Written Questions answered between 7 and 14 April 2005

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

Contents

2 Questions to the First Minister

6 Questions to the Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport

9 Questions to the Minister for Economic Development and Transport

13 Questions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning

16 Questions to the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside

19 Questions to the Finance Minister

17 Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

29 Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration

39 Questions to the Business Minister

1 Questions to the First Minister

Nick Bourne: Will the Welsh Assembly Government make it its policy to support the proposed name change of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41485)

Nick Bourne: Will the Minister publish any correspondence, including minutes, records of telephone conversations, e-mails, memoranda, letters and any other documents relating to discussions regarding the proposed name changes of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41486)

Nick Bourne: Will the Welsh Assembly Government make representations to Westminster colleagues concerning the proposed change of names of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41487)

Nick Bourne: What discussions, if any, has the Welsh Assembly Government had with the Ministry of Defence regarding the proposed name change of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41488)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I am writing in response to the questions you submitted concerning the amalgamation of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment.

The decision to amalgamate has been one purely for the army, which has been working on how the changes associated with moving to large regiments of more than one battalion should be effected. The army believes that the decision to amalgamate is the right one and that the move to larger regiments is the only sustainable way forward. These are not matters for me to discuss with the Ministry of Defence. The decision was not political in nature, but was one that was taken from a military operational perspective.

It was announced last week that the amalgamation would be taking place. During the period leading up to that announcement, I was advising anyone writing to me on this subject that the appropriate place to make representations was the executive committee of the army board. The Secretary of State for Wales issued the same advice to people who had written to him.

The army has made clear its commitment to maintain the traditions and ethos of the battalions in the new regiment. This will include further work by the regiment itself to establish which elements are preserved in future to ensure that the unique identities of the historic regiments are preserved when they become battalions of the new style regiment.

In respect of WAQ41486, I will consider your request and respond in due course.

Jonathan Morgan: Will the First Minister list the number of engagements undertaken in each constituency during the past year and all planned engagements until July 2005? (WAQ41851)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minster: The table below shows the number of engagements for April 2004 until March 2005, by constituency, for each Minister and the number of planned engagements for April 2005 until July 2005. I trust this information meets your requirements

2

First Minister Jane Davidson Sue Essex AM Brian Gibbons AM AM/ Jane Hutt AM Constitiuency 04/05 April – 04/05 April – 04/05 April – 04/05 April July 05 July 05 July 05 – July 05 Aberavon 5 1 9 2 0 0 4 0 Alyn and Deeside 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 Blaenau Gwent 1 1 14 1 4 0 0 0 Brecon and Radnorshire 5 0 16 2 6 3 5 3 Bridgend 3 0 6 0 3 0 3 0 Caernarfon 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 Caerphilly 6 0 7 1 3 0 7 0 Cardiff Central 61 7 46 14 21 3 38 6 Cardiff North 10 0 5 4 0 0 15 1 Cardiff West 7 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 Cardiff South and Penarth 37 2 21 4 73 9 44 44 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 Carmarthen West and South 2 0 9 0 1 0 0 0 Pembrokeshire Ceredigion 2 0 7 3 2 0 1 0 Clwyd South 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 Clwyd West 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 Conwy 4 1 13 2 8 0 3 1 Cynon Valley 4 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 Delyn 0 0 4 2 3 0 2 0 Gower 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 Islwyn 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 Llanelli 1 0 5 0 2 2 1 0 Merionnydd Nant Conwy 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney 4 0 3 1 3 0 7 0 Monmouth 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Montgomeryshire 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 Neath 0 0 4 0 2 0 2 0 Newport East 4 0 2 2 1 0 2 0 Newport West 9 0 8 5 1 0 7 1 Ogmore 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 Pontypridd 5 0 18 5 3 0 6 1 Preseli Pembrokeshire 6 0 1 1 2 0 2 1 Rhondda 1 0 6 1 4 0 2 0 Swansea East 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 0 Swansea West 10 1 10 5 8 0 6 0 Torfaen 1 0 11 1 3 0 4 0 Vale of Clwyd 1 0 3 0 4 0 2 0 Vale of Glamorgan 9 1 8 1 2 0 13 4 Wrexham 6 0 9 2 4 0 5 2 Ynys Môn 2 0 1 0 3 0 0 1

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the First Minister list his official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42104)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

3 The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for me.

I trust this information meets your requirements.

First Minister Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel 12/01/05 Cabinet open-mic Session Barry Memorial Hall official car 20/01/05 launch the revised Wrexham compact Wrexham Memorial Hall official car 20/01/05 visit to Airbus and the west factory Broughton official car 21/01/05 open the new rehabilitation unit Wrexham Maelor official car Hospital 21/01/05 attend the Walkabout Wrexham Caia Park, Wrexham official car 27/01/05 Financial Services Industry luncheon Tower 42, 24 Old Broad train/Government car Street, London 27/01/05 National Holocaust Memorial Day, national Westminster Hall, Government car commemoration London 28/01/05 address the Qualtech award ceremony QED Centre Treforest official car Industrial Estate 04/02/05 address the Wales carers and employment Orangery, Margam Park official car conference 04/02 /05 address the non-officer members of the Parkway Hotel, Newport official car south-east Wales local health boards 09/02/05 launch of the child poverty strategy White Rose School, New official car Tredegar 10/02/05 attend the Lyons review luncheon Reform Club, London official car 10/02/05 address the Prince of Wales - business and Dorney lake, Eton official car the environment programme event College, Windsor 11/02/05 attend the lord mayor’s ball Gwbert-on-Sea, official car Cardigan 13/02/05 address the Chinese new year celebrations Brangwyn Hall, Swansea official car 17/02/05 launch the ‘Their past and Your Future’ Rhyd-y-Car leisure official car exhibition centre, Merthyr Tydfil 23/02/05 attend Larry Johnson retirement dinner Vintners Hall, London train/Government car 25/02/05 visit to Trinity Fields School and Resource Ystrad Mynach official car Centre 27/02/05 St David’s Day dinner - Brussels Welsh Brussels official Society car/commercial flight/Government car 28/02/05 St David’s Day celebrations Brussels Government car 01/03/05 St David’s Day visit to Welsh Troops in Iraq Iraq commercial flight/MoD/official car 03/03/05 St David’s Day reception for the UK Foreign and train/Government car Diplomatic Corps Commonwealth Office, London

Nick Bourne: Has the Welsh Assembly Government had any input into the agenda for the UK Presidency of the European Union from July to December 2005? (WAQ42234)

The First Minister: I have been consulted about the policy agenda for the Presidency, in which the UK will look to deliver progress across the EU agenda by running an effective, impartial and business-like Presidency. I have also been consulted about the schedule of meetings taking place during the Presidency, a number of which will be held in Wales.

4 Nick Bourne: Has the First Minister had discussions with UK Government Ministers about the elimination of global poverty, and will he give details of those discussions, or say when he intends to have such discussions? (WAQ42261)

The First Minister: This is not a matter on which I have had direct discussions with UK Ministers because international development is not a devolved function. On matters with which we deal that can help to make poverty history, for instance reform of the common agricultural policy, we will be playing our part.

Nick Bourne: When is it intended that the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government should be completed? (WAQ42284)

Nick Bourne: Where is the advertisement for the office of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government to be placed, or where has it been placed if it has already been advertised? (WAQ42285)

Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister provide details of the advertisement that is to be placed, or has been placed, in relation to the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42286)

Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister be involved in any of the interviewing of candidates for the post of director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42287)

Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister provide such documentation as exists at 17 March 2005 in relation to the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42288)

Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister have a veto over the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42289)

Nick Bourne: What will be the role of the First Minister in the process of appointing a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42290)

Nick Bourne: Further to the response to WAQ41665, will the First Minister indicate why the Permanent Secretary has decided to appoint a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42291)

Nick Bourne: What role did the Permanent Secretary have in the process of appointing a second Counsel General, and what role will he have in the process of appointing a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42292)

The First Minister: I have asked the Permanent Secretary to write to you on this matter.

Nick Bourne: Was the decision to appoint a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government discussed by the Cabinet? (WAQ42293)

The First Minister: I reported to Cabinet on this matter under my oral items.

Lisa Francis: Will the First Minister make a statement on what talks he has had with UK Government Ministers regarding granting St David’s Day as a bank holiday in Wales? (WAQ42296)

The First Minister: I discussed this issue with Paul Murphy, when he was Secretary of State for Wales.

5 Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister be consulted by officials before the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42306)

Nick Bourne: In the period since the previous Counsel General retired, what have been the arrangements for providing legal service, at the most senior level, to the Welsh Assembly Government, giving details of the nature of any appointments, the cost of the service to date, and the projected cost until a Director of Legal Services is appointed? (WAQ42308)

Nick Bourne: Further to his answer to WAQ41666, will the First Minister publish all documentation relating to decisions taken in relation to the appointment of a second Counsel General? (WAQ42309)

Nick Bourne: Further to the response to WAQ41665, how does the proposed process for the appointment of a Director of Legal Services to the Welsh Assembly Government differ from the earlier appointment process in relation to the attempts to appoint a second Counsel General? (WAQ42310)

Nick Bourne: When was the decision made to appoint a Director of Legal Services rather than a Counsel General? (WAQ42311)

Nick Bourne: What is the difference in role between the proposed Director of Legal Services and the earlier post of Counsel General? (WAQ42312)

The First Minister: I have asked the Permanent Secretary to write to you on this matter.

Questions to the Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport

Kirsty Williams: What application for resources has Powys County Council submitted to the Assembly in respect of costs associated with free swimming schemes and what funding has been provided to the authority as a result? (WAQ41520)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport (Alun Pugh): All 22 local authorities across Wales and the Welsh Local Government Association have agreed to a set criteria document and a funding allocation to be distributed on an agreed formula basis for the purpose of delivering free swimming for both children and young people and those aged 60 and over.

