Written Assembly Questions tabled on 18 February 2014 for answer on 25 February 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)

To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister detail what infrastructure has been developed this financial year for the Flying Start Programme? (WAQ66456)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Jeff Cuthbert): Flying Start settings will have been created across Wales including childcare settings; venues for parenting programmes and early language and play sessions; and accommodation for the multi agency teams that deliver the programme. Work has also been carried out to enhance existing Flying Start facilities to ensure that they continue to be of high quality. It is expected that in total 108 projects will be completed this year.

To ask the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the £2.9m which has been transferred to reserves from the Sustainable Travel Action with respect of the 2013/14 supplementary budget, and its impact on programmes such as the implementation of the Active Travel (Wales) Act? (WAQ66458)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): The £2.9m was released to central reserves following a review of the concessionary fares revenue requirement and will not impact implementation of the Active Travel (Wales) Act.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline what projects or priorities have been dropped or pushed back within the economy, science and transport portfolio in respect of the transfers to reserves which have been made to deal with “in-year pressures”? (WAQ66457)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Edwina Hart: No projects were dropped or pushed back within the economy, science and transport portfolio in respect to the £11m transfer to reserves to deal with “in-year” pressures.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills

Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): What arrangements exist within the Minister’s department for formal discussions with unions representing those who work in schools? (WAQ66465)

Answer received for publication on 21 February 2014

The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): I meet with education workforce unions on a regular basis. In addition, Welsh Government officials hold formal discussions with unions as part of the Education Group, the sector level Group of the Workforce Partnership Council as well as the Union Partnership Group. Officials also regularly meet education unions as part of single issue working groups and ad hoc one-off meetings as and when required.

Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): How many Foundation schools exist in Wales; and how many are primary and how many secondary? (WAQ66466)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Huw Lewis: There are twelve Foundation schools in Wales, of these four are primary schools and eight are secondary schools.

A full list of all the schools in Wales and their categories is available on the Welsh Government website. Here is a link to the list:

http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/address-list-of-schools/?lang=en

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Can the Minister confirm whether the provisions in the Education (Wales) Bill at Stage 2 adequately include Foundation Schools? (WAQ66469)

Answer received for publication on 21 February 2014

Huw Lewis Yes, Foundation Schools are included in the scope of the provisions in the Education \{Wales\} Bill.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What is the Welsh Government doing to highlight the dangers of abusing alcohol during drinking games to children and young people? (WAQ66462)

Answer received for publication on 3 March 2014

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What is the Welsh Government doing to curb underage drinking? (WAQ66463)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Mark Drakeford: Our Substance Misuse Delivery Plan 2013-15 sets out the actions we are taking to tackle underage drinking, including guidance and education campaigns to raise awareness of alcohol related harm.

However, many of the powers that regulate the sale, supply and advertising of alcohol rest with the UK Government. Welsh Ministers have written to the Home Secretary and other UK Ministers seeking devolution of alcohol licensing, advocating for a minimum unit price for alcohol and for public health considerations to be embedded within the Licensing Act. All have been refused.

We will continue to explore the use of all the policy levers available to us to tackle alcohol misuse and we are also pursuing devolution of alcohol licensing through our evidence to part 2 of the Silk Commission.

The 2009/10 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study shows that between 1998 and 2009 there was a reduction from 59% to 36% in the number of 15-16 year old boys and a reduction from 46% to 30% in the number of 15-16 year old girls in Wales  reporting to drink alcohol at least weekly. Similarly, between 1998 -2009 the data showed that there was a decline from 72% to 47% for boys and 63% to 50% for girls in those reporting 'Having been drunk twice or more’.  This decline reflects similar trends internationally. Despite these encouraging trends it remains important to maintain a continued focus in this area.

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): How many under 18s have been seen at A&Es in Wales with medical complaints related to the abuse of alcohol in each year since 1999? (WAQ66464)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Mark Drakeford: The number of A&E Attendances at major A&E units for patients who are aged under 18 has been given below.

This information is based on the clinician’s answer to the question "In your clinical opinion has the presence of alcohol in the presenting patient contributed to this attendance?" This doesn’t indicate alcohol abuse, however it provides information on the number of attendances for under 18s where there is alcohol present.

Number of A&E Attendances for Patients aged under 18 where alcohol present.

Source: A&E, EDDS data set, NHS Wales Informatics Service

Date Extracted: 21/02/2014

Notes:

(1)  This data set is also only available for the years 2009 onwards. The analysis is only based on Major A&E units until April 2012 when minor units were included, this causes a slight discontinuity.

To ask the Minister for Local Government and Government Business

Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): Will the Minister make a statement on the pre-determination rule and the councillors' code of conduct? (WAQ66467)

Answer received for publication on 21 February 2014

The Minister for Local Government and Government Business (Lesley Griffiths): The Code of Conduct does not prevent members from holding and expressing preliminary views on issues of concern to them or their constituents.  They must take care, however, not to give the impression they are not prepared to consider the merits of all the arguments and points made about a matter under consideration before reaching a decision.

To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline with respect of the 2013/14 supplementary budget which savings or changes have been made in the Natural Resources and Food portfolio to put £291,000 into the CAP/PIMMS Action? (WAQ66455)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): Savings were identified and made across my portfolio as part of the supplementary budget, the majority of which were in the Rural Development Plan and TB Eradication.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the number of penalties incurred as a result of incomplete, inaccurate or untimely submission of Single Farm Payment claims in each of the past 5 years, providing this information for each region if possible? (WAQ66459)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Alun Davies: Attached is a table showing the number of farmers who have incurred penalties as a result of incomplete, inaccurate or untimely submission of Single Payment Scheme claims in each of the past 5 years, for each Unitary Authority in Wales (as at 20 Feb 2014).  It is not possible to express these as the number of individual penalties as this data is not stored in a way that can accommodate this.  Also shown is the average number of farmers in each UA to give the number receiving penalties some context.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the total value of penalties issued in respect of Single Farm Payment claims in each of the past 5 years, providing this information for each region if possible? (WAQ66460)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Alun Davies: Attached is a table showing the value of penalties incurred as a result of incomplete, inaccurate or untimely submission of Single Payment Scheme claims in each of the past 5 years, for each Unitary Authority in Wales (as at 20 Feb 2014).  Also shown is the average number of farmers in each UA to give some context

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Minister taking to support the farming industry to minimise the impact of penalties issued in respect of Single Farm Payment claims in the future? (WAQ66461)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Alun Davies: The Welsh Government has invested £7.8m in the Rural Payment Wales (RPW) Online service, which from 17 February allows the 2014 Single Application Form (SAF) to be submitted electronically.  It includes automated checks that highlight common errors and omissions to farmers before form submission.  Farmers will be able to avoid many of the errors that have historically resulted in financial penalties.

I recently launched the ‘When the inspector calls’ guide to help farmers prepare for inspections which, alongside comprehensive guidance on the scheme rules and the farmers guide to cross compliance, ensures all farmers are aware of their obligations able to avoid penalties.

In addition, the Farm Liaison Service holds open meetings to raise awareness ahead of this year’s application closing date and RPW has a customer contact centre service where questions can be resolved by phone or farmers can call into their local offices to discuss any issues.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister outline whether any consideration has been given to the banning of polystyrene takeaway food packaging in Wales and supporting the use of biodegradable alternatives such as card and cornstarch? (WAQ66468)

Answer received for publication on 25 February 2014

Alun Davies: The Welsh Government has not given any consideration to the banning of polystyrene takeaway food packaging in Wales.

Reducing food and associated packaging waste is a key focus of Towards Zero Waste, the overarching waste strategy document for Wales.