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Written Assembly Questions tabled on 9 January 2017 for answer on 16 January 2017

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 First Minister

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): What evidence was presented by the Welsh Government and its agencies to the recent consultation by the National Grid on the north Wales connection? (WAQ71825)

Answer received on 12 January 2016

The First Minister (Carwyn Jones):  As a statutory party to the Development Consent Order process, we provided a full cross-Government response to the National Grid consultation.  I expect National Grid will publish our evidence in due course, along with all other evidence it received together with its response to our comments.  Natural Resources Wales and CADW also submitted evidence to National Grid.
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on ensuring conservation on top of Pen Dinas hill fort, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion? (WAQ71824)

Answer received on 17 January 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates):  The prehistoric Iron Age hillfort of Pen Dinas has legal protection as a Scheduled Monument. The hillfort dates from the first Millennium BC and is the largest example of its type in Ceredigion.  It is privately owned, managed and maintained.

Conservation of earthwork Scheduled Monuments such as Pen Dinas hillfort is primarily achieved through sensitive land management. Owners of scheduled monuments are encouraged to contact the Welsh Government's historic environment service, Cadw, for advice or to request a site visit if they have any concerns about the condition or management of protected designated monuments on their land. Cadw's team of Field Monument Wardens operate a rolling programme of inspections to monitor and record the condition of scheduled monuments and to provide conservation advice. 

Scheduled Monuments are protected by law from activities that could damage or disturb buried archaeological remains such as excavation, ground disturbance and metal detecting.  Anyone wishing to carry out such activities needs formally to apply to Welsh Ministers for Scheduled Monument Consent.  Acting without such consent may be a criminal offence liable for prosecution under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (as amended and strengthened by the Historic Environment Act (Wales) 2016.  The new legislation makes it easier to bring forward a prosecution in instances of deliberate damage, for example damage associated with metal detecting activity.  Cadw has recently published the location and extent of protected sites such as Pen Dinas on its website (Cof Cymru), which makes it more difficult for anyone accused of damage to claim they did not know of the existence of a protected site.

Archaeologists from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales are currently supporting a local community group to develop a project to improve understanding of Pen Dinas hillfort.  The project is at an early stage but has potential to offer exciting opportunities for community engagement with this interesting local landmark.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary consider adopting the proposed Dinas By-Pass project as a trunk road, if the outcome of the new joint Welsh Government/Vale of Glamorgan Council transport study confirms that it is the only way to substantially reduce present and future congestion along the A4055 corridor through Dinas Powys? (WAQ71826)

Answer received on 17 January 2017

Ken Skates: Our trunking proposals are set out in the National Transport Finance Plan 2015. There are no proposals to trunk the A4055 corridor in the current Plan.
 

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

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Further to the report of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on NHS winter resilience, will the Cabinet Secretary outline the steps he is taking to increase the number of nursing and health board staff receiving the annual 'flu jab? (WAQ71823)

Answer received on 20 January 2017

Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): NHS staff uptake has been increasing year on year and preliminary figures to the end of December 2016 indicate further improvement this season.  Six health boards/trusts are showing improvement on their uptake at the same point last season, with three already achieving the 50% target. The uptake for Wales as a whole is expected to exceed last season.  Complete data will be published at the end of the season.

Increasing flu vaccination is one of the key outcomes set out in the NHS Outcomes Framework and Measures Guidance 2016-17. Progress is being monitored as part ongoing discussions with health boards/trusts.

The Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Nursing Officer and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer have written to professional colleagues stressing the importance of flu vaccination in winter preparations and asking them to show strong leadership in encouraging healthcare staff to have the flu vaccine.

There is range of resources available to support the staff flu vaccination campaign which are accessible to all staff through Public Health Wales at:
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/75321.  These include leaflets and posters, a newsletter, four videos, a 10 minute e-learning module and an online training presentation. 