In 2004-05, Powys County Council has agreed to a grant of £107,791 for the delivery of free swimming for children and young people. This will be paid to the authority in three instalments. The authority will also receive a grant of £20,200 for delivery of free swimming for those aged 60 and over for the period November 2004 to March 2005.

In addition, in this financial year, Powys County Council will receive £10,000 for publicity and marketing purposes, and it is also entitled to apply for an additional £3,750 towards the costs of employing a free swimming co-ordinator.

Also in 2004-05, the Sports Council for Wales is managing a free swimming capital fund for which all local authorities were invited to submit bids. I understand that, following a bid submitted by Powys County Council, it has been awarded a grant of £15,000 for the refurbishment and upgrading of facilities.

6 A Welsh Assembly Government training plan is also being delivered across Wales as part of the free swimming initiative, which is aimed at improving skills and qualification in each local authority area.

Nick Bourne: What support, both financial and otherwise, does the Welsh Assembly Government provide for rugby in Wales? (WAQ41914)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Alun Pugh: Since the inception of Sportlot in 1995, over £5 million of Sportlot funding has been awarded to rugby clubs in Wales. Rugby is also one of the seven sports included in the Sports Council for Wales’ Dragon Sport programme, which delivers opportunities to tens of thousands of primary school children each year and trains parents, teachers and other volunteers as leaders and coaches.

In the financial year 2003-04, the Welsh Women’s Rugby Union received £69,000 in grant aid from the Sports Council for Wales for its regional development programme, national coaching and to support international teams.

The Sports Council for Wales is working with the Welsh Rugby Union to implement its facilities plan, and £1.5 million of Sportlot funding has been ring-fenced to deliver a national centre. Rugby union is one of the fast-tracked sports receiving assistance to implement the UK coaching certificate. The WRU has already received £75,000 as part of the package of support that it will receive to implement the UK coaching certificate in Wales. The union will be a major beneficiary of the coaching plan for Wales and the £4 million that I have invested in delivering the plan over the next three years.

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list his official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42112) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport.

I trust this information meets your requirements.

Alun Pugh AM Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel 17/1/05 present the British Council international Upper Denbigh Rd, St official car school prize, which Glan Clwyd School has Asaph, Denbigshire won LL17 0RP 17/1/05 Hafodunos Hall visit north Wales official car 17/1/05 inaugurate restoration works Nantclwyd north Wales official car House Castle St Ruthin 24/1/05 gymnastic training sessions Cwmcarn gymnastic official car club, Risca, next door to Cwmcarn High School 27/1/05 CyMAL advisory board Unit 10, The Science official car Park, Cefn Llan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. SY23 3AH 28/1/05 photo shoot Parc and Dare Theatre Treorchy official car 31/1/05 ‘Climbing Higher’ launch indoor sports arena, official car Singleton Park, next door

7 to national pool, Swansea 03/2/05 Welsh Language Board open evening Ruthin, north Wales own travel 06/02/05 speech at north Wales Friends of Welsh Risboro Hotel, Clement own travel National Opera Avenue Llandudno 10/2/05 Caerphilly physical activity action plan Llancaiach Fawr, official car Caerphilly 11/2/05 address the sports development training Pembrokeshire official car seminar for senior sport and leisure officers Watersports centre, from local authorities in Wales Pembroke Dock 24/2/05 visit to Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw in north Wales official car Llanbedrog 24/2/05 Ryder Cup Wales, legacy launch (photo-call Llangefni Municipal official car event) Golf Course, Anglesey 24/2/05 meeting/proposals regarding plans to Oriel Ynys Môn, official car establish gallery Rhosmeirch, Llangefni, Ynys Môn LL77 7TQ 03/03/05 speak at library and information conference Metropole Hotel, official car Wales 2005 Llandrindod Wells LD1 5DY 03/03/05 announcement of the long list of the book of Wrexham Library official car the year Rhosddu Rd, Wrexham, Clwyd LL11 1AU 05/03/05 wythnos Cymraeg yn Gyntaf, activities in Ruthin, north Wales own travel Ruthin regarding competition for businesses in the town 10/3/05 open Theatr Elwy Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Ysgol Glan Clwyd, own travel Llanelwy St Asaph, Ffordd Dinbych, Llanelwy, Sir Ddinbych LL15 1SB

Questions to the Minister for Economic Development and Transport

David Davies: What efforts is the Minister making to ensure that small businesses in rural areas have access to broadband? (WAQ41554)

Substantive answer following holding reply issued 22 February 2005.

The Minister for Economic Development and Transport (Andrew Davies): The Broadband Wales programme is a mix of supply and demand projects aimed at helping people and businesses to realise the benefits of broadband. In particular, the all-Wales small and medium enterprise broadband support scheme provides financial aid of up to £3000 available to all SMEs in Wales to access broadband via a technology of their choice. To date, the scheme (and its predecessor) has supported over 760 applications from businesses across Wales, many of which are in rural areas.

Furthermore, the Broadband Wales programme has ensured broadband Try Before You Buy facilities at all information and communication technology support centres in Wales in order to help businesses realise and view the potential benefits of broadband.

Finally, there is a project within the programme called the regional innovative broadband support project aimed at ensuring everyone in Wales has access to at least first generation broadband. Due to the nature and scale of the project, it has had to be notified to the European Commission as it is considered aid. I expect the outcome of the notification process by May and, if successful, the procurement process will then begin.

8 Christine Chapman: Will the Minister make a statement on the role of businesses in supporting the local economies of town centres in Wales? (WAQ41567)

Substantive answer following holding reply issued 22 February 2005.

Andrew Davies: The most successful town centres comprise a healthy mix of business types, including retail, entertainment, leisure and financial service providers. This diverse business mix is at the core of attractive and vital town centres.

Local businesses have a critical role to play in creating the conditions which underpin the prosperity of both town centres and local economies.

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list his official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42106) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the Minister for Economic Development and Transport.

I trust this information meets your requirements.

Andrew Davies AM Date Engagement Location Mode of travel

12-Jan-05 Open Mic Barry Memorial Hall, Official car – From Bay to Vale of Glamorgan engagement then overnight stay in Carno. 13-Jan-05 Road Opening A470 Lledr Valley Stage Official car – From Carno, to 2, Meirionnydd engagement then to Ysbysty Ifan. 13-Jan-05 Ysbyty Ifan Mill Project Meirionnydd Official car – From A470 opening to engagement then home to Swansea. 17–Jan-05 Inco Ltd, Mond Nickel Works site Clydach, Gower Official car – From home visit address to engagement to Baglan Energy Park. 17-Jan-05 Baglan Technium steering group Baglan Energy Park, Official car – From Clydach industry event Aberavon. to engagement to Nantgarw. 18-Jan-05 Strategic European funds bids for Tonyrefail Primary Official car – From home childcare School, Pontypridd. address to engagement then to the Bay. 19-Jan-05 Dinner with Corus & Sun Coke Morgan’s Hotel Official car – From the Bay Swansea. to engagement in Swansea. 20-Jan-05 Biomass visit Ysgol y Preseli, Official car – From home Crymych, address to engagement to Pembrokeshire. Llwynhendy, Llanelli. 20-Jan-05 Meeting with Dave Gilbert (Director Llwyn Hall, Official car – From Crymych of Economic Development for Llwynhendy, Llanelli, to engagement to Dafen Carmarthenshire County Council) Carmarthenshire. Industrial Estate, Llanelli. 20-Jan-05 Visit to Promax Motorsport Dafen Industrial Estate, Official car – From Llwyn Llanelli. Hall Llanelli to engagement to Tumble Hall, nr Llanelli. 20-Jan-05 Launch of PACT Objective 1 project Tumble Hall, Llanelli. Official car – From Dafen Industrial Estate, Llanelli to engagement then to home.

9 27-Jan-05 Financial Services Industry lunch 24 Tower 42, 24 Old Train – Swansea to Broad St, London EC2N Paddington. 1HN. Government car – Paddington to engagement, then engagement to Paddington. Train – Paddington to Swansea. 03-Feb-05 Objective 1 visit Arts Factory, Ferndale, Official car – From Cathays Rhondda. to engagement then to the Bay. 04-Feb-05 Jaguar car presentation Gorseinon College, Minister’s own travel Gower. arrangements. 04-Feb-05 Launch of Digilab at Swansea Alexandra Road, Minister’s own travel Swansea arrangements. 10-Feb-05 Trip to Navarre -renewable energy Spain. Official car – Home to related visit Heathrow. Flight – Heathrow to Spain. 14-Feb-05 Return from Navarre - renewable Spain. Flight – Spain to Heathrow. energy related visit Official car – Heathrow to home address.

24-Feb-05 WTB board meeting Celtic Royal, Official car – Travelled from Caernarfon. the Bay night before for morning event, then to CAST Technium Bangor. 24-Feb-05 Launch of ICT – CAST Technium Bangor, Conwy. Official car – From Celtic Royal to engagement to north Wales Watersports, Bangor. 24-Feb-05 North Wales Watersports Plas Menai, Bangor, Official car – From Caernarfon. Technium Bangor to engagement to St. Asaph Business Park. 24-Feb-05 Opening Technium Optic. St Asaph Business Park, Official car – From Plas Clwyd Menai Bangor to engagement then back to home address. 25-Feb-05 Trip to Dubai – WTI & Energy Dubai Official car – From the Bay Event. to Station. Train – From station to Heathrow. Flight – From Heathrow to Dubai. 28-Feb-05 Return from Dubai. Dubai Flight – Dubai to Heathrow. Official car – Heathrow to home address. 03-Mar-05 Blaenau Gwent Voice of Industry Ebbw Vale Rugby Club. Official car – From home address to engagement then to Innovation Centre. 03-Mar-05 Job Match celebration Innovation Centre Ebbw Official car – From Ebbw Vale Vale Rugby Club to engagement then to Ebbw Vale Parkway Station. 03-Mar-05 Ebbw Vale Parkway Station Corus Site, Ebbw Vale. Official car – From Innovation Centre to engagement. At 12 p.m. official car and PS back to the Bay, Minister stayed on for political engagement.

