Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister detail how much each Ministerial department and its predecessor paid in vehicle clamping charges and fixed penalty notices for parking incurred on a) privately-owned and b) publicly-owned land in each of the last 10 years. (WAQ55349)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

Assembly Government staff are not entitled to claim parking penalties (including clamping charges) incurred on official business.

Accordingly, while it is possible that payments may have been made in exceptional cases over the previous ten years, the Welsh Assembly Government does not specifically capture expenditure on vehicle clamping charges and fixed penalty notices for parking incurred on either privately-owned or publicly-owned land.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has her department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55350)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

To ask the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has her department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55357) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Business and Budget

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The Minister for Business and Budget (Jane Hutt): This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): When will the Minister be making a decision regarding the construction of a new school on Rumney Recreation Ground. (WAQ55360)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

I refer you to the former Minister for Children Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills’ response of 8 December. I am under a duty to make a decision on whether Cardiff’s proposal, published under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, to discontinue Rumney and Llanrumney High Schools and open a new secondary school on the site of Rumney playing fields, should be approved.

The very large number of objections and the complexity of the proposal mean that it is not possible to say with any certainty when a decision will be issued. At present, I am hoping that this will be in the next few weeks and by February half term, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): When initially developing ProAct and ReAct, how many businesses and/or individuals did the Welsh Assembly Government anticipate would be assisted by the schemes. (WAQ55382) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Skills, Innovation and Science

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The Deputy Minister for Skills, Innovation and Science (Lesley Griffiths): ReAct: The ReAct programme is part-funded by two ESF projects covering the whole of Wales, commencing October 2008 and expected to run until September 2014. At the outset it was envisaged that 12,239 individuals and 1,103 companies would receive support during the life of the programme. This was revised to 37,230 individuals and 1,464 companies in August 2009 as a result of the recession.

At the end of December 2009 11,581 individuals and 1,605 employers were being assisted.

ProAct: ProAct is also part-funded by two ESF projects covering the whole of Wales .ProAct started in January 2009 and runs until June 2011. The project has a target to assist 11,977 individuals across Wales within at least 239 businesses.

ProAct is currently supporting over 8300 individuals within 181 businesses. A further 67 businesses are currently developing training plans expecting to cover approximately 2000 individuals.

Eleanor Burnham (North Wales): What allowance or consideration is made for children who are lactose intolerant to receive a substitute for free school milk. (WAQ55389)

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

The EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme pays aid on milk and yoghurt supplied to school children aged between 5 and 11 years. The Key Stage 1 Scheme, introduced by the Welsh Assembly Government, uses the EU subsidy and extra finance to make milk available free to children in primary education in the reception year, year one and year two. The guidance produced by the Rural Payments Agency for operating the Schemes specifies that lactose-reduced milk is eligible to receive a subsidy.

To ask the Minister for the Economy and Transport

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has his department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55356) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Business and Budget

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Jane Hutt: This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many factories, warehouses or offices have been built using Objective One or convergence funding over the last five years which have never been occupied and will the Minister provide a breakdown by year and provide expenditure for each case. (WAQ55365)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Projects supported under the Objective 1 programme (2000-2006) have together created or improved 470,000 square metres of building sites and premises to benefit business. Occupancy information for such projects is not routinely collected, but information is gathered through wider evaluation studies of the programmes. The Mid-term Evaluation Updates (MTEU) of the 2000-2006 programmes, an independent evaluation study undertaken in 2005, assessed the occupancy rate as 89% based on a sample study of completed projects.

We are just over two years into the implementation of the Convergence programmes 2007-2013 and several projects are already underway which aim to create or refurbish nearly 36,000 square metres of business premises. These projects will benefit businesses as well as other organisations within the community; for example the £4 million Ebbw Vale Innovation Centre project will provide a further 2,050 square metres of space comprising 41 offices and 12 development units. As most of these developments are currently underway by project sponsors, it is too early to report on occupancy levels.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the establishment of a lower speed limit in the village of Llanspyddid on the A40. (WAQ55369)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

I launched the Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales - Guidance Document on November 5th and we intend to review all the speed limits across the trunk road network in Wales by December 2014. The speed limit at Llanspydydd will be reviewed as part of this exercise.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister detail the numbers of people caught exceeding the 50mph speed limit by the average speed cameras on the M4 between junctions 24 (Coldra) and 28 (Tredegar Park) since their introduction. (WAQ55372)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

The Welsh Assembly Government does not hold this information.

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): Does the Welsh Assembly Government give local authorities advice about the level of salt and grit to store, and what changes to such advice has been given over the last 12 months. (WAQ55373)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

Following the events of February 2009 the Assembly Government was involved in UK wide discussions to promulgate best practice for Highway Authority winter maintenance activities. The UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) took forward this review at the instruction of Department for Transport Ministers.

