Written Assembly Questions tabled on 18 December 2015 for answer on 30 December 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 Education and Skills
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What provision has the Minister made for schools that have been classified as innovation schools under the new curriculum but are also likely to be inspected by Estyn during the same period? (WAQ69597)
Answer received on 22 December 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis):
The Pioneer Schools Network will be a key partner in the development of the new curriculum for Wales. Estyn will be involved in supporting the design and development of the new curriculum framework from the outset and Estyn can use the wide knowledge gained from curriculum reform to inform the development of new inspection arrangements from 2017.
From September 2016 there will be a more flexible approach to inspection by amending current regulations to allow Estyn to inspect schools and other providers once within a 7 year period instead of a 6 year period. This will apply for one inspection cycle and is designed to enable Estyn to be fully involved in shaping the new curriculum, to respond with more flexibility to inspections and to consider how best to deploy inspection resources where they are most needed.
However, there is a requirement in law that all schools in Wales are inspected and this is entirely appropriate. The purpose of inspection is to provide accountability to the users of services and other stakeholders through public reporting on providers. Estyn also promotes the spread of best practice in education and training through case studies, captured as part of the inspection process.
Estyn is an independent body and the Chief Inspector of Education and Training for Wales is responsible for inspection procedures under Estyn's Common Inspection Framework. Estyn inspections focus on what schools and providers are required by law to deliver. Any queries or concerns regarding inspection policies and procedures should be raised with Estyn directly at: Estyn, Anchor Court, Keen Road, Cardiff, CF24 5JW, telephone 02920 446446.
Aled Roberts (North Wales): Which of the 71 'Strategic Objective 1' pledges in the Qualified for Life timeline 2014-15 have been met? (WAQ69603)
Aled Roberts (North Wales): Which of the 26 'Strategic Objective 2' pledges in the Qualified for Life timeline 2014-15 have been met? (WAQ69604)
Aled Roberts (North Wales): Which of the 29 'Strategic Objective 3' pledges in the Qualified for Life timeline 2014-15 have been met? (WAQ69605)
Aled Roberts (North Wales): Which of the 58 'Strategic Objective 4' pledges in the Qualified for Life timeline 2014-15 have been met? (WAQ69606)
Aled Roberts (North Wales): Which of the 184 'Strategic Objective 1-4' pledges in the Qualified for Life timeline 2014-15 have not yet been met? (WAQ69607)
Answer received on 15 January 2016
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to increase the use of digital communications in Welsh schools? (WAQ69589)
Answer received on 22 December 2015
Huw Lewis: The Learning in Digital Wales programme has already provided all maintained schools in Wales with access to an extensive range of high-quality digital classroom tools and resources that support learners and teachers in transforming their classroom practices. Through these digital technologies, schools are now able to consistently communicate digitally with other schools and a range of stakeholders including parents and governors.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to increase the use of innovative technologies such as Skype or videoconferencing as a teaching tool in schools? (WAQ69590)
Answer received on 22 December 2015
Huw Lewis: One of the main applications within the Learning in Digital Wales programme is Microsoft Office 365. Every provisioned user has their own e-mail account, access to web-applications such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, a large online storage space called OneDrive and also provides teachers with access to Skype. Through Skype, teachers are able to digitally collaborate in an innovative and seamless way that has not previously been possible.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to increase the use of SMS as a form of communication between schools and parents? (WAQ69591)
Answer received on 22 December 2015
Huw Lewis: Individual schools are best placed to select the most appropriate method of communicating with their parents. However, there are already a range of alternative digital communication tools provided to all maintained schools in Wales through the Learning in Digital Wales programme. These include a fully bilingual public-facing school website, an e-mail platform and providing access to parents in conjunction with their children to the range of digital tools. Additionally, a range of training and support opportunities for schools are being provided to ensure they can capitalise on this investment.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to use more multimedia sharing systems in schools? (WAQ69592)
Answer received on 22 December 2015
Huw Lewis: The Learning in Digital Wales programme provides all maintained schools in Wales with access to a range of different collaboration and sharing opportunities. This includes Hwb Networks, an on-line community of Hwb teachers who can establish a collaboration space to share lesson plans, digital content and digital discussions. Additionally, Hwb's Playlist application allows teachers to aggregate content from a range of digital sources including Hwb, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Image Quest, YouTube and other web sources into a full lesson plan which can include quizzes and assessments.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to make e-mail the default communication from schools to parents? (WAQ69593)