10 15-Mar-05 First meeting of financial services Miskin Manor. Official car – From Cardiff sector strategic advice group for Station to engagement then Wales back to the Bay.

Nick Bourne: What discussions has the Minister had with UK Government Ministers regarding rail safety? (WAQ42262)

Andrew Davies: I have had no discussions with UK Government Ministers regarding rail safety.

The Welsh Assembly does not have responsibility for rail safety in Wales. This is currently the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive and train operating companies and, under the Railways Bill, the former responsibilities will transfer to the Office of Rail Regulation. However, I have funded £2.5 million for station improvements in south and mid Wales last year, and £1.5 million for a similar programme in north Wales this year. This includes CCTV, electronic help points and information displays. I am providing £2 million to install CCTV onboard all Arriva Trains Wales trains. I was also able to announce last year grant funding for the appointment of one of three community safety managers across the western area of British Transport Police, the post funded will be based in north Wales. In addition to this, on 21 March this year, I approved a new grant whereby the Welsh Assembly Government will be jointly funding a uniform inspector to manage the enhanced British Transport Police operational presence in north Wales.

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ42026, will the Minister make a statement on the lone parents’ venture? (WAQ42299)

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ42026, will the Minister make a statement on the Women’s Enterprise Wales project? (WAQ42302)

Andrew Davies: Both are all-Wales, pre-business start-up projects established in 2001, and delivered by Chwarae Teg. The Lone Parents Venture supports both men and women, as part of the wider WDA-managed Potentia project. Women’s Enterprise Wales encourages women to develop the confidence to start businesses with the appropriate level of advice and support linking into mainstream providers.

Women’s Enterprise Wales has worked with 1,534 women, of whom, 408 have established their own businesses and generated 611 new jobs. The lone parents’ venture has worked with 414 people, of whom, 39 have gone on to establish their own businesses and generated 72 new jobs.

Lisa Francis: What assessment has been made by the Welsh Assembly Government on the impact of the Wales Tourist Board merger on the aims and objectives of the board’s golf tourism strategy? (WAQ42300)

Andrew Davies: The merger will enable the WTB’s golf tourism strategy to continue and, through closer synergy with other key players in the new Economic Development and Transport Department, provide further opportunities for it to be developed.

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ42024, will the Minister give details of the Wales Tourist Board’s proposals for a framework to market Wales, and what input has the Minister or any of his officials had into this? (WAQ42301)

Andrew Davies: This framework, which is an operational matter for WTB, is at an early stage of development and will be based on VisitBritain taking the lead in marketing in new

11 and emerging markets such as China. WTB officials are looking to form alliances with key travel partners who have an interest in these markets.

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ42028, is the Wales Tourist Board planning to carry out research on the value of film tourism to the Welsh economy? (WAQ42303)

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ42028, what is the Welsh Assembly Government doing to increase the value of film tourism to the Welsh economy? (WAQ42304)

Andrew Davies: The WTB’s research programme does not include any research on the value of film tourism to the Welsh economy.

The commission has been involved in several successful projects with locations in Wales featuring in a number of major films. The WTB and regional tourism partnerships are well placed to use these locations as a tool in their marketing campaigns.

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ42029, how were the ‘potential’ figures calculated? (WAQ42305)

Andrew Davies: The potential figures have been drawn from individual strategies and action plans for each of the activity products listed. These potential figures were worked up by consultants engaged in developing the respective strategies and are largely based on the current volume and value of the sectors.

Lisa Francis: Will the Minister make a statement on whether he is prepared to move Torch Theatre up the Objective 1 reserve list? (WAQ42307)

Lisa Francis: Will the Minister make a statement regarding the refusal of £2 million of Objective 1 funding for the Torch Theatre? (WAQ42314)

Andrew Davies: The Torch Theatre’s application for Objective 1 funding was submitted under a bidding round that was heavily oversubscribed. The application from the Torch Theatre has not been refused at this stage—it has been placed on a reserve list, which will be reviewed at the July meeting of the thematic advisory group for priority 5 of the Objective 1 programme. The prioritisation and appraisal of Objective 1 applications is an independent process, managed by the Welsh European Funding Office, and not influenced by Ministers.

Lisa Francis: What strategies are in place or being developed by the Wales Tourist Board to ensure that there is no adverse impact on adventure tourism caused by excessive insurance costs? (WAQ42313)

Andrew Davies: The WTB has held a number of insurance management seminars for the trade to help inform them of best practice and managing insurance issues.

Lisa Francis: What assessment has been made by the Wales Tourist Board of the contribution and future contributions of equine tourism for Wales? (WAQ42319)

Lisa Francis: Will the Minister make a statement on what the Wales Tourist Board is currently doing, or planning to do, to promote equine Tourism? (WAQ42321)

Andrew Davies: The WTB’s Riding Tourism Strategy, Saddling Up for Success, estimates that expenditure on horse riding in Wales is currently around £18.55 million. If the strategy is fully implemented, it estimates that this could increase to around £25 million.

12 As part of this strategy, the WTB has awarded a two-year marketing contract to the Welsh Equine Council to promote this sector.

Lisa Francis: What consideration has the Welsh Development Agency given to providing funds for the Welsh Equine Council? (WAQ42320)

Andrew Davies: I am advised that no application has been received. Support would only be provided for activities that contribute to the strategic priorities that I have set for the agency.

Questions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning

Jonathan Morgan: Will the Minister list the number of engagements undertaken in each constituency during the past year and all planned engagements until July 2005? (WAQ41849) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: I refer you to my answer to question WAQ41851.

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ41716, will the Minister make a statement on when Estyn’s study is expected to be completed? (WAQ42000)

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ41716, is the Welsh Assembly Government considering imposing a minimum amount of hours for sex education? (WAQ42001)

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ41716, will the Minister make a statement on the aims and objectives given to Estyn regarding its study into sex and relationship education in Wales? (WAQ42002)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning (Jane Davidson): I refer to my response to your previous question, WAQ41716, regarding the number of hours per week set aside in the curriculum for sex education. As I stated, our guidance to schools on provision is set out in terms of learning outcomes rather than a set amount of time to be spent on the subject. When planning how they are going to implement personal and social education, local education authorities and schools will be guided by their local circumstances and priorities, and, as such, I am keen for these LEAs and schools to have the flexibility to deliver PSE in a way that suits their needs, at the same time taking on board shared best practices. It is for the individual school and LEA to decide how much time to allocate to each aspect of the PSE framework.

I have no plans at this stage to impose a minimum requirement for the number of hours allocated to teaching sex and relationships education. However, I commissioned Estyn to carry out a specific study into sex and relationships education in Welsh schools which would look at how well schools were following the guidance set out in circular no. 11/02, ‘Sex and Relationships Education in Schools’.

In undertaking the study, Estyn would focus on: • analysis of all secondary and 20 per cent of primary section 10 inspection reports produced between September 2003 to September 2004 to see the extent to which schools comply with circular 11/02 • meeting with representatives of the Welsh PSE advisors groups

13 • visits to selected primary and secondary schools based on evidence gained from inspection reports; and meetings/telephone interviews with key sexual health personnel from a national sample of area health authorities.

Additional evidence would be obtained from telephone interviews with advisers from the Wales PSE advisory group, headteachers, school PSE co-ordinators, the PSE adviser for the school improvement service in each area would be visited, and with the sexual health co- ordinator in the area health authority.

Consideration would be given to: • the time schools spend on teaching sex and relationships education • which school years it is provided in • training aspects • who is delivering the education • links to health professionals • links to youth organisations • parental involvement and communication.

Estyn has now completed the study. The draft report must first be approved by the Chief Inspector for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales. Estyn aims to publish the report by the end of April. I will await the outcome of this study and consider any recommendations made by Estyn as a result.

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list her official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42108) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.

I trust this information meets your requirements

Jane Davidson AM Date Event Location Mode of Transport 6/1 Promoting better behaviour on school Odeon Cinema, Bridgend Official car transport conference 6/1 North of England Education Conference Manchester Town Hall, Official car 2005 Gala dinner 7/1 NEEC Conference University of Manchester Official car 11/1 Launch of Skills and Employment action St David’s Hotel, Cardiff Official car plan 12/1 Cabinet Open Mic Session Memorial Hall, Barry Official car 13/1 Saints Gabriel & Raphael Catholic Primary Primrose Street, Official car School Tonypandy 13/1 Officially Open St Illtyd’s Primary School St Illtyd’s Primary Official car School, Llanhilleth, Abertillery 13/1 Official Opening of the enriched curriculum Fairwater Junior School, Official car St Dials, Cwmbran 13/1 Ysgol Rhiwabon Awards Evening Ysgol Rhiwabon, Official car Wrexham 14/1 Visit Victoria Junior School Victoria Junior School, Official car Wrexham

