Answers issued to Members on 1 November 2007
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
Contents
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What plans does the Minister have to allow members of the learning disabled community greater autonomy over their education and training? (WAQ50556)
The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): The Assembly Government recognises that disabled learners, along with all other learners, require access to impartial information advice and guidance in order to make informed decisions about their future education or training. Careers Wales provides an impartial all-age guidance service, and, for disabled learners in particular, Careers Wales companies have trained advisers who specialise in working with learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Their role includes identifying appropriate learning opportunities, taking into account the individual’s learning needs and ensuring that learners’ wishes are taken into consideration as far as possible when negotiating appropriate learning provision. They may also act as a sign-post service for disabled learners to transfer to services provided by Jobcentre Plus disability employment advisers and other voluntary agencies involved with supported employment initiatives.
The Assembly Government is also mindful that mainstream learning environments may require adjustments to be made so that disabled learners are able to access them. Funding is made available to providers such as further education institutions, work-based learning providers and specialist residential colleges, to enable them to make adjustments to the learning environment and, in some instances, to address the assessed need of individual learners. Where a learner has been assessed as requiring specific support, there are various funding streams which the learning provider may be able to utilise to make appropriate adjustments to the learning programme.
The national planning and funding system which provides funding for post-16 learning (excluding higher education) recognises the additional costs incurred by providers of further education in delivering provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Institutions may apply for supplementary funding to enable learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to take part in a mainstream learning environment in the same way and with similar opportunities as other learners. Supplementary funding is intended to assist with the cost of additional human support, such as note takers or specialist tutors and with the purchase of specialist equipment such as Braillers and dyslexia software. In 2006-07, over £5 million was allocated through supplementary funding. Additional learning support is available to work-based learning providers in a similar way and £55,500 was agreed for learners identified as needing such support.
Many learners with learning difficulties or basic skills needs require a specific learning environment. The NPFS recognises the additional costs of delivery of such provision via additional weightings for specific programmes, such as communication skills and independent living skills. In 2006-07 £29.8 million was made available to further education institutions for this purpose.
Where a learner under the age of 25 has received a multi-professional assessment that recommends that they require specialist residential provision in order to access further education, then the Assembly Government will fund, wholly or in part, in conjunction with social services and local health boards, a placement at a college that has been deemed the most appropriate for that learner's particular need. In 2006-07 the Assembly Government allocated £5.8 million for such specialist residential provision.
Capital funding was also made available to FEIs to enable them to address compliance under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This was allocated to the FEIs through the following two tranches:
2004-05 |
£6 million |
2006-07 |
£3 million |
In these years, and as with other years, FEIs were also allowed to use the general capital fund allocation made in 2004-05 and the capital maintenance fund allocation made in 2006-07 to progress completion of DDA works.
The above illustrates how, in accordance with 'The Learning Country: Vision into Action’, published in October 2006, funding is used to help ensure that, regardless of disability, all learners have access to education and learning opportunities which address individual needs.
Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham): What plans does the Welsh Assembly Government have to continue the 'Parenting Action Plan’ after March 2008? (WAQ50580)
Jane Hutt: We will continue to promote positive parenting and to further the development of policies and services that support all those raising children. Activity will include distribution of booklets to all new parents in Wales on managing their children’s behaviour and on alternatives to physical discipline. Targeted support will also continue to be available under the Cymorth and Flying Start grant schemes.
Nicholas Bourne (Mid & West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the total amount of money available for voluntary aided schools for the purposes of infrastructure regeneration? (WAQ50581)
Jane Hutt: The voluntary aided schools capital grant programme provides financial assistance for the establishment and capital maintenance of such schools in partnership with the school governors and the local education authorities. Responsibility for the provision, repair and maintenance of a voluntary aided school is shared between the school governors and the LEA. There are 162 voluntary aided schools in Wales.
