Answers issued to Members on 20 January 2009

[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 Environment, Sustainability and Housing

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 Rural Affairs

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Questions to the First Minister

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53118)

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): The information is shown below:

Public Transport used by Ministers to Official Engagements from May 2007 - Dec 2008

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

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What plans does the Minister have to publish the responses to the recent consultation on the Cardiff Airport Access Road? (WAQ53075)

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): When does the Minister plan to make a statement on his reaction to the Cardiff Airport Access Road consultation conducted recently and would he offer a broad timescale to implementation? (WAQ53102)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): I intend to make an announcement on improving access to Cardiff International Airport in the Spring at which point a Statement of Reasons report will be published.

Jeff Cuthbert (Caerphilly): Will the Minister provide a statement on bus services throughout Caerphilly and the lower Rhymney Valley? (WAQ53078)

The Deputy First Minister: Bus services in Caerphilly and the lower Rhymney Valley are the responsibility of Caerphilly Borough Council and local bus operators. I am supporting the Council by providing almost £1.7m in the current financial year through the Local Transport Services Grant and via the revenue settlement to support the provision of bus services. In addition, I am bringing forward plans in the Local Transport Act 2008 that encourage stronger and closer partnership working between local authorities and bus companies to provide services that meet local needs.

Michael German (South Wales East): To the nearest month, when does the Minister expect (a) to receive the business case for the proposed M4 relief motorway; and (b) its Environmental Impact Assessment to be completed? (WAQ53091)

The Deputy First Minister: I expect receipt of the Business Case in the near future. The timing of the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment is dependent upon decisions following my consideration of the Business Case.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): How is the Welsh Assembly Government assisting workers affected by the closure of Woolworths stores? (WAQ53110) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): All workers affected by the closure of Woolworths stores in Wales will have access to the Welsh Assembly Government’s ReAct support package, worth in excess of £6,000 per individual, to help them gain new skills and return to work as quickly as possible.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What discussions has the Minister held with Chepstow Chamber of Commerce regarding the closure of Woolworths? (WAQ53111)

The Deputy First Minister: Whilst I have not held discussions with Chepstow Chamber of Commerce on this matter, my officials along with Team Wales partners in Jobcentre Plus and Careers Wales are ready to help those affected to find new employment and training opportunities.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53121) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.

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

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53122) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53120)

Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53119)

Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): In relation to the Service Development and Commissioning Directives (Arthritis & Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions), will the Minister make a statement regarding the targets achieved for Key Actions, to date? (WAQ53112)

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): In relation to the Service Development & Commissioning Directives (Arthritis & Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions), what action is the Minister taking to progress towards those targets and ensure the Key Action points are implemented? (WAQ53113)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): The Welsh Assembly Government recently wrote to all LHBs asking that they submit a position report detailing progress against each of the key actions from the Service Development and Commissioning Directives for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions. All LHBs participated in the audit, reporting upon the work that has taken place since the Directive’s publication and recognising the remaining work that is still required to achieve each of the Directives key actions. The evidence provided by LHBs highlights some variation of progress across Wales.

This is unacceptable and my Director of Strategic Direction and Planning has written to LHBs asking for substantial improvements to be made in 2009. I expect to see real developments with local services in the coming months which will help improve the patient’s experience. LHBs are required to work together, to share experiences and developments and to learn from good practice across Wales. The National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Health (NLIAH) and the CCM Demonstrator in North Wales will be supporting this work. LHBs have been instructed that I will be repeating the audit in September 2009 in order to maintain a review of progress.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53117) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm whether Tourism Partnership Mid Wales will be relocating to the new Welsh Assembly Government buildings in Aberystwyth and what this relocation will cost? (WAQ53088)

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm what contribution the Welsh Assembly Government made to the cost of the relocation of Tourism Partnership Mid Wales from Salop Caravans Ltd on the Treowain Industrial Estate, Machynthleth to the old Celtica site in Machynthleth in 2008? (WAQ53089)

The Minister for Heritage (Alun Ffred Jones): There are no plans for Tourism Partnership Mid Wales to relocate to the new Welsh Assembly Government buildings in Aberystwyth buildings.

The Welsh Assembly Government made no specific contribution to Tourism Partnership Mid Wales relocation in Machynthleth in 2008. The relocation costs incurred were met from within the Welsh Assembly Government’s annual funding to the Partnership.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What is Wales’ percentage share of the international tourism market in each year since 1999? (WAQ53099)

Alun Fred Jones: Based on the numbers of visitors, Wales’s percentage share of international visitors to the UK in each year since 1999 is shown below:

Source: International Passenger Survey.

2008 data not yet available.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What is Wales’ percentage share of the UK tourism market in each year since 1999? (WAQ53100)

Alun Fred Jones: Based on the numbers of visitors, Wales’s percentage share of the UK tourism market in each year since 1999 is shown below.

Source: United Kingdom Tourism Survey.

Methodology used in collecting statistics was changed in 2000 and again in 2005.

2008 data not yet available.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on publicising 60 plus free swimming? (WAQ53095)

Alun Ffred Jones: The Sports Council for Wales regularly publicise the key benefits of the 60 plus Free Swimming scheme through press notices and stories, which have received coverage in the media across Wales.

Newsletters have also been issued to local authorities to encourage good practice and a marketing tool kit has been produced on how to best to promote Free Swimming locally.

Regional training days have also been held for Free Swim co-coordinators with a particular focus placed on marketing.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53116) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

Brynle Williams (North Wales): What steps will the Minister take in 2009 to obtain derogations from the European Commission requirement for the compulsory electronic identification of sheep? (WAQ53090)

The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): I am meeting with Commissioner Vassiliou on 19 January to discuss a range of Animal Health and Welfare issues including electronic identification of sheep. I will press for a review of Council Regulation 21/2004 or relaxation of the requirements in line with my twin track approach to this issue.

Commission officials are visiting the UK in February to see the practical difficulties the Regulation brings to UK. The itinerary will give the industry and my officials an opportunity to highlight the practical difficulties the Regulation imposes.

We cannot ignore the fact that Europe remains sceptical of UK systems for tracking the movement of sheep, this view stems from FMD 2001 but was reinforced by three critical European inspections which resulted in the loss of UK’s temporary double tagging derogation.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53115) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): In the Third Assembly, how many times has the Minister used public transport to travel to an official engagement and what mode/modes of transport was used? (WAQ53114)

Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister: I refer you to the answer to WAQ53118.