14 14/1 Official opening of the WULF project centre Deeside Industrial Estate, Official car 14/1 Opening North Wales Clinical School Glan Clwyd Hospital Official car 14/1 Launch of ‘Meeting Your Needs’ - College Coleg LLandrillo Official car Case Studies Cymru’s Conference Centre, Rhos on Sea 17/1 meeting with the GTCW Pembroke Suite, Official car Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran 17/1 Launch of Asset Skills Wales National Museum, Official car Cathays Park, Cardiff 17/1 NASUWT Dinner Manor Parc Hotel, Official car Thornhill, Cardiff 18/1 DINNER - Sector Skills Development Hilton Hotel, Cardiff Official car Council 20/1 NIACE/Fforwm/Community Learning Metropole Hotel, Official car Wales Joint Conference Llandrindod Wells 21/1 EARLALL Focus on Competencies Florence, Italy Plane to Florence (in Conference Italy) car travel supplied by EARLALL 22/1 EARLALL Board Meeting Regione Toscana Plane from Florence Presidency, Sala del (in Italy) car travel Caminetto, Via Cavour, supplied by 18 - Firenze Florence EARLALL Italy 25/1 Open Nuffield Foundation 14-19 review Glamorgan Building, Official car Cardiff University 26/1 Spatial plan and regional implementation Roof Top Cafe, Swansea Official car workshops Grand Theatre 27/1 ‘Aim Higher’ launch Cadogan Centre, Mount Official car Pleasant Campus, Swansea Institute of Higher Education 27/1 Joint event with Estyn to promote the role of Stradey Park Hotel, Official car YPP’s with its partners Llanelli 27/1 Neath Port Talbot healthy school scheme Orangery, Margam Park, Official car award ceremony Port Talbot 28/1 Official Opening of the new ICT Suite at Newton Primary, New Official car Newton Primary School Road, Porthcawl. 31/1 VISIT - Hollybush Primary School Hollybush Primary Official car School, Cwmbran, 31/1 VISIT - Eye to Eye Bryncelynnog Official car Comprehensive School, RCT 31/1 Launch of the Young People’s Fund KPC Youth Centre, Pyle, Official car Bridgend 2/2 MTG - LEA Change Co-ordinators Novotel International Official car Hotel, Atlantic Wharf Cardiff 3/2 VISIT to Ysgol y Creuddyn to open new Ysgol y Creuddyn, Official car extension Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, 3/2 North West Wales Secondary Headteachers St George’s Hotel, Official car Conference LLandudno 3/2 Joint event with Estyn to promote the role of Monsanto Suite, Royal Official car Young People’s Partnerships International Pavilion, Llangollen 3/2 VISIT - Centre of Engineering at Deeside Deeside College, Official car College Connah’s Quay,

15 Flintshire, 4/2 Launch of Interreg IIA Community Intiative Lampeter University Official car project 4/2 VISIT - Ysgol Tre - Gib Ysgol Tre-Gib, Official car Llandeilo, 4/2 Launch of Coed Cadw’s tree for all Coed TreGib, Llandeilo Official car education materials 8/2 Formal Opening of St Joseph’s RC High St Joseph’s RC High Official car School new building School, Newport, 8/2 Present awards to adult students who have Wales Millennium Walk gained the Basic Skills Tripartite Award Centre, Cardiff 9/2 Re-launch of Radio Acen Canolfan Dylan Thomas, Official car Swansea, 9/2 VISIT - Coleg Sir Gar to speak to Welsh Coleg Sir Gar, Llanelli Official car Bac Students 9/2 VISIT Albert Road Primary School - present Albert Road Primary Official car the International Accreditation Award School, Penarth, 9/2 ACM Wales conference Vale of Glamorgan Hotel Official car and Country Club 22/2 Financial Literacy Conference 2005 Wales Millennium Walk Centre, Cardiff 23/2 Dysg Policy and Research Conference Marriott Hotel, Cardiff Official car 24/2 Consultation Conference to develop the Ramada Jarvis Hotel- Official car National Headship Development Programme Swansea in Wales 24/2 VISIT - Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari, Official car RCT 24/2 The Final of Techniquest "Maths in Motion" Techniquest, Cardiff Bay Official car Competition 28/2 address to Inter-Schools Conference Stanwell School, Official car Penarth. 28/2 Launch of All Wales Reading Test County Hall Swansea Official car 28/2 Official Open Candystrips Day Nursery CandyStripes Day Official car Nursery Cwmcelyn, Blaina 1/3 Launch of Skills Wales University of Official car Glamorgan, Treforest RCT 2/3 Higher Education Modern Foreign Temple of Peace, Official car Languages Event Cathays Park Cardiff 2/3 Foreign Language Assistant Competition National Museum, Walk Prize Awarding Ceremony Cathays Park Cardiff 4/3 Merthyr Tydfil Healthy School Celebration Cyfarthfa Lower School, Official car Merthyr Tydfil, 10/3 Wales Co-operative Centre Conference City Hall, Cardiff Official car 10/3 Launch Race for Quality First’s ‘A New National Museum of Walk Renaissance: Cultural Wall Hanging Project’ Wales, Cardiff 10/3 Deliver the University of Wales Swansea’s University of Wales, Official Car Annual Equal Opportunities Lecture for Swansea, 2004 ( 11/3 Launch of Common Investment Fund with Coleg Glan Hafren, Official Car Sheila Drury Trowbridge Cardiff 11/3 Launch of National Science Week Techniquest, Cardiff Bay Official car 11/3 MTG Clywch Future Inn Hotel Cardiff Official car Bay 11/3 Present the Basic Skills Quality Mark Award Derwendeg Primary Official car for primary Schools to Derwendeg Primary School, ,Cefn Hengoed, School Caerphilly,

16

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list his official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42111) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the The Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside.

I trust this information meets your requirements

Carwyn Jones AM Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel 06/01/05 horse passports presentation Waterton, Bridgend Minister drove himself 13/01/05 upland faring meeting Royal Welsh ministerial car showground, Builth Wells 13/01/05 meeting with LA leaders Royal Welsh ministerial car showground, Builth Wells 13/01/05 meeting with Cllr Williams Royal Welsh ministerial car showground, Builth Wells 14/01/05 visit to areas affected by flooding Trefriw flight to north Wales ministerial car 14/01/05 Welsh meat in Welsh hospitals Gwynedd hospital ministerial car

14/01/05 visit to areas affected by flooding Llanrwst ministerial car flight to south Wales 31/01/05 meeting with the Farmers’ Union of Wales FUW offices ministerial car Aberystwyth 03/02/05 intergrated coastal zone meeting the Dylan Thomas ministerial car Centre, Swansea 03/02/05 visit to Crymlyn Burrows energy centre Swansea ministerial car 10/02/05 opening of NFU offices Royal Welsh ministerial car showground, Builth Wells 10/02/05 visit spatial plan workshop Royal Welsh ministerial car showground, Builth Wells 10/02/05 aggregates sub-levy visit Penderyn ministerial car 28/02/05 pre-launch of new right of access under Caerphilly mountain ministerial car Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 04/03/05 visit to Greenwood recycling plant Cornelly, Bridgend Minister drove himself

Helen Mary Jones: Will the Minister publish a map showing all areas in Wales covered by the fallen stock scheme? (WAQ42318)

17 The Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside (Carwyn Jones): The National Fallen Stock Scheme Company is administering the national fallen stock scheme in Wales and neither it nor we have any plans to publish a map.

Helen Mary Jones: How is the Minister monitoring the fallen stock scheme to ensure compliance with the regulations on the length of time within which fallen stock should be collected and disposed? (WAQ42323)

Carwyn Jones: The National Fallen Stock Company is responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the national fallen stock scheme are met by contractors.

Helen Mary Jones: How is the Minister monitoring the fallen stock scheme to ensure that variations in cost to farmers are not dependent on the size of the holding? (WAQ42324)

Carwyn Jones: Collectors registered with by the National Fallen Stock Scheme Company provide a fixed price collection regardless of the size of the holding. Collectors outside the national fallen stock scheme can charge what they consider to be a commercial rate, which may vary according to distance, location and numbers of fallen stock.

Questions to the Finance Minister

Jonathan Morgan: Will the Minister list the number of engagements undertaken in each constituency during the past year and all planned engagements until July 2005? (WAQ41848) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: I refer you to my answer to question WAQ41851.

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list her official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42105) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the Finance Minister.

I trust this information meets your requirements.

Sue Essex AM Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel 05/01/05 to meet Gordon Brown Cardiff airport shared car: with the First Minister 12/01/05 open mic Memorial Hall, Barry car: Cardiff/Barry, back to Cardiff 17/01/05 meeting Nick Raynsford Whitehall train: Cardiff/London, car: Paddington to House of Commons 17/01/05 Meeting Don Touhig Welsh Affairs Gwydyr House Committee meeting 17/01/05 local government and public services and House of Commons car: House of Welsh Affairs Committee Commons to Paddington train: to Cardiff

18 20/01/05 policy signing Tonypandy car: Comprehensive School Cardiff/Tonypandy, back to Cardiff 26/01/05 spatial plan workshop with Jane Davidson Swansea Grand Theatre shared car JD: Cardiff/Swansea, back to Cardiff 28/01/05 Cabinet awayday Court Colman Manor, car: Cardiff/Bridgend, Bridgend made own way back 03/02/05 meeting Tom McCabe Holyrood Hotel, car: Cardiff/Cardiff Edinburgh airport plane: Cardiff to Edinburgh car: Holyrood Hotel

04/02/05 visit Scottish new building Edinburgh car: Edinburgh/Edinburgh Airport plane: Edinburgh to Cardiff car: Airport/Cardiff 09/02/05 travel to mid Wales for spatial plan Caer Beris Manor, Builth car: Cardiff/Builth Wells Wells 10/02/05 spatial plan with Carwyn Jones Royal Welsh car: Builth showground, Builth Wells/Cardiff Wells 17/02/05 Association for Public Service Excellence Llandrindod car: Wales seminar Llanrindod/Cardiff 23/02/05 travel to north Wales for Wrexham spatial Welshpool car: plan, Flintshire LHB, Denbighshire LHB, Cardiff/Welshpool Gwynedd spatial Plan and Anglesey policy signing 24/02/05 Wrexham spatial plan North East Wales car: Institute Plas Coch Welshpool/Wrexham campus, Wrexham 24/02/05 Flintshire LHB Flintshire car: Wrexham/Flintshire 24/02/05 Denbighshire LHB Denbighshire car: Flintshire/ Denbighshire 25/02/05 Gwynedd spatial plan Bangor, Gwynedd car: Denbighshire/ Gwynedd 25/02/05 Anglesey policy signing Anglesey car: Gwynedd/Anglesey, back to Cardiff 27/02/05 Pembrokeshire spatial plan Pembrokeshire car: Cardiff/ Pembrokeshire, made own way back 03/03/05 St David’s Day reception Foreign and train: Cardiff/London Commonwealth Office, shared car with Jane London Hutt: Paddington/ King Charles Street shared car with JH and FM: King Charles Street/Paddington train: London/Cardiff 10/02/05 Bridgend policy signing Bridgend car: Cardiff/Bridgend, back to Cardiff

19

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Leanne Wood: What have been the Minister’s official engagements since his appointment as Minister for Health and Social Services on 10 January 2005? (WAQ41783)

Substantive answer following holding reply issued 8 March 2005.

