Answers issued to Members on 17 November 2008

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

Contents

Questions to the First Minister

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Questions to the First Minister

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Will the First Minister provide details of the events so far organised by the All Wales Convention to gauge public opinion regarding the future of the National Assembly for Wales? (WAQ52746)

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): The All Wales Convention will be undertaking a series of participative consultation sessions next year. These will take the form of a series of evidence gathering sessions and public meetings throughout Wales during the period January to June 2009.

The Convention has planned a total of 18 public meetings and 11 evidence gathering sessions throughout Wales. The date and location of these events have been posted onto the All Wales Convention’s website. Venues will also be posted once confirmed.

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Will the First Minister make a statement on the efforts of the All Wales Convention to engage with all sections of Welsh society? (WAQ52745)

First Minister: The All Wales Convention is committed to engaging with as wide a range of Welsh society as possible.

The Chair has met with key organisations and individuals from the public, private and third sectors to make them aware of the work of the Convention and to ask their advice on how best to roll out its message. This has resulted in a number of organisations such as the National Farmers Union, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and the Welsh Rugby Union agreeing to become key stakeholders, and disseminate information on our behalf.

The Chair and Committee Members have participated in events for the voluntary and community sectors, business representatives and BME communities.

In addition the Convention has:

• Written to key individuals and organisations requesting written evidence;

• Set up a group on Facebook to encourage open discussion and

• Created a link on its website to enable the public to submit information to the Convention’s Secretariat.

Details of the next phase of the Convention’s work, involving public meetings and evidence gathering sessions throughout Wales, have been included in the answer to WAQ52746.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail whether there have been any changes in the practice of testing blood samples in Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth? (WAQ52738)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): My Current understanding is that there is no change to the practices.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What is the current practice with regard to blood testing in Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth? (WAQ52739)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Where do blood samples that need testing in the Ceredigion region go for testing? (WAQ52740)

Edwina Hart: The blood samples would go to Bronglais Hospital. The only exceptions would be samples from the Cardigan area, which go to West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen due to proximity, and specialist samples that need to go to Cardiff.

Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail the percentage of invoices received by public bodies for which they are responsible that are paid within 30 days, within 40 days and within 2 months, and provide figures for each of the previous three years? (WAQ52718)

The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government (Brian Gibbons): The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales for which my Department is responsible must pay all properly authorised invoices within the terms and conditions of the contract or within 30 days. This is stated in the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum which governs the relationship between the Welsh Assembly Government and the Commission. This commitment is also reflected in the Commission’s Operational Plan.