Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 23 March 2010

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

Contents

Questions to the Minister for Business and Budget

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

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

To ask the Minister for Business and Budget

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55912) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.  

To ask the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55911) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.  

To ask the Minister for the Economy and Transport

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What was the total spent on the Wales Union Learning Fund in each year since it’s inception and what is in the budget for this Fund in the remainder of this Assembly term. (WAQ55907) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills

Answer issued on 19 March 2010

The Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills (Lesley Griffiths): The Wales Union Learning Fund was launched in 1999, however, the earliest available expenditure records date back to 2001-2002. The information prior to 2001-2002 could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

The total spent on the Wales Union Learning Fund since 2001-2002 is as shown in the table below.

The budget for the Wales Union Learning Fund for the remainder of this Assembly term is £1.3m for 2009-2010 and £1.5m for 2010-2011.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister list the payee, date and purpose of each payment made under the Wales Union Learning Fund since its inception. (WAQ55908) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills

Answer issued on 19 March 2010

The Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills (Lesley Griffiths): This information could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.  It would take a considerable amount of time to gather all this information and would require additional resource i.e. Team Support Officer at a cost of approximately £7k.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): For what purpose was the Wales Union Learning Fund established. (WAQ55909) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills

Answer issued on 25 March 2010

Lesley Griffiths: The Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) was established to maximise the contribution of Trades Unions to the achievement of the Welsh Assembly Government’s workforce development objectives.  WULF seeks to build capacity within the Union movement to maximise learning engagement with both individuals and employers.  The Trade Union movement is increasingly recognised as being in a unique position to advance the learning message and opportunity to both individuals and employers.  

The aims of the fund are to:

 support a learning activity led by Trades Unions in partnership with employers and others which demonstrably adds value to other publicly funded learning;

 raise the skills of the workforce;

 increase the take-up of learning by non-traditional learners; and

 overcome barriers to learning arising from structural, personal, occupational or work-based factors.

The innovation and hard work by Trades Unions, training providers and the Welsh Assembly Government working together has resulted in people receiving, and benefiting from training, which would otherwise not be available to them.

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): Of the three bids received for the tender of the Ynys Mon - Cardiff Air Service in 2006/07, did the successful bidder provide the lowest cost bid and what other factors were taken into account when awarding the tender. (WAQ55910)

Answer issued on 25 March 2010

The three bids received in the original tendering for the air service were assessed against the subsidy requirement and a range of quality information.  The bid from Highland Airways represented the most economically advantageous tender.

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55914) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.  

To ask the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55917)

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.  

Peter Black (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide an update on moves towards establishing a Park Home Residents Arbitration Tribunal. (WAQ55751) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration

Answer issued on 26 May 2010

The Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration (Jocelyn Davies): My officials are currently working on Statutory Instruments that will transfer dispute resolution from the county court to the Residential Property Tribunal (RPT). It was originally envisaged that the legislation would be on an England and Wales basis. However, I have recently decided that it would be more beneficial for Wales to make separate legislation for our own RPT and would also give us the ability to vary the legislation in future to suit the needs of park home policy in Wales. Transfer of dispute resolution from the county courts to the Residential Property Tribunal will make the process less onerous and it is expected that more people will take this course of action rather than go through the court process.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Brian Gibbons (Aberavon): By NHS Trust what was the expenditure on bank and agency nursing in Wales over the last three reported financial years. (WAQ55906)

Answer issued on 25 March 2010

The Assembly Government does not collate information on expenditure on bank nurses. Expenditure on agency nurses by NHS Trust for the last three reported financial years is as follows.

Source: TFR 3 NHS Trusts

Source: TFR 3 NHS Trusts

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55915) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.  

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on research into rare diseases. (WAQ55919)

Answer issued on 25 March 2010

Welsh Ministers recognise the importance of research into rare diseases and support research in this area by;

• continued investment in the Wales Gene Park;

• providing funding opportunities for researchers in Wales, through responsive, open and competitive funding schemes, for which  researchers interested in rare diseases are eligible to apply;  

• funding the all-Wales clinical research infrastructure which runs a large number of  clinical trials across a wide-range of disease areas.

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on treatment of rare diseases. (WAQ55920)

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on a strategy for integrated services for rare diseases. (WAQ55921)

Answer issued on 25 March 2010

In collaboration with the 3 other Departments of Health in the UK, an assessment is being made by officials of the approach to rare diseases consistent with the EU Recommendations.  This includes an examination of current strategies, disease definitions and coding, use of databases and reference networks for individual rare diseases.

From 1 April 2010 the new Welsh Health Specialised Service Committee (WHSSC) working with and on behalf of the 7 Local Health Boards will be responsible for national planning for all specialised services including rare diseases. They will also be responsible for funding treatment of rare diseases in Wales and for Welsh patients treated in other designated specialised centres.

Treatment programmes will take account of drugs approved by NICE and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Advisory Group and subsequently endorsed by me.

WHSSC will review strategies and clinical policies including management of metabolic disorders, haemophilia, blood and marrow transplantation, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.

The Joint Committee will ensure integration of care through explicit policies, agreed objective measurable clinical criteria, and defined pathways for referral to expert specialised services.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What estimate has the Minister made of the final total expenditure on swine flu for the financial year 2009/10. (WAQ55749)

Answer issued on 25 March 2010

The latest estimate of expenditure incurred in managing the Swine Flu pandemic in Wales during 2009-10 is approximately £35 million.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much has the Welsh Assembly Government spent on swine flu to date and will the Minister provide a breakdown of how that money has been spent. (WAQ55750)

Answer issued on 25 March 2010

The latest information shows that the Assembly Government has spent approximately £35 million in managing the Swine Flu pandemic in Wales. The main items of expenditure are shown in the table below. This excludes administration costs incurred by Assembly Government staff.

To ask the Minister for Heritage

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55918) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.  

To ask the Minister for Rural Affairs

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55913) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.  

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Michael German (South Wales East): What action is being taken across the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27th March 2010. (WAQ55916) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Answer issued on 30 March 2010

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): Earth Hour is a WWF global initiative that aims to demonstrate popular support for action to avoid dangerous climate change.  The campaign asks people to unite and make a statement about their concerns about climate change, showing world leaders that it is possible to take positive action, especially following the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.  WWF are campaigning to get organisations, major landmarks, communities and individuals to turn out their lights for an hour at 8.30 pm on 27 March.  

The Assembly Government has provided direct support to WWF to promote the event widely in Wales, and to enable its promotion in Wales to be fully accessible in both languages.  This has included the production of three toolkits tailored for schools, local authorities and community groups to enable them to sign up and participate.  We have provided funding which has supported the main event for the evening in Cardiff Bay, and enabled the production of bilingual publicity & marketing materials including sign-up postcards.

We will be participating directly with lights turned off across our estate and we are encouraging other public sector bodies across Wales to do the same.

The lights will be switched off at major historic landmarks including Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch, Tintern Abbey, Kidwelly Castle, and Rhuddlan Castle amongst others.  

We have written to those local authorities in Wales not already intending to participate to encourage them to take part.  In order to promote the campaign across Wales, five schools from each region of Wales have been provided with a wind-up panda torch, and they will be carrying out activities this week keeping the torch lit during a range of activities designed to highlight Earth Hour to the wider community.