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Brian Gibbons): My official engagements are listed below. In addition to the events shown, I regularly engage with a range of individuals in my ministerial capacity, but I have not listed all of these occasions below. These comprise my meetings with officials, other Cabinet Ministers, Assembly Members or their political advisers, representatives from the press or media and Ministers from other administrations.

Date Engagement January 12 Cabinet open mic session 13 Visit to North Wales Clinical School 17 Royal College of Nursing Welsh board seminar 18 Launch of strategic funds for child care 18 Launch of Institute of Occupational Safety and Health booklet 18 Royal College of Nursing Wales new year reception 19 Wanless meeting with Cardiff Local Health Board 20 Meeting with Professor Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council 20 Royal College of Nursing role models for health event 20 British Medical Association Dinner 25 AM-organised child care event 26 Visit to the Princess of Wales Hospital 27 Wales Cancer Institute launch 29 Welcome address at overseas doctors induction course 29 Visit to University Hospital of Wales 31 Public meeting on the future of health care provision in Merthyr Tydfil February 1 Visit to Pontcae doctors surgery in Merthyr 1 Meeting with Community Pharmacy Wales 2 Healthy living day event 2 Launch of all-party group on healthy living 3 Wanless meeting with Merthyr Tydfil Local Health Board 3 Wanless meeting with Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Health Board 3 Meeting with local authority leaders and local health board chairs 3 Meeting with the British Medical Association 8 Meeting with Welsh Cardiac Group 9 Techniquest exhibition opening of Wales graduate-entry MB programme at Swansea Clinical School 10 Opening of Wales graduate-entry MB programme at Swansea Clinical School 15 Meeting with Camarthenshire Local Health Board 15 Meeting with Swansea Local Health Board 15 Meeting with Caerphilly Local Health Board 16 Visit to Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant

20 16 Visit to Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil 16 Visit to Nevil Hall Hospital, Abergavenny 16 Visit to Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport 16 Visit to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff 17 Meeting with representatives from Age Concern Cymru, the College of Occupational Therapists and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy 17 Meeting with Bob Palmer, chair of Wales Air Ambulance 17 Meeting with chairman of the Food Standards Agency 17 Meeting with Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs 21 Meeting with Welsh Local Government Association 22 Meeting with Cardiff local authority 22 Coaching access Wales event 22 All-party kidney group meeting 23 Meeting with Royal National Institute for the Blind 23 Gene park event 24 Wanless meeting with Flintshire Local Health Board 24 Wanless meeting with Denbighshire Local Health Board 25 Bevan Foundation conference—Health and the Welsh Economy March 1 Wales HIV networks conference 1 Meeting with Professor Black, the Royal College of Physicians 1 Dinner with the Royal College of Physicians 2 All-party group on sight problems and right to read reception 3 Royal College of Midwives’ St David’s Day conference 3 Local Government Partnership Council meeting 3 Meeting with the British Dental Association 4 Visit to Pembrokeshire dentist 4 Visit to Withybush General Hospital

5 Welsh practice nurse annual conference 7 Optometry Wales conference 8 Local diabetes service advisory group conference 8 Audit Commission dinner 9 Launch of revised policy and procedures for prevention of vulnerable adult abuse 9 Meeting with nursing and midwifery unions 9 Meeting with Unison 10 Presentation from Grayling 10 Launch of fruit and vegetable co-operative launch and gear healthy living community plan 10 Meeting with Grayling 10 Meeting with Brian Davies 11 Launch of the Welsh Nursing Academy 12 Welsh Conference of Local Medical Committees dinner 14 Meeting with the British Medical Association 14 Retirement of chair of Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust reception 14 Thirtieth anniversary of opening of care of the elderly hospital

21 14 Opening of children’s assessment centre, Llandough 15 Healthy living day event 16 Meeting with Mencap 16 Meeting with local authority spokesperson 17 Meeting with Community Health Councils board chairman and director 17 Food and fitness task group meeting 17 Meeting with Professor Townsend

David Davies: Will the Minister make a statement on staffing levels for the out-ofhours GP cover? (WAQ41812)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: I am now in a position to give you the following information. The staffing levels for out-of-hours services are determined by the service providers in conjunction with their local health board. We do not keep records centrally, but I am pleased that many local GPs have chosen to work for the new out-of-hours providers.

Jonathan Morgan: Will the Minister list the number of engagements undertaken in each constituency during the past year and all planned engagements until July 2005? (WAQ41850) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer

The First Minister: I refer you to my answer to question WAQ41851.

Nick Bourne: Has the Minister received any representations concerning out of hours cover in Ystradgynlais, and if so will be publish them? (WAQ41908)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: I apologise for the delay in replying, which was necessary in order to consult with Kirsty Williams regarding the release of her letter. I am now in a position to provide you with the following information.

As of 2 February 2005, I have received two letters relating to the out-of-hours service in Ystradgynlais. The first letter contains patient identifiable information which is not appropriate to publish. The second letter is a meeting request from Kirsty Williams AM. This is attached.

‘I am writing to ask if you would receive a delegation of local councillors and Communities First and Community Health Council representatives from the Ystradgynlais and Upper Swansea Valley area. They are keen to meet with you to discuss out-of-hours care and health deprivation in their area.’

Lisa Francis: In each year since 1999, how many older people in Wales have reported abuse in Wales? (WAQ41945)

Substantive answer following holding reply.

Brian Gibbons: I am now in a position to give the following answer. This information is not available from 1999. A new format for monitoring information was introduced in 2003. The

22 Social Services Inspectorate for Wales expects monitoring of activity in the year 2004-05 consistently to follow this agreed model.

A total of 1,301 referrals of alleged abuse of vulnerable adults were made in 2003-04 compared to 751 for 2002-03. This is thought to reflect increased levels of awareness and reporting rather than increased volume of abuse.

As in 2002-03, older people make up the largest group of alleged victims of abuse and account for between 44-55 per cent of allegations across adult protection forum areas.

2002-03 2003-04 295 784

This represents 1 in 768 people aged 65 and over across Wales.

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list his official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42107) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the Minister for Health and Social Services.

I trust this information meets your requirements.

Brian Gibbons AM Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel January 12 Open Mic Session Barry Official car 13 Visit to North Wales Clinical School Wrexham Train / Car (Officials drove) 18 Launch of Strategic Funds for Childcare Porth Personal car

26 Visit to Princess of Wales Hospital Bridgend Personal car 31 Public Event regarding the ‘Future of Health Merthyr Official car Care Provision in Merthyr’ February

1 Visit to Pontcae Medical Practice to officially Merthyr Personal car open extension 3 Wanless meeting with Merthyr local health Merthyr Personal car board 3 Wanless meeting with Rhondda Cynon Taff Llantrisant Personal car Local Health Board 10 Opening of Wales Graduate Entry MB Swansea Personal car programme at Swansea Clinical School

15 Meeting with Carmarthenshire local health Llanelli Official car board

23 15 Meeting with Swansea local health board Swansea Official car

15 Meeting with Caerphilly local health board Ystrad Mynach Official car

16 Visit to Royal Glamorgan Hospital Llantrisant Car (officials drove) 16 Visit to Prince Charles Hospital Merthyr Tydfil Car (officials drove) 16 Visit to Nevil Hall Hospital Abergavenny Car (officials drove) 16 Visit to Royal Gwent Newport Car (officials drove) 24 Wanless meeting with Flintshire local health Flintshire Train / Car (officials board drove) 24 Wanless meeting with Denbigshire local Denbighshire Car (officials drove) health board March 4 Visit to Pembrokeshire Dentist Milford Haven Official car 4 Visit to Withybush Hospital Pembrokeshire Official car 7 Optometry Wales Conference Hensol Personal car 8 Audit Commission Dinner ‘The Health and Bridgend Personal car Social Care Landscape in Wales’ 10 Launch of Gaer healthy living community plan Newport Official car and fruit and veg Co-op

Michael German: Will the Minister make a statement about the resources available to Welsh people trying to stop smoking? (WAQ42298)

Brian Gibbons: The Assembly funds a variety of initiatives targeted at smokers who would like to quit. These include:

Smoking cessation services, which are freely available at a local level, and smokers can access either one to one or group support. There is one phone number for all services in Wales and this is widely advertised through cessation materials and GP surgeries.

Motivational media campaigns which have been developed for adult and adolescent smokers, the adult campaigns are broadcast at peak viewing times and feature real smokers experiencing a range of diseases, the adolescent campaigns are broadcast in the school holidays and focus on younger smokers’ motivation to quit, namely the effects of smoking on fitness for boys and the damaging effects on skin for young women.

A 24-hour helpline—Smokers Helpline Wales—which provides free support and advice and the ongoing dissemination of self-help materials to assist those smokers who want to give up without attending local services.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Will the Minister publish the current budget deficits of NHS Trusts, and will he identify what cost pressures have contributed to these deficits? (WAQ42322)

Brian Gibbons: Details of NHS Trusts with forecast budget deficits were provided in answer to WAQ42087.

