Written Questions Answered Between 8 and 15 March 2007

Written Questions answered between 8 and 15 March 2007

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest. [W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the First Minister

Questions to the Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport

Questions to the Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks

Questions to the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning Skills

Questions to the Finance Minister

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration

Questions to the First Minister

Jonathan Morgan: Will the First Minister make a statement on the number and cost of civil servants employed by the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ47069)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): The Permanent Secretary has supplied the following answer:

As Assembly Government staffing is my responsibility the First Minister has asked me to write to you on these matters.

I wrote to you separately in December 2005 and January 2006 in response to a number of written Assembly questions (WAQ44881, WAQ44882, WAQ44869 and WAQ44883) tabled for the First Minister about the numbers of Assembly staff, the costs of administration and the salary bill of civil servants. In my responses (attached for your information) I provided you with details of staff numbers and costs from the inception of the Assembly as requested.

The increases in staff numbers and associated costs have occurred as the Government has taken on responsibility for a broad range of functions either new or previously external to the Assembly. These include the transfer of:

2000-01 197 staff from WHCSA, Health Promotion Wales, WORD, WEPE and Wales Trade International. 2001-02 116 staff from the Clinical, Effectiveness support unit, Welsh drug and alcohol unit and the farming and rural conservation agency

2002-03 254 staff from Care Standards Inspectorate Wales, Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Board and the Wales Export Association.

2003-04 73 staff transferred from Health Commission Wales, Rent officer service and the Drug and Alcohol team.

More recent examples include the assimilation of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services (CAFCASS) in April 2005 when 149 staff transferred and the increase in responsibility for the management of veterinary services in Wales which had previously been a DEFRA function.

The establishment of the Assembly saw a fundamental change in the nature of the governance arrangements for Wales which resulted in a necessary growth in the administration machinery established to serve the Welsh Assembly Government.

In addition, the administration costs budget has delivered the Assembly Government’s commitment to address the equalisation of pay for Assembly civil servants.

Turning to the current financial year, the administration costs budget for 2006-07 includes provision for the costs of the merging ASPB organisations (1595 additional staff). The 2006-07 baselines were reduced by £3.2 million (and £6.3 million in 2007-08) in order to deliver our contribution to the Making the Connections efficiency savings.

I am copying this letter to the First Minister and placing a copy in the Library.

Jonathan Morgan: Will the First Minister provide a) details of all official visits undertaken in the last 12 months as part his official duties, b) the number of officials in attendance and c) the total cost of the visit? (WAQ48309)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): Further to the holding reply in response to the above written assembly question, I am pleased to provide you with a composite final response on behalf of myself and the other Ministers.

The details that you requested in part a) of the above questions are shown in the attached table, with the exception of the information relating to the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, because the information is publicly available in annex A of her ministerial report, which is published on the committee services website each month.

The information that you requested in part b) of your question is not routinely recorded. Similary, the costs you requested in part c) of your questions are not collated or recorded on an individual basis for visits within the United Kingdom. Please see attached file.

Questions to the Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport

Jonathan Morgan: Will the Minister provide a) details of all official visits undertaken in the last 12 months as part his official duties, b) the number of officials in attendance and c) the total cost of the visit? (WAQ48310) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I refer you to the answer that I gave to written Assembly question WAQ48309.

Laura Anne Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Assembly Government ensures that money from the Treasury benefits sport in Wales? (WAQ49681)

The Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport (Alun Pugh): I launched the ‘Climbing Higher: Next Steps’ document last year, which set out a framework for investment in sport and physical activity. Our delivery agent, the Sports Council for Wales, is in the process of developing a range of programmes and initiatives that will target resources in a way that maximises opportunities for participation across all age, gender and social groups.

Lisa Francis: When will the feasibility study into the National Museums and Galleries of Wales art display space, which is being led by the culture department, be completed and when will the Minister publish the results of the study? (WAQ49685)

Alun Pugh: I have set up a steering group to commission a feasibility study for a national art gallery and a national contemporary art centre. The group contains representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government, Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum Wales, the Arts Council of Wales and the National Library of Wales.

The steering group is in the process of drawing up a timetable for the study, but I expect the consultants to deliver their findings by the end of this calendar year. The study will be published in due course.

Lisa Francis: In respect of the culture, Welsh language and sport budget, can the Minister provide an explanation of the total expenditure line that at £137.614 million did not equate with the £143.716 million for 2006-07, set out in the final budget figures presented to committee in June 2006? (WAQ49739)

Alun Pugh: I wrote to the chair of the Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee on 15 February 2007 providing the following information for circulation to members of the Committee:

The total budget figure for the culture main expenditure group originally was £143,716,000. There was a reduction of £6.102 million as a result of a decrease in the pensions deficit for the national library and National Museums and Galleries of Wales at 31 March 2005 compared to 1 April 2004. This resulted in a revised MEG of £137,614,000.

Lisa Francis: Can the Minister explain the whereabouts of the £29.417 million for the culture fund, included in the June 2006 budget figures, but not shown in the current in-year expenditure table? (WAQ49740)

Alun Pugh: The culture fund’s current expenditure line shown in the final budget for 2006-07 of £29.417 million is made up of the following: Account Final Budget In-year Expenditure Difference £’000s Table £’000s £’000s

ACW Current Grants 24,498 24,248 250

Wales Millennium Centre Direct Revenue 1,195 1,195 Funding

Culturenet Cymru 300 300

Welsh Books Council Publishing Grants 2,268 2,268

National Botanic Garden of Wales 150 150

Other Revenue Funding 1,006 831 175

Total 29,417 28,992 425

The difference of £425,000 is as a result of in-year changes between budget expenditure lines within the culture, Welsh language and sport MEG, as previously advised via my letter to the CWLS committee in September 2006.

Questions to the Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks

Nick Bourne: How many net units of electricity were produced by each Welsh wind farm last, month by month? (WAQ46201)

Nick Bourne: How much net electricity was exported to the National Grid on a monthly basis from Cefn Croes wind farm and how much was lost in transmission? (WAQ46202)

Nick Bourne: Does the output of Cefn Croes wind farm meet the forecasts provided to and by the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ46203)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks (Andrew Davies): I am writing in response to three written Assembly questions, 46201-46203, which you tabled on 8 March 2006, about wind farms in Wales.

The information that you request on transmission losses and output forecasts on Cefn Croes, and any other wind farm, is not held either by the Welsh Assembly Government, the UK Government, or the regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. To determine actual transmission loss, a calculation of the distance of turbines from the sub-station, and then the distance between the sub-station and the end user, would be required.

However, you may wish to have the attached table of registered wind farms located in Wales, with over 50 kW capacity, their registered capacity and the megawatt hours produced, on a monthly basis, from June to December 2005. These statistics were derived from the renewables obligation certificates that each wind farm received during those periods. A ROC is available for eligible renewable energy projects at one ROC per MW output onto the transmission grid. It is important to note that Cefn Croes wind farm has chosen to claim its ROCs through two registered named farms, Cefn Croes and New Werfa, and they are placed together on the table for expediency, which is attached

There are a variety of factors affecting output from the wind farms, such as the need for grid balancing, internal power production as opposed to grid supply, maintenance, continued development on projects, or a combination of these factors.

I trust that you find will this helpful.

Michael German: How many severances have there been during the transfer of Welsh Development Agency responsibilities to the Department for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, and what has been the total amount paid out in severance pay? (WAQ47266)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Andrew Davies: A total of 35 people left the WDA by the end of March 2006 on voluntary severance package on terms approved by the Welsh Assembly Government. The cost of the severances was £1.75 million plus £1.25 million in additional pension liabilities.

