Written Assembly Questions for answer on 3 March 2003

R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest. W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Glyn Davies (Mid and West ); How many people in Mid and have been waiting for treatment at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hall Memorial Hospital for a period of over 12 months. (WAQ22860)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); How many people in Wales have been waiting for ‘orthopaedic treatment for a period of more than 12 months. (WAQ22861)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); How many people in , and North Wales have been waiting for ‘orthopaedic treatment for over 12 months. (WAQ22862)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What resources are available to help fund mini assessment centres catering for autistic children and others with special educational needs, to be used on a non-residential day to day basis on . (WAQ22863)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What plans are there to increase funding to allow qualified speech therapists to move ahead speedily through the salary banding system (WAQ22864)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Please give detail of the salary banding system for qualified speech therapists in Wales. (WAQ22865)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What funding is allocated to attract newly qualified speech therapists to North Wales and Anglesey and what incentives are in place for newly qualified therapists to specialise in autism. (WAQ22866)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Has there been an increase or a decrease over the last five years in the number of places available for students undertaking speech therapy courses, and what are the figures involved. (WAQ22867)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many places in speech therapy courses are offered each year and how many students are currently undertaking the course. (WAQ22868) Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many centres in Wales offer training for speech therapy students. (WAQ22869)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many qualified speech therapists are employed by the North West Wales NHS trust and how many have expertise with autism. (WAQ22870)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What steps are being taken to increase the numbers of speech therapists for North Wales. (WAQ22871)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What plans are there for establishing a Centre for the study of speech therapy in North Wales. (WAQ22872)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can you please confirm that speech therapy is an NHS vocational course and as such, does not attract course fees. (WAQ22873)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many children on Anglesey require speech therapy and what percentage receive regular input.(WAQ22874)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What resources are available to promote speech therapy as a career in North Wales. (WAQ22875)

Ron Davies (Caerphilly); When does she expect to approve the Strategy Outline Context for the replacement for Caerphilly District Miners Hospital. (WAQ22876)

Ron Davies (Caerphilly); What is her timetable for consideration & approval of the outline Business Case for the replacement for Caerphilly District Miners Hospital. (WAQ22877)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many beds are provided in the EMI Unit/Glasmor Ward at Penrhos Stanley Hospital, . (WAQ22878)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many beds in the EMI Unit/ Glasmor Ward at Penrhos Stanley Hospital, Holyhead, are allocate for long-term geriatric or psychiatric care. (WAQ22879)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Please can you confirm that the EMI Unit/ Glasmor Ward at Penrhos Stanley hospital is intended for assessment of patients with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease or associated conditions. (WAQ22880)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Would you please confirm that the EMI Unit/Glasmor Ward of Penrhos Stanley hospital is the only assessment unit within the North West Wales NHS Trust offering facilities for patients with Alzheimer’s disease in North Wales/Anglesey. (WAQ22881) Peter Rogers (North Wales); Would you please confirm if there are currently in-patients occupying assessment beds on Glasmor Ward/ EMI Unit at Penrhos Stanley hospital, who have occupied those beds for between 2 and 7 years. (WAQ22882)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Please can you confirm if there is one in-patient currently occupying a bed intended for assessment purposes at the EMI Unit/Glasmor Ward at Penrhos Stanley Hospital, who has occupied the bed for a total of 7 years. (WAQ22883)

Alun Pugh ( West); Will the Minister make a statement on the implications to Pharmacies in Wales of the proposals by the Office of Fair Trading to remove restrictions on entry to the community pharmacy market. (WAQ22884)

David Melding (South Wales Central); If the Minister has any plans to review the regulations governing the physical standards of care homes. (WAQ22924)

David Melding (South Wales Central); If the Minister will make a statement on the NHS Regional Office for South East Wales. (WAQ22925)

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West); How many GP vacancies in Wales have remained unfilled for the last 6 months and how many have remained unfilled for the last 10 months. (WAQ22931)R

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West); From the latest figures available, what is the average time period for a GP vacancy in Wales to be filled. (WAQ22932)R

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West); According to every local authority in Wales, presently how many nursing care beds lie empty and how many residential care beds lie empty. (WAQ22933) R

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West); Will the Minister provide a breakdown, according to each local authority of the 1,073 delayed transfers of care that were identified for January 2003 in Wales. (WAQ22934)R