Throughout 2009, from both our involvement in the UKRLG work and in our own preparations, we took steps to plan for the 2009-10 winter period to ensure that were there to be a prolonged cold period of severe winter weather we would be in a position to tackle the problems it brought forth. This included dialogue with local authorities to increase their salt stocks and put in place mutual aid arrangements.

We increased our own salt supplies for use on the motorway network in South Wales to near maximum in advance of the current winter period so that a reserve could be distributed to local authorities on a priority basis, as required.

In parallel with the UKRLG work we revised the Trunk Road Maintenance Manual, which represents best practice on the network in Wales. A draft Document was subsequently provided to the 3 Trunk Road Agency areas in Wales identifying this best practice and further additional guidance. Specific requirements were made to include additional resilience/capability of the Trunk Road Agencies and their Service Providers (Welsh local authorities).

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What is the cost of introducing the reduced speed limit and installing average speed cameras on the M4 between junctions 24 (Coldra) and 28 (Tredgar Park). (WAQ55375)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

The cost of installing the temporary 50mph speed limit signage on the M4 between junctions 24 and 28 was £0.205m. The installation costs of the average speed cameras between the same junctions was £1.042m

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister outline the reason that the Heart of Wales Line has been classified as an east-west route and not a north-south route under the National Transport Plan. (WAQ55378)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

The Heart of Wales Line meets the demand for both east-west and north-south journeys in Wales. This will be reflected in the final version of the National Transport Plan, which I will be publishing in the spring.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What plans does the Minister have to respond to the two reviews into International Business Wales that were conducted last year. (WAQ55380)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

Glenn Massey’s report was a contributing factor in my decision on 13 October 2009 to launch my wide-ranging Economic Renewal Programme. The Programme will aim to address the key issues raised in the report as well as set out a renewed approach to economic development going forward. I intend to launch this renewed approach later this year.

The findings of the KPMG report are matters for the Permanent Secretary and her officials.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What changes has the Minister made to the structure of, and funding streams for, Flexible Support for Business in the last year. (WAQ55381)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Although the overarching principles and processes integral to FS4B have not changed over the last year, we have continued to work closely with businesses and intermediaries to improve and simplify the support model.

An example of this is the introduction of the business growth service that provides 100% grant support for SMEs to access their own advisory support from the open market. In addition, we have expanded the remit of the Single Investment Fund (SIF) to include 'SIF Local’ which provides funding of between £1,000 and £5,000 for capital equipment in East Wales.

We have also introduced twelve FS4B Regional Centres that provide general and more specialist advice to local businesses and an information and signposting service to all businesses on a pan-Wales basis.

Looking ahead, I will be considering this as part of my Economic Renewal Programme which will lead to a renewed approach to economic development and ensure that our policies, priorities and resources are aligned to provide the best kind of support for business.

To ask the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Enterprise & Learning Committee for regeneration in Barry. (WAQ55318) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

The Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration (Jocelyn Davies): Discussions between my officials and senior officers of the Vale of Glamorgan Council are ongoing to further explore the rationale for establishing a Strategic Regeneration Area to include Barry. Fundamental to this is to thoroughly scope the opportunity for Strategic Regeneration Area status for Barry, the projects that could be supported, and the positive impact that might be realised as part of a holistic regeneration approach for the area.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on progress made with regard to regeneration in Barry. (WAQ55319) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

Jocelyn Davies: We have continued to support the Vale of Glamorgan Council as part of a £1.9m commitment to the regeneration of Barry including:

• Completion of the Thompson Street Footbridge linking the town to the waterfront area which is now open to the public.

• The access road improvements into the Innovation Quarter which will be completed shortly, enabling the site to be developed fully.

• Works to the Pump House which will commence early in 2010 in line with the programme.

Discussions between my Officials and senior officers of the Vale of Glamorgan Council are also ongoing to further explore the potential for establishing a Strategic Regeneration Area to include Barry.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What was the total cost to the Welsh Assembly Government of sending people to the recent Copenhagen Conference. (WAQ55332)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Copenhagen (COP15) took place from 7 to 18 December 2009, and a short report on the Assembly Government's engagement with COP15 will be prepared and published on the climate change section of the Assembly Government website.

My oral statement on COP 15 was published on 12 January.

A small Welsh Assembly Government party accompanied me throughout. It was comprised of the Head of the International Sustainable Development; the Head of Climate Change Policy Branch; and the nrg4SD Acting General Secretary. A Wales Climate Change Champion also attended. The First Minister was accompanied by his Private Secretary and a Press Officer.

