Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 November 2014 for answer on 26 November 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 Public Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline the steps being taken by the Welsh Government to ensure that all homes, businesses and residential accommodation in Wales are fitted with working smoke alarms? (WAQ68050)
Answer received on 26 November 2014
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews): Over 93% of households in Wales have at least one working smoke alarm, according to the latest data. This reflects our Programme for Government commitment to Home Fire Safety Checks. Under this scheme, the three Fire and Rescue Services have carried out nearly 600,000 checks on Welsh homes. These have included supplying and fitting smoke alarms free of charge, funded by the Welsh Government, unless an alarm was already installed
All social housing in Wales must have a suitably located smoke alarm if it is to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Furthermore, our Code of Guidance for mandatory registration and licensing of private landlords and lettings agents under Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, will specify smoke alarms as a desirable feature of a property. Fire safety also features in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which aims to prevent hazards from causing injury. Beyond this, we have no power to force individuals to install and maintain smoke alarms in their own homes, although we and the Fire Service strongly encourage them to do so.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to almost all premises apart from private dwellings, and requires the responsible person to undertake a fire risk assessment. This assessment must cover a means of raising alarm, including fire detection and warning systems. The most common and effective form of fire detection is to fit smoke and/or heat detectors. The three Fire and Rescue Services inspect and enforce compliance with these requirements. In 2013-14, under 4% of such inspections in Wales resulted in formal follow-up action for non-compliance.
New non-domestic premises must adhere to the relevant British Standard, as a requirement of building control. The Standard requires such premises to have a fire detection and warning system.
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on a proposed multi-agency summit as part of on-going collaborative efforts to deal with the problem of home-grown extremism in Wales, and provide details of any relevant talks that have taken place? (WAQ68045)
Answer received on 28 November 2014
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): The Minister for Public Services attended a conference organised by Cardiff Prevent Stakeholders Group entitled 'Community Consultation on Violent Extremism: Muslim Perspectives' on 1 November. The event was organised to consider the perspective of Muslim communities on violent extremism and for Cardiff-based Muslim organisations and interest groups to engage with statutory partners to discuss the various factors which can contribute to the radicalisation of young people. I understand a detailed report will be produced on the contributions from the various groups and suggested actions all partners can undertake to address the challenges highlighted.
To ask the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide a full list of land and property owned by the Welsh Government along the proposed so-called 'black route' along the M4, and a list of the Ministers that were responsible for buying such land and property on the date of purchase? (WAQ68038)
Answer received on 26 November 2014
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): I will write to you shortly with the relevant information and a copy of the letter will be placed on the internet.
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): How much money has the Welsh Government paid the Ashton Brand Consulting Group for its evaluation exercise into the Welsh brand and will the Minister make the report public? (WAQ68039)
Answer received on 26 November 2014
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism (Ken Skates) : Mike Ashton was employed as a Senior Civil Servant within Welsh Government on a fixed contract, not as a consultant. As I made clear during my recent appearance before the Enterprise and Business Committee inquiry into tourism, there is no formal report. The Minister for the Economy, Science & Transport also wrote to the Chair of the Committee clarifying the outcomes from his work with an overarching recommendation to develop a product-led approach which has now formed the basis of our 'Have You Packed For Wales ?' campaign.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
Alun Ffred Jones (Arfon): Will the Minister provide figures for the EU funding received by Wales for the following years: 2005/06; 2006/07; 2007/08; 2008/09; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13; and 2013/14? (WAQ68040)
Answer received on 26 November 2014
The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt):
EU funding is allocated to Wales for programme periods lasting between 7 and 9 years.
The following table shows the actual payments made by the European Commission (EC) based on claims submitted by the Welsh Government for the relevant financial years. It includes the European Structural Funds, payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (including the Rural Development Plan) and the European Fisheries Fund, It excludes payments under programmes directly managed by the EC.
| Financial Year | EU Total (£m) * |
| 2005/2006 | 549.47 |
| 2006/2007 | 528.72 |
| 2007/2008 | 496.81 |
| 2008/2009 | 480.77 |
| 2009/2010 | 476.22 |
| 2010/2011 | 562.57 |
| 2011/2012 | 579.74 |
| 2012/2013 | 503.95 |
| 2013/2014 | 532.95 |
* The EU funding programmes, which were managed directly by the Welsh Government over the funding period cover the Convergence and Regional Competitiveness and Employment programmes 2007–2013, the Objective 1, 2, 2 (Transitional) and 3 programmes 2000–2006, the Community Initiatives Urban II, Leader+, Interreg, Equal 2000–2006; and the Rural Development Plan and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).
