Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of private finance initiatives by the Welsh Assembly Government for each year since 1999? (WAQ51004)

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): The Welsh Assembly Government has not entered any PFI contracts since 1999. It has however, honoured an existing commitment to support specific local government schemes that demonstrate and deliver best value.

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): When will towns in Wales be able to bid to become a sustainable travel town? (WAQ50917)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): There is no change to the answer that I gave you to WAQ50476 in October last year.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): How many jobs will be created for local people as a result of the proposed military academy at St. Athan? (WAQ50957)

The Deputy First Minister: The project is expected to create significant supply-chain opportunities for local businesses both during the construction and operational phases of the defence training academy. The precise number of jobs, both direct and indirect, will not be known until current contractual negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and the Metrix consortium about the latter’s training and estate solutions have been completed.

Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): What assessment has been made of the additional infrastructure requirement in the St. Athan area that will be needed to support the proposed military training facility? (WAQ50958)

The Deputy First Minister: The St Athan development brief, approved by the Vale of Glamorgan Council in July 2006, sets out the likely impact of the proposed development on the local infrastructure. Fuller assessments will be included when formal planning applications are submitted, for example a full transport impact assessment, which will be subject to the usual local consultation under the planning procedure. In addition, the Welsh Assembly Government is working with all partners, including local public and voluntary service providers, through the local service board, to co-ordinate consideration of their infrastructure development as a result of the proposed project.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister outline a timetable for all maintenance or improvement work being carried out on the A470? (WAQ50961)

The Deputy First Minister: We will be continuing with our programmes of smaller scale works to maintain and improve the condition and safety of the A470 throughout Wales. This is an ongoing process.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister outline his plans for the A470? (WAQ50962)

The Deputy First Minister: An announcement on north-south road schemes, which involves the A470, will be made in the spring of 2008.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within their department? (WAQ50967) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ51003) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I am responding to the listed questions on behalf of all my Cabinet colleagues. The Welsh Assembly Government has not entered any PFI contracts since 1999. We have, however, honoured an existing commitment to support specific local government schemes that demonstrate and deliver best value.

David Melding (South Wales Central): When was the last time that the Business Partnership Council met? (WAQ51005)

The Deputy First Minister: The Business Partnership Council last met on 9 March 2007.

Michael German (South East Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on when the Ebbw Vale Railway line is due to open? (WAQ51015)

The Deputy First Minister: The project team continue to work to resolve outstanding issues, with a view to starting passenger services as soon as possible. A statement will be made when those issues have been resolved. Arriva Trains Wales is continuing driver training and I understand that that is progressing satisfactorily.

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What assessment has the Minister made of the statistics published by the National Association of Headteachers regarding local authorities’ spending on education? (WAQ51016)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): Local authorities set budgets for schools and other local services, out of funding provided in the local government settlement, and are accountable for those decisions. Authorities are responsible for spending their allocations year on year.

The NAHT statistics were based on the union’s own analysis of the budget returns required of local authorities under section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

The Assembly Government publishes its own annual statistical analysis of section 52 returns. Information on local authority education budgets set for 2007-08 was published in August 2007 and is available at: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/theme/loc-gov/educa/?lang=en.

The key points of the analysis were:

• education net revenue budgets (excluding grant for post-16 school provision) increased by £73 million to £2,006 million in 2007-08;

• gross schools expenditure (inclusive of expenditure financed by specific government grant including grant for post-16 provision) was budgeted to increase by 5.8 per cent to £2.211 million in 2007-08;

• individual schools budgets increased by 4.1 per cent (£67 million) to £1,683 million;

• budgeted schools expenditure for 2007-08 equated to an average of £4,757 per pupil, an increase of 7.4 per cent on 2006-07.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within his department? (WAQ50989) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ50988) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I am responding to the listed questions on behalf of all my Cabinet colleagues. The Welsh Assembly Government has not entered any PFI contracts since 1999. We have however, honoured an existing commitment to support specific local government schemes that demonstrate and deliver best value.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within his department? (WAQ50974) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ50973) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within her department? (WAQ50969) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ50968) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within her department? (WAQ50984) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ50983) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What action is the Minister taking to improve the standard and availability of cardiac rehabilitation care? (WAQ51008)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): Cardiac rehabilitation should form an integral part of the care plan for patients with established coronary heart disease and we are developing a specific standard in the updated coronary heart disease national service framework, which aims to ensure equity of access to high quality services across Wales. As a major step towards achieving this, I am ring fencing funding within the 2008-09 local health board annual funding allocations to ensue that cardiac rehabilitation projects funded by the inequalities in health fund and the Big Lottery fund will continue and become part of mainstream NHS cardiac care.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What action is the Minister taking to ensure better access to medical care for Charcot-Marie-Tooth sufferers, including diagnosis, treatment and on-going care in both children and adult services? (WAQ51009)