Four of the five trusts reporting deficits in 2004-05—Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Mid Wales, Pembrokeshire and Derwen, and Cardiff and Vale—are currently implementing

24 financial recovery plans to restore a historic deficit position. The reasons why the historic deficits arose vary in each case, but include recruitment difficulties resulting in employing agency staff, service developments put in place by former health authorities with insufficient funding and costs associated with increases in emergency pressures. The deficit being reported by Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust is due to more recent pressures, primarily associated with pay modernisation, which are expected to be resolved through additional income for the trust.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Does the Minister have any plans to introduce a dental hygiene strategy that would include provision for a dental check up for nursery and schoolchildren by a nurse or therapist, and providing toothbrushes and toothpaste to children, as is the case in Scotland? (WAQ42327)

Brian Gibbons: The Assembly Government is investing considerable sums of money in improving the oral health of our young children such as the fissure sealant and oral health promotion programme which is targeted at six to eight year olds in deprived areas. The programme includes dietary advice to the parent and child, oral hygiene instruction and includes the provision of toothbrushes and samples of fluoride toothpaste. The programme is now entering its fourth year and is in the process of being evaluated. The early indications of its effectiveness are good.

The new reforms for dentistry in Wales that the Assembly Government is proposing will also encourage dentists and their staff to promote good oral health during dental attendance.

Michael German: Will the Minister make a statement on the cancellation of NHS appointments by local health boards and medical professionals? (WAQ42269)

Brian Gibbons: Figures are collected by the Welsh Assembly from NHS Trusts in Wales on operations cancelled by the hospital or by the patient. The table below shows the position in December 2004, and demonstrates that the largest number of operations cancelled are those cancelled by patients:

Total operations cancelled in December 2004 in Wales 2,640 Of those, cancelled by the hospital for clinical reasons 416 Of those, cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons 822 Of those, cancelled by the patient 1,402

Of the 822 operations cancelled by hospitals for non-clinical reasons, 167 were because the consultant or anaesthetist was unavailable.

Data on the cancellation of appointments or operations by local health boards is not centrally held.

Kirsty Williams: Who is sitting on the information management technology sub-committee with regard to the pharmacy contract? (WAQ42270)

Brian Gibbons: Membership of the sub-group is as follows:

Chair Paul Parker Health and social care directorate Simon Scourfield Health and social care directorate Peter Stansfield Health and social care directorate David Hopkins Health Solutions Wales Simon Williams Health Solutions Wales Pam Hall Business services centre

25 Denzil Lloyd Business Services centre Allan Dickinson Informing Healthcare Phil Parry Community Pharmacy Wales Andrea Robinson Royal Pharmaceutical Society Welsh Executive Dr Ian Millington GP Committee for Wales Judith Vincent Swansea Local Health Board pharmacy adviser

Val Lloyd: What is the number of recorded deaths in Wales resulting from blood clotting for the years 2003-04? (WAQ42274)

Brian Gibbons: Figures on a consistent basis are only available for 2001 to 2003 and are based on the cause of death being recorded as pulmonary embolism. The figures exclude other deaths caused by thrombosis unrelated to deep vein thrombosis, for example, myocardial infarction.

Number of deaths from pulmonary embolisms in Wales: 2001 160 2002 169 2003 168 Source: Office for National Statistics Data related to pulmonary embolism based on the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) code I26.

Val Lloyd: What discussions have been held between the Minister for Health and Social Services and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence regarding guidelines to combat the problem of blood clotting after hospital discharge? (WAQ42275)

Brian Gibbons: In March 2003, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Health asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare a clinical guideline on ‘Venous thromboembolism: the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery and other high-risk surgical procedures’. NICE is at an early stage in the production of this guideline and its current timetable indicates that it will consult on the first draft of the guidance in October 2006. The Assembly is a stakeholder in all NICE guidance and will therefore have an opportunity to comment on the draft guideline at that stage. NICE envisages issuing the final guidance in May 2007.

Further details, including the full timetable and list of stakeholders for this guideline can be found on NICE’s website here: http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=63366

Lisa Francis: What safeguards or measures are in place by local authorities in Wales to ensure elderly people who are looked after by family or friends and so on are not suffering from abuse? (WAQ41939)

Brian Gibbons: I am now in a position to provide the following information. The guidance issued by Social Services Inspectorate Wales ‘In Safe Hands – Implementing Adult Protection Procedures in Wales’, issued in July 2000, sets out the framework for local adult protection policies and procedures. The detail of the local arrangements is a matter for local authorities to discuss and agree with a range of other stakeholders who may include, for example, local health boards, NHS Trusts, the police service, the Crown Prosecution Service, the National Probation Service, GPs, housing support organisations and the independent and voluntary sector.

26 Lisa Francis: In each year since 1999, how many older people in Wales are in an unregistered residential care home? (WAQ41946)

Brian Gibbons: I am now in a position to give you the following information. Between 1984 and April 2002, homes which provided ‘residential accommodation with both board and personal care’ were required to be registered with their local authority as a residential care home. However, local authority-managed homes and a small number of voluntary providers were exempt from these requirements. There were 4,335 elderly residents in local authority homes at 31 March 1999, 4,419 at 31 March 2000 and 4,087 at 31 March 2001. I do not have figures for other exempt establishments.

Since April 2002, all establishments providing accommodation together with personal or nursing care are required, by law, to be registered.

Val Lloyd: What discussions has the Minister had with travel providers to encourage information strategies concerning deep vein thrombosis and other associated conditions? (WAQ42271)

Val Lloyd: What strategies have been developed in Wales to inform the travelling public of the causes and risks of deep vein thrombosis? (WAQ42277)

Brian Gibbons: The issue of developing advice for travellers and discussions with travel providers is a matter for the UK government. To date, I have held no ministerial discussions on this issue in Wales.

Val Lloyd: What research has been undertaken in Wales on the prevention of blood clot formation? (WAQ42272)

Val Lloyd: What action is being taken to reduce the number of deaths resulting from blood clots? (WAQ42273)

Brian Gibbons: The Welsh Assembly Government will be considering the findings of recent studies into patient deaths in England related to blood clot formation, and the implications of this research for NHS Wales. The Assembly Government’s Welsh Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care does not fund any research projects in this area at the present time.

Val Lloyd: How is the Welsh Assembly Government promoting awareness of deep vein thrombosis amongst the public in Wales? (WAQ42276)

Brian Gibbons: The Welsh Assembly Government has numerous strategies and policies in place to promote healthy lifestyles and activities, aimed at reducing the risk of ill health amongst the population of Wales. These include actions relevant to the primary prevention of the development of thrombosis.

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ41943 and WAQ41944, does the Welsh Assembly Government have any plans to collect this information in the future? (WAQ42294)

Brian Gibbons: This information is not readily available and we have no plans at present to collect it.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: What assessment has the Minister made of the evidence base of the detrimental effects of fluoridation? (WAQ42315)

27 Brian Gibbons: The UK Government commissioned an up to date review of the evidence on the relationship between fluoride and health from the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York. The report of the review was published in October 2000. My officials have provided advice on the review which forms an authoritative evidence base on fluoridation.

An adverse effect associated with water fluoridation is an increased risk of dental fluorosis— mottling of the teeth. Where fluorosis is cosmetically unacceptable the effect can often be removed by routine dental treatment.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Will the Minister provide a timetable for implementing the new hospital consultant contract to allow payment for overtime? (WAQ42316)

Brian Gibbons: Employers of consultants in Wales arrange all payments to their consultants in accordance with their own local payroll arrangements. In terms of the amended contract, which, for the first time, recognises and pays overtime to consultants, the Assembly has approved 13 of the 14 Trusts or local health boards’ proposals, which means that some consultants will have received their payments in March and the vast majority will have done so by the end of April.

David Lloyd: What assessment has the Minister made of the impact on the cost of prescriptions for those with a long-term condition following the change in practice of doctors prescribing on a monthly basis rather than a two-monthly basis? (WAQ42317)

Brian Gibbons: There are no Assembly rules on the length of time for which prescriptions should be issued. This is a matter for the clinical judgement of the person doing the prescribing, taking account of the nature of the course of treatment, and matters such as patient monitoring and safety, and security and proper storage for the drugs. For long-term medication it is usual for one month’s supply of medication to be issued at a time, but this can be varied at the discretion of the prescriber in the light of individual circumstances.

The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to abolishing prescription charges during this Assembly term.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Will the Minister make a statement on whether he considers that any of the recommendations in the English National Strategic Framework for long-term conditions are appropriate for Wales? (WAQ42325)

Brian Gibbons: The National Service Framework for long-term conditions mainly focuses on the needs of people with neurological conditions. Health Commission Wales is in the final stages of its strategic review of neuroscience services in Wales. The review will help to inform a framework which will be developed to address the wider health and social care needs of people living with chronic conditions in Wales, including long-term neurological conditions. The framework will take account of the broader principles and recommendations of the NSF for long-term conditions in England.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas: Does the Minister have any plans to establish a recruitment target for NHS dentists? (WAQ42326)

Brian Gibbons: I will consider the effectiveness of a recruitment target for NHS dentists once the workforce implications of the new dental contract are clear.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration

28 Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list her official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42110) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration.

I trust this information meets your requirements.

