Written Assembly Questions tabled on 11 May 2017 for answer on 18 May 2017
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 First Minister
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister outline how much financial support was provided to Aston Martin to create 750 jobs in St Athan, in light of the Information Commissioner's ruling that the details must be published? (WAQ73492)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): We are currently considering our response to the Information Commissioner's ruling.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): How is the Welsh Government monitoring the number of referrals to CAMHS that are not accepted and are referred to Families First? (WAQ73478)
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): How is the Welsh Government monitoring the number of referrals to CAMHS that are not accepted and are referred on to primary mental health care services? (WAQ73479)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): We do not collect information on the outcome of referrals which are not accepted by specialist CAMHS. We would expect CAMHS to feedback to referrers on the outcome of referrals which are not accepted and to signpost to other services as appropriate, in line with the needs of the young person.
As part of our regular monitoring of Families First we collect data from local authorities about the number of referrals (by agency) to Families First for a Joint Assessment Family Framework (JAFF). For the period April to December 2016 (the latest period for which we have figures) 164 children were referred to Families First for a JAFF by CAMHS, 2% of all JAFF referrals in that period. We are unable to identify whether any of these were referrals to CAMHS and which were not accepted by that service.
In relation to Local Primary Mental Health Support Services (LPMHSS), officials are currently working with CAMHS colleagues, as part of the Together for Children and Young People Programme, to understand the pathways for children and young people in mental health services. I will ask officials to consider this issue.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ73250, will the Cabinet Secretary now confirm which surveys should be conducted in 2017/18 by the Welsh Food Microbiological Forum? (WAQ73487)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): At a meeting of the Welsh Food Microbiological Forum (WFMF) on the 5 April 2017 the group considered a number of potential surveys to be delivered between April to September 2017. The WFMF usually identifies and develops protocols for a minimum of two surveys to be delivered across Wales in a six month period.
The WFMF agreed to undertake a survey of cooked, ready to eat chicken and to continue the successful shopping basket study. The shopping basket consists of 10 different categories of ready to eat foods (pate, cakes containing cream, sliced cooked meats, rice-based salads, open prepared salads, loose delicatessen products, coleslaws, dips, ready to eat smoked fish, and loose olives).
The WFMF has also agreed to deliver a survey to assess the microbiological quality of school meals, to commence in September 2017. The next meeting of the WFMF will also take place in September 2017, at which time further proposals for sampling surveys will be considered.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide a five-year breakdown of how much the Welsh Government has spent on bursaries for students studying full-time medicine in Wales? (WAQ73490)
Answer recieved on 22 May 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-Being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): Undergraduate medical students ordinarily resident in Wales are able to access help with the costs of tuition fees and living costs.
Under current arrangements (which cater for students enrolling during 2017-18) undergraduate medical students are eligible to apply for grants and loans to cover the costs of their tuition fees and maintenance costs in the first four years of their education programme. From year 5, these students' are eligible to receive support through an NHS Bursary, although they continue to be eligible for a reduced rate maintenance loan via student finance.
Students enrolled on a four year Graduate Entry programme are required to self fund an element of their tuition fee in year 1 of their studies. However, they can access a tuition fee loan to bridge the gap between the self-funded element and the maximum fee charged and maintenance support towards their living costs. In years 2- 4 of these programmes students' are eligible to receive support through an NHS Bursary, although they continue to be eligible for a reduced rate maintenance loan via student finance
Within the context of the above arrangements the five-year breakdown requested is set out in the table below.
| Academic Year | Welsh Domiciled Bursary Support at Welsh Higher Education Institute |
| | £'m |
| 2012/13 | 0.413 |
| 2013/14 | 0.432 |
| 2014/15 | 0.418 |
| 2015/16 | 0.422 |
| 2016/17 | 0.383 |
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the population assessments required under the Social Services and Well-being Act are being used effectively by health boards and local authorities to plan for appropriate numbers of care and nursing home places in Wales? (WAQ73491)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Rebecca Evans: The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 provides for the establishment of seven regional partnership boards on the health board footprint. These bring together health, social services and the third sector to plan and deliver integrated care services in response to the population assessments that were published last month.
Regulations require local authorities and health boards to produce joint area plans setting out the range and level of services to be provided in response to the population assessment by 1 April 2018. Joint area plans must focus on integrated services planned, including the types of services to be arranged or procured such as care and nursing home places.
Regional partnership boards will also be required to establish pooled funds in relation to the exercise of care home accommodation functions from April 2018. This will result in services that improve well-being outcomes and are sustainable.
The Welsh Government is working closely with Social Care Wales to support regional partnership boards in producing joint area plans. A toolkit is being developed, including a template, to ensure a consistent approach across Wales.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the code of practice for species control provisions in Wales? (WAQ73480)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The Code of Practice for Species Control Provisions in Wales was laid in the Assembly on 2 May 2017 and is available on the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat websites.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government's Wild Deer Management strategy? (WAQ73481)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Strategy for Wild Deer Management in Wales was published by the Welsh Government in February 2011. Officials have been working with stakeholders to finalise an updated Action Plan for Wild Deer Management in Wales which we plan to publish by the end of July 2017.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm when an announcement will be made on the Welsh Government's plans for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Wales? (WAQ73482)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Water quality is of paramount importance to every section of society and the agriculture sector plays a vital role in delivering water quality objectives. Policy on Nitrate Vulnerable Zones plays a critical role in protecting water quality and a decision on this matter needs to be given detailed consideration. I will be making an announcement during the summer.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline what action the Welsh Government is taking in light of the spread of Alabama Rot in dogs? (WAQ73483)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The cause of Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV) the disease dubbed by the press as “Alabama rot” in dogs, is still unknown. CRGV is not a reportable disease but the Welsh Government is monitoring developments as private veterinary investigations and research continue.
Private veterinarians offer good advice on how to identify signs of the disease and actions to take. Dog owners should be alert to any changes in their animals, and if they are concerned they should discuss the issue with their private vet.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many farms are still to receive their basic farm payment? (WAQ73484)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: 109 farm businesses are still to receive their 2016 Basic Payment Scheme payment.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71470, will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government's review of its export support for Welsh food and drink businesses? (WAQ73485)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The review of evidence to identify priority export markets for the sector has concluded. In March 2017, I announced Welsh Government investment of £2.4m over the next two years for a renewed programme to ensure Wales remains well-represented at high profile food and drink trade events and visits around the world.
The programme for 2017/18 is available at:
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71399, will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Co-operative Forest Planning Scheme? (WAQ73486)
Answe received on 17 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The closing date for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the first round of funding for the Co-operative Forest Planning Scheme (CFPS) was 30 April 2017. Two EOI's were received and appraisals will be completed by 29 June 2017, successful applicants will be asked to submit full applications.
I am making a further £300,000 available in October 2017 to support a second round of this scheme. Further details will be on the Welsh Government website.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71900, can the Cabinet Secretary now provide an assessment of the Welsh pig project? (WAQ73488)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Menter Moch Cymru project has held a number of meetings with producers across Wales to promote the work of the project. A formal launch event will be held at the Spring Festival on 20 May to further promote the project and its activities.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the action taken by the Welsh Government to introduce quarantine units? (WAQ73489)
Answer recieved on 17 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Disease Control Order has been amended and Quarantine Units will come into force on 10 June. Necessary changes to the IT systems have been completed and the communications campaign is ongoing. Livestock keepers have been contacted by letter to encourage them to make preparations and inform them how to apply in advance of Quarantine Units going live.