Written Assembly Questions for answer on 16th January 2006

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 First Minister

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the First Minister make a statement on the number of Welsh Assembly Government posts in the City and County of Swansea, and any future plans to extend this number. (WAQ45313)

To ask the Business Minister

William Graham (South Wales East): Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Assembly Government promotes equality of access to services in Wales. (WAQ45248)

William Graham (South Wales East): How is the Minister promoting openness in Government in Wales. (WAQ45249)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): How is the Minister ensuring that value for money is achieved in the procurement of Welsh Assembly Government advertising. (WAQ45250)

To ask the Minister for Culture, and Sport

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Minister undertaken to ensure that there is a Welsh nationality tick box on the 2011 census form. (WAQ45273)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What steps has the Minister taken to secure the future of Celtica in Machynlleth. (WAQ45295)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What steps has the Minister taken to ensure that there is a Welsh nationality tick box on the 2011 census form. (WAQ45298)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to (a) encourage and (b) compel banks to allow individuals to open bank accounts through the medium of Welsh. (WAQ45319)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Is it the Minister’s policy to support an extension of some or all of the duties under the Welsh Language Act 1993 to banks and companies providing financial services. (WAQ45320)

To ask the Minister for Economic Development and Transport

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): How many road traffic accidents have occurred on the Welsh section of the M4 since 2003. (WAQ45238)

Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): What is the Minister doing to attract retail businesses to town centres. (WAQ45239)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on accident rates on the Welsh section of the M4 motorway and what assessment has he made of how this compares to the rest of the M4 running to London. (WAQ45240)

Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): Will the Minister give the Assembly an update on the Flintshire Gateway Project. (WAQ45241)

Owen John Thomas (South Wales Central): What proportion of committed Objective 1 funding has been allocated to promote the growth of small and medium sized enterprises. (WAQ45242)

William Graham (South Wales East): Will the Minister outline the contribution of the tourism industry to the economic development of Wales. (WAQ45243)

Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East): Will the Minister make a statement on the duelling of the Heads of the Valley road at the Clydach Gorge, Monmouthshire. (WAQ45244)

Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East): What discussions has the Minister had regarding the positioning of speed cameras across Wales. (WAQ45245)

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): Will the Minister make a statement on development of the optronics industry in Wales. (WAQ45246)

Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): Will the Minister make a statement on the promotion of cycle tourism in Wales. (WAQ45247)

William Graham (South Wales East): Will the Minister make a statement concerning the impact of the ‘gas’ dispute between Russia and Ukraine on the liquefied natural gas and nuclear energy generation industries in Wales. (WAQ45254)

Mike German (South Wales East): Will the Minister give assurances that traffic light cameras, to help stop cars jumping red lights, will be put in place along the A40 in Monmouthshire (Wyebridge St Junction). (WAQ45317)

Alun Ffred Jones (Caernarfon): What is the estimated total number of full time equivalent jobs created by the WDA in each of the last five years and how does this compare with the total number of full time equivalent jobs in the private sector in Wales. (WAQ45322)

To ask the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many (a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools are attended by Muslim school children. (WAQ45290)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many (a) secondary and (b) primary school canteens offer Halal food to their pupils. (WAQ45291)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What percentage of Muslim school children are provided with Halal food at their school canteen. (WAQ45292)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What percentage of school children are registered as practising Muslims. (WAQ45293)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many school children are registered as practising Muslims. (WAQ45294)

To ask the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside

Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East): Will the Minister provide an update on the Fallen Stock Scheme in Wales. (WAQ45263)

Sandy Mewies (Delyn): Will the Minister make a statement on strategies to encourage recycling over the Christmas period. (WAQ45264)

Peter Black (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on the implementation of TAN 15: Development and Flood Risk. (WAQ45265)

Peter Black (South Wales West): How is the Minister working with the Environment Agency on the implementation of TAN 15: Development and Flood Risk. (WAQ45266)

Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): Will the Minister make a statement on pollution levels in the River Dee. (WAQ45267)

Jenny Randerson ( Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the disposal of waste in lanfill sites. (WAQ45268)

John Griffiths (Newport East): Will the Minister make a statement on progress in implementing the Countryside and Rights of Way Act in Wales. (WAQ45269)

