Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 October 2016 for answer on 26 October 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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how much Welsh Government money has been spent on improvements to Troed-y-rhiw railway station in the past 18 months, and what percentage this makes up of the total amount spent on improving the station? (WAQ71278)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): We have spent £300k (incl VAT) of Welsh Government capital funds on improvements at this station. As far as we are aware, this represents the only significant investment in the station.
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What advice and assistance has been given by Cadw to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council about the upkeep and preservation of the Neath Abbey Ironworks, a scheduled ancient monument? (WAQ71279)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
Ken Skates: My officials in Cadw visited Neath Abbey Ironworks last year with a representative of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and provided advice on improving the condition of the monument, including the removal of rubbish and vegetation clearance. They will be contacting the Council again shortly to review progress of these clearance works and to provide further advice on the next steps.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister provide an explanation for the extension of the terms of office of both the Chair and Vice Chair of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, including why there was no public consultation on these decisions? (WAQ71270)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): There has been no extension or re-appointment to the Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Vice Chair has recently been re-appointed for a further 12 months until 30 November 2017. I considered the re-appointment on the recommendation from the chair to re-appoint for a further 12 months and in line with the Commissioners for Public Appointment Code of Practice.
Under the Code of Practice there is no requirement for public consultation. Ministers may re-appoint or extend the terms of public appointees or statutory office holders.
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister confirm how Welsh Government support for Time to Change Wales has changed over time since it was established in 2012? (WAQ71280)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister outline the work carried out by the Welsh Government since 2012 in monitoring people's perceptions of mental health and stigma towards it, and what are the results of this monitoring? (WAQ71281)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What engagement with young people does the Welsh Government expect from the Time to Change Wales scheme, what monitoring of young people's perceptions of mental health has the Welsh Government carried out, and what are the results of this monitoring? (WAQ71282)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
Vaughan Gething: Improving the mental health of the people of Wales is a priority for the Welsh Government and one of the key themes included in ‘Together for Health’, a five year vision for the NHS in Wales. Tackling the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness are key to this. That is why we have supported the Time to Change Wales (TTCW) programme with the Big Lottery fund and Comic Relief since 2012 and have continued to support and work with TTCW, through Phase 2 of the programme along with Comic Relief.
We also support the TTCW campaign by embedding the key messages throughout our programmes, for example tackling stigma is a core element of our Healthy Working Wales Programme, which engages with a wide range of organisations across Wales.
Learning from experiences of young people with mental health problems is one of the most effective ways to change the negative behaviour and attitudes of others. TTCW’s Young Person’s Programme funded by the Big Lottery is a 3 year focused anti-stigma and discrimination programme led by, and for, young people, building on the Time To Change Wales work with adults. Over the course of the project, 50 Young Champions are expected to directly engage with at least 5,000 young people. This involves working in partnership with nine schools clustered in three areas across Wales embedding a whole school approach to mental health awareness, anti-stigma messaging and activity. It is hoped that by the end of the project over 20,000 young people will have engaged with the associated social marketing campaign.
Regular monitoring is a core element of the programme and is embedded in the partnership agreement. Phase 1 of the programme (2012-2014) has been evaluated to seek evidence on attitudes and behaviours of the general public, and target audiences and campaign participants including TTCW champions. The public attitude survey has been repeated for Phase 2 of the programme, with the final report expected in Summer 2017.
In terms of young people, data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study suggest that the proportions reporting high life satisfaction have remained stable over time[1]. Similarly, adult data from the Welsh Health Survey show that mental (and physical) wellbeing scores have remained similar since 2003/04, although there has been a slight decline in mental wellbeing scores[2].
Moving forward, in February 2017, we will be supporting three mental health charities, Mind, Cymru, Gofal and Hafal with a State of Stigma event. The event will bring together key organisations and professionals to consider the work undertaken in Wales by TTCW along with wider work across the UK. The event will provide an invaluable opportunity to help inform our thinking and assist in the development of future work and priorities.
[1] http://gov.wales/docs/caecd/research/2015/151022-health-behaviour-school-children-2013-14-key-findings-en.pdf
[2] http://gov.wales/docs/statistics/2016/160622-welsh-health-survey-2015-health-status-illnesses-other-conditions-en.pdf
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Would the Minister make a statement on how he intends to improve outcomes for looked after children in Wales? (WAQ71271)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What does the Minister believe to be the key challenges facing those providing care and support to looked after children, and how is he addressing these? (WAQ71272)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): All children in care should have the same life chances as other children. This is a key priority of mine and I have established an Improving Outcomes for Children Ministerial Advisory Group, chaired by David Melding AM, to advise how best we deliver a national approach for looked after children and those who care for them.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What support is the Minister providing to Foster Carers in Wales, to ensure we are able to retain enough carers and provide permanent and loving homes for vulnerable and traumatised children? (WAQ71273)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Would the Minister make a statement on what work is being undertaken to help mitigate the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Children in Foster Care? (WAQ71274)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What support is being provided to Foster Carers in Wales to upskill them and ensure they feel valued? (WAQ71275)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How is the Minister ensuring that Foster Carers in Wales are seen as a key part of a child's upbringing? (WAQ71276)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How is this Government supporting third sector organisations to deliver additional training and support to Foster Carers? (WAQ71277)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
Carl Sargeant: The implementation of a National Fostering Framework for Wales, as part of our Improving Outcomes for Children programme, will improve support to foster carers and children and young people who are fostered in Wales. The framework is being developed by local government in partnership with third sector and other agencies, supported by project development funding from the Welsh Government.
The framework aims to ensure that the best quality foster care placements are available to children who need them, and that foster carers are valued, supported and receive excellent training. Foster carers have been actively involved in shaping the framework. A key objective is to achieve a more consistent approach to recruiting and supporting foster carers. Progress in implementing the framework will be overseen by the Ministerial Advisory Group on Improving Outcomes for Children, chaired by David Melding AM.
The Improving Outcomes for Children programme will be informed by relevant research and approaches, including recent work on Adverse Childhood Experiences in the lives of looked after children and children on the edge of care.
We are funding two fostering organisations under the Sustainable Social Services grant programme for three years from 2016-17. The Excellence in Foster Care Wales project being delivered by the Fostering Network is supporting foster carers and fostering services to improve outcomes for children and young people in foster care. This will involve setting up a national central of training excellence in foster care, and a fostering ambassadors programme, as well as continued development of Fosterline Wales. The Securing Permanence project managed by the Association for Fostering and Adoption Cymru (part of the St David's Children's Society) provides specialist advice and training fostering, adoption and special guardianship. This includes a bilingual advice and information service for those affected by permanency issues, including foster carers.