Written Assembly Questions tabled on 16 May 2014 for answer on 23 May 2014
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 Economy, Science and Transport
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister outline the number of businesses who have received assistance from Finance Wales, broken down between rural and urban location for 2011, 2012, 2013 and the current year to date? (WAQ67055)
Answer received on 21 May 2014
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): Finance Wales is a subsidiary of the Welsh Government and operates at arms length. The information you have requested is not held by Welsh Government.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): With 49% of businesses who responded to the Wales Rural Observatory Rural Business Survey claiming that they have never used Welsh Government Business Support Services, will the Minister outline what is being done to promote Welsh Government Business Support and the spend for 2011,12,13 on promoting this service? (WAQ67056)
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of businesses who have accessed Welsh Government Business Support and Advice for 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the current year to date? (WAQ67057)
Answer received on 21 May 2014 (WAQ67056/7)
Edwina Hart: The Welsh Government provides a range of business support for starting, running and growing a business, involving cross-governmental delivery and associated promotion.
In relation to the Department for Economy, Science and Transport, support is delivered primarily via the Business Wales service and actively promoted through campaigns and key marketing delivery channels such as business.wales.gov.uk.
We do not hold the information in the format requested.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Can the Minister provide a breakdown on the amount of financial support provided by the Welsh Government to assist with in work training broken down by programme and local authority for 2011, 2012, 2013 and the current year to date? (WAQ67058)
Answer received on 22 May 2014
The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (Ken Skates): A breakdown by programme and local authority of funding provided for training for people in work, where we hold that data, is attached at Annex A. The data is provided on a calendar, financial or contract year basis as applicable.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Can the Minister provide detail of the number of GP surgeries in each welsh local authority who have extended their opening hours in each of the last four years? (WAQ67059)
Answer received on 28 May 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): GP access statistics are published at Local Health Board level, rather than Welsh Local Authority level. Practice level data was published for the first time in 2014. The GP access statistics for 2013 were published earlier this year and can be accessed through the attached link.
http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/gp-access-wales/?lang=en
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister provide numbers of GPs working in Wales for each of the past three years and provide the information by practice name and location? (WAQ67060)
Answer received on 28 May 2014
Mark Drakeford: The 2014 published statistics on General Medical Practitioners in Wales 2003 to 2013 includes the following GP headcount information (excluding registrars, retainers, and locums) - in 2013, there were 2,026 GP practitioners working in Wales; in 2012, there were 1,996 GP practitioners working in Wales; in 2011, there were 2,007 GP practitioners working in Wales. This information is not available at GP practice level. The statistics can be accessed through the attached link. http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/general-medical-practitioners/?lang=en
David Melding (South Wales Central): What plans are in place to meet the challenge of improving outcomes for cancer patients over 60 years of age? (WAQ67063)
Answer received on 28 May 2014
Mark Drakeford: Actions to improve outcomes for all Cancer Patients are set out in the Cancer Delivery Plan.
David Melding (South Wales Central): What measures will the Minister take to ensure that more information is given to cancer patients at the point of diagnosis? (WAQ67064)
Answer received on 21 May 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Our Cancer Delivery Plan refers to ensuring the right information is given to meet the need of the patient at the right time. The 2013 Wales Cancer Patient Experience Survey reports that 86% of patients said that they were given the right amount of information about their condition and treatment. Providing ‘more’ information at the time of diagnosis is not always the right time for patients to take it in. The appropriate assessment of patients and care planning are key factors in ensuring they receive the right advice at the right time.
David Melding (South Wales Central): What measures are in place to raise awareness of coeliac disease? (WAQ67065)
David Melding (South Wales Central): What measures are in place to ensure that hospitals and schools are accommodating for coeliac sufferers? (WAQ67066)
Answer received on 22 May 2014 (WAQ67065/6)
Mark Drakeford: Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease which effects the digestive system. The condition is triggered by a reaction to gluten, found in wheat, barley and rye and can cause severe symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and the condition is treated by following a lifelong gluten-free diet.
The Food Standards Agency has the general responsibility for raising awareness of food allergies and intolerances amongst caterers and information is available on their website. Information is also available for the public via the NHS Direct website.
The All Wales Hospital Nutrition Care Pathway is in place in all NHS hospitals across Wales. It aids and supports nurses in the nutritional screening of patients on admission, and helps to ensure patients’ specific nutritional needs are identified and met. As part of this pathway, the All Wales Menu Framework has been developed to ensure the consistent delivery of high quality food to patients that meet mandatory catering and nutritional standards. The Framework caters for all patients including those with special requirements such as a gluten intolerance.
The Welsh Government’s Appetite for Life guidelines
provide a description of coeliac disease and advice for schools and school meal providers on the requirements of coeliac sufferers. These guidelines were drawn up to assist in the implementation of the Appetite for Life Action Plan
, which set out the strategic direction and actions required to improve nutritional standards of food and drink provided in schools.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Please provide the number of farm holdings who completed their Single Farm Payment application form online and how many submitted paper copies for 2014? (WAQ67061)
Answer received on 28 May 2014
The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): I made a written Statement on 20 May 2014.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister provide details of the research that supports his claim that "the vast majority of farmers do not use apple devices" in response to the inability to apply for single farm payments via apple technology? (WAQ67062)
Answer received on 29 July 2014
Alun Davies: Rural Payments Wales used research provided by Net Applications. This research indicates that fewer than 6% of web users make use of the Safari web browser; which is the default web browser for Apple devices. In addition, British Cattle Movement Service usage statistics confirm 6% of Cattle Tracing System users make use of Safari as their web browser.