John Griffiths (Newport East): Will the Minister make a statement on Assembly Government strategy to further improve sea water quality around the coast of Wales. (WAQ45270)

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the removal of abandoned cars in Wales. (WAQ45271

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What steps has the Minister taken to encourage local supermarkets to sell local produce. (WAQ45296)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What steps has the Minister taken to ensure that local meats are sold locally, in light of the need to trace the movement of meat. (WAQ45297)

Mike German (South Wales East): Has the Forestry Commission been spraying trees with Cypomethrin. (WAQ45304)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales): What consideration has the Minister made about seeking derogation from the Waste Incineration Directive so that tallow can be burned as a fossil fuel. (WAQ45318)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the Minister supply any information he has collated of businesses that follow good practice in their promotion of local produce. (WAQ45321)

To ask the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services

Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): Will the Minister make a statement on the local government budget settlement for Flintshire. (WAQ45251)

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on good corporate governance in local government. (WAQ45252)

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide figures for the EU funding received by Wales for the years: 1999/00; 2000/01; 2001/02; 2002/03; 2003/04 and 2004/05. (WAQ45255)

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide figures for any additional sums in the Welsh budget aside from EU funding and the block grant for the years: 1999/00; 2000/01; 2001/02; 2002/03; 2003/04 and 2004/05. (WAQ45256)

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide figures for the block grant for Wales for the years: 1999/00; 2000/01; 2001/02; 2002/03; 2003/04 and 2004/05. (WAQ45257)

Karen Sinclair (Clwyd South): Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of the Assembly’s budget for the next three years on the overall budget allocation for the Local Government and Public Services portfolio. (WAQ45258)

Peter Black (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on how much end year flexibility she anticipates carrying into the next financial year. (WAQ45259)

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the Assembly Government’s current corporate plan. (WAQ45260)

Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): What financial provisions has the Minister made for the merging of ASPBs. (WAQ45261)

John Griffiths (Newport East): Will the Minister make a statement on the consequences of the Chancellor’s pre budget report on the Assembly budget. (WAQ45262)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What assessment has the Minister made of the impact on the police precept element of the council tax bills of the proposed merger of the four police forces in Wales and will she make a statement. (WAQ45284)

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): Will the Minister make a statement on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in Wales. (WAQ45253)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What steps has the Minister taken to increase the number of Welsh speaking a) speech therapists, b) midwives and c) health visitors. (WAQ45274)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): How many operations were cancelled in 2005 and will the Minister give an annual breakdown of this figure dating back to 1999. (WAQ45275)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What steps does the Minister take to validate degrees awarded by private medical colleges. (WAQ45285)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Has anyone trained at (a) private medical colleges, (b) St Christopher’s College of Medicine in Luton or (c) the European College of Medicine, London between 2000 to the present day practised at NHS Wales. (WAQ45286)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many doctors currently practising in NHS Wales were trained at the European College of Medicine, London. (WAQ45287)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many doctors currently practising in NHS Wales were trained at St Christopher’s College of Medicine in Luton. (WAQ45288)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many doctors currently practising in NHS Wales were trained at private medical colleges, if so, at which medical institution. (WAQ45289)

Elin Jones (Ceredigion): What discussions has the Minister had with the British Heart Foundation regarding its structural changes out of Wales. (WAQ45299)

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): How many patients have been denied an assessment appointment at the Beta Interferon Assessment Unit in: (a) Cardiff; (b) Swansea and (c) North Wales. (WAQ45300)

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the availability of Beta Interferon assessments for MS patients in South Wales. (WAQ45301)