The 35 individuals were approved where there was a clear business case. The £2.5 million saving in staff costs is an important first step in realising the EIN merger benefits target of £12 million by 2008-09.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I refer you to the answer that I gave to written Assembly question WAQ48309.

Kirsty Williams: When does the Minister expect to announce funding allocations from the transport grant programme? (WAQ49666)

Andrew Davies: I am pleased to tell you that I announced transport grant allocations on 5 March.

Kirsty Williams: What action is the Assembly Government taking to support economic regeneration in Powys? (WAQ49667)

Andrew Davies: ‘Wales: A Vibrant Economy’ sets out our vision for economic regeneration.

The Welsh Assembly Government operates a comprehensive package of support to achieve that vision in Powys. This centres on encouragement for entrepreneurship and helping existing businesses to innovate.

These services are delivered locally by a network of Business Eye centres, the General Support for Business service, account managers, and the Knowledge Bank for Businesses, with funding packages offered by Finance Wales.

In addition, the Assembly Government invests significantly in business premises in Powys, where market failure can occur. During the period 2000-06, of European Union Objective 2 funding, nearly £11 million was invested in site servicing and premises in Powys. The occupied units are currently housing nearly 200 manufacturing and service jobs.

There is also support for various projects throughout Powys, often in partnership with others. Key activities include:

● site development and construction of a new business park on the former KTH site in Llanidloes;

● supporting the regeneration of Llandrindod Wells and supporting developers for the new northern approach link road to facilitate the development of a new supermarket;

● working with partners in Brecon on a comprehensive regeneration strategy for the town and hinterland;

● promoting the Dyfi valley as a growth note for eco-industries by developing the presence of environmental technology businesses and establishing a greater mass of service based on the leisure and tourism market; and

● supporting regeneration in Ystradgynlais including the expansion of the Woodlands Business Park with the additional demand-led units.

Kirsty Williams: What plans does the Assembly Government have for future funding of economic regeneration projects in Powys? (WAQ49668)

Andrew Davies: The Assembly Government plans to streamline and formally separate funding sources and programmes for businesses to make them more flexible and accessible to entrepreneurs and business people in Powys.

Recognising that most of Powys is a non-assisted area, we have increased the maximum amount of Assembly investment grant for eligible business projects by 50 per cent to £75,000.

We intend to match fund the new competitiveness stream of EU funding for 2007-13, for counties such as Powys in eastern Wales. This will deliver unified business support services, in line with regional and strategic frameworks, and stress the Lisbon priorities of more and better-quality jobs.

The Assembly Government plans to maximise the use of European funding available under the regional competiveness programme and the rural development plan for the benefit of businesses, communities and individuals throughout Powys.

Funding will continue to be available to support priority economic regeneration projects in Powys that contribute to the objectives set out in ‘Wales: A Vibrant Economy’ and in line with priorities emanating from the work of the spatial plan in central Wales.

Glyn Davies: Further to the Minister’s letter to me of 7 February 2007 regarding transport options for resolving traffic congestion in Newtown, (a) when will the new consultants be appointed and (b) when in 2008 does he anticipate that the public consultation will begin? (WAQ49669)

Andrew Davies: The new consultants are expected to be appointed this summer, with a public consultation anticipated in the summer of 2008.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement about why the traffic lights on the A470 Abercynon roundabout were switched off? (WAQ49670)

Andrew Davies: The traffic lights as currently installed signalise the A470 northbound and southbound approaches, together with the Mountain Ash/Aberdare arm of the roundabout. The signals were phased so that the Nelson traffic from the fourth arm would have gaps provided within the traffic flow on the roundabout to enter it and continue their journey.

When the signals were put into operation in April last year, it quickly became apparent that the traffic from Nelson used the gap to enter the roundabout and completely block the A470 southbound exit. This was dangerous as the visibility around the roundabout is not sufficient for people to see the exits due to the concrete parapet. It was therefore decided that the lights be switched off and options be considered for signalising the Nelson arm.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister state by when the traffic lights at the A470 Abercynon roundabout will be switched back on? (WAQ49671)

Andrew Davies: The proposed works for signalising the fourth (Nelson) arm of the A470 Abercynon roundabout commenced on 26 February and are programmed to last five to six weeks. The earliest the traffic lights can operate will be at the end of the week commencing 2 April. If construction delays occur, the lights will become operational after Easter during the week commencing 16 April.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister state how much money will be spent and by when it will be spent on switching back on the traffic lights at the A470 Abercynon roundabout? (WAQ49672)

Andrew Davies: Costs for design, supervision and installation of the fourth arm have been estimated at approximately £125,000. This will be expended by May 2007. The original works costs were approximately £200,000.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister state the cost of installing traffic lights on the fourth arm of the A470 Abercynon roundabout? (WAQ49673) Andrew Davies: I refer you to my answer to WAQ 49672.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister state by when traffic lights will be installed on the fourth arm of the A470 Abercynon roundabout? (WAQ49674)

Andrew Davies: The proposed construction works for signalising the fourth arm of the A470 Abercynon roundabout commenced on 26 February and are programmed to last five to six weeks. A specialist in correctly phasing the traffic lights sequence will bring the traffic lights fully online shortly afterwards, either immediately before Easter or shortly after.

David Lloyd: Will the Minister make a statement on what material the LNG pipeline in south Wales is constructed from? (WAQ49676)

Andrew Davies: The new natural gas transmission pipeline in south Wales is being constructed from high-grade carbon steel.

David Lloyd: Will the Minister make a statement on blasting management plans as part of the laying of the LNG pipeline between Milford Haven and Tirley? (WAQ49678)

Andrew Davies: Construction of the Milford Haven to Tirley natural gas pipelines will require excavation by mechanical diggers. Where hard rock is encountered, controlled blasting may be considered by the National Grid on a strictly limited and controlled basis, subject to approval by the local authority or the Department of Trade and Industry.

William Graham: Will the Minister make a statement outlining how his administration is encouraging young people in Wales to use public transport? (WAQ49682)

Andrew Davies: I am funding a two-year pilot to test a half-fare concessionary travel scheme on local bus services for 16 to 18-year-olds. Two pilot areas have been selected in north-east Wales (Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham) and in south Wales in Bridgend. The pilots will be fully evaluated by the concessionary fares implementation group before any decisions are made about extending the scheme across Wales. I have recently extended the membership of this group to include a young people’s representative.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister disclose whether he has had any correspondence in relation to poor service on the Aberystwyth-to-Shrewsbury line regarding unreliability, overcrowding and lavatory facilities, and will he publish such correspondence? (WAQ49684)

Andrew Davies: I receive correspondence about services on the Cambrian line from time to time. Some concern delays or short running services, adequacy of toilets and train cleanliness, and Assembly Government plans for service improvements. In each case, my officials raise these issues with the Arriva Trains Wales senior management team before replying. Performance has been improving on the Cambrian line over recent months. I would not propose to publish individual letters but would refer to my commitment to improved services on the Cambrian line. My Cabinet written statement of 1 December 2006 set this out and provided the latest position on the feasibility work on improving Cambrian line services.

I also announced on 20 December 2006 that I will continue to provide funding for additional rolling stock for the strengthening of Cambrian line services. This helps to relieve overcrowding and improve performance.

