Answers issued to Members on 31 March 2009
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
Contents
Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister outline what plans, if any, the Welsh Government has for traffic congestion alleviation schemes for the town of Rhayader in Brecon and Radnorshire? (WAQ53837)
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): This is in Phase 2 of the Trunk Road Forward Programme. We plan to appoint consultants later this year to look at options.
Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister give an update on the development of the Newtown bypass in Montgomeryshire? (WAQ53848)
The Deputy First Minister: We are looking into options and a Public Consultation is programmed for September 2009.
Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister give an update on the development of the Four Crosses bypass in Montgomeryshire? (WAQ53849)
The Deputy First Minister: The project is scheduled to start construction by the end of the year.
Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister give an update on the development of the Middletown and Buttington road improvements? (WAQ53850)
The Deputy First Minister: The scheme is included in Phase 3 of the TRFP. There are still cross-border funding issues to be resolved and I have spoken to Lord Adonis Secretary of State for Transport.
Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister give an update on the Glan Dyfi road improvements in Montgomeryshire? (WAQ53851)
The Deputy First Minister: The detailed design of the scheme is being finalised and discussions are being concluded with Network Rail on outstanding retaining wall issues.
Subject to satisfactory outcomes on the above, it is currently anticipated that works will start later this financial year.
Eleanor Burnham (North Wales): Does the Minister hold powers to ensure rolling stock within the Welsh rail franchise is not diverted to the ATW commercial service from Aberystwyth, i.e. that the stock remains within the franchise routes and is not diverted to other routes? (WAQ53853)
The Deputy First Minister: My powers are to ensure that the services specified in the franchise agreement are run using appropriate rolling stock.
Eleanor Burnham (North Wales): Is the Minister aware of discussions between ATW and Virgin Trains regarding the release of timetable paths currently held by ATW and will he confirm the existence of Ministerial control/approval regarding the release of such paths? (WAQ53854)
The Deputy First Minister: ATW are examining potential conflicts between paths for their timetabled services and proposed Virgin Trains services included in the draft December 2009 timetable. ATW have indicated to officials that they have, as yet, had no discussions with Virgin Trains.
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the additional funding of 3.4 million announced on the 24th March help students with complex disability needs? (WAQ53863)
The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): Yes. It will support LEAs in delivering or securing statemented provision for young people with complex needs in post-16 special school and out of county provision. In Further Education it will support FEIs in meeting their obligations to learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD) in a mainstream learning environment. Learners with complex needs accessing parts of their learning in mainstream programmes will benefit.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the additional funding of 3.4 million announced on the 24th March cover pre-entry level of entry level courses and above? (WAQ53864)
Jane Hutt: Yes. Post-16 special school and out of county provision centres on learner need and includes courses at pre-entry and entry level.
The additional £2.3m allocated to colleges has been provided to augment supplementary funding which is intended to support learners who are on mainstream programmes and would not, therefore, cover pre-entry level courses.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the additional funding of 3.4 million announced on the 24th March be ring fenced in colleges? (WAQ53865)
Jane Hutt: Yes. Colleges have been provided with an additional £2.3m and this funding is provided to support individual, named learners. Colleges are required to account for supplementary funding via Certificates of Expenditure submitted to my Department at the end of each academic year.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister outline what criteria will be necessary for a young person to receive access funding? (WAQ53866)
Jane Hutt: Supplementary funding is based on a diagnostic assessment of learner need and is allocated to colleges on the basis of criteria published annually.
Provision for learners in special school and out of county provision is secured by LEAs on the basis of individual need and in accordance with learner statements of educational need.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the additional funding of 3.4 million announced on the 24th March cover specialist independence and social skills? (WAQ53867)
Jane Hutt: Yes. Specialist independence and social skills are included in what post-16 special and out of county schools provide.
In FE, some learners who receive support via supplementary funding in colleges may be receiving help with independence and social skills but as stated in the response to WAQ53863, supplementary funding is intended mainly to provide support to learners who are following mainstream programmes.
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister detail (a) which budget expenditure line covers the Communities First programme; and (b) any other programmes which this budget line funds? (WAQ53835)
The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery (Andrew Davies): The Communities First programme is funded from both the Communities Purposes and the Communities Purposes (Investment) budget lines, which relate to the revenue and capital elements respectively.
I will ask the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government to write to you with further details of expenditure from these budget lines.
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Dai Lloyd (South West Wales): When does the Minister intend to make a written or oral statement to the National Assembly on the recommendations of the current review on patient transport services? (WAQ53868)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): I expect the review group, led by Mr Win Griffiths, Chair of the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, to report before recess. I will release a cabinet statement once I have had time to consider the findings, in the context of the current NHS Reforms.