The Welsh party did not participate in any votes.

Both I and the First Minister spoke at side events in the conference centre which were part of the official UNFCCC programme. I chaired and addressed a side event organised by nrg4SD and the Climate Group on Saturday 12 December and the First Minister addressed a side event organised by UN Habitat and the UN Development Programme on Monday 14.

The costs incurred by the Assembly Government are calculated at £14,578.38:

• Travel: £5,117.06

• Accommodation: £6,844.53

• Food: £505.82

• Events: £1,810.60

• Miscellaneous (printing): £14.10

• Subsistence Payments: £286.27

The cost of sending the Climate Change Champion and his guardian to the Conference was £4,126.75:

• Travel: £1,228.08

• Accommodation: £1,958.00

• Daily Allowances: £840.00

• Miscellaneous (incl. mobile phone credit and insurance): £100.67

The combined figure of £18,705.13 is an estimated total cost. Officials are still in the process of compiling costs and other invoices have yet to be received.

I will write to you to confirm the final costs in due course.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide a complete breakdown of the total costs to the Welsh Assembly Government relating to the recent Copenhagen Conference. (WAQ55333)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

My oral statement on COP 15 was published on 12 January.

The Welsh party did not participate in any votes.

The costs incurred by the Assembly Government are calculated at £14,578.38:

• Travel: £5,117.06

• Accommodation: £6,844.53

• Food: £505.82

• Events: £1,810.60

• Miscellaneous (printing): £14.10

• Subsistence Payments: £286.27

The cost of sending the Climate Change Champion and his guardian to the Conference was £4,126.75:

• Travel: £1,228.08

• Accommodation: £1,958.00

• Daily Allowances: £840.00

• Miscellaneous (incl. mobile phone credit and insurance): £100.67

The combined figure of £18,705.13 is an estimated total cost. Officials are still in the process of compiling costs and other invoices have yet to be received.

I will write to you to confirm the final costs in due course.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister detail the number of people who accompanied herself and the First Minister to the recent Copenhagen Conference, together with details of their roles. (WAQ55377)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

My oral statement on COP 15 was published on 12 January.

The Welsh party did not participate in any votes.

The costs incurred by the Assembly Government are calculated at £14,578.38:

• Travel: £5,117.06

• Accommodation: £6,844.53

• Food: £505.82

• Events: £1,810.60

• Miscellaneous (printing): £14.10

• Subsistence Payments: £286.27

The cost of sending the Climate Change Champion and his guardian to the Conference was £4,126.75:

• Travel: £1,228.08

• Accommodation: £1,958.00

• Daily Allowances: £840.00

• Miscellaneous (incl. mobile phone credit and insurance): £100.67

The combined figure of £18,705.13 is an estimated total cost. Officials are still in the process of compiling costs and other invoices have yet to be received.

I will write to you to confirm the final costs in due course.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has her department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55355) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Business and Budget

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Jane Hutt: I am responding on behalf of all Ministers to the above questions. This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister detail how many a) complaints, b) court actions and c) fines there were against landfill sites for problems related to i) odours; ii) water pollution; iii) air pollution and iv) human health impact in each of the last 10 years; what the locations were of the sites in respect of which each fine was levied; and what the fine was in each case. (WAQ55363)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

There have been 690 substantiated complaint events against landfills since 1/4/2001 when the Environment Agency’s incident database was set up, although each event may have more than one associated complainant.

123 related to air pollution, 415 to odour and 69 to water pollution.

The Environment Agency has a range of enforcement actions available to it and applies a proportionate enforcement response to achieve better outcomes for business, people and the environment to deal with some instances of non-compliance without going to the criminal courts. 254 of these incidents resulted in enforcement action being taken. There have been 11 cases against landfill operators resulting in court action and fines of £69,000.

It has not been possible to directly map court action and environmental offences to the categories as you describe, but should you require more detailed information this can be provided by my officials from the Environment Agency.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister detail what the expected expenditure on each a) capital and b) resource expenditure flood defence project i) under way and ii) completed in the last two years was at the date of scheme approval. (WAQ55364)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The Welsh Assembly Government is the principal funder of flood and coastal risk management activities across Wales. The majority of these funds are allocated to the Environment Agency to support a programme of projects and to local authorities to support the enhancement of our flood and coastal defence network.

Table 1 below contains the estimated cost of projects being promoted by local authorities. They include projects which are currently ongoing or have been completed in the last two years and the estimated costs relate to costs at the time of approval.

Table 2 contains a similar list of projects from the Environment Agency’s forward capital programme. These projects are either underway or have been completed during the last two years and the estimated costs relate to those at the time of approval.