In addition, passengers using Shrewsbury railway station will benefit from a major refurbishment of platform 3 thanks to investment from the Assembly Government, the Department for Transport and Shropshire County Council. This involves improved accessibility with the installation of a lift from street level to platform 3, as well as improving the lighting system and station signage. It will be parallel to planned Network Rail investment in improving the track and signalling arrangements at Shrewsbury, which is currently undergoing feasibility work. This should serve to increase the performance of ATW’s services that run through Shrewsbury, including the Cambrian service.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister advise whether the Arriva X41 bus service between Aberystwyth and Swansea is in receipt of any funding from the Assembly Government? (WAQ49690)

Andrew Davies: The service between Aberystwyth and Swansea is part of the TrawsCambria long-distance bus and coach network. The X40 runs from Aberystwyth to Carmarthen, with two daily extensions to Swansea and Cardiff.

In 2006-07, the Welsh Assembly Government has provided around £1 million to local authorities to support the development of the TrawsCambria network, either as revenue support or though our bus revenue support grant.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister advise what action the Welsh Assembly Government intends to take on behalf of former workers at ASW in response to the High Court’s ruling on pensions of 21 February 2007? (WAQ49692)

Andrew Davies: Since 2002, both the First Minister and I have regularly raised the plight of the ASW pension scheme members with UK Government Ministers, including past and present Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions. We continue to do so.

On 21 February, the High Court decided that it agreed with the Parliamentary Ombudsman that UK Government information on the security of occupational pension schemes was misleading, although the court rejected other conclusions of the ombudsman’s report

I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 February, in which he said that the UK Government is already reviewing the financial assistance scheme with the findings of the European Court of Justice’s 25 January ruling in mind, and we await with much interest the UK Government’s response to the High Court decision.

Irene James: Will the Minister make a statement outlining the proposed timetable for operations on the Ebbw valley railway? (WAQ49693)

Andrew Davies: The proposals for the full December 2007 timetable are currently out to consultation with user groups, county councils, Passenger Focus, the Department for Transport and the Assembly Government. The Ebbw Vale proposal includes 17 services a day from early morning to late evening and has been available for consultation since autumn 2006. I have attached a copy.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement about the conditions of the traffic lights at the A470 Abercynon roundabout? (WAQ49697)

Andrew Davies: The traffic lights are presently non-operational for the reasons set out in my reply to WAQ49670. Upon the successful completion of construction and calibration works to signalise the fourth (Nelson) arm of the roundabout (WAQ49671 and WAQ49674 refer to this), the traffic signals will become operational.

Questions to the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning Skills

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I refer you to the answer that I gave to written Assembly question WAQ48309.

Alun Ffred Jones: A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddull cymeradwy Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru o ganfod dyslecsia mewn plant? (WAQ49698) [W]

Y Gweinidog dros Addysg, Dysgu Gydol Oes a Sgiliau (Jane Davidson): Nid yw Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru wedi cymeradwyo dull penodol o adnabod dyslecsia mewn plant. Cyfrifoldeb awdurdodau addysg lleol, drwy eu prosesau datganiadau ac asesu eu hunain, yw pennu a oes gan blentyn ddyslecsia ai peidio. Os yw diagnosis yn cadarnhau bod gan blentyn ddyslecsia, yna cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdod addysg lleol yw rhoi pecyn priodol o gymorth addysgol ar waith.

Yn fwy cyffredinol, ers i’r grwp cyfeirio allanol ar gyfer anawsterau dysgu penodol (sy’n cynnwys dyslecisa), a arweinir gan y Cynulliad, gael ei sefydlu ym mis Mawrth 2006, mae holiadur wedi cael ei anfon at bob AALl yn gofyn am wybodaeth am eu darpariaeth i blant a phobl ifanc ag anawsterau dysgu penodol. Mae’r holiaduron wedi cael eu dychwelyd ac maent yn cael eu gwerthuso ar hyn o bryd.

Yn ystod y flwyddyn, byddwn yn ceisio datblygu safonau ansawdd mewn addysg er mwyn bodloni anghenion plant a phobl ifanc ag anawsterau dysgu penodol.

Yr ydym wedi ymrwymo’n llawn i gefnogi ysgolion sy’n darparu ar gyfer disgyblion â dyslecsia ac yr ydym wedi darparu £25,000 i gefnogi’r fenter ysgolion sy’n cefnogi dyslecsia yng Nghymru.

Alun Ffred Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Assembly Government’s approved method of identifying dyslexia in children? (WAQ49698) [W]

The Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Davidson): The Welsh Assembly Government has not approved any specific method of identifying dyslexia in children. It is for local education authorities, through their own assessment and statementing processes, to determine whether or not a child has dyslexia. If diagnosis confirms dyslexia to be present, it is then the responsibility of the LEA to put in place an appropriate package of educational support.

More generally, since the establishment of the Assembly-led external reference group for specific learning difficulties (which include dyslexia) in March 2006, a questionnaire has been sent to all LEAs requesting information on their provision for children and young people with specific learning difficulties. The questionnaires have been returned and are currently being evaluated.

During the course of this year, we aim to develop quality standards in education for meeting the needs of children and young people with specific learning difficulties.

We are fully committed to supporting dyslexia-friendly schools and have provided £25,000 to support the dyslexia- friendly schools initiative in Wales.

Janice Gregory: Will the Minister give an update on action she is taking to tackle bullying in schools across Wales? (WAQ49737)

Jane Davidson: I am fully aware that bullying can have a major impact on children’s and young people’s lives and that this is a problem that we will need to continue to tackle as it is not simply going to go away. The Welsh Assembly Government is currently in the midst of a number of initiatives to address the problem of bullying in Welsh schools.

In September 2003, the Welsh Assembly Government issued guidance called ‘Respecting Others’ to all local education authorities and schools in Wales. The guidance aimed to provide information on tackling bullying in schools. The guidance also offers advice on the establishment of a school anti-bullying policy. Headteachers and governing bodies must, by law, have a policy to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.

I wrote to all schools in Wales in November 2004 asking them to submit a copy of their anti-bullying policy to the Welsh Assembly education department to allow evaluation to be made of how well policies fit in with the guidance set-out in ‘Respecting Others’. The final report of the evaluation, undertaken by Cardiff University, was published in April 2006.

The Assembly Government arranged two training days in the summer of 2006 to provide feedback on the evaluation of school policies and share the good practice discovered during the review. LEA officers and representatives from primary and secondary schools attended, in addition to members of the Welsh anti-bullying network. We took this opportunity to generate group discussion on the development of a school self-assessment tool to assist in revising anti-bullying policies. Officials are in the process of collating feedback and will shortly issue a draft tool for piloting in a number of schools.

The Welsh Assembly Government also commissioned Estyn, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, to carry out a review of strategies to tackle bullying and identify examples of good practice in schools. It published its report in April 2006.

Following on from the success of 2005, the Welsh Assembly Government once again held an anti-bullying week—between 20 and 24 November 2006—which provided an opportunity to work with our partners across Wales and to give schools the opportunity to discuss issues surrounding bullying and share good practice.

The theme of the week was ‘bystanders’, namely those who know that incidents of bullying take place but do not do anything to help the victim. An information pack was sent to all schools in advance of the week providing general briefing on bullying, research into the issue of ‘bystanders’ and a list of ideas for schools to consider when planning activities for the week. A website was also launched to provide additional information and support to schools, parents, pupils and anyone else concerned with bullying in schools www.wales.gov.uk/respectingothers.

John Griffiths: Does the Welsh Assembly Government have any plans to change policy on school catchment areas in Wales? (WAQ49742)

Jane Davidson: There is currently no Welsh Assembly Government policy on school catchment areas, which are a matter for admission authorities to decide upon. We have no plans to change this position and certainly no intention to encourage authorities to adopt a lottery approach to the allocation of school places. Where there are more applications for a school than places available, admission authorities must prioritise applications using their published over-subscription criteria. Catchment areas are commonly used for this purpose but are not universal, with some authorities instead adopting a feeder school approach or giving priority to sibling links or religious affiliation.

