Written Assembly Questions tabled on 23 October 2015 for answer on 30 October 2015
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 the Economy, Science and Transport
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What analysis has the Minster made of the causes for the increase in the number of accidents on the A55 in the last three years? (WAQ69338)
Answer received on 30 October 2015
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): Comparison of the 2010-2012 and 2011-2013 collision rates shows an improvement in the collision rates on the A55. We are in the process of undertaking this comparison for 2012-2014.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
David Rees (Aberavon): Will the Minister provide detail as to what action the Welsh Government is taking to monitor the implementation of the Employment Practices on Publicly Funded Projects Procurement Advice Note (PAN) for the Public Sector in Wales, announced on 11 March 2015? (WAQ69337)
Answer received on 3 November 2015
The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt): Principle nine of the Wales Procurement Policy Statement requires the Welsh public sector to deploy procurement policy in all relevant contracts and I will monitor adoption of our policies through the introduction of an annual return. In addition I regularly meet with social partners to understand first hand the impact of policies on the ground.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
David Melding (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the experience of siblings in the care system and set out, for the previous 3 years:
i) how many looked-after children are separated from their siblings when in care;
ii) how many looked-after children received help to maintain contact with separated siblings; and
iii) how many foster carers received training or other support to provide care placements for siblings? (WAQ69336)
Answer received on 3 November 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
This information is not collected or held centrally.
Where possible, local authorities will try to keep siblings together when in care, if this is in the best interests of each child. The arrangements for contact between a child in care and any siblings will be set out in the child's care and support plan and monitored as part of the statutory review process.
It is for the local authority or independent fostering agency to determine the training needs of foster carers, including training about fostering siblings.
While this sets out the current position, I am taking these matters up as part of a wider review of our approach to looked after children and will write to the Member with further details, when they are available.