The EC processes payments in Euros. Sterling figures based on current planning rate of £1: €1:25
The figures do not include EU funding programmes directly managed by the European Commission, such as ERASMUS, Life+, Framework Research Programmes etc.
Alun Ffred Jones (Arfon): Will the Minister provide figures for the block grant received by Wales for the following years: 2005/06; 2006/07; 2007/08; 2008/09; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13;and 2013/14? (WAQ68041)
Answer received on 25 November 2014
Jane Hutt: The table below provides figures for the block grant received by Wales over the period requested.<
Financial Year | Block Grant (£m) |
|---|---|
2005-06 | 10,630 |
2006-07 | 11,676 |
2007-08 | 11,826 |
2008-09 | 12,171 |
2009-10 | 13,006 |
2010-11 | 13,244 |
2011-12 | 12,792 |
2012-13 | 12,787 |
2013-14 | 13,482 |
For the financial years between 2007-08 & 2013-14 inclusive, it details the amounts paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund by the Secretary of State for Wales. For 2005-06 & 2006-07 the grant payment made to the National Assembly for Wales is provided.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Elin Jones (Ceredigion): Will the Minister explain the source for the claim he made on the Wales Report TV programme broadcast on 12 November 14 that the standard wait for knee and hip surgery is 15 weeks? (WAQ68042)
Answer received on 26 November 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):15 weeks is the median waiting time at the end of September 2014 for all patients on the trauma and orthopaedic referral to treatment pathway.
Elin Jones (Ceredigion): Will the Minister provide for the 2013-14 financial year: (a) the total number of people who required treatment for knee or hip problems; (b) the numbers who required physiotherapy; and (c) the numbers who required operations? (WAQ68043)
Answer received on 28 November 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): There is no formal definition of 'knee or hip problems'. Using the codes listed below shows that in 2013-14 9,404 patients were treated and 9,868 operations were carried out. No information is collated centrally regarding physiotherapy activity.
Procedure Codes Used for Hip and Knee problems.
O18 - HYBRID PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT KNEE JOINT USING CEMENT
W37 - TOTAL PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF HIP JOINT USING CEMENT
W38 - TOTAL PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF HIP JOINT NOT USING CEM
W39 - OTHER TOTAL PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF HIP JOINT
W40 - TOTAL PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF KNEE JOINT USING CEMENT
W41 - TOTAL PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF KNEE JOINT NOT USING CE
W42 - OTHER TOTAL PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF KNEE JOINT
W85 - THERAPEUTIC ENDOSCOPIC OPERATIONS ON CAVITY OF KNEE JOI
W87 - DIAGNOSTIC ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF KNEE JOINT
W93 - HYBRID PROS.REP./HIP JOINT/CEMENT ACETABULAR COMP.
W94 - HYBRID PROS.REP./HIP JOINT/CEMENT FEMORAL COMP.
W95 - HYBRID PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF HIP JOINT USING CEMENT
X22 - CORRECTION OF CONGENITAL DEFORMITY OF HIP
T593 - EXCISION OF GANGLION OF KNEE
T603 - RE-EXCISION OF GANGLION OF KNEE
U502 - DELIVERY OF REHABILITATION FOR HIP FRACTURE
W782 - RELEASE OF CONTRACTURE OF HIP JOINT
W783 - RELEASE OF CONTRACTURE OF KNEE JOINT
X231 - OPERATIVE REDUCTION OF CONGENITAL DISLOCATION OF KNEE
Data sourced from PEDW, NWIS.
Elin Jones (Ceredigion): Will the Minister provide statistics for the number of people during the 2013-14 financial year who received surgery for knee or hip problems and waited more than: (a) 9 weeks from referral to treatment; (b) 18 weeks from referral to treatment;(c) 36 weeks for referral to treatment; and (d) 52 weeks from referral to treatment? (WAQ68044)
Answer received on 28 November 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
Information on the number of patients who received hip and knee surgery specifically is not held centrally.