Table 1

Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 18 January 2010
Flood Alleviation Schemes	Approved Cost
Afon Bach, Llanrwst, Conwy	£2.0m
Station Road, Abergavenny, Mon	£532k
Hall Street, Llangollen, Denb	£658k
Segrwyd, Nantglyn, Denb	£328k
Saron/Tre Gof Bethel Gwynedd	£156k
Denbigh FRM Scheme	£4.1m
Crynant FAS, Neath PT	£322k
Llanfair PG, FAS Anglesey	£1.9m
Afonwen, FAS, Flint	£746k
Staggers Hill, Stepaside, Pembs	£213k
Merrion Vill, Castlemartin, Pembs	£197k
Felinfach, Brecon, Powys	£366k
Arlias Brook, Llandrindod W, Powys	£167k
Upper Gro, Trehelig, Powys	£74k
The Grange, Llandrinio, Powys	£59k
Dolforgan Brook, Kerry, Powys	£64k
Manthrig Brook, Caersws, Powys	£101k
Clatter Brook, Presteigne, Powys	£189k
Tylcha G, Tonyrefail, Rhondda CT	£487k
Llys Corrwg, Rhydyfelin, RCT	£75k
Rhydyfelin RCT	£151k
Llys Deri, Ynysddu Caerphilly	£80k
Groeswen lane Caerphilly	£82k
Garth Est, Abertridwr Caerphilly	£57k
Trosnant Brook, Pontypool	£1m
Trearddur Bay, Anglesey	£1.4m
Tywyn Coastal Defence Gwynedd	£6.4m
Amroth Central & Eastern Pembs	£165k
Cardigan Bay & Ynys Enlli SMP	£442k
Brunel Quay Sea Wall, Pembs	£377k
North Beach, Aberaeron	£5.3m
Borth Phase1 D&D, Ceredigion	£305k
Swansea & Carmarthen Bays SMP	£155k
Severn Estuary SMP	£74k

Table 2

Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 18 January 2010
Environment Agency - Flood Alleviation Schemes	Cost
Afon Adda	£8.3m
Maes Y Felin	£105k
Conwy Valley	£5.75m
Tregaron	£2.6M
New Tredegar	£5.16m
Valley Tidal Doors	£1.19.
Laugharne	£100k

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Welsh Assembly Government be publishing a report on the success or otherwise of the Copenhagen Conference delegation; if so, when will it be published. (WAQ55370)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

My oral statement on COP 15 was published on 12 January.

The Welsh party did not participate in any votes.

The costs incurred by the Assembly Government are calculated at £14,578.38:

• Travel: £5,117.06

• Accommodation: £6,844.53

• Food: £505.82

• Events: £1,810.60

• Miscellaneous (printing): £14.10

• Subsistence Payments: £286.27

The cost of sending the Climate Change Champion and his guardian to the Conference was £4,126:

• Travel: £1,228.08

• Accommodation: £1,958.00

• Daily Allowances: £840.00

• Miscellaneous (incl. mobile phone credit and insurance): £100.67

The combined figure of £18,705.13 is an estimated total cost. Officials are still in the process of compiling costs and other invoices have yet to be received.

I will write to you to confirm the final costs in due course.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister list those of the Welsh delegation to Copenhagen who voted at the Conference and how they voted. (WAQ55371)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

My oral statement on COP 15 was published on 12 January.

The Welsh party did not participate in any votes.

The costs incurred by the Assembly Government are calculated at £14,578.38:

• Travel: £5,117.06

• Accommodation: £6,844.53

• Food: £505.82

• Events: £1,810.60

• Miscellaneous (printing): £14.10

• Subsistence Payments: £286.27

The cost of sending the Climate Change Champion and his guardian to the Conference was £4,126.75:

• Travel: £1,228.08

• Accommodation: £1,958.00

• Daily Allowances: £840.00

• Miscellaneous (incl. mobile phone credit and insurance): £100.67

The combined figure of £18,705.13 is an estimated total cost. Officials are still in the process of compiling costs and other invoices have yet to be received.

I will write to you to confirm the final costs in due course.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister list those of the Welsh Assembly Government delegation to Copenhagen who spoke at the Conference and at what level and stage of the Conference did the Welsh Assembly Government delegates take part. (WAQ55376)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

My oral statement on COP 15 was published on 12 January.

The Welsh party did not participate in any votes.

