Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 16 September 2009

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

Contents

Questions to the First Minister

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

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 Rural Affairs

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

To ask the First Minister

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the First Minister provide the Business Plan for each Department setting out the detail of their work, as outlined in the One Wales Delivery Plan 2007-2011. (WAQ54790)

Answer issued on 27 October 2009

I have said that I would write to you further with a copy of the Business Plan for each Department setting out the details of their work, as outlined in the One Wales delivery plan 2007-2011. I am sorry for the slight further delay. The information has been sent to you electronically and has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): How many education grants are available to Local Authorities in Wales. (WAQ54782)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

My Department administers 41 education grants for local authorities in 2009-2010. This includes both capital and revenue grants in relation to schools and school services, the youth service and community learning. Grants for some education-related services are also available to local authorities from other sources, including the Welsh Language Board, the Sports Council for Wales and the European Social Fund.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): How much is spent on administering educational grants on an annual basis in Wales. (WAQ54783)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister outline improvements to broadband speeds in rural areas. (WAQ54763)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister outline any scheduled improvements to broadband speeds in Mid Wales. (WAQ54764)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a commitment to a minimum broadband speed in rural Wales. (WAQ54765)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

I welcome the UK Government’s Digital Britain report with its commitment to deliver a 2Mbps universal broadband service (USC) across the UK. My officials are working with BT to evaluate 60 notspots across Wales to determine whether it is feasible to deliver a 2Mbps copper solution or a fibre solution to these areas.

We are working closely with the UK Government to ensure that people in rural Wales benefit from this commitment by 2012. We are also working with service providers to encourage them to upgrade the infrastructure to improve broadband speeds.

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): When will the Welsh Assembly Government be issuing new guidelines to local authorities for setting speed limits. (WAQ54768)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

We hope to be able to publish the new speed limit guidelines for Wales in the autumn of this year.

To ask the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister give an update on Welsh Assembly Government plans to bring forward regulations to lift some of the barriers to microgeneration. (WAQ54769)

Answer issued on 21 September 2009

Amendments to permitted development regulations enabling householders to install domestic micro-generation equipment without initially requiring planning permission came into effect on 1st September 2009. The amendments relate to solar photo-voltaics, solar thermal panels, ground and water source heat pumps and flues associated with biomass and combined heat and power systems on, or within the boundary of houses and flats, subject to certain criteria.

I am particularly pleased that we have gone further than England by allowing stand alone solar panels up to the boundaries of properties, providing they satisfy certain height and highway criteria.

For commercial buildings, we commissioned research jointly with the Department of Communities and Local Government which will inform future proposals.  

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What progress has been made on developing new, not-for-profit nursing homes since the One Wales agreement was introduced. (WAQ54778)

Answer issued on 17 September

I have met Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Health and Social Services to consider the options available to take forward this One Wales commitment.  Our officials have been jointly working on a range of models to explore the best options for meeting the Health, Housing and Social Care agenda of this commitment. I am meeting the Minister for Health and Social Services this month to discuss the options available.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What Welsh Assembly Government, UK or EU funding is available to match fund the money given by wind farm developers to fund community benefit projects in Wales. (WAQ54779)

Answer issued on 18 September

Starting this year, the Welsh Assembly Government intends to support community-sized wind, biomass and hydroelectric schemes through the provision of advice and grants through the Climate Change Framework of the European Structural Funds programme.

Our 'Community Scale Renewable Energy Generation' - 'Convergence’ and 'Competitiveness’ projects will establish or develop  22 sustainable social enterprises based on new community scale renewable energy installations.

The projects will provide a technical development officer service to support social enterprises and provide locally based advice on renewable energy together with some support for preliminary costs and capital grants towards the cost of renewable energy installations.  Project delivery will be through the Energy Saving Trust.

The projects are expected to be launched this autumn

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many patients were treated in NHS hospitals on mixed sex wards in each year since 1999. (WAQ54773)

Answer issued on 15 September 2009

This information is not held centrally.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): When does the Minister intend to make a decision on the proposals to reduce hospital telephone call charges by Hospedia. (WAQ54774)

Answer issued on 16 September 2009

The findings of the review into the costs of hospital telephone call charges and the options on how to take this service forward is currently being scrutinised by my officials.  I expect to receive a briefing shortly and I will be carefully considering this before I make a decision.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What estimate has the Minister made of the total cost of treating patients privately in order to meet Access 09 waiting time targets. (WAQ54775)

Answer issued on 15 September 2009

This data is not held centrally

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many patients in each NHS trust area have been treated outside the NHS in each year since 1999. (WAQ54776)

Answer issued on 15 September 2009

This information is not held centrally.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Do NHS Trusts in Wales have the capacity to meet Access 09 waiting time targets of 26 weeks or will some patients need to be treated outside the NHS in order for this target to be reached. (WAQ54777)

Answer issued on 16 September 2009

Although the vast majority of patients are seen within the NHS in Wales, a relatively small number will continue to be treated in the independent sector until December of this year, to ensure the Access 09 targets are met.

Jonathan Morgan (Cardiff North): How does the Minister ensure that the CSSIW effectively fulfils its responsibilities. (WAQ54780) Transferred for written answer by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery.

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery (Andrew Davies): CSSIW has a proper independence from Ministers in the professional operation of its inspectorate functions.  It has its own systems for ensuring quality and effectiveness in these respects, including extensive consultation with stakeholders.  Ministers have the opportunity to comment on the annual inspection and review programme and receive the Chief Inspector’s Annual Report.  