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr); According to every NHS trust, how many international nurses the NHS in Wales has employed in year since1998. (WAQ22935)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr); How many international nurses left the NHS in Wales before fulfilling their contracts and how many of these were required to pay financial penalties as a result. (WAQ22936)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr); How many international nurses employed by the NHS apply for an extension to their original contact and how many renew their original contracts. (WAQ22937)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr); What are the average recruitment costs of hiring an international nurse to the NHS in Wales and how does this compare to the average recruitment costs of hiring returnee nurses to the NHS in Wales. (WAQ22938)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr); For every year since 1998 how many returnee nurses have returned to the NHS in Wales, and how many of these work as full-time and part-time employees. (WAQ22939)

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr); According to each NHS trust and for each year since 1998, how many nurses have been employed by the NHS in Wales via an agency and what was the total cost for the NHS in Wales. (WAQ22940)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); What is the target for ambulance response times throughout Wales, and how far does the response time in Breconshire vary from the norm, and if it does vary adversely from the norm, what measures are being put in place to address this shortfall service. (WAQ22945)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); What are the current response times for our 999 calls for the ambulance service in Brecon, and what were the comparative response times for the years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. (WAQ22946)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); How many trained paramedics are available in the ambulance service in Breconshire. (WAQ22947)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); What ambulance cover is available in the Brecon area if the Brecon and Ystradgynlais ambulances are out of the area. (WAQ22948)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); What ambulance cover is available in Breconshire when the Brecon ambulance is out of the station. (WAQ22949)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); Could the Minister please state what ambulance cover is available in Brecon. (WAQ22950)

To ask the Minister for Rural Development and Wales Abroad

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can you make a statement on what you have done to ensure that there is a ‘level-playing field’ for Anglesey Fishermen, when it comes to fishing quotas. (WAQ22885) Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can you make a statement on your actions with regard to trying to minimise and offset losses incurred by Anglesey Fishermen, due to European Fishing Quotas. (WAQ22886)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What support is available to help offset the losses incurred by Anglesey Fishermen due to European Fishing Quotas. (WAQ22887)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can you make a statement on the effects of European Fishing Quotas on the Welsh Fishing Industry. (WAQ22888)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can you make a statement on the effects of European fishing quotas on the Anglesey Fishing Industry. (WAQ22889)

Peter Rogers (North Wales);What dialogue has taken place between yourself; the European bodies, and the Government regarding the effects of Fishing quotas on the Welsh Fishing Industry. (WAQ22890)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can you make a statement on the state of the Fishing industry on Anglesey. (WAQ22891)

Peter Rogers (North Wales);What financial and business support is available for Anglesey Fishermen. (WAQ22892)

Peter Rogers (North Wales);What financial and business support does your department give to Anglesey Fishermen. (WAQ22893)

Peter Rogers (North Wales);How have your representations on behalf of the Welsh Fishing Industry affected the relationship between Wales, Spain and Portugal, with regard to European Fishing Quotas.(WAQ22894)

Peter Rogers (North Wales);Are there any conflicts of interest between your portfolio for ‘Wales Abroad’ in the European Union, and as minister responsible for the Welsh Fishing industry, in light of the effects of European fishing quotas on that Industry. (WAQ22895)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can you please outline your Ministerial responsibilities in relation to the Fishing industry within Wales. (WAQ22896)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); How many people were employed in the agriculture sector in Wales on 1 May 1997 and 6 May 1999, and what is the most recent employment total. (WAQ22897) Peter Rogers (North Wales); Arable Aid payment is being withheld on Holding Number 53/158/0014 over a measurement discrepancy. The National Assembly measured the area in September 2002. Can the Minister confirm;

a. What is the area of discrepancy involving Holding Number 53/158/0014; b. What is the value, in monetary terms, deductible if the discrepancy is proved (upheld); and c. How long it will take for a decision to be made so that the Arable Aid payment can be made to Holding Number 53/158/0014. (WAQ22926)R

Peter Rogers (North Wales); The 'Helpline' has confirmed that the Beef Special Premium payment has been processed for Holding Number 53/158/0014, but that it cannot be released until the Arable Aid payment is made. Further to your answer to WAQ22581, therefore, can you confirm;

a. Why the payment on Beef Special Premium is being denied to holding number 53/158/0014; and b. On whose authority the decision to deny the payment has been taken. (WAQ22927)R

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can the Minister please clarify why BSP and Suckler payments cannot be made to holding number 53/002/9021 on hardship grounds, when this holding was one of the first to receive payments made for SAPS on hardship grounds. (WAQ22928)R

