Written Assembly Questions tabled on 14 October 2015 for answer on 21 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 Education and Skills
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Why does Wales not automatically award qualified teacher status to teachers qualified in the United States, particularly since it is granted automatically in England? (WAQ69280)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): To be able to work in a maintained school in Wales individuals are required by law to hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and to register with the Education Workforce Council. Unlike England, we do not automatically confer QTS on teachers from overseas, or on qualified further education practitioners without assessment against the professional standards. However, we welcome and recognise fully the contribution well qualified, experienced and skilled overseas teachers can make to teaching and learning in Wales. We have in place arrangements under our employment-based teacher training programme for overseas trained teachers to complete a short period of in-school training to enable them to meet the QTS standards.
The current QTS standards in Wales include specific requirements on being able to know, understand and teach the relevant curriculum for the age range a student teacher is being trained to teach; to be aware of the statutory safeguarding requirements; and to be familiar with specific Welsh Government policy priority areas. For example, teaching methods for implementing the literacy and numeracy framework and meeting the teacher assessment requirements.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Minister confirm that the Welsh Government has commissioned research into perceptions of Wales overseas as a tourist destination since 2011? (WAQ69281)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism (Ken Skates):
No work has been specifically commissioned into the perceptions of Wales as a tourism destination since 2011. However, work was carried out primarily to inform market segmentation in the US, which did include perceptions work. Work concerning perceptions of Wales will form park of the mid-term review next year of 'Partnership for Growth', the Welsh Government strategy for tourism.
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): Will the Minister confirm that the Welsh Government has commissioned research into perceptions of Wales in terms of trade and investment overseas since 2011? (WAQ69282)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): Although the Welsh Government has not commissioned any specific research on the perception of Wales as an overseas trade or inward investment location since 2011, we do have staff in overseas offices who are able to advise on the perceptions of Wales in their markets.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What is the annual budget for the National Procurement Service? (WAQ69284)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt): The annual budget for the National Procurement Service is £2.6m.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on how the National Procurement Service is scrutinised? (WAQ69285)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Jane Hutt: The National Procurement Service is governed by an Independent Board consisting of senior representation from each of the sectors committed to the NPS. The Board is chaired by an independent chair appointed through the Public Appointments process under the Nolan Principles.
The NPS is subject to audit by both Welsh Government Internal Audit and the Wales Audit Office. In addition, I am regularly asked about the progress and performance of NPS in meetings of the Finance Committee and in Oral Assembly Questions.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What is the projected annual saving to be secured by the National Procurement Service in this financial year? (WAQ69286)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Jane Hutt: The NPS has an annual savings target of a minimum of 3% cashable savings of spend under management. To the end of August the NPS had reported £1.9m in cash savings which is 4.82% of spend under management (£40.1m).
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What was the annual saving, in pounds, secured by the National Procurement Service for the financial year 2014/15? (WAQ69287)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Jane Hutt: The annual savings reported by the NPS for the financial year 2014/15 was £7.9m.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide an update on the building of the specialist and critical care centre and when does he expect the facility to open? (WAQ69279)
Answer received on 23 October 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board submitted a full business case for the Specialist and Critical Care Centre to the Welsh Government on October 14, 2015. It gives an indicative completion date of late 2019.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide the number of full-time equivalent interstitial lung disease specialist nurses employed by each health board in Wales? (WAQ69283)
Answer received on 21 October 2015
Mark Drakeford: This information is not held centrally.