Written Assembly Questions tabled on 22 October 2014 for answer on 29 October 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 Health and Social Services
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister Commission the OECD to make a full independent assessment of the health service in Wales, as was the case with education? (WAQ67897)
Answer received on 29 October 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): We remain committed to securing in an OECD review of healthcare quality systems in Wales. Officials have indicated to the OECD that we will proceed as soon as possible, either as part of the four nation review or as a single country within the wider series of OECD reviews.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What is the value and predicted value of the pharmaceutical industry's PPRS payments to the Welsh budget in each of the financial years from 2013/14 to 2019/20? (WAQ67898)
Answer received on 29 October 2014
Mark Drakeford: The value of the Wales PPRS payment received for 2013-14 was £8,576,505.69.
As advised in response to your earlier written question, for 2014-15 and for future years, discussions are continuing at UK level on the most equitable method of calculating the apportionment.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What was the cost of the Minister's letter to every member of staff in the Welsh NHS on 21 October 2014, including postage, and how many letters were sent? (WAQ67899)
Answer received on 29 October 2014
Mark Drakeford: There were no costs associated with the distribution of my letter to all NHS Staff. The letter was sent out electronically from the Chief Executive of NHS Wales to NHS Chairs and Chief Executives to share with staff through usual communication channels.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What rules are in place to prevent party political correspondence being sent to NHS staff? (WAQ67900)
Answer received on 29 October 2014
Mark Drakeford: Such matters are covered by the Civil Service Code and the Ministerial Code found at;
Ministerial Code: http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/code2011/?lang=en