The costs incurred by the Assembly Government are calculated at £14,578.38:

• Travel: £5,117.06

• Accommodation: £6,844.53

• Food: £505.82

• Events: £1,810.60

• Miscellaneous (printing): £14.10

• Subsistence Payments: £286.27

The cost of sending the Climate Change Champion and his guardian to the Conference was £4,126.75:

• Travel: £1,228.08

• Accommodation: £1,958.00

• Daily Allowances: £840.00

• Miscellaneous (incl. mobile phone credit and insurance): £100.67

The combined figure of £18,705.13 is an estimated total cost. Officials are still in the process of compiling costs and other invoices have yet to be received.

I will write to you to confirm the final costs in due course.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide an update on the Bioenergy Action Plan for Wales. (WAQ55379)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The consultation on a Bioenergy Action Plan for Wales followed on from the Renewable Energy Route Map of 2008, and showed in detail how we might secure the annual generation in Wales of at least 5 terawatt-hours of electricity and 2.5 terawatt-hours of usable heat energy from renewable biomass by 2020.

In all 57 responses were received, from a variety of public, business and community groups, as well as individuals. A summary of responses was published online in December last year and is available to download via our website by using the following path:

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/bioenergyactionplan

The consultation has helped inform the drafting of the Low Carbon Energy Statement I intend to publish early this year. A Ministerial Policy Statement on Bioenergy will also be produced based on the Action Plan and the issues raised in the consultation later this year.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Peter Black (South Wales West): What is the total amount of money committed to paying for the McKinsey & Co. consultancy on efficiency savings in the Welsh NHS. (WAQ55316)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The contract cost will be borne jointly by the Assembly Government and the seven LHBs. As the cost is commercial in confidence it would be inappropriate for me to provide you with actual figures.

Peter Black (South Wales West): How much money has been spent so far on developing the IT infrastructure of the non-medical aspects of the Community Health Strategy. (WAQ55317)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The Primary and Community Services Strategy we have recently developed is in its early stages, and therefore no money has yet been allocated to developing the IT infrastructure. My officials are currently working on putting arrangements in place to support this programme and to determine the next steps, which will include IT.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What steps in the Minister taking to raise awareness of ovarian cancer in Wales and how is the Minister prioritising research into ovarian cancer in comparison with research on other cancers. (WAQ55320)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Through the ongoing Health Challenge Wales campaign, advice has been provided about what people can do to reduce their risk of developing cancer in general. This advice exists as a leaflet (Cancer: reduce the risk) and on the Health Challenge Wales website under the 'Conditions’ section (www.wales.gov.uk/healthchallenge).

Similarly, the Research Funding Scheme (RFS) run by the Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care (WORD) does not prioritise any particular type of cancer for funding. Applicants are required to make a case on the basis of need and demonstrate the scientific excellence of their proposals. WORD currently funds 4 studies into cancer through the RFS but none of these relate to ovarian cancer.

In addition, through WORD’s support for the cancer research infrastructure in Wales, patients are being recruited into 79 studies across 17 categories. Of these, 4 are ovarian cancer studies. A further 4 ovarian cancer studies are in follow up. In addition the Wales Cancer Bank, which is also supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, collects ovarian tissue and currently has one active research project using this tissue.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What steps is the Minister taking to improve the standards of clinical care in the area of ovarian cancer management. (WAQ55321)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The National Cancer Standards, published in June 2005, include standards for gynaecological cancer services, such as cancer of the ovaries. These standards, that endorse NICE guidance, represent the Assembly Government’s strategy for achieving high quality services for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancers including ovarian cancer.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What steps is the Minister taking to improve the standards of primary care in determining risk factors of patients in Wales. (WAQ55322)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

A Predictive Risk Tool (PRISM) has been developed to help GPs identify patients at risk of emergency hospital admission.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What is the current screening process for ovarian cancer for women in Wales. (WAQ55323)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The National Screening Committee (NSC), which is responsible for advising the 4 UK health administrations on all aspects of new and existing screening programmes, advises that screening should not be offered in respect of ovarian cancer. Should NSC’s advice change then I will consider it.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What steps is the Minister taking to improve palliative care services for families of those who are suffering from a terminal illness. (WAQ55324)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

To improve palliative and end of life care for all patients who need it we have increased our central recurrent funding to £4 million in 2009/10.

The Palliative Care Implementation Board, chaired by Baroness Ilora Finlay, has set out key priorities to develop palliative and end of life care services that meet patients’ needs. Of the £4m, £2.1m is directed at hospices across Wales to support their clinical consultant-led care. Our approach is an efficient and cost effective use of public funding with patients’ needs at its centre.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What steps is the Minister taking to improve the diagnosis procedure for those showing signs of ovarian cancer. (WAQ55325)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm the amount of money being made available following her recent announcement for a second cycle of IVF treatment in Wales. (WAQ55326)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The total amount of money being made available for a second cycle of IVF treatment in Wales from 2010-11 is currently £800,000.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm that there is sufficient capacity within the Welsh NHS to meet the demands of the second IVF cycle to be made available to patients in Wales. (WAQ55327)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Health Commission Wales (HCW) is currently in discussion with the specialist fertility units which currently provide this service to agree how to implement the new funding policy, including the order in which eligible patients will be re-assessed and treated and the maximum waiting time. These discussions will conclude very shortly and HCW will advise me if there are any concerns over capacity.