Edwina Hart AM Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel 12/01/05 open mic Barry Memorial Road official car Theatre, Gladstone Rd 20/01/05 meeting with fire authorities brigade headquarters, official car Lanelay Hall, Pontyclun 27/01/05 visit Communities First project Monkton County official car Primary School, Pembroke 27/01/05 visit Communities First project Pembroke Dock, Bush official car and Park Estate 03/02/05 address—Mid and West Wales Fire and Theatr Mwldan, official car Rescue Service-SaveIT arson awareness Cardigan seminar

03/02/05 visits with mayor of Cardigan to initiatives Cardigan official car in town centre

16/02/05 meet with Flintshire Local Voluntary The Manse, Tyddyn St, official car Council Mold, Flintshire 16/02/05 visit to regeneration site Flint official car 17/02/05 Constructing Excellence in Wales— Imperial Hotel, official car breakfast seminar Llandudno 17/02/05 speak at North Wales Local Criminal Justice North Wales Conference official car Board’s conference Centre, Llandudno 24/02/05 speak at Carmarthenshire Youth and Antioch Centre, Llanelli official car Children’s Association’s annual general meeting 01/03/05 St David’s Day dinner The Barracks, Brecon official car

04/03/05 speak at Swansea council’s National County Hall, Swansea Minister’s car Association of Welfare Rights Advisers meeting

10/03/05 Welsh Refugee Council—launch of Swansea Grove House, Grove official car multi-agency project Place, Swansea

10/03/05 visit the arson reduction team at Mid and Morriston fire station, official car West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Sway Rd

10/03/05 visit Amman valley enterprise 1 Quay St, Ammanford, official car

11/03/05 Voluntary Sector Partnership Council Aberystwyth university official car meeting

29 Nick Bourne: Will the Minister make a statement on the reduction in the number of firefighters in Pembrokeshire? (WAQ 42283)

The Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration (Edwina Hart): As I indicated during the Plenary debate on the national framework for the fire and rescue Services in Wales on 16 March 2005, I have written to Mid and West Wales Fire Authority about their proposals including those in relation to Haverfordwest fire station.

Lisa Francis: Will the Minister make a statement on the cost of temporary accommodation for the homeless in a. Wales as a whole and b. Mid and West Wales, for each year since 1997? (WAQ42328)

Edwina Hart: I attach the figures for local authority expenditure on homelessness since the creation of the Assembly in 1999, and also the breakdown between amounts spent on administration and temporary accommodation up to 2002-03.

Total Homelessness Expenditure for Powys and Ceredigion Local authority expenditure on homelessness (a) (£000) 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 Powys 124 104 147 143 172 Ceredigion 147 203 180 138 156 Wales 4,090 4,008 4,516 5,927 8,609 (a) Includes costs of accommodation and administration of homelessness

Local authority expenditure on homelessness (£000)

Accommodation Administration of homelessness 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 Isle of Anglesey 153 162 139 27 0 1 0 155 Gwynedd 27 40 49 67 0 0 80 74 Conwy 113 124 217 192 109 128 58 112 Denbighshire 77 72 127 182 0 0 0 0 Flintshire 27 138 151 145 256 155 146 152 Wrexham 92 5 29 83 58 72 66 72 Powys 17 4 47 31 107 100 100 112 Ceredigion 101 264 99 32 46 -61 81 106 Pembrokeshire 48 95 49 148 77 90 65 93 Carmarthenshire 130 84 138 117 30 48 44 107 Swansea 48 169 160 85 502 249 250 409 Neath Port Talbot 0 0 70 73 105 134 31 44 Bridgend 29 31 0 0 56 60 100 40 Vale of Glamorgan 128 122 133 150 0 41 151 166 Rhondda Cynon Taff 10 15 32 33 210 253 251 259 Merthyr Tydfil 39 31 38 33 9 14 17 46 Caerphilly 159 155 164 131 131 60 66 64 Blaenau Gwent 71 41 67 71 109 94 93 102 Torfaen 0 0 0 35 5 5 5 80 Monmouthshire 21 21 41 41 129 116 108 124

30 Newport 13 58 61 106 107 70 84 156 Cardiff 309 29 0 600 432 719 909 1,071 Wales 1,612 1,660 1,811 2,382 2,478 2,348 2,705 3,544

(a) No information is available for 2003-04 on the split between accommodation for and administration of the homeless.

Lisa Francis: Further to WAQ42056, will the Minister provide the list of projects together with their aims and objectives? (WAQ42329)

Edwina Hart: We currently fund 16 projects within the mid and west Wales area. The projects we fund in these areas along with their aims and objectives are as detailed on the attached list.

S 180 Projects by Local Authority Local authority Project name Organisation Aims and Objectives Carmarthenshire Young persons mediation Wallich Clifford The prevention of youth service Community homelessness caused by family breakdown, providing a county- wide mediation service to Carmarthenshire County Council. Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire bond Tai Trothwy Bond scheme to reduce board Limited homelessness in the county by facilitating access and choice into private rented accommodation. Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire housing Shelter Cymru Funding to support a quality advice service assured independent housing advice service in Carmarthenshire. Ceredigion Outreach solutions Wallich Clifford To make contact with the worker Community vulnerably housed—including rough sleepers and those with 'street-based' lifestyles—by providing a comprehensive assessment of support need and to assist in providing solutions. Ceredigion Ceredigion rooflessness Ceredigion Care Provision of emergency night initiative Society shelter and resettlement project.

Ceredigion Accommodation officer Ceredigion Care To increase housing options for Society clients presenting with homeless needs at either local authority or care society offices. Ceredigion Bond scheme Ceredigion Care To enable single people from the Society Ceredigion area who are in receipt of benefits and people between the ages of 16 and 65 not owed a statutory duty, to access rented accommodation in the private sector. Ceredigion Ceredigion housing Shelter Cymru To support a quality assured advice service independent housing advice service in Ceredigion.

31

Pembrokeshuire Action for the To provide an advice, Pembrokeshire Advice and Resettlement Homeless resettlement and bond scheme Service service to the homeless in Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire housing Shelter Cymru To support a quality assured advice service independent housing advice service in Pembrokeshire. Powys Powys Deposit Guarantee Tai Trothwy Bond Scheme within three Scheme Limited regions Radnorshire, Brecknockshire and Motngomeryshire. Swansea Access multidisciplinary Caer Las Cymru To provide a multidisciplinary outreach peripatetic outreach service seven days per week and drop-in service. Swansea Housing, resettlement and Big Issue Cymru To provide help and support to health service Big Issue vendors. Swansea Swansea bond board Wallich Clifford To provide a bond scheme to Community enable people to access private rented accommodation including support to landlords. Swansea Youth homelessness and Barnardo’s To prevent occurrence of mediation service Cymru homelessness through family mediation and divert 16-21 year olds away from temporary accommodation and into independent accommodation. Swansea Swansea rough sleepers Wallich Clifford To provide an early morning intervention team Community outreach service seven days a week to rough sleepers in the City and County of Swansea.

Area Name of Organisation Purpose of the project Project Undertaking Project All Wales Refugee well Welsh Refugee To fund an all-Wales scheme developing, housing project Council promoting and providing specialist and appropriate housing advice for refugees and offering support to move on from National Asylum Support Service accommodation.

All Wales Prison Link Tai Trothwy Limited Providing co-ordinated service to local Cymru authorities in Wales so they receive timely information on homeless prisoners due to be discharged and to provide second-tier advice to prison officers. All Wales ‘Homeworks’ Shelter Cymru To ensure young people are provided with project information which will leave them better informed on the issues surrounding homelessness.

32 All Wales Lesbian, gay, Triangle Wales To commission research into the housing needs bisexual forum of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Wales. strategy All Wales Training Shelter Cymru To enable Shelter Cymru training services to offer housing and benefit training in Wales. All Wales Triangle housing Tai Trothwy Limited To provide a specialist housing advice service advice scheme for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

All Wales Homeless Link Homeless Link To enable Homeless Link to support and Cymru represent its members—front line homelessness agencies—in Wales. All-Wales Tai Dysgu a Tai Dysgu a Gwaith To support the start-up phase of a new national Gwaith Cymru Cymru association for projects in Wales which provide an integrated service of supported housing and training for homeless people. Blaenau Gwent Specialist Women’s Aid To research the gaps in services in Blaenau research and Monomouthshire Ltd. Gwent for women suffering domestic abuse and development co- for those who cannot be accommodated in ordinator WAIMON refuge because of mental health, drug or alcohol problems. Blaenau Gwent Mental health Cyngor Gofal Cymru Employ specialist mental health and and homelessness worker to provide advice. homelessness support Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent Shelter Cymru To support a quality assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Blaenau Gwent service Bridgend Solutions Wallich Clifford To make contact with the vulnerably housed, worker Community including rough sleepers, and those with street based lifestyles, provide a comprehensive assessment of support need and to assist in providing solutions.

Bridgend Bridgend bond Wallich Clifford To enable people who could not otherwise to scheme Community access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme. Bridgend Bridgend Shelter Cymru To support a quality assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Bridgend. Bridgend Bridgend rough Wallich Clifford Funding to provide Bridgend breakfast run from sleepers Community Monday to Friday. This project will provide intervention humanitarian aid and will give advice and team contact relevant agencies on behalf of these clients. Caerphilly Caerphilly Shelter Cymru To support a quality assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Caerphilly. service Caerphilly Caerphilly bond Tai Trothwy Limited To enable people who could not otherwise to scheme access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme. Caerphilly Mental health Cyngor Gofal Cymru Employ specialist mental health and advice and homelessness worker to provide advice. support worker Cardiff The outreach The Salvation Army To further develop a multi-agency outreach bus project service to help the most vulnerable and excluded

33 rough sleepers. Cardiff Housing options Llamau Limited Providing advice to young people through project afternoon surgeries on a range of housing and benefit issues. Cardiff Jigso project Llamau Limited Jigso project provides housing and benefit advice, a bond scheme, resettlement support, family mediation and friendly lodgings scheme. Cardiff Huggard Cardiff Action for the Providing basic services for homeless people Centre—open Single Homeless such as laundry, free meals, showers and access access centre to clean clothes within a day centre. Cardiff Cardiff bond Cardiff bond board To enable people who could not otherwise to board access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme. Cardiff Cardiff rough Wallich Clifford Funding to provide a breakfast run within sleepers Community Cardiff City Centre from Monday to Friday. intervention This project will provide humanitarian aid and ieam will give advice and contact relevant agencies on behalf of these clients. Cardiff Housing, Big Issue Cymru To provide help and support to Big Issue resettlement and vendors in the Cardiff area. health service Cardiff Cold weather The Salvation Army To administer the cold weather provision provision between 1 November to 1 April.

