Answers issued to Members on 25 July 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 the Economy and TransportQuestions to the Minister for Health and Social ServicesQuestions
to the Minister for Sustainability and Rural DevelopmentQuestions to the Minister for the Economy and Transport
David
Melding (South Wales Central): What estimates have been made for the number of jobs created under the Objective One programme in the following sectors: a) social enterprises; b) finance and banking and c) manufacturing? (WAQ50251)
The
Deputy Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): I am answering this question as Minister for Economy and Transport. Information on the number of jobs created by the Objective 1 programme 2000-06 is not estimated for the respective sectors.
However, findings from the Objective 1 Mid Term Evaluation Update (2005) suggest that the jobs created in West Wales and the Valleys are 'broadly in line in terms of occupational status with all Welsh jobs’.
Questions
to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Minister detail the Welsh Assembly Government’s
response to NICE’s Appraisal Consultation Document on the use of Lucentis for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? (WAQ50244)
The
Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): I recently sent a copy of the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to the NICE consultation to party health and social services spokespersons. A copy will be placed in the Senedd Library.
Kirsty
Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What consideration has the Minister given to reviewing NICE’s recent guidance on osteoporosis, to expand the range of treatments included? (WAQ50245)
Kirsty
Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on NICE’s decision to include only one treatment (Alendronate) in its new guidance on Osteoporosis? (WAQ50246)
Edwina
Hart: NICE issued its Final Appraisal Determination in connection with its appraisals of drugs for osteoporosis on 26 June 2007. This is not NICE’s final guidance to the NHS and stakeholders had until 9 July to appeal. Subject to any appeals being
received, final guidance is expected in August.NICE’s
draft guidance recommends the use of alendronate for primary and secondary prevention for patients who meet a number of criteria that vary according to the patient’s age. NICE’s Appraisal Committee considered that, whilst all the other treatments
have demonstrated similar efficacy, alendronate was as clinically effective and the most cost effective of the treatments being appraised. Health professionals at the Welsh Assembly Government broadly support that recommendation with the proviso that one of
the other available preparations should be offered in the event of intolerance to alendronate.
Questions
to the Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development
Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make
a statement on what provisions the government is doing, to enable all people of West Wales to have access to recycling schemes? (WAQ50240)
The
Minister for Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): I am answering this question as Minister for Sustainability and Housing. The
Assembly Government has set out its targets for recycling and composting in Wise About Waste, published in 2002. These targets are designed to promote sustainable waste management and help local authorities meet EU landfill diversion targets. The Assembly Government’s
waste strategy, including local authority targets is currently under review.In
order to help local authorities develop sustainable waste management practices including recycling and composting the Assembly Government has provided over £200 million in sustainable waste management grant (SWMG) since 2002. For South West Wales authorities
the allocations in 2007/08 are: Ceredigion £692,612; Pembrokeshire £920,792; and Carmarthenshire £1,298,262. In North West Wales the allocation for Gwynedd is £1,996,043. This follows previous SWMG allocations of approximately
£30 million for these areas over the past six years. The
local authorities have used this funding to provide a network of household waste recycling centres and bring banks where communities in West Wales may take material for recycling. In addition, the local authorities have invested in kerbside collections of recyclable
materials. In 2005-06 the percentage of households receiving kerbside collections in West Wales authorities was: Gwynedd 80%; Ceredigion 20.6%; Pembrokeshire 49.3%; and Carmarthenshire 45%. Figures for 2006-07 are due to be published in October but first indications
are that local authorities as a whole will have met the Assembly Government’s 2006-07 target of 25%.
Kirsty
Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the future of the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty? (WAQ50253)
Kirsty
Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the possibility of designating the Cambrian Mountains as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty? (WAQ50252)
Jane
Davidson: I am answering this as Minister for Sustainability and Housing.National Parks and Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty embrace our finest landscapes and are of vital importance in conservation and planning terms. I see them playing a pivotal role in helping Wales achieve a more sustainable future as well as contributing to the Welsh Assembly Government’s
social inclusion agenda and to measures addressing the challenge of climate change. In
relation to the Cambrian Mountains, Powys County Council, Ceredigion County Council and a number of other stakeholders, including the Countryside Council for Wales, are working on a pilot integrated rural development project for the area. Its aim is to develop
an overall strategy for the sustainable management of the area with a widely accepted vision. The possible future designation of the area as an AONB can be considered in the light of the outcome of this project.
