Written Assembly Questions tabled on 16 May 2016 for answer on 23 May 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
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What actions are being taken to support and meet the needs of those patients directly affected by the closure of GP surgeries in north Wales? (WAQ70228)
Answer received on 24 May 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones):
No GP practices in north Wales have closed. A small number of practices have however elected to terminate their contracts with the Betsi Cadwaladr UHB. Under these circumstances the health board has a responsibility to ensure the on-going provision of high quality primary care services for those affected patients. When a GP practice elects to terminate its contract, the health board will engage with the practice and its patients and wider public to provide strong assurance that services will not be removed and that high quality primary care services will continue to be provided. In some cases, the practice will be brought into health board management. The health board engages actively with local residents to keep them informed.
The number of GP practices in health board management across Wales remains low. Currently, five GP practices are under the management of Betsi Cadwaladr UHB. The health board has developed a new service delivery model to ensure the on- going provision of sustainable high quality primary care services. For example, the new Healthy Prestatyn primary care service, which has been run directly by the health board from 1 April 2016, provides primary care services to over 23,000 patients.
In relation to the Llys Meddyg surgery in Conwy, which will be terminating its contract on 31 October 2016, the health board is working closely with the surgery and neighbouring practices in Conwy, Llandudno Junction and Deganwy to plan how their patients will continue to receive high quality primary care from November 2016.
While the General Medical Services contract model will remain the principal model in Wales, health boards will also be considering other options to ensure primary services remain sustainable, including working with practices to encourage mergers or federations.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the First Minister provide an explanation as to why Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are currently unable to meet the Welsh Government recommended timescales for orthopaedic services? (WAQ70229)
Answer received on 24 May 2016
Carwyn Jones: We are aware the NHS in Wales is under pressure, including in North Wales with increases seen in demand for certain services based on lifestyle and the growing life expectancy of the population. That is why we have established a clinician-led planned care programme to transform the way services are planned and delivered for key specialties, including orthopaedics. We expect all health boards, including Betsi Cadwaladr UHB to work closely with the programme to improve the way services are delivered.
Over the last 12 months, the number of people being referred for orthopaedic appointments and treatment in Betsi Cadwaladr UHB has increased by nearly 350 per month compared to the previous year. We expect the health board to ensure, through their agreed plan to have sufficient capacity to enable patients to be seen in the right setting at the right time by the right person.
I am aware that Betsi Cadwaladr UHB runs a musculoskeletal triage service to ensure only those patients that require surgery, or a consultant’s opinion, end up on the waiting list.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the First Minister outline his intentions for local government reorganisation for the fifth Assembly term? (WAQ70230)
Answer received on 24 May 2016
Carwyn Jones: A statement on our intentions for local government reform will be made in due course.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the First Minister outline his intentions for future action to prevent the mass harvesting of razor clams from sea beds across Wales? (WAQ70231)
Answer received on 24 May 2016
Carwyn Jones: Hand gathering of shellfish (including razor clams), on beaches such as Llanfairfechan, is not restricted as regards the quantities that may be collected. We do not have any evidence that such activity represents a significant threat to the stock of razor clams around the Welsh coast, nor to the ecosystem which they inhabit, nor to other environmental features that we might wish or need to protect. On that basis, we do not currently intend to regulate this activity.
Any commercial fishing for razor clams using an electrical “pulse trawl” from a boat is currently prohibited under existing EU fisheries legislation. The European Commission has recently proposed a revision to that legislation which would essentially maintain the prohibition, but which would, in theory allow the possible use of such techniques, if the interested Member States in a given sea area and the Commission were to agree to it. Although, that draft legislation has yet to be agreed, it seems to provide a reasonable basis for the management of such possible fisheries.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): How is the Welsh Government working with relevant bodies and agencies to tackle the mass harvesting of razor clams from sea beds across Wales, with particular reference to Llanfairfechan beach, north Wales? (WAQ70232)
Answer received on 24 May 2016
Carwyn Jones: Given that hand gathering for razor clams is not restricted as regards the quantities that may be collected, Welsh Government Marine Enforcement Officers (MEOs) take a proactive and risk-based approach to ensuring such fisheries are not left unchecked, and do frequent known areas of concern on relevant dates and ensure that what is collected meets minimum size restrictions. MEOs work closely with other relevant agencies such as the Police, Border Agency, Local Authorities and Food Standards Agency, and remain in contact regarding issues of this nature.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the First Minister provide the figure for the number of people targeted under the Communities First Cluster in Conwy; and the actual number of active participants, for 2014-15 and 2015-16? (WAQ70233)
Answer received on 24 May 2016
Carwyn Jones: Conwy’s Communities First Cluster targeted participation by 880 residents in the nine months to 31 December 2015, the last quarter for which data is available. Actual participation was 1,286 participants, engaged in activities under the three Communities First priority themes: Prosperous, Healthier and Learning Communities. Full year figures for 2015/16 will be available shortly.
For 2014-15, the figures were 1371 targeted, with 1693 reported participants.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the First Minister provide an update on the work of the Welsh Government with Gwydir Castle and relevant bodies, including Conwy County Borough Council and Cadw, to address the flooding problems experienced by the castle? (WAQ70234)
Answer received on 24 May 2016
Carwyn Jones: NRW will be reviewing the performance of the current Conwy Valley flood alleviation scheme and the future management of flood risk within the valley; this will include the Gwydir Castle area. The focus will be on the current defences and embankment and will allow NRW to model changes to the current defences and what impact this may have on water levels upstream at places like Llanrwst, Gwydir Castle and Gwydir Road.
This modelling will also allow for different management scenarios to be tested to understand the impacts. NRW will shortly be appointing consultants to carry out this work which is expected to take approximately 9 months.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact on rallying events in Wales given Natural Resources Wales proposals to substantially increase fees? (WAQ70235) WITHDRAWN
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What discussions has the First Minister had with his counterpart in the UK Government on restricting the import of cheap inferior coal? (WAQ70236)
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the First Minister make a statement on the bodies responsible for inspecting the reinstatement of land following opencast mining? (WAQ70237)