Answers issued to Members on 21 April 2008

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

Contents

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

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

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

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Since it was launched, a) how many times have you used the Cardiff-Anglesey air service; and b) how many of the staff within your department have used it? (WAQ51605)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): I have undertaken 6 flights on the Cardiff to Anglesey air-service—2 return and 2 single flights. My Deputy Minister has undertaken 3 flights on this service—1 return flight and 1 single flight. In addition 10 staff from the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills have used the service.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement about where the administrative facilities for the newly merged NHS Trusts will be located? (WAQ51619)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): I am discussing with the Chairs where the newly merged Trusts’ headquarters will be based. In the case of Hywel Dda NHS Trust, the temporary headquarters are sited at the old St David’s Hospital site in Carmarthen. Work is continuing on selecting a permanent site for the new Trust.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on delays in appointing executive and non-executive directors to the newly merged NHS Trusts? (WAQ51620)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the process of appointing executive and non-executive directors to the newly merged NHS Trusts? (WAQ51623)

Edwina Hart: Interviews for all non executives and the CE appointments for all the merged trusts were held before their date of establishment.

All appointments have been made by a panel consisting of the person to whom they will be accountable, the accounting officer for the NHS in Wales and an independent assessor.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the criteria used for appointing executive and non-executive directors to the newly merged NHS Trusts? (WAQ51621)

Edwina Hart: The person specification and required competencies for the non executives—both community and specialist—are included in the application packs.

The required competencies for the executives and CEs are published in the gold standard document developed by NLIAH.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the make-up of interviewing panels for the appointment of executive and non-executive directors to the newly merged NHS Trusts? (WAQ51622)

Edwina Hart: All appointments have been made by a panel consisting of the person to whom they will be accountable, the accounting officer for the NHS in Wales and an independent assessor.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Michael German (South East Wales): What progress has been made towards the creation of a Refugee Inclusion Strategy and when is the Strategy likely to be published? (WAQ51618)

The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government (Brian Gibbons): The Refugee Inclusion Strategy has been finalised and has been agreed by Cabinet. It will be published during Refugee Week Wales in June 2008 and will be accompanied by an Implementation Action Plan.