Written Assembly Questions tabled on 13 January 2014 for answer on 20 January 2014
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)
To ask the First Minister
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the Windsor Fellowship placements provided by the Welsh Government? (WAQ66193)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
The First Minister of Wales (Carwyn Jones): Staffing within the Welsh Government is a matter for the Permanent Secretary. I have asked him to write to you separately with the information you have requested.
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): Will the First Minister confirm whether he raised the issue of the Anti Homosexuality Bill with the President of Uganda on his recent visit to Uganda? (WAQ66194)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
The First Minister of Wales (Carwyn Jones): I did not meet the President of Uganda on my recent visit. I did, however, raise the matter in a meeting with senior politicians whilst in the Mbale region.
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the Cabinet Office Summer Diversity Internships provided by the Welsh Government? (WAQ66198)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Carwyn Jones: Staffing within the Welsh Government is a matter for the Permanent Secretary. I have asked him to write to you separately with the information you have requested.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm who meets salary costs for any Welsh Government civil servants seconded to the Welsh NHS? (WAQ66220)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Carwyn Jones: Staffing within the Welsh Government is a matter for the Permanent Secretary. I have asked him to write to you separately with the information you have requested.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail (a) the number of Welsh Government civil servants currently seconded to the Welsh NHS, giving a number for each health board, (b) the longest individual period of secondment and (c) the total number of civil servants seconded to the Welsh NHS in the last three years? (WAQ66221)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Carwyn Jones: Staffing within the Welsh Government is a matter for the Permanent Secretary. I have asked him to write to you separately with the information you have requested.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister disclose annual spending on the valeting of Welsh Government cars, giving figures for each of the last three years? (WAQ66222)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Carwyn Jones: The Welsh Government Official Cars are valeted by the Drivers as part of their duties. Exceptionally, a charge of £35 was incurred during 2013 for professionally valeting and disinfecting an Official Car following a visit to a contaminated agricultural location.
To ask the Minister for Culture and Sport
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide an update on the publication of the Green Paper on access and outdoor recreation legislation which was due in December 2013? (WAQ66199)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
The Minister for Culture and Sport (John Griffiths): The green paper will be issued in due course. Given the level of interest in this work I decided to allow more time for officials to consider the views of the wide range of interests who have contributed to the discussions since the review was announced last summer.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Further to the answer to WAQ66002, will the Minister provide an update on when we can expect to see the launch of the Green Paper consultation on access legislation in Wales? (WAQ66203)
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Further to the answer to WAQ66002, have there been any delays in the process of producing the Green Paper consultation on access legislation in Wales? (WAQ66204)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014 (WAQ66203-204)
John Griffiths: The green paper will be issued in due course. Given the level of interest in this work I decided to allow more time for officials to consider the views of the wide range of interests who have contributed to the discussions since the review was announced last summer.
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What steps is the Minister taking to ensure those in financial difficulty have access to credit unions and other sources of affordable credit, as an alternative to high-credit financial products, payday loans and doorstep loans? (WAQ66189)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Jeff Cuthbert): Since October 2010, as part of the ‘Access to financial products through Credit Unions’ project, the Welsh Government has funded Credit Unions to help more than 23,000 financially excluded people access affordable finance. Additionally, I have approved over £1.2 million to help boost the growth of Welsh Credit Unions this financial year. This funding will assist Credit Unions to attract new members and will support new projects and products which Credit Unions have themselves identified to help those most in need, whilst also boosting sustainability.
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): Will the Minister confirm how many organisations based in the Vale of Clwyd entered a bid for funding from the Equality and Inclusion Grant 2014-17 and if any were successful? (WAQ66195)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
Jeff Cuthbert: There were 5 organisations based in the Vale of Clwyd that applied for funding through the Equality and Inclusion Grant 2014-17. Of these, one organisation, North Wales Women's Centre based in Rhyl, was successful in gaining funding of over half a million pounds across the 3 year funding period.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on outcomes within his portfolio with reference to Programme for Government targets, referring specifically to 2013? (WAQ66224)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
Jeff Cuthbert: Progress against delivery of key outcomes in 2013 will be set out in the 2014 Programme for Government Annual Report.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What are the Minister’s policy priorities for South Wales Central communities for 2014 and how have these changed compared to the previous year? (WAQ66225)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
Jeff Cuthbert: The 'Programme for Government' sets out our ambitions for the wellbeing of people and communities in Wales and forms the basis of my priorities in 2014.
