Written Assembly Questions tabled on 12 November 2013 for answer on 19 November 2013

R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister provide an update on the findings from the review into the appraisal process for orphan and ultra-orphan medicines? (WAQ65897)

Answer received on 18 November 2013

Mark Drakeford: On 11 November I issued a letter to Assembly Members drawing their attention to the publication on the Welsh Government website of the report on the review of the appraisal process for orphan and ultra-orphan medicines.  A period of six weeks will now follow in which those who gave evidence to the review and others, including patients and patient representatives, will be able to comment on it.  I will make a statement early in the New Year on the next steps arising from the report.

Aled Roberts (North Wales): What response has the Welsh Government given to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Consultation on Statistical Products of 2/9/13 which proposes to stop the production of statistics on a number of health-related issues including Excess Winter Deaths in England and Wales? (WAQ65898)

Answer received on 18 November 2013

Mark Drakeford: The Chief Statistician has provided a written response to the ONS consultation.

This response emphasised our concerns over certain proposals and stated the importance of some of the statistics in question, including those on Excess Winter Deaths. It also stressed the importance of ensuring the underlying base data were available even if the statistical outputs themselves could not be produced.