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I refer you to the answer that I gave to written Assembly question WAQ48309.

Ann Jones: What is the total level of subsidies given by the Minister’s department to farmers in Wales in each of the last 10 years, and what does each figure represent per farmer? (WAQ48245)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside (Carwyn Jones): The information that you have asked for is not readily available from centrally held records without incurring a lengthy exercise. However, I can provide you with some information for subsidy payments in the 2002 and 2005 scheme years for comparative purposes between the new single payment scheme and the previous common agricultural policy production subsidy schemes. The latter subsidies cover arable area payments, sheep annual premium, suckler cow premium, beef special premium, extensification payments and slaughter premium schemes.

Under the 2005 single payment scheme, £206.2 million was paid to Welsh farmers by the close of the 2005 payment window on 30 June 2006. This equates to an average payment per farmer of £11,500. In the 2002 scheme year, for the above CAP production schemes, £166 million was paid to Welsh farmers. This equates to an average payment per farmer of £9,823.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Will the Minister make a statement on the regulations of the Environment Agency on the disposal of tyres? (WAQ48264)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Carwyn Jones: The disposals of tyres, both whole and shredded, have been banned from landfill from 16 July 2006. The new rules are a result of an EU-wide ban introduced under the landfill directive that is transposed in Wales by the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 and is enforced by the Environment Agency. There are some exceptions, such as large tyres (with a diameter greater than 1400mm) and bicycle tyres, which can continue to be disposed of in landfill, as well as used whole and shredded tyres for engineering purposes—for instance, as part of leachate collection systems. This use would be assessed by the Environment Agency on a case- by-case basis, as it displaces the use of raw materials such as primary aggregates and the activity is classed as waste recovery and not waste disposal.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister make a statement on the effect of coastal erosion on the millennium coastal park? (WAQ49689)

Carwyn Jones: I understand that around 500m of defences have been damaged during storms over the winter period and a section of the coastal cycle path has been lost. Carmarthenshire County Council, which manages the millennium coastal park, is investigating what action is necessary. The council has powers to carry out coast protection works if required. My officials are meeting with council officers this week to discuss the situation.

Laura Anne Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on the support networks that are available to those people working in the agricultural sector in Wales? (WAQ49701)

Carwyn Jones: I refer you to your question WAQ49164, which was answered between 1 and 8 February 2007.

Peter Black: Will the Minister make a statement on the disposal of hazardous waste in Wales (WAQ49702)

Carwyn Jones: There is no hazardous waste landfill in Wales. There is a range of appropriate recycling and treatment facilities in Wales, so there is less need to landfill hazardous wastes. Any hazardous waste that is landfilled must be treated first to reduce its hazardous nature.

The management of hazardous waste is a matter for the market to decide between the waste producers and the waste management industry. It is also affected by the amount of waste produced and Wales produces less hazardous waste than England.

However, Welsh businesses should not be unduly penalised, for example, as a result of increased transport costs. As we make clear in ‘Wise About Waste: The National Waste Strategy for Wales’, there will be a continuing need for hazardous waste landfill for treated hazardous waste and a limited number of sites may be required, but it is a matter for the waste management industry to decide what developments are appropriate.

Rosemary Butler: What action is the Minister taking to support local authorities in dealing with fly-tipping offences? (WAQ49704)

Carwyn Jones: The Welsh Assembly Government is firmly committed to helping local authorities to tackle the problem of fly-tipping. We have recently published the fly-tipping strategy, which supports a partnership approach with local authorities and highlights best practice and effective use of existing legislation.

The Welsh Assembly Government has allocated £44,000 to support the cost of fly-capture enforcement training for local authority staff in Wales. This will support specialist training for staff involved in preparing cases for prosecution, which will lead to better conviction rates for offences and discouraging potential fly-tippers.

The Welsh Assembly Government is also supporting a number of projects to trial new ways of tackling fly-tipping. This includes £24,000 for Keep Wales Tidy as part of a pilot project to help clear up fly-tipping on private land, bringing benefits for local communities, sports and social clubs and other voluntary groups. A further £49,800 has been allocated to Cardiff County Council to undertake a pilot project to use global positioning system and surveillance equipment to monitor and identify hotspots for fly-tipping and burnt-out vehicles.

Eleanor Burnham: Will the Minister make a statement on how global warming will affect Wales? (WAQ49705)

Carwyn Jones: The UK climate impacts programme has produced scenarios for climate change impacts. The model suggests that Wales can expect:

● hotter average temperatures and an increase in the number of extremely hot days;

● milder winters and a reduction of snowfall;

● an increase in winter rainfall and in rainfall intensity;

● a longer growing season;

● sea level rise; and

● more extreme weather, such as severe storms and high winds.

This will affect Wales in range of ways, for example there will be:

● an increase in flash flooding due to heavy rain and an increase in river and coastal flooding and erosion;

● increased pressure on sewer systems;

● increase in winter storm damage; ● habitat and species change;

● pressure on water resources in the summer;

● increased risk of subsidence in subsidence-prone areas;

● increased thermal discomfort in buildings; and

● health problems in the summer, including heat-related deaths linked to high air pollution.

It may also have some local advantages, depending on the scale and rate of change in the climate.

Further information is contained in ‘Responding to Our Changing Climate’, the consultation on adapting to the impacts of climate change that I published on 15 February.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister update us on his planning guidance to local authorities? (WAQ49708)

Carwyn Jones: In response to your similar written Assembly question, which was answered on 5 October 2006 (WAQ48065), I set out details of the planning policy series, which provides the Assembly Government’s planning guidance to local authorities in Wales. No new guidance has been issued in final form since then. However, I have issued for consultation a draft ministerial interim planning policy statement setting out proposals for changes to planning policy on climate change. The consultation period ends on 30 March 2007. In addition, we have commissioned a research project to evaluate the processes by which we have undertaken planning policy development. This is due to report at the end of April and will make specific recommendations for improvement, together with an assessment of how policy should be presented.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister update us on his policies for protecting the Welsh countryside? (WAQ49709)

Carwyn Jones: The environment strategy for Wales was published in May 2006 and sets out the Assembly Government’s long-term strategy for the Welsh environment. It provides the framework within which to achieve our vision for the environment of Wales, supported by a series of regularly updated action plans.

In contributing to the outcomes of the environment strategy, a biodiversity framework has been developed by the Wales biodiversity partnership as a guide to identifying the essential biodiversity drivers for Wales.

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 extends the biodiversity duty in section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to all public bodies and statutory undertakers in Wales. The duty, which came into force on 1 October 2006, is intended to clarify current requirements and allow authorities to strike a balance in carrying out their functions, including land use and planning control, in the context of conserving biodiversity. Guidance will be issued at the end of May 2007.

The continued significant year-on-year increases in the resources made available to the Countryside Council for Wales and the three Welsh national park authorities is a clear indication of the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to the protection of the Welsh countryside.

John Griffiths: Will the Minister make a statement on the importance of the alley-gating regulations? (WAQ49710)

Carwyn Jones: Provided that they are used appropriately—and, where necessary, in conjunction with other measures—the new gating regulations should help to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour within local communities. The regulations allow local highway authorities to restrict public access to certain public highways (for example, lanes and alleyways) by gating them, at certain times of the day if applicable, without removing the underlying highway status of the route/path. This is important as it will allow authorities to remove gates when the local situation improves. The public consultation on the proposed content of the new regulations revealed general support for these provisions. A number of local authorities in Wales are interested in utilising the new powers, including Newport City Council.