Cardiff Cardiff night Cardiff Action for the To continue the work of the night centre – shelter Single Homeless providing an emergency response to the problems vulnerable rough sleepers experience during the winter months. Cardiff Somali housing Somali Progressive To provide specialist Somali advice, information advice, Association and outreach services in Cardiff. information .and outreach Cardiff Tresillian House Cardiff County To provide housing advice for non-residents of Council Tresillian House, self-referrals and referrals from other agencies. Carmarthenshire Young persons Wallich Clifford The prevention of youth homelessness caused by mediation Community family breakdown, providing a county-wide service mediation service. Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire Tai Trothwy Limited To enable people who could not otherwise to bond board access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme. Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire Shelter Cymru To support a quality assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Carmarthenshire. service Ceredigion Outreach Wallich Clifford To make contact with the vulnerably housed solutions worker Community including rough sleepers and those with ‘street- based’ lifestyles, provide a comprehensive assessment of support need and to assist in providing solutions. Ceredigion Ceredigion Ceredigion Care Provision of winter shelter. rooflessness Society initiative Ceredigion Accommodation Ceredigion Care To promote associated bond scheme and services officer Society and recruit landlords and properties to the

34 project.

Ceredigion Bond scheme Ceredigion Care To enable people who could not otherwise to Society access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme.

Ceredigion Ceredigion Shelter Cymru To support a quality-assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Ceredigion. service Conwy Independent Shelter Cymru To support a quality-assured, independent community housing advice service in Conwy. housing advice Conwy Youth NACRO Cymru To provide advice, assistance, advocacy and homelessness appropriate interventions to young people, aged prevention 16-25 who are homeless or under threat of scheme homelessness. Conwy Youth Cymdeithas Tai To engage with and ensure active participation homelessness Clwyd and real influence of young people in the project systems that affects their lives daily and can lead to social exclusion. Conwy and Conwy and NACRO Cymru To enable people who could not otherwise to Denbighshire Denbighshire access private rented accommodation through bond board the provision of a bond scheme.

Denbighshire Rhyl emergency NACRO Cymru To fund running costs of the night shelter, night shelter namely food, water rates and other costs which cannot be met through the supporting people revenue grant funding. Denbighshire Rhyl NACRO Cymru To operate a resettlement and support service in resettlement and Rhyl working with clients who were previously support project accommodated in the night shelter.

Denbighshire Denbighshire Shelter Cymru To support a quality-assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Denbighshire. service Flintshire Flintshire bond National.Council of To enable people, who could not otherwise, to scheme YMCAs of Wales access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme.

Flintshire Flintshire sdvice Shelter Cymru To support a quality-assured, independent service housing advice service in Flintshire. Flintshire Private sector YMCA To recruit landlords and landladies onto the bond landlord/landlad scheme operated in Flintshire, making available y rented to the bond scheme more properties for rent. accommodation Gwynedd St Mary’s North Wales Housing Employs three resettlement/day service workers resettlement day Association at the hostel during the daytime to provide service advice and resettlement support to clients, helping them move on into accommodation. Gwynedd St Mary’s direct North Wales Housing Providing accommodation for up to eight access hostel Association homeless people. Gwynedd Independent Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent community housing advice service in Gwynedd.

35 housing advice Gwynedd Agorfa bond Agorfa To enable people who could not otherwise scheme access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme. Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil Gofal Cymru Employ a specialist mental health and mental health homelessness worker to provide advice in a and support mobile surgery.

Monmouthshire North Solas To enable people who could not otherwise Monmouthshire access private rented accommodation through bond scheme the provision of a bond scheme.

Monmouthshire Youth outreach Wallich Clifford Aim to prevent youth homelessness and provide and advice Community outreach solutions to homeless and vulnerably service housed 16 to 25-year-olds in Monmouthshire Monmouthshire Monmouthshire Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent housing advice housing advice service in Monmouthshire service Neath/Port Talbot Housing, Gofal Cymru Employ a specialist mental health and support and homelessness worker to provide advice in a advice project mobile surgery.

Neath/Port Talbot Additional Caer Las Cymru This provides outreach, surgery and drop-in routes services for homeless clients who may need referral on substance misuse, mental health, ex- offenders, education, employment and training.

Neath/Port Talbot Dewis bond Dewis Ltd To enable people who could not otherwise board access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme.

Neath/Port Talbot Neath Port Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent Talbot advice housing advice service. service Newport Housing, Big Issue Cymru To provide help and support to Big Issue resettlement and vendors in the Newport area. health service Newport Nashmove bond Solas To enable people who could not otherwise scheme access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme.

Newport Newport rough Wallich Clifford To make contact with rough sleepers and sleepers Community provide humanitarian aid, giving advice and intervention contact relevant agencies on behalf of these team clients.

Newport South Solas (formerly To enable people who could not otherwise Monmouthshire NASH) access private rented accommodation through bond scheme the provision of a bond scheme.

Newport Newport day Solas To provide a day centre for homeless which in

36 centre addition to providing basic facilities also provides an opportunity to undertake training. Newport Newport Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent housing advice housing advice service. service Pembrokeshire Advice, PATH To provide advice with benefits, basic housing resettlement advice and advocacy, resettlement support and a and bond bond scheme for homeless clients within scheme Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent housing advice housing advice service. service Powys Powys deposit Tai Trothwy Limited To enable people who could not otherwise guarantee access private rented accommodation through scheme the provision of a bond scheme. Rhondda Cynon Independent Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent Taf community housing advice service. housing advice Rhondda Cynon Community Community Employment of homelessness mediation officer Taf mediation mediation to work with RCT housing advice centre to services(RCT) services assist in prevention of homelessness for cases of parental/family breakdown and relationship breakdown with private sector landlords. Swansea Access multi- Caer Las Cymru To provide outreach, and drop-in advice service disciplinary for homeless clients who may need referral on outreach substance misuse, mental health issues or benefits and so on. Swansea Housing, Big Issue Cymru To provide help and support to Big Issue resettlement and vendors in the Newport area. health service Swansea Swansea bond Wallich Clifford To enable people who could not otherwise board Community access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme.

Swansea Youth Barnardos Cymru To provide social work assessment and support homelessness to young people who are homeless, or at risk of and mediation homelessness, by facilitating a return to the service parental or extended family home. To facilitate the access to safe and secure accommodation in a planned way thereby avoiding homelessness. Swansea Swansea rough Wallich Clifford To make contact with rough sleepers, giving sleepers advice and contact relevant agencies on behalf of intervention these clients. team Torfaen Community Torfaen CAB To offer a drop-in money advice service for money advice people experiencing rent/mortgage arrears thus project avoiding re-possession proceedings.

Torfaen Mental health Gofal Cymru Employ a specialist mental health and homelessness homelessness worker to provide advice in a and support mobile surgery.

Torfaen Torfaen bond Solas (formerly To enable people who could not otherwise scheme NASH) access private rented accommodation through

37 the provision of a bond scheme.

Torfaen Torfaen housing Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent advice service housing advice service. Vale of Tabernacle Home Access Trust To enable people who could not otherwise Glamorgan baptist access private rented accommodation through the provision of a bond scheme.

Vale of Vale of Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent Glamorgan Glamorgan housing advice service within the Vale of housing advice Glamorgan. service Wrexham Home WATCH To provide second hand furniture for ex- furnishings homeless clients who have been provided with service accommodation. Wrexham Winter watch WATCH To provide sleeping bags and blankets to those who are unable to be housed within the night shelter and are subsequently sleeping rough during the winter months. Wrexham Wrexham Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent housing advice housing advice service within Wrexham. Wrexham Wrexham young CAIS Ltd Make contact with homeless people up to 25 person’s project years of age who have substance misuse problems, providing a drop in centre, access to housing advice and referral service. Wrexham Nightstop Barnardos Cymru To provide an emergency accommodation emergency scheme for vulnerable young persons, providing accommodation night-stop accommodation with families who service have been approved as hosts until long-term accommodation is provided. Wrexham Compass Barnardos To enable people, who could not otherwise, housing advice access private rented accommodation through and bond the provision of a bond scheme. scheme Ynys Môn The Lighthouse The Lighthouse To provide basic facilities for the homeless and rough sleepers within the environment of a day centre. Ynys Môn Ynys Môn Shelter Cymru To provide a quality-assured, independent advice service housing advice service within Ynys Môn Ynys Môn Homelessness Digartref Ynys Môn To provide help and support to homeless in strategy order that they may develop skills necessary for independent living.

Questions to the Business Minister

Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the Minister list her official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42109) Transferred for answer by the First Minister.

Substantive answer following holding reply.

38 The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for the Business Minister.

I trust this information meets your requirements.

Jane Hutt AM Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel 04/01/05 NHS Direct Swansea Official car 04/01/05 Extra Care Accommodation Port Talbot Official car Neath Port Talbot Local Accident Centre 05/01/05 Ystradgynlais Community Hospital Powys Official car 05/01/05 Bro Dyfi Community Hospital Machynlleth Official car 05/01/05 Dolgellau Community Hospital Dollgellau Official car 09/02/05 Children poverty strategy launch Rhondda Official car 16/02/05 Meet Margaret Curran MSP Glasgow Official car & BMI Baby Flight 16/02/05 Scottish Parliament Edinburgh Official car 23/03/05 Children First corporate parenting Llandrindod Wells Official car conference launch 24/03/05 There is more to it than wide doors Launch Newport Lift with official

39