Written Assembly Questions tabled on 12 October 2015 for answer on 19 October 2015
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 Minister for Natural Resources
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the necessity for dust management plans for large poultry units, given that Public Health Wales has concerns about the emission of bioaerosols from them having possible health effects, including exposure to infectious diseases, allergic reactions, respiratory systems and lung-function impairment? (WAQ69259)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Deputy Minister for Farming and Food (Rebecca Evans): Natural Resources Wales (NRW) requires that all environmental permit applications for intensive farming installations must include a suitable environmental risk assessment, including an examination of the potential for dust emissions. On this basis NRW will judge the requirement for a dust management plan. NRW takes account of the views of Public Health Wales as part of the environmental permitting process.
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline what discussions she and/or her officials have had with representatives from the Vale of Glamorgan Council regarding the recent increase in the illegal occupation of public land by travellers in the area? (WAQ69261)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline what measures she is planning to introduce to tackle the recent increase in illegal occupations of public land by travellers in the Vale of Glamorgan? (WAQ69262)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths):
Although this is a local planning matter, my officials have spoken to Vale of Glamorgan officers and I am aware the occupiers have now vacated the site at Barry Island. The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 makes it clear Local Authorities need to provide adequate authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites to ensure encampments in inappropriate locations do not arise and I know the Council is currently in the process of developing a new Accommodation Assessment. The Vale of Glamorgan does not currently have any authorised sites, which can delay possession action against encampments. However, the outcome of examination of the Local Development Plan, which includes one authorised site, is awaited.
The Welsh Government's Managing Unauthorised Camping guidance sets out our expectations for how public authorities should resolve encampments and the Vale of Glamorgan appears to have complied with the guidance in this instance.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline how much funding has been allocated to further education streams, providing a breakdown per year since 2011? (WAQ69265)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (Julie James):
The amounts below represent the amounts allocated to further education streams as part of the second supplementary budget process from April 2011 to March 2015 and also the first supplementary budget for 2015-16.
| | As at 2nd Supplementary Budget | | | | As at 1st Supplementary Budget | |
| BEL | BEL Number | 2011-12 £000s | 2012-13 £000s | 2013-14 £000s | 2014-15 £000s | 2015-16 £000s |
| Further Education Provision was Learner Provision | 4763 | 555,722 | 447,068 | 443,729 | 415,335 | 400,177 |
| Work Based Learning | 4762 | | 108,006 | 121,858 | 91,308 | 106,808 |
| Total | 555,722 | 555,074 | 565,587 | 506,643 | 506,985 |
- The Work Based Learning budget was included within the Further Education Provision amount in 2011-12.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many complaints have been received in relation to local education authorities and school governing bodies by the Welsh Government since 2011, providing a breakdown per year? (WAQ69266)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): The Welsh Government does not collect this information centrally as complaints against schools and local authorities are local matters.
With regards complaints about local authorities (LAs), the local authority would be responsible for dealing with such complaints through the authority's established complaints process. If there remains an issue once this process has been exhausted the complainant would be open to raise the complain with the Public Services Ombudsman.
With regards complaints against schools these are matters for the school to resolve with support from the local authority if necessary. Section 29 of the Education Act 2002 requires governing bodies of all maintained schools in Wales to establish procedures for dealing with complaints and to publicise such procedures. In establishing or publicising their procedures they must have regard to any guidance given to them by the Welsh Ministers. The Welsh Government issued guidance in Welsh Government Circular 011/2012 – 'Complaints procedures for school governing bodies in Wales'.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the Minister's letter of 9 October 2015 to all Members in relation to home to school transport, will the Minister provide a list of the local authorities which are yet to consult on risk assessments with children and young people and a list of those who have failed to develop risk assessments? (WAQ69258)
Answer received on 15 October 2015
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): The seven local authorities that did not complete home to school transport risk assessments were Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Flintshire, Bridgend, Wrexham and Ceredigion. Conwy County Borough Council is yet to submit its return. Anglesey, Blaenau Gwent, Gwynedd, Pembrokeshire, Powys and Swansea local authorities have informed us that they did not consult with learners.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What percentage of journeys in Wales were made by bicycle last year? (WAQ69260)
Answer received on 15 October 2015
Edwina Hart: We don't hold information specifically on the percentage of journeys made by bicycle.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline the number of children currently on a fostering and/or adoption waiting list in Wales? (WAQ69263)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
The National Adoption Service reports that, as at 15 October 2015, there are 123 children on the Wales Adoption Register. A third (41 children) have a firm match, which is progressing; 52% (64 children) have potential matches, which are being actively explored.
