National Assembly for Wales

I refer the Assembly Member to my response in April that schools funding is a responsibility for Local Authorities as is set out in law in Wales. There are no current proposals to review the way in which schools are funded.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales monitors to ensure that information on the professional accreditation of degree courses at Welsh HEIs is consistent with regulatory requirements, is up to date and readily available for students. I will work with HEFCW to consider if these arrangements can be strengthened.

The revised School Organisation Code establishes a presumption against closure of rural schools.  This requires proposers to follow a more detailed set of procedures and requirements in formulating a rural school proposal and in consulting on and reaching a decision as to whether to implement a rural school closure proposal.

The School Organisation Code imposes requirements on relevant bodies, including the Welsh Ministers, local authorities and governing bodies in respect of school organisation and provides guidance to which they must have regard. 

Welsh Government recognises the important role provision of registered after-school clubs play in supporting families. The clubs not only provide valuable opportunities for school age children to play, develop skills, and make new friends, but also support working parents ensuring their children are cared for in a safe appropriate environment.

Local authorities are responsible for planning school places. They are responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient schools providing primary and secondary education in their area. Schools are regarded as sufficient if they are sufficient in number, character and equipment to provide all pupils the opportunity of an appropriate education.

By 2019 the first wave of the 21st Century Schools Programme will have provided over £164 million of investment in schools in Cardiff.  The second wave starting in 2019 will then see a further £284 million of investment to build and further modernise Cardiff Schools.

I work closely with my colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services to ensure there is effective engagement between Local Health Boards and their Local Authority partners across the range of their respective responsibilities.

The Cancer Delivery Plan for Wales 2017-2020 sets out our approach to detecting and diagnosing cancer. People referred for urgent suspected cancer should be diagnosed and begin definitive treatment within 62 days. I am pleased to note continued improvements in one and five year survival for cancer patients in Wales.

The approach is set out in the Respiratory Health Delivery Plan for Wales, which was updated and published in January. The Plan includes a national work stream for Interstitial Lung Disease and the establishment of regional specialist teams to support local care.

Timely complaints handling is a key measure in the NHS Delivery Framework and performance overall is showing a year on year improvement. This will continue to be monitored closely to ensure the target of 75% of all complaints being resolved within 30 days is met.

NHS Prosthetic and Amputee Rehabilitation services are delivered by three specialist Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres.  NHS Wales does not provide microprocessor knees for civilians; however they are available to war veterans in line with the criteria set out in the WHSSC War Veterans Enhanced Prosthetic Provision Commissioning Policy.

We recognise that some STIs are increasing.  Implementation of the recommendations of the review, supported by alternative models of service delivery, will allow for improved access to testing and treatment.  Pilots of the alternative models are underway and will report at the end of the financial year.