Written Assembly Questions tabled on 16 February 2015 for answer on 23 February 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 Natural Resources
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Will the Minister provide a solid timetable for the review into the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010? (WAQ68382)
Answer received on 23 February 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant): Officials are in discussion with the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group for their view on whether the legislation is meeting the policy intent and whether it is still appropriate from a veterinary and scientific aspect, taking into account recent research data. The Group’s feedback will shape the next steps to be taken and subsequent timeline.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on support for community energy generation schemes to connect to the National Grid? (WAQ68383)
Answer received on 24 February 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant):
Energy networks that are capable of supporting the transmission of low carbon energy are critical both to the future prosperity of Wales, and to deliver our climate change targets. Strategic investment in these networks is made under the direction of the UK Government, and the energy regulator, Ofgem. However, we need to make sure that we get the best value out of our existing networks, in order to minimise the impact and cost to electricity users.
My officials have had several discussions with Ofgem and the two Distribution Network Operators that cover Wales, to tackle the particular operational issues that are currently affecting some small scale projects. These discussions have focused on addressing grid constraints by releasing capacity tied up in connection offers, and on finding other ways to maximise the use of the existing network. I believe that the UK Government and Ofgem could do more to reinforce the message that DNOs should be more proactive in managing their connections offers to release spare capacity.
My recent discussions with the Wales Office covered the need to make sure that community owned renewable energy groups can continue to connect to the electricity grid in Wales, and I shall continue to work with the Wales Office in order to achieve this.
Our Ynni’r Fro programme offers support and funding to communities to identify and develop renewable energy schemes in their area. Support includes loans and grants towards the cost of connecting to the electricity grid, and we are exploring ways of ensuring that community groups are not disadvantaged, compared to commercial developers, in securing grid capacity where this is limited
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): Have any concerns been raised with the Minister regarding traffic management issues relating to the A465 dualling scheme? (WAQ68380)
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What traffic management systems have been put in place with regard to the A465 dualling scheme? (WAQ68381)
Answer received on 24 February 2015 (WAQ68380-81)
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): I have received one letter about traffic management issues on Section 2 of the dualling project (Gilwern to Brynmawr). The traffic management arrangements are currently one lane closure using road traffic cones, and a temporary speed limit of 40mph.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had regarding the availability of the Meningitis B vaccine, Bexsero? (WAQ68384)
Answer received on 24 February 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent panel of experts that advises the UK countries on vaccination programmes, has recommended the introduction of a new Meningitis B vaccination into the national childhood immunisation schedule, subject to the vaccine being made available by the manufacturer at a cost effective price.
Negotiations with the manufacturer are being undertaken by the Department of Health, England on behalf of the UK as a whole and these discussions are ongoing. A decision on whether to make the Meningitis B vaccine available from the NHS in Wales will be made as soon as practicable, once these negotiations are complete.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is being taken by the Welsh Government to ensure that Health Boards plan and deliver co-ordinated services for metastatic or secondary cancer patients and report on these issues in the public domain? (WAQ68385)
Answer received on 24 February 2015
Mark Drakeford: The Cancer Delivery Plan, published in 2012, requires health boards to ‘Plan and deliver co-ordinated services for metastatic cancer patients and measure outcomes’. In response, each health board has published their local cancer delivery plan on their website. Progress against this, and other actions set out in the All Wales Cancer Delivery Plan, is monitored through regular meetings of the Cancer Executive Core Group, at meetings of the full Cancer Implantation Group, and published in health boards’ annual cancer reports. These reports are published on health board websites.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to address the lack of clinical nurse specialists with specific expertise and experience of secondary cancer in Wales? (WAQ68386)
Answer received on 26 February 2015
Mark Drakeford: Health boards have a responsibility for ensuring they have in place the appropriate workforce to meet the needs of the population they serve.
Our policy is for every cancer patient, including metastatic patients to have access to a key worker. In September 2014, the Chief Executive of NHS Wales wrote to Chief Executives of all local health boards and the Velindre NHS Trust, circulating a Principles and Guidance document regarding Cancer Key Workers. A copy of this document is available via the following link:
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dhss/publications/141120whc001en.pdf
The document was produced following consultation with health boards, Velindre NHS Trust, members of the Cancer Implementation Group (CIG), cancer patients and carers, and provides clarification of the definition, specific role, functions, competencies and skills required of a cancer key worker in order to address inconsistencies identified in the 2013 Wales Cancer Patient Experience Survey.
I expect health boards to ensure key workers and Clinical Nurse Specialists have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide effective support and advice to patients.
Monitoring of the key worker role will be undertaken through a number of routes, and we will be asking the cancer networks to audit implementation and to include discussion of key workers as part of the Peer Review process. We will also be seeking the views of patients via the next Patient Experience Survey.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to address data collection of people with metastatic or secondary cancer in order to support the delivery of the Welsh Cancer Plan and improve patient outcomes? (WAQ68387)
Answer received on 26 February 2015
Y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (Mark Drakeford): The NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS) will include the recording of data of patients with metastatic or secondary cancer as part of the single minimum dataset, going forward