Answers issued to Members on 16 October 2008

[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 Heritage

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

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What research has the Welsh Assembly Government carried out into the number of people currently using the Cardiff to Holyhead service for short commutes to Abergavenny, Cwmbran and Newport? (WAQ52592)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): Information on the number of journeys on the current Cardiff Holyhead services to Abergavenny, Cwmbran and Newport is not available. There are a number of timetable changes on that route from December 2008, including the new faster north south service, which will increase capacity. I have asked my officials to monitor the new arrangements from the December timetable change.

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What assurances can the Minister give that sufficient public transport links will be available to those stations included on the new express service between Holyhead and Cardiff? (WAQ52593)

The Deputy First Minister: I am satisfied that sufficient links already exist for train services at the stations that will be served by the new express service.

Furthermore, the regional transport consortia are encouraged to work with local bus operators to encourage integration of train services with bus timetables.

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

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): Further to her answer to WAQ52419, what percentage of students from Welsh HEIs could be described as 'mobile’ for each year since 1999? (WAQ52588)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): Statistics on the mobility of outgoing Erasmus students from Welsh HEIs are available from 2003/04 to 2006/07. First year students are ineligible to take part in the programme and so they have been excluded from two of the four measures below.

The table below gives details of Erasmus students as a percentage of EU and UK domiciled students, as follows:

1. Erasmus students as a percentage of EU and UK domiciles at Welsh Higher Education Institutions.

2. Erasmus students as a percentage of Full-time EU and UK domiciles at Welsh Higher Education Institutions.

3. Erasmus students as a percentage of Non-First Year EU and UK domiciles at Welsh Higher Education Institutions.

4. Erasmus students as a percentage of Full-time Non-First Year EU and UK domiciles at Welsh Higher Education Institutions.

Numbers of Erasmus Students as a percentage of:

Source: British Council and HESA Student Record.

(a) Does not include students who are 'writing up’, on a sabbatical or dormant.

(b) Full time students include those on sandwich courses.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many Deputy or Assistant Headteachers are there in primary and secondary schools in Wales for each year since 1999? (WAQ52591)

Jane Hutt: Information on the number of assistant Headteachers is not collected in the Annual Schools Census. The number of deputy Headteachers (full time equivalent) in maintained primary and secondary schools at January of each year is shown in the following table:

Source: Annual Schools Census.

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide an update of progress with regard to the Legislative Competence Order on the Welsh Language? (WAQ52590)

The Minister for Heritage (Alun Ffred Jones): We are having constructive discussions with the Wales Office, which is the lead department in Whitehall, and look forward to introducing the LCO in due course.