Irene James (Islwyn): Further to the answer to WAQ54106, will the Minister provide further details on how the £2.550 million additional recurrent funding to treat patients with arrhythmias has been spent. (WAQ55329)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The £2.55 million has been invested in local services and in tertiary providers to improve patient access to complex devices (ICDs and biventricular pacing) and simple pacemakers.

Irene James (Islwyn): Further to the answer to WAQ54105, will the Minister make a statement on what plans she has to improve the uptake levels of Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators and pacemakers in Wales. (WAQ55330)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

A strategic development plan for arrhythmia services has been agreed which includes plans to improve the rate of access to ICDs. The £2.550m central funding I have provided to support the strategic development plan will be allocated to the 7 LHBs from 2010-11.

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Will the Minister outline the steps being taken to ensure that 0-5 year olds receive their swine flu jabs inside the winter period. (WAQ55331)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

Health Boards are working with local GP practices to ensure 6 month to 5 year olds receive their swine flu jab and the support of GPs to deliver this second phase of the vaccination programme is acknowledged and welcomed. For the small number of GP practices who have chosen not to participate in this phase of the vaccination programme, Health Boards are making alternative arrangements via health visiting services.

A poster highlighting the availability of the vaccine for young children has been distributed to each GP practice and pharmacy in Wales. Further information, including a bilingual leaflet targeting parents of 6 month to 5 year olds, is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website. The vaccination programme is also being supported by media relations activity.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): When will the 'My Health Online’ scheme begin to operate. (WAQ55334)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

Implementation plans will be put in place as part of the detailed work to develop the website. The aim is to introduce the service late 2010 - early 2011.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many GP practices in Wales a) offer weekend appointments b) offer evening appointments c) offer advanced bookings and d) are open all the working day without half day openings. (WAQ55335)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

This information is not held centrally.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What is the potential liability to the NHS of continuing care claims reimbursement as of December 2009. (WAQ55336)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

At this point in time, we do not have sufficient supporting information on the registrations of interest in order to assess their potential liability.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on the establishment of a tracking survey of public attitudes towards people with mental health problems. (WAQ55337)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The measurement of public attitudes towards people with mental health problems will be considered as part of the Mental Health Promotion Action Plan.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many patients declined treatment under the Access 09 waiting time target and will the Minister provide a reason for each case. (WAQ55338)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

This information is not held centrally.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on the establishment of a Mental Health Promotion Action Plan. (WAQ55339)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

As proposed in the Our Healthy Future: technical working paper, the Mental Health Promotion Action Plan will be launched in Autumn 2010.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much interest has been paid to date by the NHS on the 800 settled continuing care claims. (WAQ55340)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

To date, £2.658m has been paid out in interest in relation to pre April 2003 claims. We do not hold any information centrally in relation to interest paid on post April 2003 cases.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Is the 'My Health Online’ scheme being rolled out nationally or region by region. (WAQ55341)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

Once My Health Online is available its roll out will depend on how quickly each GP practice wants to make the service available to its patients. We anticipate that use of MHOL will be widespread by the end of 2011 with the majority of practices offering the MHOL service to their patients.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much of the £16 million allocated to improving access to GP surgeries has been spent and how has this improved services. (WAQ55342)

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

A £16million package was announced in September 2008 to improve primary health care across Wales.

However, this did not include funding to access GP surgeries. £3.9m was allocated to access through the Quality and Outcomes Framework in 2008/9. The funding is an incentive to provide good patient access to urgent and pre-bookable appointments. Achievement measured by the Welsh GP Patient Survey resulted in £2.1m being paid to GP practices.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Is the £1.7 million made available to fund the 'My Health Online’ initiative sufficient for every patient in Wales to become part of the scheme. (WAQ55343)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

We are working collaboratively with all NHS Wales approved GP system suppliers to develop a bespoke NHS Wales’ website for patients to use the internet to book GP appointments, request repeat prescriptions, or contact their GP surgery. The aim is for all patients to be able to access My Health Online.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What legal bills in relation to claims for reimbursement for continuing care costs have been paid to date by the NHS. (WAQ55344)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

