Written Assembly Questions tabled on 23 October 2014 for answer on 30 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 First Minister
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire: (Angela Burns)How does the Minister intend to increase the number of Welsh speakers in Wales if cuts are to be made to the education budget in 2015-16? (WAQ67906)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
The First Minister of Wales (Carwyn Jones): The Welsh Government is committed to developing Welsh-medium education in Wales as a key means of increasing the number of Welsh speakers. Our Welsh-medium Education Strategy outlines how we approach this and provides both short and long term targets, against which we can measure our progress. The latest annual report detailing the progress made in 2013-14 was published on 17 July.
The budget cuts will have a minimal impact on the implementation of the Welsh-medium Education Strategy. Funding is being prioritised to areas where the greatest impact can be achieved and some activity will be completed over a longer period of time. As the Welsh language is a cross cutting theme; in addition to the budget specifically allocated to implementing the Strategy, other budgets within the Department for Education and Skills support the development of Welsh within the education system. Although not easily quantified the total monetary support for the Welsh language in education is significantly higher.
The Welsh Education Strategic Plans (WESPs), which we have made a statutory requirement on all local authorities, are designed to improve the planning, delivery and standards of Welsh-medium education. Local authorities will need to prioritise provision and make best use of resources available to support Welsh-medium learning and implement their WESPs.
Funding previously offered via the Welsh in Education Grant will form part of the Education Improvement Grant, providing one funding stream for schools from 2015-16, with the aim of delivering a simplified grant system that will lead to more flexibility around funding and ultimately better outcomes for our learners.
In addition, work is continuing to improve the teaching of Welsh second language in schools, which will increase the number of pupils that can use Welsh outside the classroom, in their communities and in future employment. Professor Graham Donaldson is currently undertaking a review of the National Curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales. Any potential changes to the Welsh second language curriculum will reflect the Welsh Government's commitment in the Welsh-medium Education Strategy to improve standards in Welsh second language to enable young people to become competent Welsh speakers in the future.
The Welsh Government is also committed to supporting those who can speak Welsh to find opportunities to use Welsh in their daily lives. In August 2014, I published the Welsh Government's response to Y Gynhadledd Fawr, through a policy statement – A living language: language for living – Moving Forward (Bwrw Mlaen). This policy statement clearly sets the Welsh Government's agenda in relation to the Welsh language over the next three years.
The emphasis in Bwrw Mlaen is on action and delivery to support and strengthen position of the Welsh language. The document identifies four themes for action of the next three years:
- The need to strengthen the links between the economy and the Welsh language.
- The need for better strategic planning for the Welsh language.
- The use of Welsh in the community.
- The challenge of changing linguistic behaviour.
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline exactly what she is doing to tackle age discrimination in the workplace in Wales? (WAQ67918)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty: (Lesley Griffiths): Given the cross cutting nature of equality and inclusion, action to tackle discrimination for all protected characteristics including age is mainstreamed and embedded across Welsh Government. This reflects the commitment of all Ministers to tackle barriers to equality and take concerted cross-portfolio action to make Wales a fairer and more inclusive place.
The Welsh Government's Strategy for Older People represents our cross Government vision to challenge discrimination and negative stereotypes of ageing.
The Welsh specific equality duties strengthen the approach to tackling discrimination in the workplace for all those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including on the grounds of age.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What discussions has the Minister had with Age Cymru and other interested parties with regards to combatting age discrimination in Wales? (WAQ67919)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
Lesley Griffiths: Age Cymru are represented on the Budget Advisory Group for Equality. The Finance Minister and I met the Group on 23 October to discuss equality considerations when making spending decisions.
Age Cymru are also represented on the newly established Hate Crime Independent Advisory Group, of which I am the Chair. This Group was established to advise me on progress of the implementation of 'Tackling Hate Crimes and Incidents: a Framework for Action'. The Independent Advisory Group met for the first time on 16 October.