Laura Anne Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Assembly Government supports those people working in the agricultural sector in Wales (WAQ49711)

Carwyn Jones: I refer you to your question WAQ49164, which was answered between 1 and 8 February 2007.

Questions to the Finance Minister

Jonathan Morgan: Will the Minister provide a) details of all official visits undertaken in the last 12 months as part her official duties, b) the number of officials in attendance and c) the total cost of the visit? (WAQ48312) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I refer you to the answer that I gave to written Assembly question WAQ48309.

Ann Jones: What has been the cost to the Assemby Government of compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the last full year for which figures are available? (WAQ49712)

The Finance Minister (Sue Essex): In line with our integrated procedure for handling requests for information, requests are dealt with by officials in divisions across the Assembly Government. A small team of staff in the access to information unit is dedicated to providing expert advice and assistance to officials dealing with requests.

We have now received over 1,700 requests for information since 1 January 2005, which have resulted in most parts of the organisation diverting resources temporarily to deal with requests. No aggregate information is available in relation to the total resources used to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Eleanor Burnham: Will the Minister make a statement on bullying in the NHS? (WAQ47228) Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Brian Gibbons): The bullying and harassment of NHS staff cannot be condoned or tolerated under any circumstances. The NHS in Wales has made significant efforts to raise awareness of staff rights so that all staff should be confident to report incidents of bullying and harassment in the knowledge that these complaints will be dealt with fully and impartially. Managers have the necessary guidelines and it is their duty to ensure that bullying and harassment is removed from the workplace. At the same time, all such allegations must always be investigated rigorously in order to be fair to all the parties concerned.

All NHS trusts in Wales have achieved the corporate health standard, which is a quality mark for workplace health promotion. While the Welsh Assembly Government did not set specific criteria about what should be included in trusts’ bullying and harassment policies, each trust will have demonstrated that it has such a policy in place before it achieves the standard.

Lisa Francis: Would the Minister detail the percentage increases of a) managers and administrators b) nurses c) midwives and d) doctors to the Welsh NHS for each year since 1999 and would he break down these figures for each local health board area in mid and west Wales? (WAQ48249)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: Due to the reconfiguration of NHS organisations, it is not possible to show data for individual organisations within the mid and west Wales region across the period. The data in the following table includes staff employed by all the relevant organisations (a).

Year on year percentage increase (b)

1999 to 2000 to 2001 to 2002 to 2003 to 2004 to 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Wales Managers, clerical staff and 3.8 7.0 7.4 2.5 10.1 5.5 administration Nursing and health visiting staff 1.6 1.5 3.2 4.7 2.6 2.8 Registered midwives -3.1 8.5 -0.9 3.9 3.1 0.8 Hospital and community medical staff 3.1 0.4 6.9 1.0 11.7 3.7 Mid and West Wales Managers, clerical staff and 6.5 4.4 4.1 -0.1 7.4 5.9 administration Nursing and health visiting staff 1.8 3.5 0.9 4.7 3.7 1.7 Registered midwives 9.3 2.5 -3.4 -0.9 5.1 -0.4 Hospital and community medical staff 2.8 2.7 1.5 4.9 13.5 3.8

Source: Annual staff censuses

(a) NHS trusts (Bro Morgannwg, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Mid Wales, Pembrokeshire and Derwen, Powys Health Care (1999 to 2003) and Swansea), LHBs for 2004 on (Bridgend, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys and Swansea), Dyfed Powys and Morgannwg health authorities for 1999 to 2002, Carmarthen and Swansea business services centres for 2003 and 2004 and Mid and West Wales BSC for 2005. Some of the work of the old health authorities transferred to the National Public Health Service and Health Commission Wales in 2003. Staff in these organisations are included in the figures for Wales but not for mid and west Wales.

(b) Staff in post at 30 September (whole-time equivalents).

Helen Mary Jones: What powers does the Minister have to mitigate the impact of or cancel capital charging on health bodies? (WAQ48250)

Helen Mary Jones: What plans does the Minister have to mitigate the impact of capital charging on health bodies, and will he make particular reference to new capital projects and national strategies? (WAQ48251)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: Capital charges are a revenue cost that reflects the opportunity cost of funds invested in capital assets (which include land, buildings, plant and equipment). The requirement for health bodies to include capital charges in their annual accounts is set by HM Treasury, and follows UK accounting policy. It is not a devolved matter. Capital charges on health bodies are a charge to the health and social services delegated spending limit. The Welsh Assembly Government, therefore, expects health bodies to make efficient and effective use of capital assets to ensure that capital charges incurred represent best value.

In support of the increased capital investment programme for health, the Welsh Assembly Government will provide capital charge support for a limited number of capital schemes as follows:

1. strategic capital charge support—recurring revenue support given to meet any additional net capital charge costs arising from the scheme (that is, if additional capital charges are partially offset by savings, only the difference would be supported). Such support will be applied to the following category of schemes funded through the capital investment programme:

● mental health only where it is appropriate for NHS premises to be used;

● corporate programmes with an all-Wales benefit, including information, the diagnostic programme (not replacement equipment) and the linear accelerator programme;

● ambulance service modernisation.

2. transitional capital charge support—non-recurring and will be given to meet any additional net capital charge costs for a limited period of time. This would be applied to:

● meet the effects of accelerated depreciation;

● provide support on major schemes that involve significant service change. Support would be available for a limited period to enable time for revenue savings and efficiencies to be realised. Funding would be up to three years depending on scale and would normally be tapered or reduced over the period. Trusts seeking such support would be expected to submit a bid within their business case, which would be considered by the capital investment board as part of the scrutiny and approval process.

To date, the following schemes have been provided with this support:

● new ambulances;

● Gwent clinical school;

● Cardiff and Vale orthopaedic centre;

● purchase of Microsoft licenses; and

● the new Caerphilly hospital

Ann Jones: What guidance has the Minister issued regarding conditions for the widespread closure of schools during the course of a human influenza pandemic and will he publish those conditions? (WAQ48252) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

Ann Jones: What guidance has the Welsh Assembly Government produced for schools and children’s services on planning for a human influenza pandemic and will he place copies in the Members’ Library? (WAQ48258) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning (Jane Davidson): The Assembly Government published guidance for schools and children’s services, namely ‘Pandemic Influenza: Children and young people—Contingency planning for schools and other settings where children are educated’, on 10 July 2006.

The guidance was produced in conjunction with the UK Government and local authority representatives as part of the Assembly Government’s co-ordinated efforts to encourage sensible planning across all sectors. The guidance is intended to help public and private sector education organisations across Wales to plan to address a range of possible scenarios arising from a human flu pandemic, as part of the wider emergency response.

Our view is that all organisations need to be ready to continue to operate as normally as possible during a pandemic, primarily to minimise social disruption. Of course, we have taken account of advice from the Chief Medical Officer that schools and group childcare settings may be different and that, subject to the nature of the pandemic virus, closure for a period may help to protect the health and welfare of children and young people. The guidance therefore asks local authorities, independent schools and providers of group childcare to be equally well prepared either to stay open or to close, if so advised by the CMO.