The voluntary aided schools capital programme is set at £9.5 million a year. Overall the voluntary aided schools capital programme is currently supporting 35 major projects with a total value of £30 million.
Nicholas Bourne (Mid & West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the total amount of money available for state schools for the purposes of infrastructure regeneration? (WAQ50582)
Jane Hutt: Annual funding for capital investment in schools has increased from £82 million in 2002-03 to £150 million in 2005-06; it has increased further to £157 million from 2007-08 and will continue at at least this enhanced level until 2010. Levels of funding beyond this will take account of targets set for individual authorities in light of their continuing investment needs.
Overall annual Welsh Assembly Government funding for schools capital investment currently stands at £157.324 million, This comprises of £60.933 million general capital funding school buildings improvement grant £81.685 million, voluntary aided schools capital £9.5 million and early years capital £5.206 million.
Nicholas Bourne (Mid & West Wales): What is the Minister doing to encourage the teaching of home economics in schools in Wales? (WAQ50589)
Jane
Hutt
Although home economics is not a national curriculum subject as such, food and food preparation together with textiles are essential parts of design and technology, which is compulsory for seven to 14-year-olds. In the revised design and technology Order,
to be implemented from September 2008, the emphasis on food is on designing and preparing healthy meals and snacks. Teaching food in this way should enhance healthy eating within schools. Within textiles, pupils can design and make items such as clothing, soft
furnishings and toys.
My
department will issue guidance to schools in the summer term of 2008 to support all aspects of the new design and technology Order, together with further specific guidance on food and fitness. This guidance will update the current guidance 'Food in the School
Curriculum in Wales’, which was issued in 2001, and link work related to food and fitness in a single publication.
14 to 19-year-old learners can choose from a range of qualifications to further their knowledge, understanding and skills in these areas. Home economics is available at GCSE. Other related qualifications include GCSEs in design and technology, GCSE catering, A and AS levels in design and technology and a range of NVQ qualifications at various levels.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the role of Welsh-medium education in the community focused schools programme? (WAQ50595)
Jane
Hutt:
The community focused schools agenda aims to provide a range of services and activities to meet the needs of the school and the wider community. Integral to that aim is the development of a bilingual community where Welsh cultural identity and language
are recognised and celebrated. Linked to this is the Welsh Assembly Government’s 'Iaith Pawb’ action plan, which encourages individuals to learn Welsh. Schools have an important role to play in providing courses through the medium of Welsh
for young people, adults and the local community.
When
developing their CFS programmes and projects, schools, local authorities and their partners will have due regard for Welsh and the need to further develop Welsh-language skills; examples of where this is happening include:
Pupils contributing to Welsh-medium community newspapers and magazines;
The establishment of a new Welsh-language playgroup;
Out of school hours learning opportunities for pupils wishing to build on what they have learnt in the classroom.
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the use of vaccination to control bluetongue in Wales?(WAQ50596)
The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): During the last 12 months, the Government has been reviewing, in partnership with industry, its bluetongue controls to ensure that the risks are addressed proportionately and effectively. Under the Bluetongue (Wales) Order 2003 (as amended) the Welsh Assembly Government can authorise the vaccination of animals. This decision would be based on the efficacy of available vaccines, whether they are licensed for use within the European Union, and the envisaged exit strategy.
Vaccination has been considered as part of the control strategy, but currently there is no vaccine available for this strain of bluetongue virus, BTV-8. A vaccine is being developed and it is hoped it will be available by next summer. Before the vaccine is used, it must be demonstrated that it is both safe and effective. The Government is in discussions with the vaccine companies, is encouraging this work, and is developing a plan with the industry about how a vaccination campaign would work. The situation in eastern England is of concern, but bluetongue is not endemic in the UK; for this to be true, we would have to have evidence of over-wintering.
There are 24 serotypes of BTV. Incursion of BTV-8 was not considered to be any more a threat to Europe than other serotypes until last year when the disease first entered northern Europe. Commercial vaccines are available for other serotypes, such as some of those circulating in the Mediterranean. Three manufacturers are currently developing vaccine against BTV-8.