Elin Jones (Ceredigion): Will the Minister outline the proposed timetable for publishing the All Wales Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Action Plan. (WAQ45303)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales): What is the total cost to the public purse arising from the salaries, pensions and allowances of the 22 Chief Executives of Local Health Boards in Wales. (WAQ45305)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales): What is the total cost to the public purse arising from the salaries, pensions and allowances of the 22 Chairs of Local Health Boards in Wales. (WAQ45306)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): Have any Welsh hospital trusts ceased to offer treatment as a result of budgetary restrictions. (WAQ45307)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): Have any NIHCE approved and endorsed procedures been cancelled in Welsh hospital trusts as a result of budgetary considerations. (WAQ45308)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): What budgetary provision has the Minister made for compensating patients whose operations are cancelled resulting in significant delay. (WAQ45309)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): What reasons are most typically given for the cancellation of operations where the NHS Trust is at fault and will the Minister make a statement. (WAQ45310)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): What is the average cost of a cancelled operation to NHS Wales. (WAQ45311)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail the costs incurred to NHS Wales as a result of cancelled operations in 2005 and in every other year dating back to 1999. (WAQ45312)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What percentage of: (a) 11 and 12 year olds; (b) 13 and 14 year olds; (c) 15 and 16 year olds and (e) 17 and 18 year olds were classed as obese for every year since 1999 up to the latest available figures. (WAQ45314)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales): How many hospitals in Wales have been ‘converted’ into users of renewable energy and what plans are there to ‘convert’ hospitals in the future. (WAQ45315)

Glyn Davies (Mid and West Wales): What instructions have been given to Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in respect of using heat or power from renewable energy sources. (WAQ45316)

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration

Karen Sinclair (Clwyd South): What discussions has the Minister had with Ministerial colleagues regarding the protection of the rights and interests of asylum seeker and refugee children and young persons. (WAQ45224)

Mike German (South Wales East): Will the Minister explain why groups such as Victory Outreach will be required by the Welsh Assembly Government as part of their funding packages to include tenancy agreements into their contracts with people participating in their re-integration schemes. (WAQ45225)

Owen John Thomas (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Minister had with Minister for Economic Development regarding the role of small and medium sized enterprises in community regeneration. (WAQ45226)

Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East): What actions is the Minister taking to help ensure that parents in Wales meet their financial responsibilities to their children. (WAQ45227)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): How many registered drug users are there in South Wales Central. (WAQ45228)

Jonathan Morgan (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the number of drug users in South Wales Central. (WAQ45229)

Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): What discussions has the Minister with the Home Secretary recently regarding police restructuring. (WAQ45230)

Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside): Will the Minister make a statement on child poverty. (WAQ45231)

Owen John Thomas (South Wales Central): How is the Welsh Assembly Government engaging with local communities to develop sustainable regeneration initiatives. (WAQ45232)

Peter Black (South Wales West): What additional resources does the Minister have available to reduce waiting times for Disabled Facility Grants in Wales. (WAQ45233)

Karen Sinclair (Clwyd South): Will the Minister give a progress report on the Welsh Assembly Government’s programme of investment in housing renewal areas in North Wales. (WAQ45234)

Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East): What discussions has the Minister had regarding how new arrest laws will affect police forces in Wales. (WAQ45235)

William Graham (South Wales East): Will the Minister make a statement concerning the effectiveness of using ASBO’s within Wales. (WAQ45236)

William Graham (South Wales East): Will the Minister outline discussions she has had with the Secretary for Work and Pensions concerning how his planned reforms to the welfare system will impact on areas of deprivation in Wales. (WAQ45237)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many evaluations of Communities First has the Minister either commissioned or conducted. (WAQ45276)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How much did Cambridge Policy Consultants’ evaluation of Communities First cost. (WAQ45277)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What percentage of Communities First funding has been spent on projects applied for by a) public sector organisations, b) voluntary sector organisations and c) private companies. (WAQ45278)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What has been the total expenditure on Communities First projects since the programme was established and in which electoral constituencies has this money been spent. (WAQ45279)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): What Communities First areas were ranked in the top 100 most deprived under both the 2000 and 2005 Welsh Indices of Multiple Deprivation and in what electoral constituencies are these areas. (WAQ45280)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the Minister list the Communities First areas ranked in the top 100 most deprived under the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation from 2000. (WAQ45281)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the Minister list the Communities First areas ranked in the top 100 most deprived under the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005. (WAQ45282)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline the total spending on the Communities First programme for every financial year since 1999. (WAQ45283)

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many children were registered as homeless in each of the last five years, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of children, in each local authority area. (WAQ45302)

To ask a Representative of the House Committee

Leanne Wood (South Wales Central): How many police officers are employed at the Assembly building and how much is spent employing them. (WAQ45272)