We are keeping the guidance under close review, in consultation with the UK Government and local government, and the content may therefore change at short notice. I have placed a copy of the current guidance in the Members’ Library. It is also available, together with separate guidance for the further education and higher education sectors, at: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/publications/guidance_and_information/pandemic_influenza? lang=en

Ann Jones: Which LHBs and trusts had failed to lodge a plan for managing the consequences of pandemic influenza by 30 September 2006, as directed in the Welsh Assembly Government’s letter of 8 August 2006, and when will those plans that have been lodged appear (a) on the NPHS Wales website and (b) in the Members’ Library? (WAQ48263)

Ann Jones: Will the Minister make a statement on the series of regional meetings in September 2006 organised by the National Public Health Service for Wales to discuss guidance on preparing for and responding to a flu pandemic with key LHB staff? (WAQ48259)

Ann Jones: What discussions has the Welsh Assembly Government had with the Department of Health and other devolved administrations regarding the merits of extending the scope of the existing annual ‘trivalent’ flu vaccination regime to further categories of people with a view to developing the UK’s capacity to produce as many doses as possible of a ‘monovalent’ vaccine against a pandemic flu strain? (WAQ48253)

Ann Jones: What proportion of the Welsh population does the Welsh Assembly Government’s contingency plan for pandemic influenza predict would (a) become infected and (b) die during a pandemic? (WAQ48261)

Ann Jones: How many people in each LHB area does the Welsh Assembly Government’s contingency plan for pandemic influenza predict would (a) become infected and (b) die during a pandemic? (WAQ48260)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: Local health boards and NHS trusts were asked to lodge their contingency plans—even if at a draft stage—on the National Public Health Service website by 30 September. These are operational plans that will continue to be developed as more information becomes available. I am able to confirm that, as at 17 October 2006:

● three LHB plans had yet to be lodged (Conwy, Denbighshire, and Merthyr Tydfil): and

● four NHS trust plans had yet to be lodged (Bro Morgannwg, Ceredigion and Mid Wales, Conwy and Denbighshire, and Powys).

The three regional meetings organised by the NPHS at Bodelwyddan, Carmarthen and Cardiff provided the opportunity for LHB professional leads to discuss the guidance, recommended actions and the preparedness self- assessment checklist. As a result of their success, three similar events will be held for trust staff and local authority emergency planners during October, at Cardiff, Carmarthen and Rhyl.

Immunisation is the cornerstone of influenza prevention and the UK health departments work closely together in developing seasonal immunisation policies based on expert advice from the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination. The JCVI regularly reviews the effectiveness of the seasonal programme and considers all new evidence that suggests that immunisation should be extended to others. In respect of pandemic preparations, a number of steps are being taken to minimise the UK’s vulnerability to the virus. For example, the Department of Health is working with vaccine developers, manufacturers and regulatory agencies to reduce the time taken to produce a vaccine.

The UK pandemic influenza contingency plan advocates that, for planning purposes, the base scenario based on previous pandemics is a cumulative clinical attack rate of 25 per cent and a case fatality rate of between 0.37 per cent and 2.5 per cent of the population over one or more waves. This suggests that, in Wales, it is likely that about 1.5 million (50 per cent of the population) will meet the virus and, of these, 750,000 are likely to develop clinical symptoms (25 per cent of the population). The UK plan is currently being revised and will reflect changes in planning assumptions and advances in knowledge.

Based on Office of National Statistics data about resident populations in June 2005 and the clinical attack and case fatality rates used as working estimates for planning purposes, the following table indicates the possible range of illness and deaths for each local health board area:

LHB Resident Number of people estimated to Range of estimated deaths (based population be likely to become ill (based on a planning assumption of case on a planning assumption of fatality rates of 0.37 per cent and clinical attack rate of 25 per 2.5 per cent) cent)

Anglesey 68,900 17,225 60 430

Blaenau Gwent 68,400 17,100 60 430

Bridgend 130,800 32,700 120 820

Caerphilly 170,200 42,550 160 1060

Cardiff 319,700 79,925 300 2000

Carmarthenshire 178,100 44,525 160 1111

Ceredigion 78,300 19,575 70 490

Conwy 111,500 27,875 100 700

Denbighshire 96,000 24,000 90 600

Flintshire 150,200 37,550 140 940

Gwynedd 118,000 29,500 110 740

Merthyr Tydfil 54,900 13,725 50 340

Monmouthshire 87,700 21,925 80 550

Neath Port Talbot 135,600 33,900 120 850

Newport 139,600 34,900 130 870

Pembrokeshire 117,500 29,375 110 730

Powys 131,500 32,875 120 820

Rhondda Cynon 231,600 57,900 210 1450 Taf

Swansea 226,400 56,600 210 1410 Torfaen 90,300 22,575 80 560

Vale of Glamorgan 122,900 30,725 110 770

Wrexham 130,500 32,625 120 820

Note: estimated illness and deaths figures have been rounded

Ann Jones: What funding has been made available for the introduction of digital hearing aids and will the Minister make a statement on the progress of their introduction in Wales? (WAQ48254)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: The Welsh Assembly Government has recognised that investment in digital hearing aids is crucial to the agenda to modernise audiology services. Nearly £6 million was invested by the Welsh Assembly in audiology between 2002 and 2005 to support the provision of new technology hearing aids and to recruit additional staff across Wales.

The infrastructure of audiology departments in trusts has been modernised across Wales as a result of this investment. Extra clinicians have been employed, training has been undertaken and a fast-track graduate scheme has been introduced in Wales to help ensure that those departments are in a position to fit new technology hearing aids.

As with any effective new technologies, there has been a high demand for digital hearing aids. Assessments for digital hearing aids are being managed by NHS trusts according to priorities and clinical needs. The modernisation of audiology is Wales has helped to ensure that over 100,000 digital hearing aids have been fitted to patients since August 2002.

Ann Jones: How much has been spent on hospital food and nutrition in each NHS trust in Wales in each of the last five years? (WAQ48255)

Ann Jones: How many people suffering from malnutrition when they were (a) admitted to and (b) discharged from hospital spent (i) up to one week, (ii) from one week to one month, (iii) from one to three months and (iv) more than three months in hospital in the most recent period for which figures are available? (WAQ48256)

Ann Jones: How many people were (a) admitted to NHS hospitals with malnutrition and (b) treated for malnutrition in NHS hospitals in Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by hospital? (WAQ48257)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: This information is not held centrally.

Ann Jones: What recent discussions have the Minister and his officials had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence about drug treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and will he make a statement? (WAQ48262)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: We have not had any recent discussions with NICE about its appraisal of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

On 11 October, NICE announced that the appeals against its draft guidance had not been upheld. The final guidance will therefore be that donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine should only be considered as options in the treatment of people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine is only recommended as part of clinical studies for people with moderate-severe to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

This guidance will apply to newly diagnosed patients only. Patients currently using these drugs should continue to do so, on the basis on which they were initiated. Final guidance will be published on 22 November, to coincide with NICE’s clinical guideline on management of dementia.

NICE guidance is developed following extensive advice from a wide range of expert sources, including carers, the NHS, industry and the academic world. It is subject to a rigorous evaluation process. NICE appraisal committees hear evidence from nominated clinical experts, patients and carers before making their recommendations.

NICE is an independent body, established to make decisions on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of products based on the latest evidence. Sometimes NICE has to say ‘no’ to a treatment because the evidence does not support it being clinically and cost-effective.

I assure you that the Welsh Assembly Government wants every Alzheimer’s patient and their carers to receive the very best quality, evidence-based care and support.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I refer you to the answer that I gave to written Assembly question WAQ48309.

Owen John Thomas: Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of orthodontic services in Cardiff? (WAQ49683)

Brian Gibbons: Local health boards have their own budgets and are responsible for the commissioning of NHS dental services to meet the local need and the wider oral health agenda. There have been no cuts in the funding for dental treatment or specialised dental treatment such as orthodontics. When the new general dental services and personal dental services contracts were agreed, the past earnings of individual practices were taken into account. The patterns of treatment across Wales were also considered. Orthodontic budgets, like other dental budgets, were set for 2006-07 by LHB area, where the service was provided based on the reference period of October 2004 to September 2005. LHBs should consider discussing with neighbouring LHBs the joint commissioning of orthodontics by looking at waiting list numbers and time of wait for a) assessment and b) treatment—using the index of orthodontic treatment need—and also a breakdown of source of referrals by LHB area.

