Siambr · Sarah Edwards
Written questions
8 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 1 of 1.
WQ100498 · Tabled · Answered
What oversight does the Welsh Government have regarding the financial risks facing the £3.4 billion Dyfed pension fund, following its £19 million contribution to a £68 million loan for a wind generation project?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance
The Local Government Pension Scheme is not devolved. Oversight of the Dyfed Pension Scheme is a matter for the relevant elected members of the Pension Authority and the UK Government.
WQ100231 · Tabled · Answered
What oversight does the Welsh Government have over the governance and financial risks associated with Welsh local government pension funds, including the £68 million Wales Pension Partnership investment in Bute Energy?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Substantive response
WQ100204 · Tabled · Answered
Has the Welsh Government declined any offers of community investment to support NHS X-ray services in rural Wales and, if so, what were the reasons for doing so?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government divisions most likely to receive such approaches, namely Capital and Estates, Delivery and Performance, Health Sciences, and Planning, are not aware of any recent specific offer made directly to the Welsh Government by a community organisation, charity or commercial provider to support NHS X-ray services in rural Wales. On that basis, no such offer has been identified as having been declined.
This position is based on enquiries with the relevant Welsh Government policy and delivery areas, rather than an exhaustive review of all correspondence received. Organisations interested in supporting a local NHS service are encouraged to engage with the relevant Health Board in the first instance, so that any proposal can be considered collaboratively in the context of local service needs, clinical requirements and the Health Board’s wider plans.
WQ100203 · Tabled · Answered
What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the impact that expenditure on agency radiology staff to address diagnostic backlogs has had on the provision of X-ray services at Llandovery Hospital?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government does not hold this information. The Member may wish to contact the health board directly regarding the availability of this information.
WQ100202 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister ensure that Hywel Dda University Health Board will allow a private provider or charity to deliver the service where that organisation is willing to fund the machine upgrade and provide appropriately qualified staff?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Decisions about the operational and strategic delivery of radiology services are matters for Hywel Dda University Health Board. Any external organisation wishing to contribute funding, equipment or appropriately qualified staff should discuss its proposal with the Health Board in the first instance.
Offers to support NHS services are welcomed and appreciated, but any proposal must be developed in cooperation with the Health Board and considered against clinical safety, quality, workforce, governance, sustainability and the Health Board’s agreed service model. Where the Health Board considers that Welsh Government involvement is required, I would expect it to bring forward the proposal through the appropriate established process, explaining how the proposed partnership supports its delivery plans and what intervention is sought.
WQ100201 · Tabled · Answered
What financial assistance and transport support is available to patients who are required to travel from Llandovery to Carmarthen for routine diagnostic scans?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Patients who have a medical need for transport may be eligible for the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service. Eligibility is assessed against criteria set by the Welsh Government and is based on the patient’s medical condition and whether they can travel safely to and from their appointment. Patients who are unsure whether they qualify should contact the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust on 0300 123 2303.
Patients who do not have a medical need for transport but are on a low income may be able to claim help with reasonable travel costs where they are travelling for NHS treatment under the care of a consultant. They may contact Hywel Dda University Health Board about reimbursement before travelling or submit form HC5W(T), Claim a refund for travel costs to receive NHS treatment, to the NHS Business Services Authority.
WQ100002 · Tabled · Answered
What is the Welsh Government's approach to proposed developments involving steel lattice pylons that are already underway, such as Green GEN Cymru's proposed Towy Usk project, in light of the Welsh Government's commitment to prohibit the use of steel lattice pylons?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
The Welsh Government does not comment on live development proposals as this could prejudice Welsh Ministers decision-making roles.
Proposed developments are considered through the relevant statutory consenting processes and against the policy framework in place at the time a decision is taken. As detailed in Planning Policy Wales, the current policy is for the undergrounding of new electricity lines, where possible.
We will set out the new policy approach in line with our manifesto shortly.
WQ99993 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide a timeline for the prohibition of steel lattice pylons for new 11-132 kV lines, and outline what steps will be taken to implement this policy?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
We are undertaking the necessary work to implement the manifesto commitment on the use of steel lattice pylons for new 11–132 kV electricity lines. I will provide a further update in due course.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.