Answer received on 22 December 2015
Huw Lewis: Individual schools are best placed to select the most appropriate method of communicating with their parents. There are already a range of digital communication tools provided to all maintained schools in Wales through the Learning in Digital Wales programme. This includes providing e-mail accounts for every provisioned user and a range of training and support opportunities for schools to ensure they can capitalise on this investment.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide a list of Delivery partners across the public, private, Higher and Further Education sectors collaborating on activities of the Swansea Bay City Region Board? (WAQ69594)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): On what date will the Welsh Government publish the new terms of reference of the Swansea Bay city Region Board on its website? (WAQ69595)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): When will the proposed Membership of the Swansea Bay City Region Board, as indicated on 11 December 2015, be finalised? (WAQ69596)
Answer received on 15 January 2016
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): The Swansea Bay City Region Board is taking an open, pragmatic and practical approach to working with a range of stakeholders on delivery and as such it is not working from a prescribed 'list' that includes some stakeholders and by definition excludes others. This is in keeping with Sir Terry's style of leadership as Chair of the Board and his eagerness to work with people and organisations from across public and private sectors in the region and beyond. I expect to be in a position to confirm the membership of the Board and publish its Terms of Reference early in the New Year.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide details of all trialled changes to the traffic management system relating to the improvement works at the Penmaenbach Tunnel in the A55, including the changes made, the dates and times of the trial, and the resulting outcomes? (WAQ69599)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline how the public will be consulted on future improvement works to the A55? (WAQ69600)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What changes have been made to the traffic management system relating to the ongoing roadworks at the Penmaenbach Tunnel on the A55 as a result of consultation by the Minister, North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency Officials and local residents, including the Mayor of Penmaenmawr? (WAQ69601)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Further to WAQ69429, and with additional reference to the incidents which occurred near the Penmaenbach Tunnel on the A55 on 8 December 2015, what further assessment has the Minister made of the impact of these roadworks on traffic flow? (WAQ69602)
Answer received on 15 January 2016
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): We trialled a number of changes to the traffic management arrangements within Conwy tunnel. For example, we set red crosses over lane two of the tunnel to try to keep traffic moving in lane one, instead of holding all traffic at the tunnel approach. Many drivers disobeyed those signals and we had to revert to the original arrangements. We also installed a journey time measurement system and, as a result, we reduced the length of traffic management on the westbound approach to Penmaenbach tunnel on Friday afternoons, which helped journey times.
The tunnel lighting works are now complete and the current phase of street lighting works outside the tunnel will be completed overnight in January. We will inform the public of future works using press notices, the Traffic Wales website, and roadside signs. My officials will contact the Community Councils most affected by future works in advance of any scheme that requires daytime traffic management. For major projects, such as junction 15 and 16 improvements works, we will hold Public Information Exhibitions and public consultations.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the establishment of a single tier 2 sponsor for visa purposes for junior doctors from overseas working in the Welsh NHS to prevent unnecessary visa renewal charges for those moving from one Welsh NHS employer to another? (WAQ69598)
Answer received on 15 January 2016
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): The Welsh Government is working with the Wales Deanery and NHS Wales to agree the appropriate arrangements for a single sponsor for tier two visas for junior doctors in Wales. A number of options have been identified and the advantages and disadvantages of each option have been considered by NHS Wales workforce and OD directors.
Work is being undertaken to ensure the option taken forward best meets the needs of NHS Wales.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide a per annum breakdown of the number of out-of-area placements for mental health care over the past five years? (WAQ69608)
Answer received on 15 january 2016
Mark Drakeford: Data for out-of-area placements is held by individual health boards and by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee.
Information is available in the NHS Wales Collaborative Commissioning annual report, which covers the NHS Wales national collaborative framework for adult mental health and learning disability hospitals. The 2014-15 report is available at:
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide a per annum breakdown of funding for general practice care over the past five years including that allocated within the draft budget 2016-17, and the percentage share of this spending on general practice care from total NHS spending for each year? (WAQ69609)
Answer received on 15 January 2016
Mark Drakeford:I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.