Since the identifiaction of a possible link between the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and the Pirbright site, additional safeguards have been put in place. Since 4 August, there has been no use of live virus at the Merial facility. This has meant that Merial has been temporarily unable to progress the development of bluetongue vaccine. The Government is aware of the pressing need for a vaccine but in view of the Health and Safety Executive and Spratt reviews, it is important that the Merial facility is operating to the highest standards of biosecurity. Inspections are therefore being carried out at the site and, provided these are satisfactory, it is hoped the use of live virus can resume within the next few weeks, enabling Merial to re-commence BT vaccine development.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the number of TB cases for each month of the last two years? (WAQ50559)
Elin Jones: There are a number of influential factors affecting the TB incidence in any given month, including the number of TB tests undertaken. As demonstrated in the attached graphical illustration, no clear trends can be drawn from number of new TB incidents, number of confirmed new TB incidents or the number of animals slaughtered over the past two years.
Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What plans does the Minister have to allow members of the learning disabled community greater autonomy over their housing arrangements? (WAQ50555)
The
Deputy Minister for Housing (Jocelyn Davies): I am always interested in increasing the autonomy of people with a learning disability. My officials are working closely with colleagues in t
he Department for Health and Social Services, local government, and the
voluntary sector.
The agenda for this work includes:-
Officials from the supported housing policy team working with officials from the learning disability policy team to identify how WAG housing and social care policy should address the future needs of people with a learning disability.
Officials from supported housing policy developing policy following visits to local authorities; a main plank of advice following the visits stated that local authorities should develop consultation and participation policies to enable all vulnerable tenants to shape supported housing development.
Identifying ways in which resources can be used to most effectively meet the needs of people with a learning disability who have housing support needs.
Nicholas Bourne (Mid & West Wales): How many affordable houses have been built in Wales over the last five years? (WAQ50588)
Jocelyn Davies: In response to your question, affordable houses are defined as social housing provided by registered social landlords and local authorities. Between 2002-03 and 2006-07, 2,447 dwellings were built by registered social landlords and local authorities across Wales.
For further information please refer to the quarterly new house building release:
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/theme/housing/newbuild/?lang=en
Nicholas Bourne (Mid & West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on what Welsh housing policy will need to include in order to combine affordability with sustainability? (WAQ50594)
Jocelyn
Davies:
The building of homes that are more sustainable is, in general, likely to increase housing construction costs, although economies of scale should minimise the increases as more sustainable homes are built. Construction costs are only one of the components
that contribute toward the cost of house prices and policy that reduces the land value still remains the most significant factor in determining house sale prices and making homes more affordable.
The
use of section 106 planning agreements by local government and by the Assembly Government when disposing of its land are examples of how this may be achieved in order to improve the supply of affordable homes.
The
development of homes that are more energy efficient, sustainable and of a better quality will reduce lifetime costs by cutting energy bills and maintenance costs. Pursuing devolution of the building regulations and the development of higher sustainable standards
for all Welsh homes will produce a level playing field for the Welsh house-building industry.
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): Will the Minister ensure that steps are taken to ensure that information about charging policies is provided to recipients of care in plain language and proper procedures are in place to guarantee people's right to appeal? (WAQ50602)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): Local authorities are responsible for the communication of their charging policies to service users. Existing Assembly Government guidance to authorities in respect of charging for social services highlights the need to explain clearly and promptly to users how any charges for their care have been assessed and calculated.
Service users can complain about aspects of any social service that an authority has the power or duty to provide, including charge assessments. New regulations on the social services’ complaints procedure, 'Listening and Learning’, came into force on 1 April 2006. These set out the stages of the complaints procedure and local authority responsibilities for dealing with complaints. The procedure includes a third stage of a panel hearing independent from the authority.