Edwina Hart: I recognise that Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a very debilitating and painful condition. The provision of services for patients with CMT across Wales requires careful collaboration across a number of specialities including genetics, neurosciences, respiratory medicine, cardiology, spinal orthopaedics and appliances. Local health boards and Health Commission Wales are involved in commissioning components of care and are responsible for developing plans for co-ordinating that care across different specialities.

You will know that I announced an independent review into adult neurosciences services in Wales and I refer you to the letter that I sent you on the terms of reference for the review of 7 December 2007 for further information. The outcome of this review is intended to lead to improved access to services, including many of those that patients with CMT need.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What action is the Minister taking to ensure the delivery of services, through a specialised neuromuscular centre, giving support, training and clinical leadership, to a network of local clinics across Wales? (WAQ51010)

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What action is the Minister taking to ensure all neuromuscular clinics have specialised multi-disciplinary teams to provide all their patients with a comprehensive level of care and best medical practice? (WAQ51011)

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): What action is the Minister taking to ensure that neuromuscular services are acknowledged as specialised services that need to be commissioned appropriately? (WAQ51012)

Edwina Hart: The provision of services for patients with neuromuscular disease across Wales requires careful collaboration across a number of specialties including neurosciences, respiratory medicine, cardiology, spinal orthopaedics, genetics and appliances. Local health boards and Health Commission Wales are responsible for co-ordinating that care across different specialties to ensure that patients have access to comprehensive multi-disciplinary and specialised services.

Neuromuscular diseases in children are being considered as part of the children and young people’s specialised services project and will form part of the formal managed clinical network for neurosciences. In terms of adult services, these will form part of the independent review of adult neurosciences for the people of Wales. This review is likely to consider the role of informal and formal networks in the delivery of services.

Michael German (South East Wales): Will the Minister please list the names of members of the team of experts who will look into variations in the Grogan effect across Wales? (WAQ51013)

Edwina Hart: An independent advisory group will be established shortly to review the application and costs of continuing NHS healthcare in all LHB areas in Wales. The group is expected to report its findings by the end of May 2008. The membership of this group and its terms of reference have not yet been agreed but will include senior representatives from across health and social services. I will make public the details when they are finalised.

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Google petition relating to the Wyeside Arts Centre been presented to the Minister and, if so, does the Minister plan to respond to it? (WAQ50931)

