Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 May 2014 for answer on 27 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
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister confirm when she anticipates the construction phase of the Newtown bypass will commence? (WAQ67067)
Answer received on 21 May 2014
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): Construction is due to start in summer 2015, subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory process and availability of finance.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister outline the number of days that the A55 in North Wales has been clear of roadworks for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to date? (WAQ67069)
Answer received on 28 May 2014
Edwina Hart: This information is not available in the format you have requested.
William Graham (South Wales East): Further to her statement of 19 May 2014, please will the Minister detail the total amount which will be made available for businesses affected by the trial closure of junction 41 of the M4? (WAQ67078)
William Graham (South Wales East): Further to her statement of 19 May 2014, please will the Minister commit to publishing details of her investigation into arranging a drop in “Business Wales surgery” in Port Talbot? (WAQ67079)
William Graham (South Wales East): Further to her statement of 19 May 2014, please will the Minister detail the number of businesses which will be affected by the trial closure of junction 41 of the M4? (WAQ67080)
Answer received on 28 May 2014 (WAQ67078-80)
Edwina Hart: This is a trial closure. Monitoring and assessment of the footfall and parking within the area will provide details for the way forward. If required, businesses can apply for funding, information, support and advice through the existing schemes referenced in my statement. I will provide an update to Members on the arrangement of the ‘Business Wales surgery’.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister outline what steps will be taken to ensure any changes to ALN provision in Powys are compliant with Welsh law and Welsh Government guidance? (WAQ67082)
Answer received on 28 May 2014
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): The Education Act 1996 places the duty on Local Authorities to provide suitable education for all pupils, including those who have an Additional Learning Need (ALN), however it is for the local authority to determine how it will undertake its duties to meet the needs of pupils in Powys.
It would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific proposals such as Powys Local Authority’s recent consultation on proposals to reorganise provision for children with ALN because of my potential role in the statutory process. As you are no doubt aware the consultation ended on 17th March and the local authority must now consider the outcome of the consultation and should publish a consultation report by 16th June. The local authority has until 15th September to publish a statutory notice if it decides to proceed with these proposals.
In July 2013 the Welsh Government published the School Organisation Code. The Code imposes requirements in accordance with which those bringing forward proposals to reorganise school provision must act. The Code also includes guidance, and sets out the policy context, general principles and factors that should be taken into account. I expect those bringing forward proposals, including prescribed alterations involving special educational needs provision, to comply with the requirements of the Code and to have regard to the guidance it contains. Compliance with the Code is being monitored.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on steps taken to reduce waiting times for Powys residents? (WAQ67068)
Answer received on 29 July 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Waiting times in Powys are the best in Wales. Our expectations are clear – that patients are seen within clinical priority and within our waiting times targets. It is the responsibility of Powys Teaching Local Health Board to ensure it provides safe, effective treatment to all its residents.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on what steps the Welsh Government is taking to improve services for adults with eating disorders both in the community and inpatient basis? (WAQ67081)
Answer received on 29 July 2014
Mark Drakeford: The vast majority of people with an eating disorder can be cared for either in the community or local mental health inpatient facilities in Wales. Those in need of highly specialised care are supported by specialist staff concentrated in a small number of centres across the UK until they are well enough to return home, with the support of the specialist community eating disorder teams.
Eating Disorders: A Framework for Wales
was published in 2009. Issued to all Heath Boards, it established that services should be developed according to clinical need and as locally as is practicable, and it sets out roles and responsibilities relating to the investigation, treatment and monitoring of those with eating disorders.
To support implementation of the Framework, we provided annual funding of £1 million to develop two specialist community eating disorder teams, serving north and south Wales with a hub and spoke structure, which were established in 2010. The teams are now well established and support both secondary and primary care services, and assist with the delivery of care to those with more complex requirements. It also ensures as few people are cared for out of Wales and their local area as possible. The services support those over the age of 18 and close links have been established with child and adolescent mental health teams across Wales, to ensure effective arrangements for transition are in place.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What discussions has the Minister or his officials had with the UK Government prior to the publication of the proposal to introduce Accredited Voluntary Registration for clinical perfusionists, clinical physiologists, clinical technologists and medical illustrators? (WAQ67072)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What discussions has the Minister or his officials had with the UK Government regarding the limitations of voluntary registration to regulate healthcare professions, as set out by the Health and Care Professions Council? (WAQ67073)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s response to the recommendation by the Health and Care Professions Council that clinical perfusionists, clinical physiologists, clinical technologists and medical illustrators should be subject to statutory regulation? (WAQ67074)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on how the NHS in Wales deals with concerns raised against healthcare professions that are overseen by voluntary registers? (WAQ67075)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Can the Minister confirm that the NHS in Wales records concerns raised against clinical physiologists as a result of their work in the NHS and will he make a statement on the number of concerns raised in every year for the last five years, broken down by Local Health Board? (WAQ67076)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action has the Minister undertaken to safeguard patients from healthcare professions that are regulated by voluntary registers? (WAQ67077)
Answer received on 29 July 2014 (WAQ67072-7)
Mark Drakeford: There have been no recent discussions with the UK Government in relation to clinical perfusionists, clinical physiologists, clinical technologists and medical illustrators.
The regulation of healthcare professionals is a non devolved matter and the UK Government has resisted calls for the statutory regulation of this and other staff groups.
It is important that where concerns about services or individuals are raised they are dealt with appropriately, whatever the condition or professional group from which it arises. There are policies and procedures in place across NHS Wales to address any concerns raised about any individual providing services.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Can the Minister outline the data his department will require and how frequently they will require it to measure the energy efficiency of Welsh Government supported waste incinerator facilities? Additionally can he outline what penalties he can impose if the facility does not meet the required standards? (WAQ67070)
Answer received on 21 May 2014
The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): The Energy from Waste facility operator will need to report annually to Natural Resources Wales on the performance of the plant as part of the annual report required by the Environmental Permitting Regulations permit. The energy efficiency data requirements include commissioning, performance and boiler efficiency data.
If an Energy from Waste facility, which is contracted by local authorities that are receiving support from the Welsh Government, fails to meet the R1 energy efficiency threshold and this is not restored within a reasonable period, the Welsh Government has the right to withdraw future funding support to the contracting local authorities.
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister outline the controls put in place to ensure that Waste Incinerator projects receiving funding from Welsh Government achieve and maintain the minimum efficiency level necessary to qualify for 'recovery' status? (WAQ67071)
Answer received on 21 May 2014
Alun Davies: It is a condition of Welsh Government funding support for local authority hubs that procure residual waste treatment facilities that:
Where energy recovery is part of the solution, any proposed waste thermal treatment facility shall achieve, as a minimum, the R1 energy efficiency designation for recovery, and the overall plant efficiency shall be as high as possible as can be demonstrated to be value for money.
Processes that include the recovery of energy from waste shall operate or be capable of operating in combined heat and power (CHP) mode.