Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 March 2014 for answer on 26 March 2014

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 Economy, Science and Transport

David Melding (South Wales Central): What measures are in place to promote astrotourism in Wales? (WAQ66612)

Answer recieved on 24 March 2014

The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): We actively promote astro-tourism through links to the Visit Wales web site and through social media.

David Melding (South Wales Central): What measures are in place to ensure that deaf passengers are kept up to date about information relayed on trains and buses? (WAQ66616)

Answer recieved on 24 March 2014

Edwina Hart: We actively promote astro-tourism through links to the Visit Wales web site and through social media.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister outline the basis on which employees or lobbyists of the Heads of the Valleys Development Company are permitted to enter local authority run schools? (WAQ66618)

Answer received on 27 March 2014

The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): Headteachers are responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school in accordance with the Education (Terms of Reference) (Wales) Regulations 2000. This would include making decisions on who can enter the school premises.  If employees or lobbyists of the Heads of the Valleys Development company have entered maintained schools, it would have been with the agreement of the headteacher.

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister outline any other private companies that have been permitted to lobby school children where a new company has been set up and has no track record of delivery or employment in a local area? (WAQ66619)

Answer received on 27 March 2014

Huw Lewis: I am not aware of any private companies that have been permitted to lobby school children in such circumstances. The decision as to who can enter school premises is a local one for headteachers to determine.

Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister disclose whether there are limits on private companies as to any lobbying activity that they may undertake in local authority run schools? (WAQ66620)

Answer received on 27 March 2014

Huw Lewis: There are no specific limits on private companies as to the activities they undertake in maintained schools. Headteachers are responsible for making decisions on who can enter the school premises.  I expect them to satisfy themselves that any information provided to pupils is appropriate and balanced.

To ask the Minister for Finance

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What assessment has the Minister made of the HM Treasury evaluation of compliance with guidance on ‘off-payroll’ engagements and how the lessons learnt by the UK Government could be applied to Wales? (WAQ66621)

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister detail how Board-level and senior appointments are dealt with, with regards to off-payroll engagements? (WAQ66622)

Answer received on 27 March 2014 (WAQ66621-22)

The Minister for Finance (Jane Hutt): Staffing within the Welsh Government is a matter for the Permanent Secretary.  I have asked him to write to you separately about this matter.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

David Melding (South Wales Central): What is being done to improve communication in A and E centres to help deaf patients? (WAQ66614)

Answer received on 27 March 2014

The Minister fo Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): The All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss was launched in December 2013.

Co-produced with Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, RNIB Cymru and other key stakeholders, including service users, the purpose of the Standards is to ensure that the communication and information needs of people with a sensory loss are met when accessing our healthcare services. Wales is the first country in the UK to publish such Standards.

A number of Standards are set out which reflect best practice in the delivery of accessible communication, which includes emergency and unscheduled care. I have written to all Local Health Boards in Wales asking each to put in place an agreed implementation plan, under the responsibility of a designated senior officer.  Progress on the delivery of the implementation plan should be reported on a regular basis to the Board.

On 17 March the British Deaf Association published new Best Practice Guidelines and a Checklist for Health Providers in the Senedd. This practical checklist for Hospitals and GPs works in conjunction with the 'All Wales Standards’ and has been produced in partnership with Local Health Boards, the Welsh Ambulance Service, NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights, the Deaf Community and BSL/English interpreters.

David Melding (South Wales Central): What is being done to encourage GPs to create deaf aware surgeries? (WAQ66615)

Answer received on 27 March 2014

Mark Drakeford: The All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss were published in December 2013. The Standards reflect best practice in the delivery of accessible information and communication, which includes primary care. All Health Boards have been encouraged to adopt and implement the Standards and I wrote to the Chairs of LHBs and Trust in May 2013 asking them to put in place an agreed implementation plan, under the responsibility of a designated senior officer.

All GP Practice staff should be trained in how to communicate effectively with someone with hearing loss, using a person centred approach which encourages staff to use clear speech and respond appropriately to individual needs.

GP practices will be expected to comply with all equality legislation and be aware of the All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss.

The Minimum Standards in the Premises Directions 2004 state that the contractor must “provide adequate sound and visual systems for the hearing and visually impaired”.

GP practices will be expected to ensure that the surgery arrangements are made as easy as possible for patients with hearing disabilities such as Hearing Loop Systems being fitted in reception and consultation areas.  This has to be provided by the developer at each new primary care premises.  Staff should be sufficiently trained in the communication systems provided.

Patients should be asked to describe their communication needs when they register with a GP and those already registered with a GP should be asked about their communication needs so surgeries can meet them and make hospitals and other health providers aware.

People with sensory loss should be able to make an appointment through a variety of contact methods, including email, text messaging, text phones and websites.

My Health Onlinealso gives patients the opportunity to book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions and to update their general details such as change of address. Currently, 308 practices across Wales, involving over 23,000 patients have signed up. More GP practices are being encouraged to sign up.

On 19 May 2014 I will launch a new resource for deaf young people to enable them to access GP services independently.  My Life, My Health is being launched at the Senedd on the first day of Deaf Awareness Week.  Working with the Royal College of GPs, the National Deaf Children’s Society’s Youth Advisory Board has developed a resource pack with information for deaf young people, their parents and healthcare professionals.

David Melding (South Wales Central): What is being done to ensure that frontline medical staff receive BSL awareness/deaf equality training? (WAQ66617)

Answer Received on 27 March 2014

Mark Drakeford: In addition to the All Wales Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory Loss published in December 2013, AoHL Cymru and RNIB Cymru have worked closely with the NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights to develop training for NHS staff specifically around the needs of those with sensory loss.

Treat Me Fairly (TMF) is an E-Learning package that has been developed and accepted by all LHBs as statutory mandatory training at induction.  It is about fair and equal treatment for everyone accessing health care and is very much centred around communication.  The training includes a section highlighting some of the barriers that people with sensory loss often face when accessing healthcare.   The TMF programme also illustrates the importance of ensuring medical and other NHS staff recognise the importance of exploring what patient’s own specific needs are rather than making assumptions about their requirements.

Over the next 12 months Treat Me Fairly will be supported with resources that widen the scope of the programme with priority given to a short 15 minute module about sensory loss communication.   This module is in the final stages of development.

To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food

David Melding (South Wales Central): What measures are in place to assure efficient street lighting to keep light pollution and cost at a minimum? (WAQ66613)

Answer received on 27 March 2014

The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): The Welsh Government recognises the importance of maintaining efficient and cost effective street lighting in Wales that also reduces the impact on light pollution wherever possible.

I am about to launch a Resource Efficiency Advice Service that will provide advice to local authorities on their energy efficiency.

Funding to encourage energy efficiency is also available to local authorities in the form of Salix funding, in addition to the Invest to Save Fund.

Local authorities may also seek funding through other routes such as the European Investment Bank.

In addition to funding, in respect of reducing light pollution from new developments, local authorities can also attach conditions to planning permissions.  These conditions can include the design and operation of lighting systems, for example, requiring energy-efficient design that also prevents light pollution.  The Welsh Government’s national planning policy recognises the importance of balancing the provision of lighting, with the need to manage the impacts of this on the environment and states that local planning authorities should adopt policies for lighting, including the control of light pollution, in their development plans.