The Minister for Heritage (Rhodri Glyn Thomas): The Google petition has not been presented to me, but I am aware of it and the concerns surrounding the future of the Wyeside Arts Centre.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): How does the Minister prioritise funding between community arts centres and projects such as the Wales Millennium Centre? (WAQ50932)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: The funding package recently announced for the WMC is additional funding for the heritage portfolio and has not been taken from the funding to support the arts in Wales. As you are aware, Welsh Assembly Government funding for the arts is channelled via the Arts Council of Wales, working within the strategic framework of the Welsh Assembly Government. In accordance with the arm’s-length funding principle, I do not interfere in the individual funding decisions of the Arts Council of Wales.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the demographic make up of visitors to the Wales Millennium Centre and the Wyeside Arts Centre respectively? (WAQ50933)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Information on the demographic characteristics of visitors to Wyeside Arts Centre and WMC is not held by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Wales Millennium Centre holds data on the demographic characteristics of its paying audiences, including their location, expenditure patterns, socio economic profiles and artistic interests. It also runs regular surveys of its non-paying, foyer audiences.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the rising costs of the Wyeside Arts Centre? (WAQ50934)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: I am aware that Wyeside Arts Centre is in discussions with Powys County Council and the Arts Council of Wales regarding its financial position. However, in accordance with the arm’s-length funding principle it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in individual funding decisions of the Arts Council of Wales.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with the arts council to increase funding for the Wyeside Arts Centre? (WAQ50935)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: I have regular discussions with the Arts Council of Wales on a range of issues, including its strategies for developing and supporting the arts in Wales. It is for the Arts Council of Wales to determine funding allocations to arts organisations.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with Powys County Council to increase funding for the Wyeside Arts Centre? (WAQ50936)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: I am aware of the concerns surrounding the future of the Wyeside Arts Centre. While the Arts Council of Wales regularly engages with local authorities on arts provision, the level of funding provided by local authorities to individual organisations is a matter for them.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail any correspondence with relevant bodies with regard to the Wyeside Arts Centre? (WAQ50937)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: I am aware of the concerns surrounding the future of the Wyeside Arts Centre and have received various pieces of correspondence from interested individuals and organisations. All of my correspondence has outlined that Welsh Assembly Government funding for the arts is channelled via the Arts Council of Wales and in accordance with the arm’s-length funding principle it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in individual funding decisions.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made an investigation into what effect the closure of the Wyeside Arts Centre will have on the tourist industry of mid Wales? (WAQ50938)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: I am aware of the concerns surrounding the future of the Wyeside Arts Centre. In considering its position, Powys County Council will no doubt take into account the potential impact on the local community, economy and tourist industry should the arts centre close.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the impact the closure of the Wyeside Arts Centre will have on other arts projects in Wales? (WAQ50939)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: The Arts Council of Wales takes decisions on funding allocations to individual arts organisations, working within the context of its strategies for the development and promotion of the arts in Wales. In considering its position, the Arts Council of Wales will no doubt take into account the impact on the provision of arts services in the region should the arts centre close.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made comparisons between the Wyeside Arts Centre and similar institutions overseas? (WAQ50940)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: No. Welsh Assembly Government funding for the arts in Wales is channelled via the Arts Council of Wales. The Arts Council of Wales takes decisions on funding allocations to individual arts organisations, working within the context of its strategies for the development and promotion of the arts in Wales.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made comparisons between the Wyeside Arts Centre and similar institutions in the United Kingdom? (WAQ50941)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made comparisons between the Wyeside Arts Centre and similar institutions in Wales? (WAQ50942)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made a comparison between the Wyeside Arts Centre and the Wales Millennium Centre in terms of encouraging the local population to attend events held there? (WAQ50943)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Any benchmarking exercise to assess the Wales Millennium Centre’s success in attracting audiences would need to focus on comparing WMC’s performance against equivalent venues elsewhere, that is large scale lyric theatres with a similar seating capacity and ambition.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made a comparison between the Wyeside Arts Centre and the Wales Millennium Centre in terms of encouraging people from the UK to attend events held there? (WAQ50944)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made a comparison between the Wyeside Arts Centre and the Wales Millennium Centre in terms of encouraging people from overseas to attend there? (WAQ50945)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Assembly Government’s policy on community arts centres? (WAQ50946)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: As I outlined in my response to Kirsty Williams in WAQ50861 on 21 January 2008, the Welsh Assembly Government is committed to supporting community arts centres and other arts venues throughout the whole of Wales.

We fully recognise the important role played by community arts centres in promoting and encouraging inclusion and participation. As you are aware, Welsh Assembly Government funding and support for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales, working with the strategic framework of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Arts Council of Wales currently provides support to a number of regional arts centres in Mid Wales, including the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Theatr Brycheiniog, Oriel Davies and Theatr Hafren. These and other community organisations in mid Wales also benefit from the £2 million funding that the Welsh Assembly Government provides specifically for 'Arts Outside Cardiff’ activity.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the number of visitors to the Wales Millennium Centre and the Wyeside Arts Centre, as a proportion of the annual cost of each? (WAQ50947)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Any benchmarking exercise to assess the value for money obtained from funding the Wales Millennium Centre would need to focus on comparing WMC’s performance with equivalent venues elsewhere, that is large scale lyric theatres with a similar seating capacity and ambition.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the Wyeside Arts Centre’s criteria for success as defined by the Arts Council and Powys County Council, and whether they have been successful in achieving these? (WAQ50948)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: It is for the Arts Council of Wales and Powys County Council to set and assess the performance criteria for grant recipients.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the mechanisms of deciding grant distribution in Wales to projects related to the arts? (WAQ50949)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: The Welsh Assembly Government’s funding for the arts is channelled via the Arts Council of Wales, working within the strategic framework of the Welsh Assembly Government. Details of the Arts Council of Wales’s funding schemes can be found on its website at www.artswales.org.uk.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Has the Minister made an investigation into what effect the closure of the Wyeside Arts Centre will have on the hotel business in Builth Wells? (WAQ50950)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: I am aware of the concerns surrounding the future of the Wyeside Arts Centre. In considering its position, Powys County Council will no doubt take into account the potential impact on the local economy and the tourism accommodation sector should the arts centre close.