Guidance on commissioning specialist services such as orthodontic treatment was issued to LHBs in December 2005 and July 2006. The level of services provided is a matter for each individual LHB.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister make a statement on funding for teenage sexual health clinics in Wales? (WAQ49686)

Brian Gibbons: The Welsh Assembly Government is pursuing a programme of action to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of people of all ages in Wales. Since 2001, the Welsh Assembly Government has supported local sexual health initiatives including the development of young people’s clinics, community-based and school-based sex and relationship projects, and outreach work, to reach those most vulnerable to infection.

The Assembly’s modernisation programme for HIV and sexual health services in Wales includes the development of national standards; the integration of existing genitourinary medicine and contraception services into a single sexual health service; expansion of the role of nurse practitioners within the services; and the development of local HIV and sexual health service networks.

Sexual health services in Wales are primarily commissioned by local health boards. The service specification issued to help inform commissioning decisions notes that services to young people need to be provided at accessible locations and times.

Since April 2005, the Welsh Assembly Government has provided additional recurrent funding of £500,000 to a number of key developments in the provision of sexual health services across Wales and to meet the March 2006 target that all patients should have access to core sexual health services within two working days and access to emergency contraception within 24 hours.

Nick Bourne: What representations has the Minister made to Westminster colleagues to exempt the hospice movement in Wales from rules forcing it to pay large amounts of money to run their fundraising lottery? (WAQ49687)

Brian Gibbons: I have not made any representations about this specific issue to the UK Government, with whom responsibility for this matter rests. I understand that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission are currently looking at the matter of fees for society lotteries and the result of these deliberations will be known shortly.

Nick Bourne: What is the Minister doing to support the Food Dudes healthy eating campaign for children? (WAQ49688)

Brian Gibbons: Officials have had a number of discussions with Professor Lowe over the last five years, and he was invited onto the evaluation sub-group of the food and fitness task group.

As part of the work from the food and fitness implementation plan for children and young people, we are examining innovative approaches to nutrition and cookery in the curriculum, and will be looking more closely at what Food Dudes could contribute to that.

Initial work is exploring the likely costs of implementation, which requires intervention materials, currently estimated at £12.57 per pupil, local co-ordination and staff training.

Some of the methods from the Food Dudes work have already been incorporated into our own work in schools, for example, using fruit tastings and a variety of mementoes—stickers, bookmarks, praiselets—to support the introduction of fruit tuck shops. These are currently run in over 750 primary schools involved in the Welsh network of healthy school schemes.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister make a statement on future plans for the provision of services at the breast care centre and the short stay endoscopy unit at Prince Phillip Hospital in Llanelli? (WAQ49691)

Brian Gibbons: Work is near completion on a proposed strategic outline case for the development of a short stay surgical unit and endoscopy suite at Prince Phillip Hospital. It is anticipated that it will be submitted for formal approval by the all-Wales capital investment board at its March meeting.

The case will allow for an expansion of day and short-stay surgery and will extend the range of procedures currently available in Llanelli. It will be in line with current modern practice and guidelines and ‘Designed for Life’. The proposed service will aim to respond to patients’ needs for a high-quality service providing effective clinical interventions and continuity of care. This development will allow the service to conform to the latest guidance from the British Association of Day Surgery. It will also allow the capacity to achieve the 2009 access targets to be developed.

The capital investment board has given approval in principle for an outline business case to be developed for the breast care centre—Phase 2.

Lisa Francis: What is the estimated cost of replacing all copper piping at Ysbyty Gwynedd and from which source will funding for this be found? (WAQ49694)

Brian Gibbons: The estimated cost of replacing the copper piping at Ysbyty Gwynedd will be included in the revised outline business case from North West Wales NHS Trust that my officials are currently awaiting. It will then be for the capital investment board to consider the OBC and to decide whether the trust may proceed to a full business case.

Lisa Francis: Will the Minister confirm that money for the Alltwen Hospital project has not been diverted away from other community hospitals in Gwynedd? (WAQ49695)

Lisa Francis: Can the Minister confirm the cost of the original estimated Alltwen Hospital project and give a progress report as to further increases to this estimate? (WAQ49696)

Brian Gibbons: Alltwen Hospital is a new build community hospital that will replace Bron y Garth Hospital. The hospital will have 30 GP medical/care-for-the-elderly beds, 10 day beds, a rehabilitation unit, an outpatient department, facilities for mental health services and x-ray and will supplement services from Ysbyty Gwynedd and Llandudno District General Hospital. The Welsh Assembly Government approved the final business case in October 2004, providing capital funding of £14.792 million.

Phase 1 of this project, which included creating access roads, has now been completed. In terms of phase 2 of this project, the main hospital design has been completed and, at the end of 2005, the North West Wales NHS Trust completed its tendering process for construction. This came in over budget and prompted the NHS trust to seek additional funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. In February 2006, the Welsh Assembly Government’s capital investment board approved additional funding of £1.3 million, and, in March 2006, construction work on the site began in earnest. The hospital is due to be completed in 2007-08.

Funding has not been diverted away from other community hospitals in Gwynedd. This is a stand-alone scheme for which funding was sought and allocated.

Lisa Francis: In response to how many WAQs has the Minister replied, ‘This information is not held centrally’, since 2003? (WAQ49714)

Brian Gibbons: Between 25 February 2002, when our electronic records began, and 1 March 2007, when this question was tabled, 5,377 written Assembly questions have been asked of the Minister for Health and Social Services. The cost of preparing the information that you have requested would be disproportionate and the Assembly’s advisory limit on cost would be exceeded. Answers to all written Assembly questions answered since 12 May 1999 are in the public domain on the National Assembly for Wales’s pages for the Record of Proceedings at: http://www.wales.gov.uk/keypubrecordproceedings/index.htm

It is the Welsh Assembly Government’s role to provide a strategic direction to the NHS in Wales and for NHS trusts and LHBs to provide and deliver services locally. Information is collected centrally on many, but by no means all, aspects of NHS services. If the information requested in an Assembly question is held by the Welsh Assembly Government, the answer will provide that information. Where it is not, the answer will explain that it is not held centrally.

While the Welsh Assembly Government might not collect the information requested it is not necessarily the case that the information does not exist elsewhere. It will possibly be held by individual NHS trusts and LHBs for their own operational purposes. In such cases, the cost of collecting the required data from NHS organisations for the purpose of responding to a written Assembly question might be disproportionate and the Assembly’s advisory limit on cost might again be exceeded.

The Presiding Officer’s guidance on Assembly questions (May 2003) states in paragraph 1.4 that, ‘The culture of the Assembly is to encourage a free flow of information between the cabinet and other Assembly Members, so that formal mechanisms are not needed simply to acquire factual information. The Intranet and the Library, which is able to offer a factual briefing service, can sometimes be the most appropriate, and quickest, ways of obtaining factual information.’

Paragraph 3.6 of the guidance states that questions that ask ‘for action to deal with operational matters under the control of health authorities which the First Minister [and] Assembly Ministers have no power to perform’ are inadmissible. Also inadmissible are ‘Questions seeking information that the Assembly Member can easily obtain through their own accord or through another source’.

Lisa Francis: Which local health boards in mid and west Wales are developing their own local action plans showing how they propose to implement key national service framework actions and bring additional mental health services to their areas? (WAQ49721)

Brian Gibbons: All LHBs in mid and west Wales are producing their own local action plans, showing how they propose to implement national service framework key actions and bring additional mental health services, over and above those needed to meet existing service and financial framework targets.

