Answers issued to Members on 19 May 2008

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

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 Heritage

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with organisers of the London Olympics regarding business opportunities for Welsh firms from the 2012 Games? (WAQ51716)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): I am actively promoting the Games related business opportunity by ensuring Wales is a full partner in the London 2012 Business Network .

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on making further funding available to make improvements to the A470 between Llyswen and Erwood? (WAQ51728)

The Deputy First Minister: The Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency has just completed traffic calming schemes in Llwyswen and on the approaches to Erwood (both north and south). A substantial resurfacing scheme with associated drainage works has also recently been completed between Llyswen and Llangoed Hall.

Further resurfacing works are currently being planned at Trericket Mill.  No funding for these works are available in the current financial year and the scheme will have to compete for resources with other schemes on the network on a priority basis for implementation in 2008/09.    

Irene James (Islwyn): Will the Minister outline whether there are any engineering works planned on the Ebbw Valley line during the next six months? (WAQ51769)

The Deputy First Minister: This is a matter for Network Rail and not the Welsh Assembly Government.

Irene James (Islwyn): Will the Minister make a statement on the introduction of six carriage trains on the Rhymney valley line at peak times? (WAQ51770)

The Deputy First Minister: My officials receive data from Arriva Trains Wales to show current capacity and monitor crowding levels on the Valley Lines.  The growth trends in demand are being closely monitored in order to determine when the need for longer trains is likely to be justified.

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Which Councils in South Wales Central, if any, responded to the Welsh Assembly Government's survey on requirements for the Foundation Phase? (WAQ51692)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): We have now received expenditure/delivery plans from all local authorities which will be further refined following my announcement that an additional £5m is being made available for the Foundation Phase in 2008-9. My officials are in close contact with local authority officers to support this process.

The initial request for information in 2006 yielded an incomplete set of returns. Only Rhondda Cynon Taf of the South Wales Central councils provided information in response to the request; returns were not received from Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What percentage of primary schools in Wales, per local authority, offers free breakfasts as per the Assembly Government initiative? (WAQ51733)

Jane Hutt: Based on the most recent information received from the local authorities, the schools currently participating in the Primary School Free Breakfast Initiative are available on our website at www.wales.gov.uk/breakfast.

I also attach a table which sets out the current percentage of schools participating up to the end of the spring term 2008 along with the most recent indications of further take up on a termly basis thereafter to autumn 2008. These latter figures, though, are constantly being updated.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): How many primary schools are classified as failing in Wales in each year since 1999, and the estimated cost of each? (WAQ51738)

Jane Hutt: A total of 43 Primary schools (including one Special School) have been classified by Estyn as requiring special measures or in need of significant improvement between 1999 and April 2008.  Fifteen (15) of these schools are in need of special measures.  The total number of schools per year in any of these categories reflects those newly identified as well as those that are continuing in special measures.  Once identified, the Local Authority has the responsibility for developing and implementing an improvement plan.  The funding for this is a matter for the Local Authority and is met within their existing budget.  

The addition of the serious weakness category in 2003-2006 and the schools requiring significant improvement category in 2006 has resulted in an increased in schools receiving additional support from their Local Authorities.  The purpose of this change was to ensure that additional resources were targeted for school improvement for those requiring improvement but not as yet in need of 'special measures’.  Given this, care should be taken in comparing figures for 1999-2002 with more recent data.  

(note: most schools stay in special measures for between 1 - 5 with an average of just over 2 years)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): How many secondary schools are classified as failing in Wales in each year since 1999, and the estimated cost of each? (WAQ51739)

Jane Hutt: A total of 14 Secondary schools have been classified by Estyn as requiring special measures or in need of significant improvement between 1999 and April 2008.  Three (3) of these schools are in need of special measures.  The total number of schools per year in any of these categories reflects those newly identified as well as those that are continuing in special measures.  Once identified, the Local Authority has the responsibility for developing and implementing an improvement plan.  The funding for this is a matter for the Local Authority and is met within their existing budget.  

The addition of the serious weakness category in 2003-2006 and the schools requiring significant improvement category in 2006 has resulted in an increased in schools receiving additional support from their Local Authorities.  The purpose of this change was to ensure that additional resources were targeted for school improvement for those requiring improvement but not as yet in need of 'special measures’.  Given this, care should be taken in comparing figures for 1999-2002 with more recent data.  

(note: most schools stay in special measures for between 1 - 5 with an average of just over 2 years)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Prior to her meeting of 6 May 2008, what discussions did the Minister have with teaching unions regarding funding for the Foundation Phase? (WAQ51744)

Jane Hutt: I met formally with the NAHT in March.  Also, prior to the first meeting of my Foundation Phase Implementation Task and Finish Group, I spoke separately to each of the teacher unions. These discussions proved very positive and reflected stakeholder commitment to working in partnership to ensure successful roll out of the Foundation Phase.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the First Minister provide details of the amount that he is seeking as a Barnett consequential in relation to Olympic spending from the Treasury? (WAQ51726)

The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery (Andrew Davies): The Assembly Government’s view is that Wales - and the other devolved administrations - should receive a consequential increase in our Departmental Expenditure Limit in respect of funding for comparable Olympics-related activity.  This will include activity which: is taking place because of the Olympics but which has wider local benefits (e.g. some transport infrastructure enhancements, improving the 'look of London’); would have taken place anyway but is badged as Olympics related and; is being brought forward because of the Olympics (e.g. some transport infrastructure enhancements, regeneration of East London.)  