Michael German (South Wales East): Will the Minister outline the Welsh Assembly Government’s policies regarding culturally diverse music in local communities and the funding attributable to it? WAQ50959)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Welsh Assembly Government funding for the arts is channelled via the Arts Council of Wales, including support for music. The Arts Council of Wales allocated £5.8 million to support music organisations and festivals in 2006-07, including support for Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod and Trac, Music Traditions Wales.

The Arts Council of Wales has engaged widely with partners and organisations in developing a range of art form strategies, including a music strategy. The draft strategy recognises that the make-up of modern day Wales reflects many cultures characterised by distinctive music, and stresses the arts council’s commitment to making this more visible and heard. The strategies are currently out for public consultation and will be discussed at the next meeting of the arts strategy board.

Michael German (South Wales East): Will the Minister outline the Welsh Assembly Government’s policies regarding culturally diverse music education and the funding attributable to it?(WAQ50960)

The Arts Council of Wales regularly engages with local authorities on a range of arts issues. However, it is for local authorities to determine the level of support they give music services in their area, based on their own understanding of local needs and priorities. The Welsh Assembly Government would, however, expect local authorities to give appropriate consideration to ensuring that they build on the good practice supported by initiatives such as the music development fund.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within his department? (WAQ50999) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ50998) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within her department? (WAQ50994) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ50993) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Lorraine Barrett (Cardiff South and Penarth): Will the Minister make a statement on social enterprise in Wales? (WAQ50926)

The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government (Brian Gibbons): I presented 'The Third Dimension’, a strategy for the third sector, to Plenary on 13 November 2007. 'The Third Dimension’ is now the overarching document for the voluntary sector and the social enterprise sector, containing specific references to the Welsh Assembly Government’s social enterprise strategy for Wales, launched in 2005.

In order to further support the delivery of the social enterprise strategy for Wales and to accelerate the growth of the social enterprise sector in Wales, I have asked officials to refresh the social enterprise strategy for Wales by developing an action plan, setting out key milestones from the original strategy and building on policy statements and commitments within 'The Third Dimension’.

Lorraine Barrett (Cardiff South and Penarth): Will the Minister detail any consideration he or his officials have given to the possibility of introducing a social enterprise mark in Wales? (WAQ50927)

Brian Gibbons: Officials are currently working on a refresh of the social enterprise strategy for Wales, which will result in an action plan to drive forward the acceleration of the growth of the sector.

The use of a social enterprise mark is currently being piloted in the south west of England, therefore, the potential benefits to business are unknown and untested. Opinions on the benefit of a social enterprise mark are divided within the social enterprise sector. We look forward to learning of the results from the pilot exercise in due course.

Lorraine Barrett (Cardiff South and Penarth): Will the Minister make a statement on the benefits for business in Wales by the development of a social enterprise mark? (WAQ50928)

Brian Gibbons: The use of a social enterprise mark is currently being piloted in the south west of England, therefore, the potential benefits to business are unknown and untested. Opinions on the benefit of a social enterprise mark are divided within the social enterprise sector. We look forward to learning of the results from the pilot exercise in due course.

Lorraine Barrett (Cardiff South and Penarth): Will the Minister make a statement on the benefits for the promotion of corporate social responsibility in Wales by the development of a social enterprise mark? (WAQ50929)

Brian Gibbons: The use of a social enterprise mark is being piloted in the south west of England. My officials, in conjunction with the social enterprise sector in Wales, will assess the results of that pilot in due course.

Progress continues to be made on the promotion of corporate social responsibility. The Department of Enterprise and Transport is looking within its business engagement strategy to promote the benefits of corporate social responsibility to Welsh businesses and is also looking at possible links to the promotion of social clauses.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the future use of PFI within his department? (WAQ50979) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What use has been made of PFI in the Minister’s department since 1999? (WAQ50978) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

30/01/2008 - Answers issued to Members on 30 January 2008

Answers issued to Members on 30 January 2008

Questions to the First Minister