This is not a legal process as such and is handled through a complaints panel, therefore the NHS does not reimburse legal costs incurred by claimants.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What measures are in place to speed up the decision making process for claims logged with the NHS in respect of continuing care claims. (WAQ55345)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

The NHS is currently developing detailed plans. The aim is to ensure that enquiries logged by last month’s deadline which become valid claims are processed as swiftly as possible.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm that the 26 week waiting time under the Access 09 targets was met and will she provide a breakdown by the Local Health Board. (WAQ55346)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

The figures will be released on 11 February 2010.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What steps is the Minister taking to ensure healthcare professionals are supported in giving advice to women on the full range of contraceptive options. (WAQ55347)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The responsibility for planning and delivering comprehensive services for contraception and family planning is a matter for LHBs. Implementing the 2006 NICE Guidance on long acting reversible contraception (LARC) is a matter for local determination based on local need. The Sexual Health and Wellbeing for Wales, 2009-2014: Draft Working Paper, proposes a review of access to contraception including LARC for summer 2010.

The accessibility and range of contraceptive methods available, including LARC and NHS funded sterilisation, vary widely. LARC methods have been shown to be cost effective and increased use will reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. The full range of contraceptive methods should be available according to need.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has her department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55354) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Business and Budget

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Jane Hutt: This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister detail what proportion of NHS bodies in Wales her department estimates restrict access to long acting reversible contraceptive methods through a) budget capping b) age restrictions and c) other means. (WAQ55358)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

This information is not centrally held.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister detail what assessment her department has made of the number of a) primary and b) secondary health care professionals who are trained to fit all long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods; and what steps it is taking to increase the number of care professionals trained to fit LARC methods. (WAQ55359)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

The requirement for health professionals trained to fit LRC methods is for each Local Health Board in Wales to assess.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide figures for patients currently waiting more than 26 weeks for appointments under Access 09 targets. (WAQ55361)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

Latest data for RTT performance is available on the Stats Wales website, at http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=9817

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide figures for the number of patients who have declined appointments under the Access 09 targets. (WAQ55362)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

This information is not held centrally.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of Welsh NHS staff, giving figures for medical and non-medical staff for each year since 2004. (WAQ55368)

Answer issued on 15 January 2010

Information on the numbers of staff in the Welsh NHS for each year can be found on the StatsWales website at: www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/

Peter Black (South Wales West): What percentage of alcohol-related hospital admissions were repeat admissions in 2008-09. (WAQ55383)

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

Of those hospital admissions in 2008-09 for an alcohol-related diagnosis 45.7 per cent had been previously admitted to hospital for an alcohol-related diagnosis within the previous 12 months.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What are the Minister’s priorities for health research for the current financial year. (WAQ55387)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

My health research priorities for this financial year include:

• the development of the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research, a One Wales commitment, to help ensure the benefits of health and social care research are maximised through the provision of new programmes, new advisory structures and enhanced stakeholder involvement in R&D in Wales;

• completing the re -commissioning of the R&D infrastructure for Wales to stimulate health and social care research and external grant capture; and

• to place the NHS at the centre of R&D initiatives for maximum patient benefit.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the costs and numbers of external consultants commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government in relation to NHS reorganisation. (WAQ55388)

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Capgemini Consultants was the only external consultancy commissioned to support the Healthcare Reform Programme. The cost information is commercial in confidence and as such it would not be appropriate for me to provide it.

To ask the Minister for Heritage

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has his department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55353) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Business and Budget

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Jane Hutt: This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

To ask the Minister for Rural Affairs

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What is the average cost of processing a Single Farm Payment application in Wales and will the Minister provide a breakdown for each year since 2004. (WAQ55328)

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

The average cost of processing a single CAP claim is available for the last 5 years and is as follows:

2009 - £304

2008 - £298

2007 - £303

2006 - £336

2005 - £343

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In each of the last five years how many cattle have been slaughtered having tested positive for bovine TB and of those slaughtered how many a) did not show signs of TB at post mortem and b) had cultures taken at post mortem which subsequently did not confirm the presence of TB. (WAQ55348)

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

Not all of the information requested is readily available. However, information relating to number of reactor cattle slaughtered (column 1) and the number of TB reactors showing visible lesions and/or are culture positive (i.e. considered to be confirmed cases (column 2)) for the last four full years are included in the table below:

Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 18 January 2010
Year	Total reactors slaughtered (1)	Total reactors slaughtered (2)
2005	5,520	1,416
2006	5,241	1,598
2007	7,171	1,955
2008	10,542	3,278

NB Failure to detect lesions of tuberculosis by post-mortem examination at the slaughterhouse, or to culture M. bovis in the laboratory in all cattle slaughtered as reactors (as illustrated in column 2 above), does not imply that a test reactor was not infected with bovine TB. Indeed, in the early stages of this disease it is not always possible to observe lesions during abattoir post-mortem examination, and, due to the fastidious nature of this organism, it is very difficult to isolate it from tissue samples without visible lesions.

