Written Assembly Questions tabled on 21 November 2016 for answer on 28 November 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
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the amount of EU product, consumer and environmental legislation Wales will have to accept in order to continue to trade with the single market following Brexit? (WAQ71536)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): There is extensive EU legislation covering a range of areas linked to the effective operation of the single market. For businesses in Wales to benefit from full and unfettered access to the single market it will be important to maintain regulatory systems which are sufficiently aligned to EU systems. As part of the discussions on the UK’s exit from the EU we will consider potential opportunities to achieve this in more effective or efficient ways.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Following the figure referred to in your answer to WAQ71385 – how much of the £1.8 million is made available for staffing and how much is made available for grants? (WAQ71521)
Answer received on 2 December 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that Wales has a sufficient domiciliary nursing care workforce? (WAQ71519)
Answer received on 2 December 2016
The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): Taking action to ensure there is a robust and responsive social care sector is a key priority for the Welsh Government The domiciliary care workforce plays a crucial role in helping people stay at home and maintain their independence for as long as possible. The government provides, through the Social Care Workforce Development Programme over £7 million per annum to support training for social care practitioners, including those working in home care. In addition, the government will require the registration of the domiciliary care workforce from 2020. This process will be underpinned by a significant programme of activity including training, review of the qualification framework and action on terms and conditions all aimed at improving domiciliary care in Wales. Supporting this will be the establishment of Social Care Wales in April next year. It will build on the success of the Care Council for Wales retaining responsibility for workforce regulation and workforce development, but crucially have new powers to drive strategic improvement across the sector.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What respite support is available to carers involved in supporting those who are eligible for home nursing care under Continuing Health Care arrangements? (WAQ71520)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What support does the Welsh Government expect to be provided to carers whose loved ones are eligible for continuing healthcare provided in the home? (WAQ71535)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): My Written Statement issued on 25 November sets out our commitment and support for all carers.
We are currently looking to refresh our Carers' Strategy to reflect the enhancements for carers in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. Initial discussions with carers and carers' groups have identified provision of respite care as a priority area for action and we will be exploring a national approach to respite care.
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 has strengthened the support for carers. It places a number of requirements on local authorities in relation to the support they provide for all carers in their communities, including those who care for people eligible for continuing healthcare. For the first time, carers have equal rights to those that they care for. These include:
- Carers no longer need to demonstrate that they provide a substantial amount of care to be recognised as a carer
- Local authorities are required to inform carers of their right to an assessment
- If the assessment identifies eligible needs, the local authority is required to meet those needs and put a statutory care plan in place, including the option of respite care
- Local authorities must ensure that carers can readily access information, advice and assistance about the type of support and services available in their community
- Local authorities must ensure that there are a range of preventative services available for people and carers to access for support
John Griffiths (Newport East): Will the Minister make a statement on the development of a strategy for the elimination of hepatitis C? (WAQ71532)
John Griffiths (Newport East): Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to ensure continued access to new, interferon-free hepatitis C treatments? (WAQ71533)
Answer received on 2 December 2016
Vaughan Gething: Both the Liver Disease Delivery Plan and the Substance Misuse Strategy for Wales 2008-2018 continue to build on the legacy of the Blood Borne Viral Hepatitis Action Plan for Wales 2010-2015.
The Liver Disease Implementation Group has prioritised equitable access to hepatitis treatments and, in collaboration with health boards, has developed and implemented a national access protocol.
We have made £12m available in 2015-16 to support the timely introduction of new medicines to treat hepatitis C and around 400 patients have already benefited from this investment. The access protocol targets existing treatment capacity at those with the greatest clinical need, and health boards are developing an informatics solution to monitor implementation.