Referral to treatment waiting times information, by speciality and the number of weeks waited, is available from the Welsh Government's StatsWales website here:
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to encourage newly qualified doctors to work in the Welsh NHS? (WAQ68046)
Answer received on 28 November 2014
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government is taking a number of coordinated actions to encourage both newly qualified and experienced doctors to work in Wales.
For example, we are considering the current retainer scheme so that those GPs who wish to step back from full time work can be kept in the workforce on a different basis. At the same time we are simplifying the GP returner assessment process for highly experienced GP returners so that we remove barriers to those looking to re-join the service in Wales. The regulations around the GP Performers List (Wales) are also being re-considered, alongside its hosting and administration arrangements, to make it easier for GPs to work in Wales for short periods.
In addition, the incentives and training offered to doctors in Wales is being reassessed as part of the independent review I commissioned earlier this year into the way the Welsh Government invests in the planning, development and commissioning of the health workforce. As part of its remit, the review is considering how training can support continuous professional development through opportunities to extend learning as part of a multidisciplinary team and to undertake research where appropriate. This work, which is due to be completed by the end of the year, is a key part of making the NHS in Wales a learning organisation which is attractive to both those wishing to begin training and those who have already qualified.
I expect these areas of work to be accelerated following the publication of the Primary Care Plan earlier this month and through the forthcoming workforce development plan that will underpin it.
Actions taken by the Welsh Government are however only part of the answer and the primary responsibility for developing and maintaining offers of employment which are attractive to doctors is one that must be met by health boards as local employers.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that all cancer sufferers are aware of their full benefit entitlements? (WAQ68047)
Answer received on 25 November 2014
The Deputy Minister for Health (Vaughan Gething): Under the Government’s Cancer Delivery Plan, health boards are expected to assign a named key worker to assess and record in a care plan the clinical and non-clinical needs of everyone with a diagnosis of cancer. The guidance for cancer key workers, issued to health boards in September 2014, includes the role of signposting patients to information and relevant contacts for advice on finances and welfare benefits.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government funding available for ankylosing spondylitis research in the year 2014-15 and detail the planned funding for 2015-16? (WAQ68048)
Answer received on 26 November 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
The Welsh Government does not directly fund any ankylosing spondylitis research. However, through the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (NISCHR), it does provide an infrastructure grant to the Welsh Arthritis Research Network (WARN).
The total value of the infrastructure grant is £454,871 over 5 years, of which WARN will receive £81,876 in financial year 2014-15.
WARN is led by Professor Ernest Choy. Its remit covers musculoskeletal research and as part of this, it has a number of ankylosing spondylitis projects on its portfolio. This includes a Population-based Ankylosing Spondylitis (PAS) cohort study previously funded by the Medical Research Council and NISCHR.
In addition, NISCHR runs a number of competitive funding schemes and contributes to a range of UK-wide research programmes, all of which are open to researchers with an interest in ankylosing spondylitis.
NISCHR is currently restructuring its programmes. It is expected that a wide range of opportunities will remain for ankylosing spondylitis researchers, including through competitive funding schemes, in 2015-16.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister detail the support available for adolescents experiencing serious eating disorders in north Wales? (WAQ68049)
Answer received on 25 November 2014
Mark Drakeford: Treatment of eating disorders (ED) for young people is provided by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in line with the clinical needs of the individual and the requirements of our all-ages ‘Eating Disorders Framework for Wales’ (2009).
The majority of young people with ED are managed either in their home community, or within one of the two CAMHS inpatient units in Wales. Evidence shows a significant number of admissions to the inpatient units are ED related and services have developed skills and expertise over time to cater for their needs. The unit in north Wales has an experienced clinical team led by a senior consultant who has worked in the field of CAMHS ED for many years, and also supports south Wales ED services with advice on occasions.
To further enhance provision, in October 2013 I announced £250,000 recurrent funding for CAMHS to improve ED support, including improving ED training for CAMHS staff on an all-Wales basis. Provision is kept under review by the CAMHS and ED Planning Network, established in April 2014.
I have also signalled my intention to commission a review of the ED Framework this winter, following receipt of a health board review of the pattern and cost effectiveness of inpatient ED treatment across all ages.