Answers issued to Members on 19 February 2008
[R] signifies that the Member has declared
an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
Contents
Questions to the First Minister
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 Finance and Public Service Delivery
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Questions to the First Minister
Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): Will the Minister detail a) how many ex-WDA staff are currently in the WAG deployment pool; b) how many WAG employees in total are in the deployment pool; c) for how long has the member of staff waiting the longest been in the deployment pool; and d) how many ex-WDA staff are currently assigned to special projects? (WAQ51290)
The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): There are 12 former Welsh Development Agency (WDA) staff in the Assembly Government’s Central Posting’s Pool.
(a) There are 47 staff (including these 12) in the pool in total.
(b) One member of staff, who is returning from a career break and therefore not being paid, has been in the pool since January 2007.
(c) There are six former WDA staff who are currently working in time limited posts. The duration of these posts ranges from three months to two years.
Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What assessment has the Minister made of the impact the Severn crossing tolls have had on the economy of Wales? (WAQ51256)
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): I have commissioned no formal assessment of the impact the Severn Crossing tolls have had on the economy of Wales.
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): How many official visits to overseas countries has the Minister made over the last 6 months? (WAQ51272)
The
Deputy Minister:
I have made three official visits to overseas countries over the last six months.
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What discussions has the Minister had with the National Union of Teachers regarding the GTCW registration fee? (WAQ51305)
The
Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): I have not had any discussions with the National Union of Teachers about the GTCW Registration Fee.
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery
Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): What is the latest calculation of the cost to WAG of the deficit in funding of the WDA pension scheme? (WAQ51291)
The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery (Andrew Davies): The notional past service deficit relating to former Welsh Development Agency staff was estimated to be £38 million based on the 2004 Local Government Pension Scheme valuation. The Assembly Government meets the cost of this notional deficit through employer contributions which are currently set at 17.7 per cent of scheme members’ pensionable pay. The scheme actuaries are currently assessing the past service deficit position and the associated employer contribution rate as part of the 2007 fund valuation which is due to be completed before the end of the financial year.
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Jonathan Morgan (Cardiff North): How many English patients were treated in Welsh hospitals in the most recent year for when figures are available and will the Minister provide an annual breakdown of this figure over the last eight years? (WAQ51238)
The
Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): This information is available on the
Health Solutions Wales internet site—Welsh Health Information and Statistics
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cfm?orgid=527, within the hospital data online section and the headline figures section.
This gives non-welsh residents treated in Welsh trusts (finished consultant episodes) and the information is available for a number of years up to 2005-06. The data is due to be updated shortly for 2006-07.
Irene James (Islwyn): Will the Minister outline how many new GP Clinics or Surgeries have been constructed in Islwyn since 1999? (WAQ51248)
Edwina
Hart:
There are 11 GP practices based in Islwyn. The surgeries at Crumlin, Pontllanfraith and Oakdale have had new buildings since 1998-99. Risca Surgery and Well Spring Medical Centre have also had major extensions to provide extra capacity and improve services
to patients.
Jonathan Morgan (Cardiff North): How many dentists treating NHS patients for any proportion of their work operate in Wales? (WAQ51298)
Edwina
Hart:
At March 2007, 1,186 dentists were recorded as providing NHS treatment.
Jonathan Morgan (Cardiff North): What assessment has NHS Wales or the Welsh Assembly Government made of the number of patients who do not have access to an NHS dentist? (WAQ51299)
Edwina
Hart:
Local Health Boards (LHBs)
are responsible for the commissioning of NHS dental services to meet the local need and the wider oral health agenda. As part of the commissioning process LHBs will have regard to their Local Oral Health Action Plans which should
include an assessment of access needs.
Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the BCG vaccination program for children in rural areas? (WAQ51304)
Edwina
Hart:
The BCG immunisation programme is now a risk-based programme, focused on those at greatest risk of tuberculosis. The changes to BCG immunisation policy in 2005 were made after consideration of the current epidemiology of TB in the UK by the Joint Committee
on Vaccination and Immunisation—an independent expert group that advises all four UK health departments.
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Lorraine Barrett (Cardiff South and Penarth): Will the Minister clarify if an animal welfare specialist is represented as part of her department’s advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)? (WAQ51295)
The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): Animal welfare advisers are represented on the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) Steering Group. They advise on policy issues and provide guidance to me in relation to animal welfare, although they are not Assembly sponsored public bodies (ASPB), the chair of the AHWS is appointed through the public appointments process.
Lorraine Barrett (Cardiff South and Penarth): Will the Minister list all of her department’s advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) that are concerned with animal health and welfare? (WAQ51296)
Elin
Jones:
There are no
Assembly sponsored public bodies (ASPB) concerned with animal health and welfare, however the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) Steering Group was established in June 2004 to take forward the implementation of the AHWS in Wales and
to help develop and monitor progress against the Wales annual action plan.