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the future of the Barnett Formula and the implications for Wales? (WAQ51727)

Andrew Davies: Assembly Government Ministers have regular dialogue with UK Government Ministers on a range of financial matters.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What percentage of materials/goods/services procured by the Welsh Assembly Government is sourced from companies or organisations in Wales? (WAQ51758)

Andrew Davies: Unfortunately the Welsh Assembly Government does not currently have a database system that can fully answer your question.  However, the Welsh Assembly Government is developing a Finance System as part of the Corporate Finance Change Programme, and over time this will significantly improve the information available.

To support the work of the Business Procurement Taskforce that I chair, the Welsh Assembly Government commissioned a review of the procurement spend of the entire Welsh Procurement Sector. This showed that percentage of Public Sector contracts awarded to companies based within Wales, rose from 35% in 2003 to 49% in 2005. A tender is underway to commission a review of 2007/8 data.

The review for 2005/6 of Welsh Assembly Government data showed that of the Procurement Influencable Spend of £521,000,000, 45% (£234,450,000) was spent with companies in Wales.  

In order to assist companies in Wales all Welsh Assembly Government contracts over £25,000 are advertised on the Value Wales procurement web site www.sell2wales.co.uk. The majority of the Welsh public sector utilise this website.  Of the 29,230 suppliers registered on this web site, 61% are Welsh.   

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the use of genetically modified foods in meals served in buildings which form part of the Assembly Government estate? (WAQ51795)

Andrew Davies: The Welsh Assembly Government has formal catering supply contracts in place for its principal offices at Cathays Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Llandrindod Wells, Caernarfon and Carmarthen.  These contracts require the caterers to provide exemplary standards and the offer of genetically modified foodstuffs for sale is expressly forbidden.  The catering contractors have also assured us that no foodstuffs derived from a GM source, eg meat or milk from an animal fed on GM feed are purchased.  The contractors fully comply with EC, National and GM Food Regulations.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What percentage of newly qualified doctors in Wales secure a post in the Welsh NHS within a) 12 months, b) 24 months, and c) 36 months of graduating? (WAQ51747)

Nick Bourne:What percentage of newly qualified doctors in Wales secure a post outside of Wales within a) 12 months, b) 24 months, and c) 36 months of graduating? (WAQ51748)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): This information is not held in the form that you require because all recruitment for junior doctors was done on a UK basis until this year.   

We do not hold the data about medical graduates who move outside Wales.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide details of the amount of money spent on cleaning in hospitals by each NHS Trust in Wales in each year since 1999? (WAQ51752)

Edwina Hart: Expenditure by NHS Trusts in Wales on hopsital cleaning is not available prior to 2001-02.  Expenditure from 2001-02 was as follows:

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What is the WAGs policy regarding the use of genetically modified foods in meals served in public buildings, including schools and hospitals? (WAQ51755)

Edwina Hart: The Welsh Assembly Government has not developed a specific policy regarding the use of genetically modified foods in meals served in public buildings, including schools and hospitals. On this matter I would refer to advice from the Food Standards Agency which is that provided genetically modified foods have satisfied the required safety assessment process and the labelling rules are observed, it is entirely a matter of individual choice as to whether to consume a food comprising or developed from genetically modified organisms.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What guidance does the Minister give to those responsible for public buildings in Wales, including schools and hospitals, regarding the use of genetically modified foods in meals served in those buildings? (WAQ51768)

Edwina Hart: The Welsh Assembly Government has not developed guidance for those responsible for public buildings in Wales, including schools and hospitals, regarding the use of genetically modified foods in meals served in those buildings. On this matter I would refer those responsible for public buildings in Wales to advice from the Food Standards Agency as detailed in WAQ51755.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Is there any financial assistance provided by the Welsh Assembly Government for families who cannot access an NHS dentist and have to enrol with a private practice? (WAQ51775)

Edwina Hart:  There is no mechanism for the refund or financial assistance toward the costs of private dental charges in the NHS. Anyone seeking access to NHS dental services should contact their local health board for details of NHS practices accepting new patients.

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with television industry organisations regarding the proposed digital switchover in Wales? (WAQ51699)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the proposed digital switchover in Wales? (WAQ51700)

The Minister for Heritage (Rhodri Glyn Thomas): I have regular discussions with the broadcasters, Ofcom, and Digital UK regarding digital switchover.

The Welsh Assembly Government is represented on the UK Government’s digital switchover group.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What plan does the Minister have to extend the Valuation Office Agency’s automated valuation model for council tax valuations and revaluations to Wales? (WAQ51709)

The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government (Brian Gibbons): The Valuation Office Agency is presently developing Automated Valuation Model capabilities to support work in connection with the maintenance of the current (2005) council tax list in Wales. This will increase both the overall cost efficiency of the Agency’s operations, and will deliver further improvements in customer service for the taxpayer in Wales.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Are there any financial concessions available for businesses which have been forced to close because of local circumstances and find themselves paying business rates after 3 months? (WAQ51765)

Brian Gibbons: The Local Government Finance Act 1988 gives local authorities the power to grant relief to businesses on real grounds of hardship if it is in the interests of local council tax payers to do so. Local authorities contribute 25% towards this, and the Assembly Government funds the remainder.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Would the Minister outline rate charges for business premises that had been empty for more than 3 months on April 1st 2007? (WAQ51767)

Brian Gibbons: Non industrial properties empty for more than 3 months paid 50% of the standard rate, and industrial properties empty for more than 6 months were exempted from paying rates.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Would the Minister outline any changes since April 1st 2008 in the rate charges for business premises that have been empty for more than 3 months? (WAQ51768)

Brian Gibbons: The main changes are that non industrial properties empty for more than 3 months pay the full rate instead of 50% of the full rate, empty industrial properties pay the full rate after 6 months instead of being permanently exempted from paying rates  and empty properties owned by charities or community sports clubs are exempted from paying rates.

The rateable value of all properties exempted from paying rates increased to from £2,200 from £1,500.