Six per cent of children on the register (eight children) cannot be matched within the pool of adopters currently available. A further 10 children on the register are subject to a review of the plan or a legal challenge and, therefore, matching activity cannot proceed at present.
There are no waiting lists for foster placements. Once a child becomes looked after, the local authority must make arrangements to accommodate and maintain that child in accordance with the Children Act 1989.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline the number of registered foster parents in Wales providing a statistical breakdown per year since 2011? (WAQ69264)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Mark Drakeford:
Information on the number of foster carers registered with local authorities is available on the Stats Wales website: https://statswales.wales.gov.uk.
The number of approved foster carers on the local authority register at 31 March each year from 2011 was:
2011 2,449
2012 2,524
2013 2,553
2014 2,596
The number of approved foster carers registered with independent fostering agencies in Wales is not collected centrally or by local authorities.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister provide clarification on the detail of the guidance he referred to in his written statement on 30 June, 'Social Services and Well-being Act – Children and Young People'? (WAQ69267)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Mark Drakeford:
The guidance comprises the suite of codes of practice and statutory guidance, together with regulations, which forms the statutory framework for implementation of the Social Service and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
Codes of practice will be issued in relation to parts 2 (General Functions);3 (Assessing the Needs of Individuals); 4 (Meeting Needs); 5 (Charging and Financial Assessments); 6 (Looked After and Accommodated Children); 10 (Advocacy) and 11 (Miscellaneous and General) of the Act.
Statutory guidance will be issued in relation to parts 7 (Safeguarding) and 9 (Co-operation and Partnership) of the Act.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister confirm which organisations/individuals were involved in producing the children and young people guidance issued under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014? (WAQ69268)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Mark Drakeford:
The codes of practice and statutory guidance have been produced through a collaborative approach involving key stakeholders and partners, technical and advisory groups. The composition of the groups was varied and included representatives from a number of organisations, including many directly involved in championing the rights of and protecting children and young people, including Action for Children, Barnardo's Cymru, Children in Wales, Fostering Network and the Citizen Panel.
There was representation from bodies such as Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales, Social Service Improvement Agency and Care Forum Wales, as well as Heads of Children's Services and Heads of Safeguarding and Family Services in local authorities.
We have consulted publicly on drafts of these documents and responses from a wide variety of organisations and individuals have been taken into account in order to further refine the regulations, codes and guidance.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Does the children and young people guidance issued under Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 have 'due regard' to articles 9 and 18 of the UNCRC, as required by the Rights of Children and Young People (Wales) Measure 2011? (WAQ69269)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Mark Drakeford:
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and its supporting legislative framework has been developed with due regard to the UNCRC. It has a strong focus on supporting families and on ensuring there is scope to recognise fully the varied roles which parents may fulfil in parenting their children.
With regard to both articles 9 and 18, the statutory framework recognises the types of care and support which may be needed by children will vary from case to case, with the prime focus being the best interests of the child. The child's best interests will be considered in all circumstances and they will only be removed from the family setting where other options cannot be implemented with success. This position is secured by the 'due regard' duties in the Act and through the UNCRC specifically.
The codes of practice and statutory guidance that support implementation of the Act expand on this and further strengthens the support for the UNCRC. It provides a stronger and clearer framework, which is sensitive to the differing considerations relevant to children and adults.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the children and young people guidance issued under Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 be statutory and when will it be published? (WAQ69270)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Mark Drakeford:
The codes of practice issued under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 are subordinate legislation and are issued under powers conferred on Welsh Ministers through the Act. The codes and statutory guidance together with regulations form the statutory framework for implementation of the Act. Local authorities must act in accordance with any relevant requirements in both codes of practice and statutory guidance when exercising social service functions.
It is my intention that the codes of practice will be laid in early November with a view to issue this year.