Written Assembly Questions tabled on 10 February 2015 for answer on 17 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 Minister for Education and Skills

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What steps is the Minister taking to monitor the quality of instrumental music teaching in schools, including sessions provided by peripatetic music teachers? (WAQ68347)

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What steps is the Minister taking to improve the teaching of music in schools? (WAQ68348)

Answer received on 13 February 2015 (WAQ68347/8)

The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): Last year I remitted Estyn to undertake a best practice review of the arts in schools in Wales. The objectives of the review include development of good practice through identification of what effective schools are doing well, and identification of areas where there is room for improvement. The first stage of this review is an examination of teaching and learning in the arts (music, dance, art and design and drama) at Key Stage 2, with a report to be published in summer 2015. A review of Key Stages 3 and 4 will follow.

Although musical instrument tuition delivered by peripatetic teachers sits outside the curriculum and is the responsibility of local authorities as part of their provision of music services, I have set up a Music Services Task and Finish group to examine this provision. The group, consisting of representatives from WLGA, ADEW, Estyn and local authority music services, has a remit to review current systems and make recommendations for improvement of music services delivery across Wales.  The main focus of the review will be on achieving greater consistency in the delivery of music services, setting minimum standards and encouraging more joint working with existing and new partners. The key tasks of the group include:

• Considering alternative methods of service delivery consistent with the National Model for Regional Working.

• Examining options for charging policies, with a view to achieving greater parity across Wales, more equitable provision and access for eFSM learners.

• Considering options for musical instrument supply/refresh/purchase/rental arrangements.

• Considering the potential for greater partnership working.

• Developing a set of minimum expectations, exemplar structures and model terms of reference for delivery of music services pan-Wales.

With regard to music in the curriculum, in March 2014 I appointed Professor Graham Donaldson to carry out a wide-ranging independent review of curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales.  He was tasked with putting forward recommendations for a clear vision for education in Wales, from Foundation Phase to Key Stage 4, linking directly to Wales's new qualifications system.

Welsh Government will be publishing Professor Donaldson's report on the findings of his independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales during the last week in February 2015.

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister detail the steps being taken by the Welsh Government to ensure safe use of the internet by children in Wales? (WAQ68350)

Answer received on 13 February 2015

The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): The Welsh Government is committed to safeguarding all children and young people across Wales.  Our underpinning approach to internet safety is that we first teach children to use the internet safely under supervision, and then help them to develop the skills and understanding they need to manage their own risk as they use the internet independently.

Materials to support the teaching of safe and responsible use of the internet have been provided to all schools in Wales on the all-Wales learning platform, Hwb, via an e-Safety zone. The e-Safety zone not only targets resources for schools, but also for children and their parents, and it is hoped that this will become the default one-stop shop for advice and guidance in this area. There is also a reporting button linking directly to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP).

The Welsh Government contracted with South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) to deliver a programme of e-Safety education and awareness-raising activities, which has been running from January 2014 and is due to end in March 2015.  In October 2014, I launched two key resources produced by SWGfL; 360 degree Safe Cymru, and a new Digital Literacy Resource. Both of these resources are available via the Hwb website – hwb.wales.gov.uk.

The 360 degree Safe Cymru tool is a bilingual self-assessment tool for schools to judge their e-Safety policy, practice and provision. The Digital Literacy Resource contains lesson materials from Foundation Phase through to Key Stage 4 and post-16, which progressively covers eight key themes around safe and responsible use of technology and the internet including cyberbullying, digital footprint and internet safety.

Following Professor Graham Donaldson's review of the curriculum, it is likely that issues such as internet safety will be a key consideration in developing the new content of the Programme of Study for ICT and the digital literacy component of a wider skills framework.

The Welsh Government actively promoted and supported Safer Internet Day 2015 to all schools and local authorities in Wales. Safer Internet Day (SID) organised by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) was held on 10 February to promote safe and responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people. In addition to supporting events in schools through our Hwb Digital Leaders, the Welsh Government has worked with UKSIC to provide bilingual school packs containing ideas for activities and lesson plans.

To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement to detail the steps being taken by the Welsh Government to reduce the level of personal debt in Wales? (WAQ68349)

Answer received on 19 February 2015

The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): The Welsh Government is taking a number of steps to provide help to those with personal debt. In this financial year, we are providing over £4million to advice services. This funding enables advice to be given to people on how they can maximise their income, through accessing the welfare benefits to which they are entitled, and also provides support for specialist advice on debt. We are also funding Credit Unions so they can support financially excluded people, many of whom have personal debt problems.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Further to WAQ68317, will the Minister publish any guidance issued to health boards on the products that should be included in on-site vending machines? (WAQ68346)

Answer received on 17 February 2015

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): The Welsh Government's Health Promoting Hospital Vending Directions and Guidance to National Health Service Trusts were issued in September 2008, and revised in 2012 ( Directions to Local Health Boards in Wales and Velindre National Health Service Trust (2012 No.5).