To ask the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement outlining how the Welsh Government is working with Visit Wales and Visit Britain, to ensure that Wales does not continue to be undersold as a tourist destination? (WAQ67920)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism (Ken Skates): Wales is not undersold. The Great Britain Tourism Survey for the first six months of 2014 shows that the total volume of overnight trips made by GB residents to Wales (4.24 million) was up by 7.8% compared with the first six months of 2013; and well ahead of the results for GB as a whole (4.8% down). The amount which visitors spent while in Wales is also up by 2.1% while GB as a whole is down by 3.8%. Furthermore, the International Passenger Survey, undertaken by the Office for National Statistics, indicated that international visits to Wales (415,000) were 21% up during the first half of 2014 compared with 2013, while visits to the UK as a whole were 9% up.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): How much was budgeted for and how much was spent on the Young Recruits Programme for the financial years:
(a) 2010/11;
(b) 2011/12;
(c) 2012/13; and
(d) 2013/14 (WAQ67904)
Answer received 29 October 2014
The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (Julie James): The following table illustrates the budget and spend for the Young Recruits Programme for the years requested:
| YRP | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
| | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Budget | Part of the broader Learner Provision Budget* | 3,580,000 | 4,230,000 | 10,750,000 |
| Expenditure | 958,322 | 3,596,325 | 4,719,599 | 15,495,211 |
* As the programme commenced in 2010-11, no formal budget was allocated as part of the routine annual budget setting process. Rather, it was funded from the wider Work Based learning budget.
In each full year, due to the success of the programme, the budget was exceeded. The additional funds have come from the wider Work Based Learning budget.
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): How much was budgeted for and how much was spent on the Jobs Growth Wales programme for the financial years:
(a) 2010/11;
(b) 2011/12;
(c) 2012/13; and
(d) 2013/14? (WAQ67905)
Answer received 30 October 2014
Julie James: The Jobs Growth Wales Programme commenced in April 2012.. The original programme budget was £75 million over 3 financial years (2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/2015). This amount includes a European Social Fund (ESF) contribution..
Programme expenditure in 2012/2013 was £15,296,828 and in 2013/2014 was £24,574,431, including ESF. The Programme continues to deliver in the current financial year
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Which areas of education will be prioritised following the 2015-16 budget cuts? (WAQ67907)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis) The areas of prioritisation for Education and Skills are set out in the draft budget 2015-16 narrative. These continue to be set around the priorities for Government – Jobs and Growth, Educational Attainment, Supporting Children, Families and Deprived Communities and Health and Wellbeing.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister identify every bit of additional spending that has been made since the 2014-15 budget? (WAQ67908)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
Huw Lewis: There has been an increase in the resource budget of £12.3m, consisting of:
- £12.1m transfer from reserves for the Schools Challenge Cymru Programme
- £0.168m transferred in from the Department for Education for the funding of students in Wales on Initial Teacher Training courses with the Open University.
An increase is also expected to be required in the Annually Managed Expenditure budget as a result of revised student loan forecasts. This will be detailed in the Second Supplementary Budget.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Where has the additional money come from that has been spent on the education budget since the 2014-15 budget? (WAQ67909)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis) There has been an increase in the resource budget of £12.3m, consisting of:
- £12.1m transfer from reserves for the Schools Challenge Cymru Programme
- £0.168m transferred in from the Department for Education for the funding of students in Wales on Initial Teacher Training courses with the Open University
An increase is also expected to be required in the Annually Managed Expenditure budget as a result of revised student loan forecasts. This, including the source of funding, will be detailed in the Second Supplementary Budget.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail the steps taken to make the Independent Living Fund consultation accessible to all members of the public? (WAQ67901)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): Bilingual standard, everyday and easy read versions of the public consultation document on the Independent Living Fund (ILF) were made freely available on the Welsh Government's website on the day the consultation commenced. Alternative formats, such as large print, are also available on request.