The refreshed Tackling Poverty Action Plan was published in July 2013, which builds on the original Plan. It includes specific targets and milestones that we have committed to in areas such as educational attainment, health inequalities and workless households. This included a specific commitment from Cwm Taf Local Health Board (South Wales Central) to develop programmes to improve the health of people in deprived communities and to reduce the difference in life expectancy between the poorest communities and other groups.
The Communities First programme will continue for the life of this Government with the aim of contributing to alleviating persistent poverty. There are 13 Communities First clusters in the South Wales Central area covering the Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taff and the Vale of Glamorgan local authority areas. These clusters successfully secured funding totalling £17,885,420 until March 2015. The clusters are continuing to move in a positive direction making a real difference to the most disadvantaged people in our most deprived communities
In 2014 it is my intention to achieve greater alignment and explore the links between work streams across the Communties and Tackling Poverty portfolio, in particular Families First, Flying Start and Communties First. I am also developing further Programme Improvement initiatives that provide additional resources, including funding and staff, to deliver key priorities in Communities First areas in partnership with other Government Departments, Government Sponsored Bodies and partner agencies.
This collaboration will be across Wales and not specific to any area.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What guidelines exist for Local Authorities to spend the £40,000 underspent in relation to the Play Sufficiency Measure? (WAQ66227)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
Jeff Cuthbert: A total of £484,000 was allocated to Local Authorities during the financial year 2012 – 13 to support them in conducting Play Sufficiency Assessments, as required under section 11(1) of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure.
The Local Authority Play Sufficiency Assessments were completed and submitted to the Welsh Government in March 2013, together with their grant claims. There was a small underspend of £9,590 on the total allocation, due to some Local Authorities not requiring their full grant award. The underspend was therefore utilised for other purposes within the overall budgets for 2012 – 2013.
To ask the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to support and encourage tourism in Mid Wales? (WAQ66190)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): Visit Wales works closely with partner organisations in Mid Wales, including Ceredigion and Powys County Councils, the Brecon Beacons National Park and supports the Brecon Beacons Destination Management Area to promote the many attractions the area has to offer.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many times and on what dates has the Welsh Government Trade and Inward Investment Team met with each Enterprise Zone board since the boards were established? (WAQ66200)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
Edwina Hart: The Trade and Inward Investment Team are in regular contact with the Enterprise Zone Boards, which includes arranged meetings, ad hoc meetings and various engagements and events.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many new foreign direct investment projects have come to Wales in 2012/13 and the year to date, and of that number how many had direct involvement with the Minister's department? (WAQ66223)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Edwina Hart: Of the 14 new investment projects, from companies not already operating in Wales, for 2012-13 and year to date, my department was directly involved in 8 of these investments.
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Given that the Welsh Government’s Enterprise Zone KPIs describes jobs supported as an aggregate of 'jobs created, jobs safeguarded and jobs assisted,' will the Minister define what ‘jobs supported’ means and outline the criteria under which the Welsh Government will count a job in this category? (WAQ66228)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Edwina Hart: Jobs supported is an aggregate of jobs created, jobs safeguarded and jobs assisted. This measure will count all those jobs created, safeguarded or assisted through our interventions. Jobs created are new posts linked to our interventions which are expected to last at least 12 months. Jobs safeguarded are the number of permanent full-time equivalent jobs which would have been lost and have been safeguarded through our intervention. Jobs assisted is the gross number of jobs created by businesses in receipt of less intensive forms of assistance from Welsh Government.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of how the CPD for the new GCSEs available from Autumn 2014 will be structured for teachers? (WAQ66201)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): CPD for the new GCSEs which are to be taught in Wales from September 2015 will begin in autumn 2014. Ensuring appropriate training for providers to deliver these new qualifications is a priority and we are working closely with stakeholders to ensure that such training is made available. The detailed structure of the training events will be agreed once the GCSEs have been fully developed.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline if both of the new Maths GCSEs will allow progression onto Maths A Level courses? (WAQ66202)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Huw Lewis: The new maths GCSEs are currently being developed, but our expectation is that learners wishing to progress to A level mathematics should follow both.
Our survey of stakeholders’ views on our proposals, conducted during November and December 2013, set out that we expect that nearly all learners should take the GCSE covering numeracy and that most learners should also take the other GCSE, which will extend to other aspects of mathematics including those needed for progression to scientific, technical or further mathematical study.
Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): What is the Minister’s policy on setting floor standards for schools? (WAQ66206)
Answer received for publication on 22 January 2014
Huw Lewis: We do not set floor targets, or minimum standards, for schools in Wales. Secondary school banding is used as an accountability tool to identify those schools in most need of support by looking at their performance set against the context in which they operate. A floor target can be simplistic and misleading since the performance of a school in a leafy suburb would be compared against the performance of a school in highly deprived circumstances without taking the schools’ context into consideration.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide an update on the Powys County Council capital bid to re-provide education and leisure facilities in Brecon? (WAQ66217)
Answer received for publication on 22 January 2014
Huw Lewis: The Welsh Government has approved, in principle, the first wave of investment in Powys’ 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. At this stage, the total cost of their programme is £78,180,000m. As you know, the Welsh Government capital grant intervention rate, in this first wave, is set at 50%.
As part of their Band A programme of projects, and in partnership with Grwp Neath Port Talbot, Powys County Council submitted a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for consideration in respect of the Brecon Campus development.
The business case was considered by the DfES Capital Investment Panel in November 2013. At this time, the Capital Investment Panel advised me that the case had significant shortcomings and that a resubmission should be made. My officials subsequently wrote to Powys County Council to advise them of the reasons for this decision. I can confirm there is ongoing dialogue between my officials and officers from the Local Authority regarding the timescales for the re-submission and evaluation of the SOC. I will confirm these to you once they have been confirmed.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm when the NHS in Wales will participate in the new Commissioning through Evaluation programme, together with the NHS in England, to allow Welsh patients to access Selective Internal Radiation Therapy? (WAQ66181)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Arrangements for participation are being established. I will write to the member once the process has been finalised.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Does the Welsh Government collate figures for how many Welsh cancer patients receive drug treatment in England and, if so, can the figures be provided for the past three years? (WAQ66182)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government does not collate this information.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister review and update the Commissioning Directives for Arthritis and Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions and for Chronic Non-Malignant Pain into effective delivery plans to provide the strategic driver necessary to improve the lives of people living with arthritis and chronic pain in Wales? (WAQ66183)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: Officials have met with stakeholders in the pain community to discuss services for arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions and chronic non-malignant pain. We are planning a workshop with all stakeholders to consider support for, and development of these services. In the meantime, the current Directives remain in place.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What is the total amount spent by the Welsh Government on the stockpiling of the pandemic influenza drug 'Tamiflu'? (WAQ66188)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: The total cost to Welsh Government, from 2008 up to end of March 2013, of maintaining a stockpile of Tamiflu as part of our preparedness for a pandemic with a 50% clinical attack rate has been £21m.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of Spinal Cord Stimulator implants and Intra-Thecal Morphine Pumps for Patients in Wales? (WAQ66191)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: I expect patients with chronic pain to receive services in line with the best clinical practice in the UK. With the retirement of the current specialist who undertakes these procedures at the University Hospital of Wales, the Cardiff and Vale Local Health Board is putting in place arrangements to ensure the full range of surgical techniques will continue to be offered.
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): Will the Minister provide details of how many book prescriptions have been issued to Welsh patients suffering with mental health issues in each year since 2007? (WAQ66192)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government does not collate this information. We are informed by Public Health Wales that over 30,000 loans were recorded by libraries in 2011.
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): Will the Minister confirm how many patients were prescribed Mirtazapine every year since 2007? (WAQ66196)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: Prescription data is collected by item count and not on an individual patient basis. The data below therefore represents the number of prescription items dispensed in the community, not the number of patients receiving a prescription for mirtazapine (Zispin®). Each individual is likely to receive a number of prescriptions over the year.
Note in particular the following definitions:
Items dispensed: A prescription item refers to a single item prescribed by a doctor (or dentist) on a prescription form. If a prescription form includes three items it is counted as three prescription items. A prescription item may be for a variable quantity e.g 14, 28 or 56 tablets.
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data is routinely published at the following link:
http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/prescriptions-dispensed-community/?lang=en
Please note the Statistical Releases and explanatory notes associated with this data (and accessible from the same link) which provide relevant definitions and guidance on the interpretation of prescription statistics.
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): How many patients have used the Community Mental Health Team services in north Wales in each year since 2007? (WAQ66197)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: This information is not collated by the Welsh Government. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will hold this information and I have asked them to provide it to you.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action has the Minister taken to improve cervical cancer prevention by (a) improving screening invitation take up and (b) raising awareness of symptoms via educational programmes? (WAQ66212)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What steps are the Minister and his department taking to support Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2014? (WAQ66213)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014 (WAQ66212/13)
Mark Drakeford: Together for Health - Cancer Delivery Plan for the NHS sets out the Welsh Government’s commitment to encourage participation in national population screening programmes.
Last year Public Health Wales launched a new Screening for Life campaign aimed at raising awareness and encouraging participation in all NHS screening programmes including cervical screening. Due its success, PHW is planning to run a similar campaign this year.
As part of the policy changes to cervical screening implemented in September 2013, guidance was issued to GPs to remind them of the importance of correct clinical management of abnormal menstrual bleeding in young women. This can be accessed at:
www.screeningservices.org.uk/csw/prof
PHWs screening engagement team has a range of activities planned to support European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. For example, volunteers will be working across Wales to raise awareness at GP surgeries and community hospitals.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the patient/cognitive behavior therapist ratio in Wales and how this compares to other parts of the UK? (WAQ66214)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action does the Minister intend to take to increase the number of cognitive behavioral therapists in Wales? (WAQ66215)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve access to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Wales for people with mental health problems? (WAQ66216)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014 (WAQ66214-6)
Mark Drakeford: We do not hold this information centrally.A number of disciplines are trained to deliver cognitive behaviour therapy, it is not only provided by one group of clinicians.
Each Health Board has formed a Psychological Therapies Management Committee to advise on the local mechanisms available to develop psychological therapies in line with Welsh Government guidance, and to take into account the Review of Access to, and Implementation of, Psychological Therapy Treatments in Wales.
Additional funding has been provided to assist Health Board staff improve skills and competencies of a range of professionals in delivering psychological therapies in 2013/14 following that review.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on proposals to change performance targets and reporting within the Welsh NHS? (WAQ66226)
Answer received for publication on 22 January 2014
Mark Drakeford: I intend to refresh the set or targets used in both scheduled and unscheduled care in Wales so that they better measure outcomes which deliver clinical benefit to patients. The new targets will reflect clinical advice and consensus and draw on an engagement exercise (as above).
The move to new targets will be evolutionary and reported through changes to the NHS Delivery Framework. That Framework is next expected to be updated in April 2014.
To ask the Minister for Local Government and Government Business
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Further to WAQ66130, what was the amount of Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme funding provided to Ceredigion County Council, and for what purpose was this funding provided? (WAQ66184)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
The Minister for Local Government and Government Business (Lesley Griffiths): The amount received by Ceredigion County Council was provided in my previous answer. The application was in respect of the costs associated with responding to the flooding incident in June 2012.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What is the number of Community Councils in Wales that have used the £500 Welsh Government grant available to them to establish a website? (WAQ66185)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): To date, how many of the 22 local authorities in Wales have utilised the £40,000 available to them, to enable the live streaming of council business? (WAQ66186)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): To date, how many of the 22 local authorities in Wales are now live streaming all Council and Committee meetings? (WAQ66187)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014 (WAQ66185-187)
Lesley Griffiths: I will be reviewing how the funding for Community Council websites has been used before the end of this financial year. I will then be able to provide the numbers making use of the grant.
21 of the 22 Principal Local Authorities have utilised the £40,000 allocated to them for broadcasting. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has confirmed it does not wish to accept the funding.
To date 10 Principal Councils, as well as Brecon Beacons National Park Authority are live streaming their meetings.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the effect of the recent stormy weather on communities in west Wales? (WAQ66205)
Answer received for publication on 23 January 2014
The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): On 9 January 2014 I issued a written statement on the storms that impacted upon the Welsh coastline at the start of the month. In this statement I stated that I had instructed Natural Resources Wales to lead on a review into the impacts of these storms and the associated coastal flooding across the whole of the country.
This review is now underway with the first phase due to be completed by the end of January 2014 identifying the impacts felt by communities across Wales. The second phase of the report will provide a more detailed look at the event and put forward the wider lessons learnt and recommendations going forward.
I issued a second statement on 21 January 2014 identifying £2 million funding to support local authorities in emergency works to flood defence infrastructure and providing an update on some of the impacts identified to communities around the country.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister state how many Welsh products are currently in the application process for Protected Food Names? (WAQ66207)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
Alun Davies: At present my officials are currently dealing with14 Welsh Protected Food Name applications.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister provide an update on the designation of Protected Food Names for Welsh products? (WAQ66208)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
Alun Davies: I am pleased to announce that on the 15th January 2014 Halen Mon/Anglesey Sea Salt became the first Welsh business to achieve PDO status, this following the announcement of Pembrokeshire Earlies/Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes back in December, which also attained PGI status.
I am also pleased to mention that at present the PFN is embedded within the Delivering growth: AN ACTION PLAN FOR FOOD AND DRINK IN WALES as a key strand of our food growth plans. The consultation on the plan is ongoing until 3 March.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister (a) state how many Welsh products have been unsuccessful in the application process for Protected Food Names, and (b) list these products? (WAQ66209)
Answer received for publication on 23 January 2014
Alun Davies: No Welsh products have been unsuccessful in achieving Protected Food Names.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How many full-time equivalent staff in Natural Resources Wales (and its predecessor organisations) were engaged in flood risk management posts in each of the past 5 years? (WAQ66210)
Answer received for publication on 20 January 2014
Alun Davies: The information requested is shown below:
2009/10 - 325.5
2010/11 - 324.8
2011/12 - 317.4
2012/13 - 290.9
2013/14 - 300.5
N.B These are direct staff, the figures do not include multifunctional and support staff.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What was the total spending on flood risk management by the Welsh Government in each of the past 5 years? (WAQ66211)
Answer received for publication on 02 January 2014
Alun Davies: Over the term of this Government £240 million is being invested in flood and coastal defences. In addition to this we will receive over £60 million from the European Regional Development Fund and Central Capital Allocation over the same period, reducing the risks for over 7,000 homes and businesses across Wales. Despite cuts in funding from the UK Government Welsh Government is maintaining its flood and coastal erosion budgets.
Below is the breakdown of spend over the past five years:
2013/14 - £37.1m, plus £20.1m from Central Capital Allocation and ERDF
2012/13 - £35.7m plus £27m from Central Capital Allocation and ERDF
2011/12 - £36.7m plus £15.2m from Central Capital Allocation and ERDF
2010/11 - £38.6m plus £22.9m from SCIF and ERDF
2009/10 - £38.1m plus £6.3m from SCIF and ERDF
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Given that of the 47 responses to the "Consultation on Dog Breeding" only 18 agreed with the 1:20 proposals referred to in question 1, which related to the staff to adult dog ratio, will the Minister explain why he has stated his intention to maintain this 1:20 ratio? (WAQ66218)
Answer received for publication on 23 January 2014
Alun Davies: This third consultation was conducted to obtain clarity on the application of an adult to dog ratio to ensure the welfare of animals, either breeding or being bred on licensed premises, is not compromised.
I took all the consultation responses into consideration, including the individual post cards generated by the RSPCA campaign, and my decision to retain the 1:20 adult to dog ratio is pragmatic, reasonable, proportionate and enforceable in the circumstances.