Written Assembly Questions tabled on 22 September 2015 for answer on 29 September 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 Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline any plans the Welsh Government has to cut funding to the Supporting People programme? (WAQ69201)
Answer received on 25 September 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths):
The Programme is one of my priorities. This Government will do all it can to protect the support it provides. The UK Government has made it clear it will be making very substantial budget cuts and we will have to consider and balance competing priorities when setting our budgets. This cannot happen until the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review is known.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline what discussions she and/or her officials have had with representatives from both Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council regarding the Supporting People programme? (WAQ69202)
Answer received on 25 September 2015
Lesley Griffiths: My officials are in regular contact with representatives from both Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council as part of the Vale and Cardiff Regional Collaborative Committee, and separately as part of our ongoing programme monitoring and review. Discussions have considered the planning and delivery of services and support, and the way in which the provision links to other programmes and services such as the NHS and Social Services. Discussions with Cardiff Council in January 2015 considered their review and remodelling of services following a reduction in their grant allocation.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on the Supporting People programme? (WAQ69203)
Answer received on 30 September 2015
Lesley Griffiths:
The Supporting People Programme helps people who are at risk of becoming homeless to find and keep accommodation. It makes a significant contribution to the implementation of Part 2 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, the core of which is preventing homelessness.
The budget this financial year is £124.4 million. Unlike England, we have maintained the ring-fence of the budget, which ensures continued support for some of our most vulnerable people. Local Authority data for 2015/16 indicates funding will help approximately 60,000 people.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister disclose how many people were shortlisted for the role of Chair of the Qualifications Wales's board, and who sat on the selection panel? (WAQ69204)
Answer received on 30 September 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): Four people were shortlisted to interview for the role of the Chair of Qualifications Wales.
The panel was chaired by Sir Peter Spencer KCB the Public Appointments Assessor from the Commission for Public Appointments. The panel members were:Ann Keane, the then Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales,
Owen Evans, Welsh Government Director General for the Department of Education and Skills, and Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Director of the Institute of Directors Wales who acted as the independent member.
Sir Peter Spencer confirmed that the competition met the requirements of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide information on how the role for chair of Qualifications Wales's board was advertised and how many applicants applied for the role? (WAQ69205)
Answer received on 30 September 2015
Huw Lewis: The role of Chair of Qualifications Wales was advertised on the Welsh Government Website, 'Signpost Press' of the Western Mail, the Daily Post, Y Cymro, Golwg, the Guardian, TES and the Sunday Times. The advertisement was also placed on the Institute of Directors Website.
Eight applicants applied for the role.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What was the total number of GP practices in Wales in each of the past three years? (WAQ69206)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How many GP practices in Wales offer appointments on Saturdays and/or Sundays? (WAQ69207)
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How many GP practices in Wales offer appointments after 6pm in the evening? (WAQ69208)
Answer received on 30 September 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
Information about GP practices, including the number of practices in Wales and opening hours, is available in the statistical release GP Access in Wales 2014:
http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/gp-access-wales/?lang=en