​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 9 December 2016 for answer on 16 December 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

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how many apprenticeships have been created at Airbus Broughton for this year's intake? (WAQ71699)

Answer received on 19 January 2016

The Minister for Skills and Science (Julie James): Airbus Group’s apprenticeship delivery at its Broughton site is provided by Coleg Cambria. For 2016/17 Airbus recruited 88 apprentices who will attend Coleg Cambria on a full time basis during their first year. 
 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the consultation to merge the functions of the National Museum of Wales and Cadw? (WAQ71700)

Answer received on 15 December 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The Steering Group - which I set up to consider how Historic Wales can best be constituted so that it can effectively realise the commercial potential of the Welsh Government’s Historic Environment Service, Cadw, and Amgueddfa Cymru - will be submitting its advice in early 2017. It is my intention to follow this with a public consultation on the Group’s recommendations.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide the number of learners enrolled onto a health and social care apprenticeship for the last two academic years, and the rate of course completion, for each of Wales' further education institution? (WAQ71703)

Answer received on 19 December 2016

Julie James: Apprenticeships in Wales are delivered via a procured network of providers which include Further Education Institutions (FEIs), private companies and third party organisations. 

The number of apprenticeship starts for 2014/15 and 2015/16 (provisional), and apprenticeship framework success rates for 2013/14 and 2014/15 for Health and Social Care frameworks, for all relevant work based learning providers, are shown in the tables below by individual provider.  
 
Number of starts in Health and Social Care apprenticeship frameworks (a) in Wales by provider, 2014/15 and 2015/16 (provisional) (b-e)

(a) The following frameworks have been included in this analysis:            
          Health and Social Care                                                                        
          Professional Framework in Advanced Practice in Social Care          
          Professional Framework in Leadership and Management in Social Care
(b) Academic year runs from August 1st to July 31st.                              
(c) Counts of learning programmes starting during 2014/15 and 2015/16 (provisional)
(d) Includes early leavers.                                                                             
(e) No fundability restrictions have been applied.                                    
 
Source: Lifelong Learning Wales Record
 
Framework success rates for Health and Social Care apprenticeship frameworks (a) in Wales by provider , 2013/14 and 2014/15

(a) The following frameworks have been included in this analysis:            
          Health and Social Care                                                                        
          Professional Framework in Advanced Practice in Social Care          
          Professional Framework in Leadership and Management in Social Care
(b) Academic year runs from August 1st to July 31st.                              
(c) Based on learning programmes terminated during 2013/14 and 2014/15
 
Source: Lifelong Learning Wales Record
 

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

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with Hywel Dda University Health Board regarding re-opening Tenby's Minor Injuries Unit? (WAQ71694)

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail the timetable for re-opening Tenby's Minor Injuries Unit as promised by Hywel Dda University Health Board in the summer of 2016? (WAQ71695)

Answer received on 19 December 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): The provision of minor injuries services in Tenby is the responsibility of Hywel Dda University Health Board and I have had no discussions with the board on this specific issue.
Following the successful pilot over Easter 2016, I understand the health board discussed the development of a business case to support a nurse-led walk-in service at Tenby Hospital at its July 2016 Board meeting.
I am told the health board’s Business Planning Performance and Assurance Committee is scheduled to discuss this issue on 10 January 2017, where this service development will be considered alongside other service priorities. Following that, the business case will be considered by the Board at the public board meeting to be held on 26 January 2017.
 
 Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the perceived cost per student of the Welsh Government's recent commitment to provide the NHS bursary to students studying health related programmes, if they commit to work in Wales for two years post qualification? (WAQ71704)

Answer received on 19 December 2016

Vaughan Gething: The announcement I made on 9 December in relation to the change in NHS Wales Bursary arrangements for 2017/18 does not impact on the cost per individual student. This remains the same as at present and on the basis of each individual’s personal circumstances.
Post qualification I would expect individuals to be able to move into an appropriate, funded vacancy in Wales.
 
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many additional students are the Welsh Government hoping to attract or retain as a result of the recent decision to offer the NHS Bursary to students studying health related programmes, if they can commit to working in Wales for two years post qualification? (WAQ71706)

Answer received on 19 December 2016

Vaughan Gething: I have decided to retain the NHS Bursary Scheme unlike England. The employment opportunities which will now attach to the bursary arrangement are aimed at maximising our investment in health professional’s education and training.
There is a real possibility that individuals from outside Wales will be interested in our more generous package of support, I welcome this interest. However, I also need to protect the sustainability of the NHS workforce in Wales and guard against the potential for individuals to benefit from our more generous approach by training in Wales but consolidating this training through employment elsewhere.
Decisions about the number of health related training places to be commissioned each year are taken each January. I expect to receive advice from officials in early January and will consider this carefully.
 
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): What plans does the Welsh Government have to address the lack of paediatric rheumatology cover in South Wales? (WAQ71707)
 
Answer received on 22 December 2016

Vaughan Gething: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be placed on the internet. 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): In what way does the data used in the consultation on nitrogen vulnerable zones include nutrients arising from non-agricultural sources? (WAQ71696)
 
Answer recieved on 5 January 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): Natural Resources Wales apply specific methodologies to identify polluted surface waters, groundwaters and eutrophic waters as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Wales. These methodologies outline a two stage process in which NRW firstly decide whether the water is polluted and the proportion of which comes from agriculture. These methodologies are available on the consultation web page accompanying the current consultation on Nitrate vulnerable zones in Wales. https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/nitrate-vulnerable-zones-wales  

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how the Basic Payment Scheme for Agriculture would be funded following the UK's exit from the EU if the monies were based solely on the Barnett formula calculation? (WAQ71697)

Answer received on 15 December 2916

Lesley Griffiths: We have made it very clear we expect the UK Government to transfer equivalent funding to the Welsh Government as is currently being received from the European Union through the Common Agricultural Policy.
Future funding will be used to ensure we have a successful and sustainable agriculture sector which delivers high quality food and a range of wider public goods for the people of Wales.
Agriculture is wholly devolved in Wales and the Welsh Government is solely responsible for the replacement of the Common Agricultural Policy in Wales.
 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how many times she has met with the NFU and FUW to discuss Brexit and provide the dates and times of those meetings? (WAQ71701)
 
Answer received on 22 December 2016

Lesley Griffiths: A list of meetings and visits I have undertaken with the NFU and FUW is below.  Brexit has been discussed on each occasion.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much of the £1.9 million is available in grants to projects via Creative Rural Communities and how much is dedicated to staffing and general administration? (WAQ71702)
 
Answer received on 22 December 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The £1.82m commitment provides £540,000 for supporting Activity (Grants) and £1.28M for Staffing and General Administration.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of ministerial school visits undertaken since the start of the Fifth Assembly on a monthly basis and by constituency? (WAQ71698)
 
Answer received on 13 December 2016

Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams):  I have undertaken the following school visits:

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many Welsh students have chosen to enrol in universities in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to undertake medical degrees for the last two academic years? (WAQ71705)
 
Answer received on 14 December 2016

Kirsty Williams: In 2013/14 and 2014/15, a total of 1,135 first year Welsh domiciled students enrolled in medical and dentistry courses in the UK. There were 575 students in 2014/15, of which 320 went to England, 240 went to Wales, 10 went to Scotland and 5 went to Northern Ireland. 
 
Table: First Year Welsh Domiciled Medicine & Dentistry Students
 

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Records
Notes: