Written Assembly Questions tabled on 13 February 2017 for answer on 20 February 2017
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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What methodology was used to calculate the creation of an additional 25,000 new jobs and £4 billion of private sector investment as part of the Cardiff City Deal? (WAQ73156)
Answer received on 22 March 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Mark Drakeford): The Deal was shaped around the economic analysis of the region, produced by the partnership and their proposals for how they could improve the economic performance. The analysis drew on the experience of comparable cities and comparable deals. These goals were proposed by the partnership and agreed by the UK and Welsh Government. The partnership will now be developing a portfolio of projects to realise their ambition and the economic contribution of those projects will be an important consideration.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the data security breach affecting NHS staff using radiation dose meters? (WAQ73155)
Answer received on 17 March 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): I issued a Written Statement on 17/03/2017. I will issue a further Written Statement once a full investigation has been completed.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline what advice is provided to Welsh Health Boards surrounding how to best provide aftercare for amputees following their amputations? (WAQ73158)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline how many amputations have been carried out in Wales during the current financial year and during each of the previous two full financial years 2014/15, 2015/16? (WAQ73159)
Answer received on 17 March 2017
Vaughan Gething: We do not hold information on how many amputations have been carried out in Wales by financial year. However, in calendar years for all Welsh residents (whether treated in England or Wales) the number of amputations of the leg, foot, toe, or an operation on the stump is as follows:
2016 - 416 operations
2015 - 538 operations
2014 - 478 operations
Health boards in Wales are expected to deliver amputation aftercare in line with national standards and guidelines. In particular, I would draw attention to:
Operational Delivery of the Multi-Disciplinary Care Pathway for Diabetic Foot Problems
https://www.vascularsociety.org.uk/_userfiles/pages/files/Resources/030416%20DiabeticFoot%20FINAL%20pdf.pdf
NCEPOD Lower Limb Amputation: Working Together (2014)
http://www.ncepod.org.uk/2014lla.htm
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide the 2014/15 and 2015/16 figures for the number of people newly certified as severely sight impaired and sight impaired as a result of (a) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (b) diabetic eye disease in the area covered by Hywel Dda Health Board and state how this compares to the average for Wales? (WAQ73160)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide (a) an estimate of the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the area covered by Hywel Dda Health Board and (b) figures indicating the number of people treated for diabetic retinopathy in 2014/15 and 2015/16 in Hywel Dda Health Board? (WAQ73161)
Answer received on 22 March 2017
Vaughan Gething: The information requested is available in the following link on the Eye Care Statistics for Wales 2015-16 bulletin: http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/eye-care/?lang=en.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide figures on how many people were certified as severely sight impaired or sight impaired in 2014/15 and 2015/16 in Hywel Dda Health Board whose sight loss was preventable? (WAQ73162)
Answer received on 22 March 2017
Vaughan Gething: Figures for preventable sight loss within Hywel Dda University Health Board are not held by the Welsh Government.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on how the Welsh Government will ensure that Hywel Dda Health Board implements all the recommendations in the Health Inspectorate Wales' Ophthalmology Services Thematic Review 2015/16? (WAQ73163)
Answer received on 22 March 2017
Vaughan Gething: Hywel Dda University Health Board has developed an action plan to implement the 22 recommendations of Health Inspectorate Wales' Ophthalmology Services Thematic Review 2015/16. Progress on the action plan will be monitored through the health board's Eye Care Collaborative Group and Quality Safety and Experience Assurance Committee. Regular update reports on progress will be fed-back to the Welsh Government via the national Planned Care Board.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary publish data indicating the number of people at risk of sight loss as a result of delayed follow up appointments across the whole of Wales? (WAQ73164)
Answer received on 22 March 2017
Vaughan Gething: Information on the number of patients at risk as a result of delayed follow up appointments is not held by the Welsh Government. Work is underway to address delayed follow ups through the Planned Care Ophthalmology Board.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the effect to the Welsh Government's funding as a result of the UK Government's decision to change the personal injury discount rate? (WAQ73157)
Answer received on 22 March 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): The announcement of the personal injury discount rate change by the Lord Chancellor will clearly have significant implications across the public and private sector. The Welsh Government had engaged with HM Treasury and received reassurance that all devolved administrations will have access to the same level of support as in England to meet the costs arising from these changes. In line with established funding principles, we would expect the UK Government to meet all costs arising in Wales from the change in rates, as these result solely from a UK policy decision.
For the Welsh Government the primary impacts identified of a change in discount rate will be upon the liabilities of the Welsh Risk Pool (WRP) for clinical negligence and other personal injury claims against the NHS in Wales and the potential impact upon indemnification arrangements for GPs.
Initial broad estimates indicate a potential impact of £60m upon Welsh Government provisions in 2016/17 however, further detailed calculation is required and revised actuarial Ogden tables are anticipated reflecting the new rate towards the end of March 2017. The second supplementary budget tabled on 7 February 2017 included contingency for this cost.
The impact of the discount rate change on GPs in England will be estimated by Department of Health in consultation with GPs and Medical Defence Organisations. Once this has been estimated, the consequential impact for GPs in Wales will be established.