For its overall performance it is part of the Welsh Assembly Government Public Service and Local Government Delivery Directorate and is accountable through the Director General, within the normal accountability arrangements for Welsh Assembly Government officials. I meet the Chief Inspector on a regular basis and can raise any specific matters with him.  

Jonathan Morgan (Cardiff North): Will the Minister set out her exact role and responsibilities with regards to the work, functions and activities of the CSSIW. (WAQ54781)

Answer issued on 16 September 2009

The Welsh Assembly Ministers are the registration authority for the functions and activities carried out by CSSIW.  CSSIW is part of the Welsh Assembly Government Public Service and Local Government Delivery Directorate. CSSIW undertakes operational regulation and inspection functions on behalf of Welsh Ministers.  Their regulatory and inspection actions and decisions are operationally independent.  

The Deputy Minister for Social Services, given her special responsibility for social services, receives an annual business plan from CSSIW, is presented with findings of their work and receives regular briefings. CSSIW’s Annual Report, which includes a report of their performance, is debated in Plenary.

To ask the Minister for Rural Affairs

Brynle Williams (North Wales): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the planned expenditure included within the Rural Development Plan Expenditure - EU & UK Budget Expenditure line for 2009/10, which is shown to have an allocation of £60,606,000 in the Final Budget of December 2008. (WAQ54766)

Answer issued on 18 September 2009

The figure of £60,606,000 relates to net expenditure (i.e. gross budget less amounts funded by European funding) on Revenue. In addition, there is planned expenditure on capital on the Rural Development Plan - EU & UK Expenditure, which amounts to £16,179,000 (net), giving total planned net expenditure on the Rural Development Plan for 2009/10 of £76,785,000. A breakdown by Scheme is set out below, showing figures for gross expenditure, amounts funded by European funding, and the net expenditure figures as set out above.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What is the average cost to the Welsh Assembly Government of preparations for a contract and management plan for a 'Better Woodland Wales’ grant. (WAQ54770)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

The average plan preparation cost paid for a Better Woodlands for Wales contract and management plan up to the 31 August 2009 is £1309.84.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What is the average cost to an applicant of preparations for a contract and management plan for a 'Better Woodland Wales’ grant. (WAQ54771)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

The information is not held centrally as it is a contractual matter between the applicant and the management planner.  

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): How long does it take to prepare a contract and management plan for a 'Better Woodland Wales’ grant. (WAQ54772)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

The time taken to prepare a contract and management plan for a Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW) grant is dependent on a number of factors, including how keen an owner is to get the plan approved.

The average time period from the initial application stage through to an agreed BWW contract and management plan is currently 127 days.

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): With regard to the Revenue Support Grant to local authorities in the current financial year, (a) what amounts were hypothecated, (b) what was the reasoning behind the hypothecation and (c) for what purpose was the hypothecation made. (WAQ54767)

Answer issued on 17 September 2009

The Revenue Support Grant to local authorities is non-hypothecated and local authorities are free to determine how that money is spent in support of delivering the services for which they are responsible. In addition to the Revenue Support Grant, local authorities receive specific grants to promote and sustain Welsh Assembly Government specific policy initiatives. These grants are within individual Ministers’ portfolios.

Nerys Evans (Mid & West Wales): Will the Minister provide more details of the Welsh Assembly Government’s domestic abuse awareness campaign. (WAQ54784)

Answer issued on17 September 2009

I am arranging for a domestic abuse awareness campaign to run over the Christmas and New Year period. Options for the campaign were discussed at the All Wales Domestic Abuse Working Group on 15 July and are in the process of being finalised.

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): With regard to the £4m announced as part of the One Wales commitment to help pensioners with Council Tax, what assessment has the Minister made about how means testing for the scheme will operate. (WAQ54785)

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): Of the £4m announced as part of the One Wales commitment to help pensioners with Council Tax, how much money has currently been distributed to local authorities. (WAQ54786)

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): With regard to the £4m announced as part of the One Wales commitment to help pensioners with Council Tax, what deadlines are in place for Local Authorities to accept the grants and has this been changed in recent months. (WAQ54787)

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): With regard to the £4m announced as part of the One Wales commitment to help pensioners with Council Tax, what resources have been provided to Local Authorities to pay for the administration of the money. (WAQ54788)

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): With regards to the £4m announced as part of the One Wales commitment to help pensioners with Council Tax, how many Local Authorities have accepted the money so far. (WAQ54789)

Answer issued on 16 September

After considering options for meeting the 'One Wales’ commitment  to help pensioners with their council tax, I have decided that the best results would be achieved by allocating grants directly to local authorities and allowing them to determine how they use the funds to help pensioners with council tax.

Local councils will be able to adopt policies that they believe best suit the needs of the local population and that fit with their community strategy, rather than having to implement a one-size-fits-all approach. It will be possible to implement different schemes to fit with the demographic and economic differences that exist between local authority areas in Wales.

The formula for distributing funds to local authorities was based on the older person’s distribution statistics as used in the Standard Spending Assessment for the distribution of Revenue Support Grant. This ensures that each authority receives a grant proportionate to the number of pensioners living in their area.

Local Authorities were notified of the grant arrangements in August and have been asked to submit their formal acceptance of the grant offer by 31 October 2009. At that point they will receive half of their grant allocation and will be able to claim the remainder of grant, along with a sum for administrative costs, in February 2010. At the same time, they will be required to submit a final report demonstrating how the money was allocated and how many pensioners were helped with their council tax.

A total of £2.11 million has been allocated to local authorities for 2009-10, this includes  £5,000 to each authority for administration costs.