Peter Rogers (North Wales); On what grounds are support payments of L.F.A. supplement for SAPS and Tir Mynydd being withheld from Holding Number 53/57/260. (WAQ22929)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What is the lawful and environmentally friendly way of disposing Black Silage Wrap. (WAQ22951)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can the Minister confirm what action he is taking to trace the £11,400 that the Assembly claim to have paid to Holding Number 56/70/39 for Arable Aid and Beef Special Premium, but which has not been received. (WAQ22952)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can the Minister confirm whether all payment support schemes that are not governed by a window period for payment will have interest payments added to them automatically. (WAQ22953)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Holding Number 55/56/0003 is owed £9,000 in payments since March 2002. Can the Minister confirm whether interest payments will be automatically added to the amount owed. (WAQ22954)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many ESA payments were due for payment between February 2002 and January 2003; how many of these were actually paid; and how many were paid within a month of the due date. (WAQ22955)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); With regard to suckler cow and sheep quota money for sales and leasing, can the Minister confirm how much is being held in brokers such as livestock auctions and quota brokers waiting for Assembly Authorisation to be paid out. (WAQ22956)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); With regard to suckler cow and sheep quota money for sales and leasing, can the Minister confirm how much money was held in brokers such as livestock auctions and quota brokers in September 2002, October 2002, January 2003 and February 2003, and how much of this money has been authorised to be paid out. (WAQ22957)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Holding Number 53/33/99 is owed £16,000 on account of organic support since 5.12.02. Can the Minister confirm why this £16,000 has not yet been paid, and what action he is taking to ensure that the payment is made. (WAQ22958)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Holding Number 55/56/0003 is owed £9,000 in payments since March 2002 for organic conversion. Can the Minister confirm why this £9,000 has not yet been paid, and what action he is taking to ensure that the payment is made. (WAQ22959)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many people registered to sell Welsh lamb and beef in January, February, March and April 2002. (WAQ22960)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many people renewed their licenses to sell Welsh lamb and beef in January, February, March and April 2003. (WAQ22961)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); On what date did payments actually stop being processed from the Divisional Office, in order for the new computer system to be put in. (WAQ22962)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); If payments from the Divisional Office are running in excess of 3,500 a day, is the actual delay in making payments to do with how they are processed. (WAQ22963)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); When did support payments stop being processed because of the installation of the new computer system, and when did the new computers start operating. (WAQ22964)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); From April onwards, staff at the Divisional Office were moved from processing the claim forms at a vital time to other duties. Do you agree that this deployment of divisional staff is the biggest reason for the backlog of payments, not the installation of the new computer system. (WAQ22965) Peter Rogers (North Wales); Does the disqualification of payments to farmers some 9 months after receipt of the claims at the Divisional Office have any bearing on the installation of the new computer system. (WAQ22966)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); You claim that SAPS payments were being made at the rate of 3 to 4,000 per day, which would have meant that the backlog of all payments should have been cleared. Can you please clarify what the underlying reasons are, for the payment backlog not having been cleared. (WAQ22967)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Holding Number 53/140/85 is owed nearly £2,000 ESA payment since last summer. Can the Minister confirm why this £2,000 has not yet been paid, and what action he is taking to ensure that the payment is made. (WAQ22968)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Holding Number 56/229/0950 is owed £24,000 from the Assembly for Arable Aid, BSP Payments and Extensification. Can the Minister confirm why this £24,000 has not yet been paid, and what action he is taking to ensure that the payment is made. (WAQ22969)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Holding Number 53/116/0043 is owed approximately £4,000 under the ESA scheme, which was due in October. Can the Minister confirm why this £4,000 has not yet been paid, and what action he is taking to ensure that the payment is made. (WAQ22970)

To ask the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning

Alun Cairns (South Wales West); Would the Minister list all financial transfers from ELWa's training budget, not used for training purposes. (WAQ22898)

Alun Cairns (South Wales West);What permissions has ELWa sought to transfer funds between different internal budgets. (WAQ22899)

Alun Cairns (South Wales West);When did the Minister first become aware that the establishment of Standing Orders and Accounting procedures within ELWa had been delayed. (WAQ22900)

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd); Further to her answer to WAQ22121 is she aware that the 2000 Edition of ‘Approved Document B to the Building Regulations’ places no requirement upon the designers of schools to fit automatic fire sprinkler protection in new, or materially altered, school buildings. (WAQ22973) Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd); Further to her answer to WAQ22121 and in view of the losses of school buildings due to fire, what consideration has the Welsh Assembly Government given to making representations to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister seeking to rectify the fact that the 2000 edition of Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2000 places no requirement upon the designers of schools to fit automatic fire sprinkler protection in new, or materially altered, school buildings. (WAQ22974)

