitors are based in Wales.  

Criteria is available on:  

https://businesswales.gov.wales/foodanddrink/food-tourism

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of how much funding each food festival in Wales receives from the Welsh Government? (WAQ70657)

Answer received on 14 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The window for applications for this years Food Festival funding closed on the 14^th July 2016, once all applications have been appraised full details of those festivals supported will be made available on: http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/foodanddrink/supportforfoodproducers/supportforfoodfestivals/?lang=en

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government ensures payments made under Glastir matches the costs incurred by farmers? (WAQ70658)

Answer received on 23 October 2017

Lesley Griffiths: Payments are calculated on the basis of national averages for the income foregone, material and labour costs for undertaking the activity. The extent to which payments will match the actual costs incurred by individual farmers will depend on how close they are farming to average costs. 

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the amount of money allocated to farmers across Wales in the last twelve months by constituency? (WAQ70659)

Answer received on 23 October 2017

Lesley Griffiths: The table below contains a breakdown by Local Authority of Basic Payment Scheme and Rural Development land based schemes paid to farm businesses in the last 12 months.  We do not hold a breakdown by constituency.

*includes farm businesses centred outside Wales, but with eligible land in Wales.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm when the Welsh Government will launch its consultation on Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Wales? (WAQ70660)

Answer received on 13 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths: September 2016.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What assessment has the Minister made of the impact on future budgets, if local authorities in Wales ensured that public sector contracts were awarded to local food producers? (WAQ70661)

Answer received on 23 October 2017

Lesley Griffiths: There is no commitment to ensure that these contracts are awarded solely to local food producers. Therefore there is no identified need for an assessment of the impact on future budgets.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm the percentage of rural households across Wales that the Welsh Government identifies as living in poverty? (WAQ70662)

Answer received on 13 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The Households Below Average Income data provides National Statistics on the percentage of households living in poverty in Wales. This data is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and does not provide a break down by Local Authority area, at present.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): How is the Welsh Government 'rural-proofing' its policies to ensure that those living in rural areas are not disadvantaged by future Government decisions? (WAQ70663)

Answer received on 23 October 2017

Lesley Griffiths: Rural proofing remains a mandatory requirement for all policies and schemes developed by the Welsh Government and the recently refreshed guidelines and screening tool have been developed in consultation with stakeholders and experts.  In the future I see issues such as proofing being covered in the scope of the requirements of the Well-Being of Future Generations Act.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm when the Welsh Government is planning to review the Welsh Government's Code of best practice on the use of snares in fox control? (WAQ70664)

Answer received on 12 July 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): There are no plans for a review.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm whether she intends to reduce the minimum project level of the Sustainable Production Grant Scheme from £16,000? (WAQ70665)

Answer received on 12 July 2016

Lesley Griffiths: I do not intend to reduce the minimum grant award for the Sustainable Production Grant below the current threshold.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What new action will the Welsh Government be taking to address whether wild animals should be used in travelling circuses? (WAQ70666)

Answer received on 23 October 2017

Lesley Griffiths: I refer you to my written statement addressing this issue published on the 15^th July.   

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement pm the recent Estyn report about Ysgol Syr Thomas Picton? (WAQ70667)W

Answer received on 14 July 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): Estyn is an independent body responsible for inspecting the quality of education services in Wales. Decisions in respect of the judgements reached by inspectors are entirely a matter for the inspectorate.
Sir Thomas Picton School, Pembrokeshire was inspected by Estyn in January 2015. Inspectors judged that both the school’s current performance and prospects for improvement were adequate and it was deemed to require monitoring by Estyn.
Following Estyn’s monitoring visit in June 2016, the school was found to have made insufficient progress in relation to the recommendations from the core inspection and judged to require special measures.
The school will draw up an action plan showing how it will address the recommendations. Estyn will continue to monitor the progress of the school on a termly basis until it is satisfied that the school has improved sufficiently to be removed from the formal category of special measures.
A range of parties will now continue their involvement in the progress of the school, including its governing body, the local authority, the regional consortia and Estyn. These agencies will all play a role in supporting and challenging the school to continue to make changes and improve standards.