As a key action of the revised adult mental health NSF, a range of specialist services will be available across Wales. These should include eating disorder services accessible in each trust area. We have asked the local health boards and Health Commission Wales to examine the provision of in-patient eating disorder services and develop appropriate services in line with their commissioning strategies.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration

Leanne Wood: What is the Minister doing to ensure that other departments engage with Communities First? (WAQ48265)

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister define programme bending within Communities First? (WAQ48266)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration (Edwina Hart): A full definition of programme bending is provided in the draft Communities First guidance 2006.

I am working at ministerial level, and with my staff at official level, to ensure that areas across the Assembly and also outside the Assembly engage with the Communities First programme.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of applications for Communities First unit in 2005? (WAQ48267)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Edwina Hart: There were 177 applications received from Communities First partnerships in 2005.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of progress reports submitted by partnerships to the Communities First unit during 2005? (WAQ48268)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Edwina Hart: The 137 Communities First partnerships each provided quarterly progress reports.

Leanne Wood: What assessment has been made of Communities First partnerships’ progress? (WAQ48269) Substantive answer following holding reply.

Edwina Hart: Every partnership submits progress reports that enable my officials to track progress made. At a programme level, the interim evaluation of Communities First undertaken by independent evaluators was launched on 20 September.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of households assisted by the homebuy scheme in 2005? (WAQ48270)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Edwina Hart: The figures for the number of homebuy loans supported by social housing grant are available by financial year and are as follows:

2004-05 202 loans

2005-06 252 loans

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of staff working in the Communities First unit? (WAQ48271)

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of officials in Communities First unit that have community development qualifications? (WAQ48272)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Edwina Hart: With regard to the first part of your question, there are 25 staff in the Communities First unit.

As to your request for details of any staff who work in the unit who hold any accredited qualifications relating to community development, such as NOCS qualifications in community development, I should point out that the Permanent Secretary has delegated authority for recruitment matters rather than Assembly Ministers.

However, I can confirm that the civil service has traditionally expected teams to have generic rather than specialist skills, and the Assembly Government’s Communities First unit reflects this. More recently though, the Assembly Government has identified the need to consider the issue of balancing generic and specialist skills and is addressing this through the professional skills for government programme, among others. This work is still at a relatively early stage, but the Communities First unit will be liaising closely with colleagues in the human resources strategy team to consider the future implications for team development.

Also, when recruiting to posts, there is an emphasis on competences such as experience of working with external partners including community groups—this is true of both internal and external recruitment. Staff in post are developed to ensure deeper understanding and continuity to enable them to continue in an area of work that they are committed to.

The Assembly Government has also brought in secondees with appropriate expertise for benefit of partnerships, staff and the programme as a whole.

In addition, it is not primarily the role of the Communities First unit to provide specialist advice on community development issues to partnerships and staff working on the programme. This role falls more naturally to a range of support agencies including the Communities First support network, county voluntary councils and a large number of support teams embedded within local authorities and other grant recipient bodies. Many of these support agencies include staff with relevant qualifications and (more commonly) experience of community development.

Leanne Wood: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of households living below 60 per cent of the median income after housing costs in 2005? (WAQ48273)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Edwina Hart: These statistics are published on the statistics pages of the Welsh Assembly Government web site. http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/social-2006/hdw200603091/?lang=en

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I refer you to the answer that I gave to written Assembly question WAQ48309.

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister update us on her policies for supporting the voluntary sector? (WAQ49680)

Edwina Hart: The sector remains at the forefront of Assembly Government policy. In partnership with the sector, we have developed a strategic action plan for the future development of the voluntary sector scheme. This is currently out for consultation and will be presented to the incoming Government following the 2007 Assembly elections.

Trish Law: When does the Minister expect to announce a decision on a bid made by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council on 6 October 2006 for social housing grant in respect of an extra care sheltered housing development? (WAQ49699)

Edwina Hart: I announced the outcome of the 2008-09 bidding round for extra care schemes on 6 March 2007. The bid for Blaenau Gwent was successful.

Janice Gregory: Will the Minister make a statement on social justice achievements in the constituency of Ogmore? (WAQ49734)

Edwina Hart: For 2006-07, Bridgend County Borough Council received £230,000 as a contribution towards activity within its renewal area. The care and repair agency in Bridgend received £133,863 in 2006-07 as a contribution to its core activities and £65,054 for the rapid response adaptations programme. Between 2004-05 and 2006-07, the Assembly Government has allocated £8.9 million in social housing grant to housing associations operating in the Bridgend local authority area to assist with the provision of additional affordable housing for rent and low cost home ownership. The home energy efficiency scheme has assisted a total of some 1,750 households in the constituency of Ogmore, providing over 3,700 energy efficiency measures at a cost of £1.8 million. Since the inception of the Communities First programme until 31 March 2007, a combined total of £3,667,676 has been awarded to the five Communities First areas in the Ogmore constituency. Finally, between 1999 and 2008, more than £5.4 million has been allocated to the Bridgend community safety partnership.

Janice Gregory: How is the Welsh Assembly Government helping individuals on low incomes to tackle the problem of personal debt? (WAQ49735)

Edwina Hart: The review of overindebtedness aimed to understand and tackle personal debt. We are implementing its recommendations, including financial literacy education in schools, the extension of debt advice and support for the credit union movement. Assistance is being directed to those in need, looked-after children and Communities First areas in particular.

Janice Gregory: Will the Minister outline: a) how much money has been invested in the constituency of Ogmore through the Communities First programme, and b) provide a list of specific projects funded through the Communities First programme in the constituency of Ogmore? (WAQ49736)

Edwina Hart: Since inception of the Communities First programme to 31 March 2007, I have awarded a combined total of £3,667,676.15 to the five Communities First areas in your constituency. The majority of this funding is targeted at core Communities First costs such as staff and salaries, premises, equipment and communications, which facilitate and promote community engagement and capacity building in the five areas. In terms of specific projects in Ogmore, Communities First has funded the Caerau Park Estate project (£44,000) and the Caerau Positive Transition project (£46,200).

Janice Gregory: Will the Minister list all community facilities and activities fund grants provided in the constituency of Ogmore since 2003? (WAQ49738)

Edwina Hart: Since 2003, nine projects worth £732,287 in community facilities and activities programme grant funding have been approved in the constituency of Ogmore. The constituency also benefits from two borough-wide community grant schemes worth £290,000 administered by Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations. Details of the Ogmore schemes are:

Project Round Grant

Brynna Community Centre 01/03/2003 £94,000 Betws and Garw Valley Healthy Living Institute 01/08/2003 £150,000

Garw Valley Community Co-op 01/08/2003 £2,430

Maesteg Town Hall 01/08/2003 £10,770

Creation Development Trust, Blaengarw 01/08/2003 £72,704

Disabled Access, St David’s Church, Pencoed 15/07/2004 £28,662

Heol y Cyw Welfare Hall Improvement 15/10/2004 £41,068

Gilfach Goch Community Association 15/04/2005 £299,053

Maesteg Celtic Multi-Sport Hub Club Project 18/04/2006 £33,600.00

Total 9 £732,287

Questions to the Business Minister

Leighton Andrews: How many freedom of information requests have been received by the Welsh Assembly Government from the BBC since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into effect? (WAQ49727)

The Business Minister (Jane Hutt): Since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was commenced on 1 January 2005, our records show that the Welsh Assembly Government has received 56 requests for information from the BBC. Of these, 33 were received in 2005, 16 in 2006 and the remaining seven since the beginning of 2007.