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide details on all types of equipment available via the Welsh NHS for people needing occupational therapy support, and the average cost of each item? (WAQ71827)

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): How many pieces of occupational therapy equipment were issued in Wales in the last year by each of Wales' health boards, and how many of these items were returned when no longer required? (WAQ71828)

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What systems are in place to record returned occupational therapy equipment and aids because of malfunctioning, and what happens to these items once returned? (WAQ71829)     

Answer received on 17 January 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): NHS occupational therapy support equipment is provided by a Community/Joint Equipment Service. Health Boards are responsible for local services within their areas and each health board area has an integrated community equipment service in joint partnership with other stakeholders. Details of the type and average cost of each item is not held centrally.
Similarly, details of the number of pieces of occupational therapy equipment issued and returned is not held centrally. The Integrated/Joint Community Equipment Services delivered in partnership by the health boards would hold all the data of occupational therapy equipment issued and returned in Wales.
Each of the Integrated/Joint Community Equipment Services have systems in place for the return of aids either through malfunctioning or because the aids are no longer needed. Occupational therapy equipment when returned, has to be decontaminated and recycled if fit to be reused.
 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary indicate what the Welsh Government's plans are to assist informal carers in Wales, given that 42% of disabled adults receive informal care from family and friends? (WAQ71830)

Answer received on 20 January 2017

Rebecca Evans: The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 significantly strengthens the rights of carers. To support the implementation of the Act, £2m has been provided for the period 2016-2018 to health, local authorities and the third sector to work in partnership to provide support for carers

We have also developed a Carers Strategy which sets out our commitment to carers. This is currently being updated. A Written Statement was also issued on 25 November http://gov.wales/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2016-new/carersrightsday/?lang=en. Carers have told us they want to be recognised for their caring role, that they require easy assess to information and assistance and they need support outside of their caring role, including respite care. We will develop a range of actions to target and drive new and best practice to support our carers in these key areas and that will include examining a national approach to respite care.

Under the Third Sector Sustainable Social Services Grant Scheme, Welsh Government provides funding for a number of third sector organisations who represent and support carers across Wales. These include Carers Wales, Carers Trust Wales and the All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers. Funding of just over  £610,000 was provided in 2016/17

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary indicate what plans are in place for retaining and recruiting nurses to the care sector workforce, particularly in light of the potential expansion of the Nurse Staffing Levels Act to other sectors? (WAQ71831)

Answer received on 17 January 2017

Vaughan Gething: Nurses form a vital and valued part of the social care workforce, supporting social care clients who often require highly skilled nursing care. 

Employers are responsible for recruiting and retaining nurses through workforce planning, designing fulfilling jobs, offering attractive terms and conditions of employment, and providing good support to their staff.

In support of this, the Welsh Government increased the volume of nurse training places for the 2016/17 intake. This was the highest level of nurse training places commissioned in Wales since devolution. This equated to a 10% increase in the number of nursing training places commissioned compared to the previous intake, which is in addition to the 22% increase for the 2015/16 intake.  Commissioning numbers for the academic year 2017/18 will be announced in early February.

In response to concerns about the fragility of the care home sector, the Welsh Government established a Care Homes Steering Group engaging stakeholders to explore how care home services, including the care home workforce could be better supported.  This has included examining the scope of the nursing role to consider how some nursing activities can be appropriately delegated to other care staff to maximise the skill mix within care homes, so that nurses can more effectively focus the use of their time, for example, by specialising on more technical and complex care activities.

The Welsh Government also invests financial resources in the social care workforce.  It provides an annual £10m grant, including a match funded element from local authorities, to improve the quality of social care provision through a planned approach to training.  The funding increases the proportion of staff across the whole social care sector with the qualifications, skills and knowledge they need for the work they do.

Looking forwards, Social Care Wales is being formed from the Care Council for Wales.  It will begin operating in April using a powerful combination of functions to strengthen services and the workforce that provides them.  Extending workforce registration across the social care workforce and workforce planning will be amongst its core activities to enable a sustainable social care workforce.
 
The Welsh Government is currently consulting on the statutory guidance required by the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016. The consultation asks for views on work force planning guidance. Response from the consultation will be used to consider any further guidance required.

