Written Assembly Questions tabled on 6 February 2015 for answer on 13 February 2015
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the First Minister
Gwenda Thomas (Neath): What action will the Welsh Government be taking to ensure that there is a Welsh voice on the panel of the new statutory inquiry into historical sexual abuse of children announced by the Home Secretary on 4 February? (WAQ68330)
Answer received on 19 February 2015
The First Minister of Wales (Carwyn Jones): Following the announcement on 4 February, the Minister for Health and Social Services immediately wrote to the Home Secretary welcoming the announcement that Justice Lowell Goddard had accepted the invitation to Chair the Independent Panel of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and to establish the Inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005.
The Minister has subsequently written directly to the Chair, extending an invitation to meet her to discuss the Welsh Government’s responsibilities in more detail and the key issues on which we will wish to contribute. These specifically included; this Government’s devolved responsibilities for safeguarding children and adults, the development and agreement of the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry and the appointment of suitable people to Panel.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
William Powell (Mid and West Wales): Out of the youth organisations which applied for funds from the National Voluntary Youth Organisations grant scheme in 2014, can the Minister confirm which seven organisations were successful in their bid and will be awarded funds in 2015? (WAQ68331)
Answer received on 12 February 2015
The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (Julie James): The seven successful organisations that will receive funding through the 3 year National Voluntary Youth Organisation (NVYO) Grant scheme from 1st April 2015 are: the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE), Girlguiding Cymru, Scouts Wales, UNA Exchange, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, and Youth Cymru.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What dialogue has taken place between the Welsh Government, the media and the UK Government to promote the Drink Aware campaign? (WAQ68332)
Answer received on 17 February 2015
The
Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): I met with the Chief Executive of Drinkaware in October last year to discuss their work programme. Drinkaware agreed to consider focusing elements of their research in Wales and to continue to support our "Have a Word" campaign, as well as their work in Communities First areas.
We continue to have an ongoing dialogue with Drinkaware on current and future campaigns.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What steps is the Minister's department taking to address the shortage of registered nurses in some local health board areas in Wales? (WAQ68333)
Answer received on 12 February 2015
Mark Drakeford: We have increased the commissioning of student nurse education places for 2015/2016 by 230 extra places, an increase of 22% from last year, and made it easier for those who have left the profession to retrain and re-join NHS Wales. We continue to support actions taken by NHS organisations to recruit and retrain nurses in a difficult global market.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What assistance has the Welsh Government provided to local health boards to ensure that they follow the All Wales Nurse Staffing Principles Guidance, issued by the Chief Nursing Officer in 2012? (WAQ68334)
Answer received on 12 February 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): The Welsh Government has provided recurrent funding of £10 million to support organisations with their individual plans to meet the nurse staffing principles
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on specialist treatment for advanced endometriosis in north Wales? (WAQ68335)
Answer received on 13 February 2015
Mark Drakeford: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board routinely makes available treatment for endometriosis in order to relieve pain, slow the growth of endometriosis tissue, improve fertility and where possible prevent the disease from returning. Decisions on the most appropriate treatment are made on a case by case basis, but in cases of advanced endometriosis patients can be referred for surgical removal of endometriosis tissue or if necessary hysterectomy. Occasionally, patients with severe disease are referred to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside for specialist assessment and management.