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd); Further to her answer to WAQ22121 is she aware that the Department for Education and Skills is proposing to review and reissue their guidance on fire safety measures in school buildings. (WAQ22975)

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd); Further to her answer to WAQ22121 will the Welsh Assembly Government seek to make representations to the Department for Education and Skills to ensure that a positive and supportive message on the need for the fitting of automatic fire sprinkler systems in new and refurbished school buildings is included in any new guidance on fire safety measures that the Department may issue to local authorities and others. (WAQ22976)

To ask the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); What is the maximum number of Assembly Members who can be accommodated in the latest change to the design of the new Assembly Debating Chamber. (WAQ22901)

William Graham (South Wales East); Will the Minister make a statement concerning discussions held with councils who are proposing Council Tax increases over 10%. (WAQ22902)

William Graham (South Wales East); Will the Minister make a statement on community regeneration projects in Newport. (WAQ22903)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); How many times has the Assembly Government advertised jobs in newspapers or magazines associated with political parties. (WAQ22904)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); Would the Minister list the local authorities in Wales that have concluded satisfactory contingency arrangements in relation to terrorist activity, and those that have not together with the expected date of conclusion. (WAQ22941)

To ask the First Minister Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); How many flights and how many tickets for the Wales v Italy rugby international were purchased by the Assembly Government, at what cost and for whom. (WAQ22905)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); Are plans in place to deal with any possible terrorist activity in relation to government buildings throughout Wales. (WAQ22942)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); Are plans in place, in relation to potential terrorist targets in Wales, to deal with possible terrorist activity. (WAQ22943)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); Is the First Minister co-ordinating plans for protection from possible terrorist activity in Wales with the Cabinet at Westminster. (WAQ22944)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); How much money was spent on limousines by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2002/2003, and how much was spent in 1999. (WAQ22971)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); How many limousines does the Welsh Assembly Government have today compared with 1999. (WAQ22972)

To ask the Minister for the Environment

Peter Black (South Wales West); What discussions has the Minister had with the Strategic Rail Authority concerning the development of an all Wales rail franchise. (WAQ22906)

Owen John Thomas (South Wales Central); Will the Minister give urgent consideration to calling in the planning application by Western Power Distribution to develop the site currently occupied by Llanishen Reservoir. (WAQ22907)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can the Minister confirm whether any European Union Legislation has led to the necessity for a new sewage plant to be placed in Holyhead. (WAQ22910)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Are there any European Directives or Regulations that would prohibit the additional contribution of sewage to the Holyhead sewer system. (WAQ22911)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What environmental legislative restrictions are there upon a development’s addition of sewage to a full capacity system, how are these restrictions enforced, and by whom. (WAQ22912) Peter Rogers (North Wales); Did Anglesey County Council issue a moratorium on any further building development until a new sewer system at Holyhead had been built. (WAQ22913)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Have Anglesey County Council lifted any moratorium it may have issued on any further building development until a new sewer system at Holyhead had been built, and if so, on what grounds was it lifted. (WAQ22914)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); The MoD sold 400 houses at RAF Valley to a property company and have taken the houses off the private sewer- are these houses to be admitted to the public sewer, and if so, where will their sewage be discharged. (WAQ22915)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Which sewer system previous served property in and closely around RAF Valley. (WAQ22916)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Can the Minister tell me if there are any housing sales at RAF Valley pending that will place more burden on the Holyhead sewerage network, which is currently at full capacity. (WAQ22917)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What is the current working capacity and the maximum capacity of the Holyhead Sewage network. (WAQ22918)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Are there any prohibitions on development in Holyhead that relate to the inadequate sewer capacity. (WAQ22919)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); How many projects have been put on hold or deferred until there is a larger sewerage capacity for Holyhead. (WAQ22920)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What are the consequences of running a sewer network above maximum capacity, and what are the associated risks. (WAQ22921)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); What reasons are cited for the development of a new sewerage plant in Holyhead. (WAQ22922)

Peter Rogers (North Wales); Which areas currently benefit from using the Holyhead Sewerage network and for how long has this the case. (WAQ22923)

Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales); When will the National Park Review start. (WAQ22930) To ask the House Committee

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); What plans are there to improve security arrangements near the front entry to Crickhowell House. (WAQ22908)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales); What plans are there to install a Gymnasium in the National Assembly building in Cardiff Bay. (WAQ22909)