We planned to provide a copy direct to all 1,686 ILF recipients in Wales, but the ILF are of the view that they are unable to provide us with the necessary contact details. They believe that they would have had to obtain each recipient's consent to provide us with that information.
As an alternative we provided the ILF and local authorities in Wales with a standard letter asking them to forward this to their clients. This letter provided a brief summary of the consultation, where it could be located on the Welsh Government's website and provided contact details should recipients wish to request a copy of any of the consultation documents we have issued. Over 50 recipients have so far contacted us as a result to request hard copies of the consultation document.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What measures has the Minister taken to ensure that users of the Independent Living Fund can respond to the current consultation on ending the fund? (WAQ67902)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
Mark Drakeford:
Bilingual standard, everyday and easy read versions of the public consultation document on the Independent Living Fund (ILF) were made freely available on the Welsh Government's website on the day the consultation commenced. Alternative formats, such as large print, are also available on request.
We planned to provide a copy direct to all 1,686 ILF recipients in Wales, but the ILF are of the view that they are unable to provide us with the necessary contact details. They believe that they would have had to obtain each recipient's consent to provide us with that information.
As an alternative we provided the ILF and local authorities in Wales with a standard letter asking them to forward this to their clients. This letter provided a brief summary of the consultation, where it could be located on the Welsh Government's website and provided contact details should recipients wish to request a copy of any of the consultation documents we have issued. Over 50 recipients have so far contacted us as a result to request hard copies of the consultation document.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the accessibility of information concerning the consultation on ending the Independent Living Fund? (WAQ67903)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
Mark Drakeford: Bilingual standard, everyday and easy read versions of the public consultation document on the Independent Living Fund (ILF) were made freely available on the Welsh Government's website on the day the consultation commenced. Alternative formats, such as large print, are also available on request.
We planned to provide a copy direct to all 1,686 ILF recipients in Wales, but the ILF are of the view that they are unable to provide us with the necessary contact details. They believe that they would have had to obtain each recipient's consent to provide us with that information.
As an alternative we provided the ILF and local authorities in Wales with a standard letter asking them to forward this to their clients. This letter provided a brief summary of the consultation, where it could be located on the Welsh Government's website and provided contact details should recipients wish to request a copy of any of the consultation documents we have issued. Over 50 recipients have so far contacted us as a result to request hard copies of the consultation document.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the cost per year to the NHS of one-use-only instruments? (WAQ67910)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister detail any recycling policy or process employed by the NHS for one-use-only instruments? (WAQ67911)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What are the specific costs involved in the recycling of one-use-only instruments used by the Welsh NHS? (WAQ67912)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What alternative options are being considered by the Welsh Government to prevent the wastage of one-use-only instruments used by the NHS? (WAQ67913)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister detail the reasons why one-use-only instruments are not collected and donated to those who may need them or make use of them? (WAQ67914)
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How much would it cost the NHS to sterilise used one-use-only instruments per year? (WAQ67915)
Answer received on 30 October 2014 (WAQ67910-15)
Mark Drakeford: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on the steps being taken by his department to ensure that the current vaccination programme against meningitis for children is being implemented effectively? (WAQ67917)
Answer received on 30 October 2015
Mark Drakeford: My Department, working with, and through the Wales Immunisation Group, Public Health Wales and health board immunisation co-ordinators, oversees a number of steps to ensure children are up to date with all scheduled vaccinations including public information campaigns, promotion of vaccinations in relevant settings and outreach programmes. Uptake of the MenC vaccine by two years of age is currently above the target of 95%.
To ask the Minister for Public Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister state (a) the exact number of Local Authorities that have completed the Job Evaluation process and (b) the exact number that have not? (WAQ67916)
Answer received on 30 October 2014
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews) 20 Authorities have completed job evaluation and achieved single status. Those Authorities which have settled their equal pay liabilities may still have claims being progressed through the legal system or could be subject to further claims as a result of emerging case law.