Answers issued to Members on 16 November 2007
[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, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Alun Cairns (South Wales East): What budget has been set aside to support the establishment and running of the Federal College? (WAQ50623)
Alun Cairns (South Wales East): Will the Minister make a statement on the HE Federal College proposed in one Wales? (WAQ50624)
The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): We have committed, in ‘One Wales’, to ‘establish a Welsh-medium Higher Education Network—the Federal College—in order to ensure Welsh-medium provision in our universities’. Following the Options Appraisal of future models of delivery for Welsh-medium higher education, the higher education sector in Wales has agreed a sector-wide strategic framework and a national development plan to allow co-ordinated development of good subject coverage. The Welsh Medium Teaching Development Centre has been strengthened to enable it to support the development of the network. Almost £5m of Reaching Higher funding has already been allocated to support ongoing and additional developments at the Centre. Further additional funding for extending Welsh-medium provision in higher education is being proposed as part of the Draft Budget. Taken together, existing and additional funding will establish the federal college and I will monitor outcomes to ensure that there is improved Welsh medium education.
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): In light of the recent draft budget, will the Minister put forward the areas of his portfolio which will have the greatest priority? (WAQ50644)
The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery (Andrew Davies): ‘One Wales’ sets the priorities I see for my Department. These will be taken forward on a common basis delivering the outcomes described.
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the continued availability of hospital services in England for patients in Brecon and Radnorshire? (WAQ50667)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): Welsh policy is that patient flows to England in secondary, specialist and tertiary care should be made within a commissioning framework where decisions to send patients to English NHS Trusts are done so for good reason and not simply as a result of existing GP referral patterns.
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister raised the issue of the Postal Services Directive with the UK Government with respect to the impact this policy will have on Post Office Network and Royal Mail services in Wales? (WAQ50638)
The Deputy Minister for Regeneration (Leighton Andrews): No.