​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 22 February 2017 for answer on 1 March 2017
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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Sian Gwenllian (Arfon): Do any conditions for Welsh Government grants include ensuring the creation of good quality jobs and limit the use of zero hours contracts? (WAQ73057)
Answer received on 2 March 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): We consider a full range of measures including high value jobs and responsible employment practice for all grant applications.
In the coming weeks, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government will be issuing a new Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chain. The Code shows how the principles for using non-guaranteed hours arrangements appropriately and fairly can be built into procurement and contract management processes for all public funding including grants. We expect all organisations in receipt of public money, including through grants, to sign up to the new Code of Practice.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the current legalisation in relation to fish hatcheries and their reinstatement in Wales? (WAQ73056)
Answer recieved on 28 February 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): Fish hatcheries are required to be authorised by the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) under the Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (Wales) Regulations 2014 requires applicants, who wish to introduce freshwater fish into water bodies in Wales, to obtain a site permit from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for the introduction of any fish.
Any hatchery involved in the production of fish for restocking rivers using wild caught brood stock requires written consent from NRW under section 27A of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. In addition, any consent for these operations in rivers designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SACs) will require a Habitats Regulations Assessment.
The decision to not undertake, or permit, stocking of salmon and sea trout in Wales was an operational decision taken by the NRW Board on 2 October 2014. This followed a technical review, public consultation and expert advice, whereby NRW concluded stocking was damaging to wild populations due to unacceptable impact on stock genetic diversity which resulted from hatchery rearing.
With regard to the reinstatement of stocking hatchery reared salmon, it is important to note NRW approval is needed. The applicant would need to demonstrate the cause of any decline in salmon population and also clearly demonstrate how stocking will arrest and reverse this decline while maintaining the genetic integrity of the wild salmon stock.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Further to WAQ72058, what plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to expand the Wales Property Development Fund, given the current pressures facing the housing market in Wales? (WAQ73055)
Answer recieved on 27 February 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): I am currently considering this matter.