Written Assembly Questions tabled on 14 November 2016 for answer on 21 November 2016
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 First Minister
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What total portion of trade in Welsh goods and services is undertaken on a tariff-free basis as a result of the free-trade agreements negotiated through the EU? (WAQ71494)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): While we hold information on countries with which we have free trade agreements, this does not include information on services. It also does not specify which goods are tariff-free as the tariffs are scalable. All export data is published on the StatsWales website (https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Business-Economy-and-Labour-Market/Businesses/Exports ), whilst active trade agreements can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/agreements/#_europe should you wish to review these.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): How does the Minister intend to monitor the implementation of the refreshed Autism Strategy and ensure consistent delivery throughout Wales? (WAQ71486)
Answer received on 21 November 2016
The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): The Autistic Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan will be published later this month. It sets out the Welsh Government's ambitions for improving the services, care and support for children and adults with autism, their families and carers.
The Strategic Action Plan will be accompanied by a delivery plan, which sets out the specific actions that will be taken, including measurable outcomes. An Implementation Advisory Group will be established to monitor delivery and progress. Membership will include people with autism, including children, as well as their parents and carers. The group will also include representatives from statutory and third sector organisations.
An annual report will be published to provide an update on the progress being made. There will also be independent evaluation of the Strategic Action Plan and the National Integrated Autism Service.
There will be a range of regular monitoring information from a number of sources, including data on children's neurodevelopmental assessment and diagnostic services. As part of the new social services data collection, from April 2017 we will collect information on the number of people with autism who have a care and support plan.
In April we began the roll-out of the new National Integrated Autism Service (NIAS). £6 million has been provided from the Intermediate Care Fund (ICF) for the NIAS over a three year period. The statutory Regional Partnership Boards established under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act, will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery and monitoring of the NIAS. There is an established quarterly reporting mechanism in place for all work funded through ICF.
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What consideration has the Minister given to fast tracking the appraisal of Avastin for advanced cervical cancer given that it has been approved in Scotland and is available via the Cancer drugs fund in England? (WAQ71491)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
Vaughan Gething: The All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group cannot conduct any appraisal unless the manufacturer chooses to engage in the process. AWMSG first approached the manufacturer Roche to appraise bevacizumab (Avastin) in 2015. Roche did not provide the clinical data required until 7 November this year.
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What discussions has the Welsh Government or the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group had with the Scottish Medicines Consortium and NICE to ensure that forward work programmes are complementary and ensure the speediest access to new treatments for patients? (WAQ71492)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
Vaughan Gething: AWMSG takes into account NICE’s future work programme when considering whether it will appraise a medicine. Generally, it would only appraise a medicine if a NICE decision is not expected for six months or longer.
Regular discussions take place between AWMSG and the Scottish Medicines Consortium to ensure the appraisal processes of the two bodies are aligned.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the economic benefit to Wales of reopening scallop fishery? (WAQ71493)W
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): It should be noted a scallop fishery is already established in Cardigan Bay under current legislation which came into force in 2010. The legislation introduced revised technical measures and spatial restrictions for the management of this fishery. This legislation allows a specific area of Cardigan Bay to be opened each year for a set period of time, from 1 November to 30 April. The fishery is worth approximately £5 million per annum and our aim is to maintain the economic value in Wales.
The intention of the Welsh Government is to introduce new powers to enable the Welsh Government to manage the fishery using permits with flexible conditions attached This flexibility will allow us to deliver on our obligations to deliver maximum multiple benefit for the environment, economy and communities through sustainable natural resource management.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the joint Ministerial statement in support of Safeguarding Week 2016, what work is the Welsh Government undertaking to prevent young people being harmed by pornography? (WAQ71483)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): Since January 2014, the Welsh Government has worked with the South West Grid for Learning to deliver an extensive e-Safety education and awareness raising programme across Wales. As part of this, to help children and young people stay safe online, an e-Safety zone has been created on ‘Hwb’, a digital learning resource for schools which also contains tips for learners and parents.
The Welsh Government also provides funding to the NSPCC to support ChildLine in Wales to help those dealing with family problems, bullying, self-harm and depression, including problems associated with exposure to pornography.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline whether he is considering implementing a formal cap on council tax rises, in light of his proposals for council tax reform? (WAQ71487)
Answer received on 21 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): The setting of council tax is a matter for each individual authority. In setting council tax levels, I expect authorities to ensure they are able to sustain local services and balance this with considering the pressures on the finances of hard‑pressed households.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What assessment has the Minister made of the WLGA's recent comments that, collectively, the 22 local authorities in Wales are facing a shortfall of £192m in 2017-18 and further £543m by 2019-2020? (WAQ71488)
Answer received on 21 November 2016
Mark Drakeford: Whilst all parts of the public sector in Wales have faced significantly increased financial pressures as a result of the UK Government’s austerity measures, the Welsh Government has protected local government in Wales from the worst of the cuts. Local authority spending in Wales has reduced by only 4% in real terms over the period 2010-11 to 2015-16. This compares with England where the revenue spending power of local authorities (including government grant and council tax) fell by 25% in real terms over the same period according to the National Audit Office.
In addition, over this period, councils in Wales have continued to increase their financial reserves.
I have made it clear in announcing the provisional local government settlement for 2017-18 that the better than anticipated settlement provides authorities with a further 18 months to prepare for the harder choices that lie ahead.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister confirm that the projected savings for local authorities through his proposals for local government reform will be adjusted in light of the WLGA's recent comments about rising deficits for local authorities? (WAQ71489)
Answer received on 21 November 2016
Mark Drakeford: At this stage it is too early to estimate the levels of savings but we will work with local government and other stakeholders to consider the financial impacts of the emerging proposals for local government reform as part of the design process.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What assessment has the Minister made of the WLLGA's comments that councils in Wales will have to cover an extra £750m in costs by 2019-2020? (WAQ71490)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
Mark Drakeford: There is no doubt that all parts of the public service in Wales will continue to face significant financial pressures as a result of the UK Government’s austerity measures. I have made it clear in announcing the provisional local government settlement for 2017-18 that the better than anticipated settlement provides authorities with a further 18 months to prepare for the harder choices that lie ahead.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the joint Ministerial statement in support of Safeguarding Week 2016, how many people have completed safeguarding e-learning modules on the Welsh Government's Education platform 'Hwb' and what proportion of the education workforce do they represent? (WAQ71484)
Answer received on 18 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): There are three ‘Keeping learners safe’ modules hosted on the Hwb platform, which have been available since August to enable practitioners to test technical functionality, accuracy and accessibility. The modules were launched to coincide with Safeguarding Week 2016 which has been accompanied by significant awareness raising activities.
As the modules are publically available without the need to log in with a Hwb user name and password, it is not possible to identify the proportion of the education workforce who have accessed them. In terms of total views, there have been 4,638 views across the three modules since August. The modules are aimed at all education practitioners and should be used across a variety of services.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the joint Ministerial statement in support of Safeguarding Week 2016, to how many young people has 'Hidden' been delivered since its launch? (WAQ71485)
Answer received on 18 November 2016
Kirsty Williams: The ‘Hidden’ resource hosted on the Hwb platform is publically available without the need for a Hwb user name and password. As such, it is not possible to identify specifically how many practitioners have accessed the resource and used it to deliver support to children and young people. However, in terms of total views, there has been 2,305 views since it was launched in December 2015.
Training on the use of the resource was provided to over 150 practitioners between January and March this year. Further training is being delivered in early 2017 which will enable more practitioners to be able to confidently deliver the lesson mitigating the risks of child sexual exploitation to our children and young people.