The comparative tuberculin skin test as used for surveillance in the UK has a specificity in excess of 99.9%. This means that only 1 in every 1000 (or more) truly non-infected cattle tested at standard interpretation are expected to be misclassified as reactors (i.e. false positives). These genuine false positive reactors may be caused by non-specific tuberculin responses to the environmental mycobacteria to which cattle are sometimes exposed. The specificity is marginally reduced, in order to increase sensitivity (the proportion of infected animals correctly identified) by use of severe interpretation of the skin test and the gamma interferon (gIFN) test.

Almost all, but not 100% of cattle are subject to a post mortem examination. However, once M. bovis has been confirmed in a breakdown no further cultures are routinely taken from that breakdown.

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency Annual TB surveillance report for 2008 stated that for the UK "the proportion of visibly lesioned reactors from which M. bovis was cultured has remained stable since 2003, averaging around 94.5% in 2008. The proportion of non-visibly lesioned reactors that cultured M. bovis remains at 4.4%”. The culture confirmation rate increased in early 2004 and 2006 but has begun to level off in 2007 and 2008 at approximately 35%. The proportion of reactor carcases with visible lesions has remained stable, ranging from 39.3% in 2007 to 39.8% in 2008.

The latest bovine TB statistics are available on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/stats/index.htm

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has her department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55352) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Business and Budget

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Jane Hutt: This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What is the cost of processing support payments other than the Single Farm Payment that the department manages and will the Minister provide a breakdown by each scheme and for each year since 2004. (WAQ55366)

Answer issued on 22 January 2010

As stated in WAQ 55328 Rural Payments Wales costs cover the administration of all Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes. The total cost of processing all CAP claims per year is estimated as follows for the lasts 5 years:

2009 - £17.726mil

2008 - £17.743mil

2007 - £18.659mil

2006 - £18.745mil

2005 - £20mil

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How much funding has his department allocated for a) year end and b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10. (WAQ55351) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Business and Budget

Answer issued on 19 January 2010

Jane Hutt: This is a matter for the Permanent Secretary and I will ask her to write to you directly on this issue.

To ask the Representative of the Assembly Commission

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What assessment has the Assembly Commission made of the cost of the review of translation services in the National Assembly for Wales. (WAQ55367)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

Assembly Commissioner for Assembly Resources, William Graham AM: The cost of the review is estimated at £12,000. This includes 10 days’ work for each of the four independent members, travel and subsistence at the Assembly’s staff rates plus a small contingency.

The panel consists of Chair of the Care Council for Wales Arwel Ellis Owen (panel chair), businesswoman Susan Balsom, company director Geraint Evans and Pro Vice Chancellor of Bangor University Professor Colin Baker.

The panel’s terms of reference are:

The reviewers will:

a) consider the operation of all current bilingual services provided by the Assembly Commission, including developments in bilingual services since the Commission was established in 2007 and the proposals set out in the Assembly Commission’s written statement on 30 September 2009;

b) consider the views of our main customers on current and future bilingual services;

c) having regard to the need to ensure value for money, and drawing on best practice internationally, make recommendations for consideration by the Assembly Commission on the future delivery of the Assembly’s bilingual services, including:

• proposing options for defining and realising the Assembly’s ambition to become a "fully bilingual institution”;

• establishing principles that should underpin the approach to bilingual services; and

• considering all forms of service, including for example new media channels and archive material.

d) recommend a way forward for the Fourth Assembly and beyond (by when the current Welsh language Scheme will have ended).

Jonathan Morgan (Cardiff North): How much revenue does the Assembly Commission generate each year through hiring out the Assembly estate to outside organisations. (WAQ55374)

Answer issued on 18 January 2010

Assembly Commissioner for Assembly Resources, William Graham AM: In 2008/09 the total income generated by the Assembly Commission was £107,000 of which £75,000 was income from accommodation rental through sub-letting agreements with the BBC and ITV.

The Assembly Commission does not charge for occasional use of its estate including usage by press and media. Events or meetings on the Assembly estate must be sponsored by an Assembly Member and must be related in some way to Assembly business. Occasionally, events incur expenditure beyond the normal running costs of the estate, for example through late opening so that overtime is worked. These additional costs are then charged to event organisers. Catering costs are met directly by event organisers. The Assembly also secures indemnities from organisers for damage and other liabilities.

18/01/2010 - Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 18 January 2010

Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 18 January 2010

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