 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): To address the issue of delayed transfers of care in Wales, would the Welsh Government consider legislation to require health and social care providers to work collaboratively? (WAQ71832)

Answer received on 17 January 2017

The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): Legislation has been put in place to ensure partnership working and collaboration between health, social care and other partners. The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 requires the establishment of new statutory regional partnership boards which bring together health boards, social services, the third sector and other partners, including providers. The purpose is to improve the outcomes and well-being of people and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. They are required to prioritise the integration of services in a number of areas, including in relation to older people with complex needs and long term conditions.
The Intermediate Care Fund was established to drive partnership working and collaboration to maximise support and independence for frail and elderly people and to prevent unnecessary hospital admission, inappropriate admission to residential care and delayed discharges from hospital. £60 million is available for this current financial year and Taking Wales Forward includes a commitment to retain this fund.
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): In respect of her answer to WAQ71757, will the Cabinet Secretary specify the number of staff employed within each of the 5 LEADER schemes, indicating their respective roles and salaries? (WAQ71808)

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71460, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether or not she intends to reclassify the existing Skomer SPA? (WAQ71809)

Lesley Griffiths:  An extension to the Skokholm and Skomer SPA is being considered as consulted on in 2016.  

I am satisfied the Welsh inshore element of the proposed extension to the Skokholm and Skomer SPA is eligible for reclassification. However, the proposed extension lies partly in the Welsh offshore region which is outside the jurisdiction of the Welsh Government, therefore, we are working with Defra to determine whether the whole site is eligible for classification. I expect to make an announcement on the outcome of the consultation for Skokholm and Skomer SPA next month.

 
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline her legislative priorities for 2017? (WAQ71810)

Answer received on 18 January 2017

Lesley Griffiths: The year ahead will likely be dominated by the legislative implications resulting from the UK’s exit from the EU. The large scale exercise of analysing and mapping the existing EU legislation is ongoing. Approximately two-thirds of the current environmental legal framework in Wales derives from EU legislation. This is why my portfolio is one of the areas most affected.
Work will also continue on preparing for the Wales Bill. I am monitoring the progress of the Bill through the House of Lords.
We continue to implement the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. The State of Natural Resources Report which was published in October last year and the statutory National Natural Resources Policy is expected to be published in March. These are just a small part of the vast work underway.
We have also made excellent progress to implement the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, with three quarters of its provisions now fully or partially in force. It is now for Local Planning Authorities and other parties to positively embrace the improvements made and to fully realise their benefits.
A report on the operation and effectiveness of the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014 is due to publish this year, with a consultation ahead of that. In addition, a new Agricultural Wages Order is expected to come into force under the Act on 1 April. 
 
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Rural Community Development Fund (RCDF)? (WAQ71811)

Answer received on 18 January 2017

Lesley Griffiths: In the first Expression of Interest round, 79 applicants were invited to submit a full application, 59 full applications were received and 1 has been approved to date.  In the second round 46 applicants were invited to submit a full application and 1 application has been received to date.  The third round invitations to submit full applications will be issued shortly, whilst the fourth window is currently open for expressions of interest. 
 
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ70900, will the Cabinet Secretary outline what potential future changes to the existing regulatory regime are being considered and when will a statutory public consultation on these changes take place? (WAQ71812)

Answer received on 20 January 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is currently seeking views on proposed changes to secondary legislation governing the repair and maintenance of fixed equipment and end of tenancy compensation, in relation to agricultural tenancies in Wales which are governed by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

The consultation closes on the 23 February, and work will continue on regulatory reform in the coming months.

 
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71739, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm when she last met with the Food Standards Agency to discuss animal welfare and abattoir standards? (WAQ71813)

Answer received on 18 January 2017

Lesley Griffiths: I met with Food Standards Agency (FSA) representatives on 21 June to discuss food safety and regulatory matters.
I have not met with the FSA specifically to discuss animal welfare, however, as part of the Service Level Agreement with the FSA my officials in the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer meet with delivery and veterinary representatives every month to discuss animal welfare standards at all slaughterhouses in Wales.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71750, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm that a new draft code of practice for mobile animal exhibits will be included in the public consultation? (WAQ71814)

Answer received on 12 January 2016

Lesley Griffiths: I cannot comment on specifics pre consultation.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71748, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm who will she will be meeting with to discuss mobile animal exhibits, ahead of the public consultation? (WAQ71815)

Answer received on 12 January 2016

Lesley Griffiths: I do not have any meetings on Mobile Animal Exhibits planned ahead of the public consultation. My officials are due to meet with representatives from the GB Governments in February and may meet with key stakeholders prior to the consultation, however, no such meetings have currently been requested. 
 