The latest medicine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa®), has been appraised and recommended as an option for use within NHS Wales by the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group. Health boards have already begun planning to initiate patients onto this new medicine in line with the NHS Wales clinical prioritisation plan.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that there is an adequately skilled home care workforce in Wales which has sufficient personnel to meet the demands of the Welsh population? (WAQ71534)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): The Welsh Government recognises social care as a strategically important sector. Within that, the home care workforce plays a crucial role in helping people stay at home and maintain their independence for as long as possible. The government provides, through the Social Care Workforce Development Programme, £8.1m per annum to support training for social care practitioners, including those working in home care. In addition the government will require the registration of the domiciliary care workforce from 2020. This process will be underpinned by a significant programme of activity including training, review of the qualification framework and action on terms and conditions. Supporting this programme will be the creation of Social Care Wales, which comes into force in April next year, building on the success of the Care Council for Wales.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve the data collected on agricultural waste in Wales? (WAQ71522)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): Data on agricultural waste in Wales is submitted to the EU by Defra on behalf of all UK nations every two years. As agricultural waste represents a small proportion of the overall waste arisings in Wales, we have no plans at present to change this arrangement.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle Leptospirosis in cattle across Wales? (WAQ71523)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Leptospirosis in cattle is not a “notifiable” disease, it is endemic in Wales and GB. The Welsh Government take no action, it is a matter for the industry in consultation with their private vets.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's position on the use of genetically modified organisms in farming? (WAQ71524)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government continues to maintain a restrictive and precautionary approach to GM crop cultivation in Wales.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide the latest information on the number of animal welfare inspections carried out on farms across Wales in 2016? (WAQ71525)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: This information is not held centrally by the Welsh Government.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): How is the Welsh Government improving access to capital and training to support investment in fishing safety in Wales? (WAQ71526)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The safety of fishers at sea is a key tenet of the Welsh Government’s fisheries management policy. On 13 October I announced the Wales Seafood Strategy, which includes a clear commitment to improve fisher’s safety and minimise risks to them by working in partnership with the fishing industry and other marine regulators.
In line with our strategic priorities to support Health and Safety initiatives for the fishing industry, the Welsh Government has prioritised the relevant European Maritime and Fisheries Fund measures to enable relevant investments to progress. Article 32 is now open for applications which support the capital purchase of Health and Safety equipment on board fishing vessels.
Officials are currently working with Seafish Wales to establish a project under Article 29 to offer Health and Safety training and dissemination of professional health and safety skills and knowledge for those involved in the fishing industry.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm whether the Animal Welfare Network Wales intends to produce a draft code of practice for mobile animal exhibits? (WAQ71527)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): This matter should be taken up with the Animal Welfare Network Wales.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government will ensure a 30% increase in turnover for the Welsh seafood sector by 2025? (WAQ71528)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: An increase of 30% in the turnover in the Welsh Seafood Sector by 2025 is part of the vision and goals of the Wales Seafood Strategy. The Wales Seafood Strategy was incepted and developed by Seafish in partnership with the Welsh Government and the seafood industry.
At the Celebration of Welsh Seafood event on 13 October I welcomed this industry led strategy and pledged Welsh Government support to assist in reaching the visions and goals of the strategy where possible
Officials are working with Seafish and industry to develop an action plan to deliver the goals of the strategy. There will be opportunities for industry to apply for funding through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to develop their businesses, add value to catch, new product development and access new markets. There will also be opportunities for aquaculture businesses under EMFF to develop and promote their products.
In addition officials are working on consolidation of existing markets in Europe following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, and have identified priority new targets markets to facilitate growth and the goals of this industry led strategy.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What is the Welsh Government's position on increasing the maximum penalty for animal welfare offences and will the Minister publish a list of the representations that the Welsh Government has made on this issue? (WAQ71529)
Answer received on 2 December 2016
Lesley Griffiths: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be placed on the internet.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's position on pet cemeteries in Wales? (WAQ71530)
Answer received on 30 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government does not have a position on pet cemeteries. Pet cemeteries are required to be registered with and regulated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency under the Animal By-Products Regulations.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's position on the calls made by the UK Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee for the Crown Prosecution Service to take over the role of prosecutor for animal welfare cases? (WAQ71531)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government value the role RSPCA Cymru carries out in Wales, including education, rehabilitation, rehoming and investigations of potential breaches of animal welfare legislation.