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71674, will the Cabinet Secretary outline how the Welsh Government monitors year-on-year trends in the poultry sector? (WAQ71816)

Answer received on 18 January 2017

Lesley Griffiths: The annual estimates and trends for  poultry from the Welsh Agricultural Survey are published annually in a First Release. The latest version is available at:
http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/survey-agricultural-horticulture/?lang=en

This includes numbers of poultry broken down by the type of birds. The estimates for chickens are further broken down by whether the birds are used for meat, eggs or breeding.

The release warns that the nature of the poultry sector makes the estimate variable from year to year. Considering trends over a run of years is thus recommended rather than comparing single years.

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on avian flu? (WAQ71822)

Answer received on 12 January 2016

Lesley Griffiths: I made an Oral statement on Avian Influenza on 12 January.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on what support is being given to foster parents to ensure that the whole family is able to improve the wellbeing of children in care? (WAQ71817)

Answer received on 18 January 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): We are grant funding the Fostering Network to deliver a three year ‘Fostering Excellence’ project which will empower foster carers, children and young people in foster care and the professionals who work with them. The grant is for £860,000 over the three years 2016-17 to 2018-19. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and I have also recently approved an additional grant to the Fostering Network over the two years 2017-18 to 2019-20 for a ‘Fostering Wellbeing’ pilot.
We have also worked with the Fostering Network to develop advice to support foster carers in engaging with schools and education services and are delivering a programme of training. 
 
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on what provisions are in place to ensure that looked after children and care leavers can expect to have the same aspirations as other children that are not looked after? (WAQ71818)
 
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on how the Welsh Government plans to improve the wellbeing of looked after children and ensure that the aspirations of looked after children and care leavers can be raised? (WAQ71819)

Answer received on 18 January 2017

Carl Sargeant: The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 provides the legislative framework in Wales to improve outcomes for looked after children and care leavers so they can be supported towards successful futures and adulthood.

Last year, we published our strategy, 'Raising the ambitions and educational attainment of children who are looked after in Wales' to help drive up the educational performance of children who are looked after. The strategy is accompanied by a 3-year action plan to help ensure aspirations for looked after children and care leavers are raised.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on work to develop a new school curriculum that fulfils the purpose of developing healthy and confident individuals, and ensures pupils are better educated about the importance of well-being, in particular mental health? (WAQ71821)

Answer received on 17 January 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): Following nearly eight months of development work, a number of high level principles for the new curriculum have now been established. This work was led by practitioners, working with other educational professionals and experts and will inform the next stage of the reforms, the development of the Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs).

The four purposes noted in Successful Futures, including the development of healthy, confident individuals will be at the heart of the new curriculum and will be the starting point for all decisions on the content and experiences developed as part of the new curriculum and assessment arrangements. Our education improvement plan 'Qualified for Life' will also include Well-being as a fifth objective in its next iteration.

Work on the AoLEs will start this month. The Health and Well-being AoLE will draw on subjects and themes from mental, physical and emotional well-being and will also consider how the school environment supports children and young peoples' social, emotional, spiritual and physical health and well-being.
Schools play an important role in supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of learners. This support can range from universal interventions, such as social and emotional learning programmes or teaching mindfulness, to more specialist interventions, such as nurture groups and the provision of counselling services by local authorities in schools and community settings.

The Health and Well-being AoLE will consider such initiatives and make recommendations on how to build on the best practice currently in place across the sector.  Discussions have been held with organisations such as Mind Cymru about  the new curriculum and as the development work progresses there will be opportunities for these and other organisations to feed in to the process.

I am working with the Minister for Social Services and Public Health to further maximise opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of children through the development of the new curriculum and through the school inspection programme.

My ambition remains for the new curriculum to be made available to schools from as early as 2018 and fully available to support learning and teaching by September 2021.