Written Assembly Questions tabled on 24 June 2014 for answer on 1 July 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 Communities and Tackling Poverty

Mike Hedges (Swansea East): Will the Minister make a statement on what action is being taken to help older people to claim benefits? (WAQ67291)

Answer received on 30 June 2014

The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Jeff Cuthbert): Further funding of £1million has been made available this year to front line advice services who offer help with welfare benefits, debt and money management, housing and discrimination. Independent and not-for-profit advice providers, many of which have seen their budgets cut, can apply for this grant to help them to continue providing advice services to everyone, including older people in Wales.

This funding is in addition to the £2.2m per annum that is provided for the Citizens Advice delivered ‘Better Advice, Better Lives’ project, which is helping people throughout Wales, including older people, to access benefit entitlements.

We are also supporting the delivery of advice services in Communities First areas. Funding of £2.3 million has been provided until March 2015 to provide outreach debt advice in 36 Communities First Clusters across Wales.

To ask the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): What is the percentage take-up of the concessionary bus pass in each of Wales’s 22 local authorities against the number of over 60s in each authority? (WAQ67290)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): We do not hold this information in the required format.

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): What is the Welsh Government’s definition of community transport? (WAQ67292)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

Edwina Hart: In broad terms, community transport is safe, accessible, cost-effective, flexible transport run by the community for the social benefit of the community which is responsive to the transport needs of a wide range of people, often the most vulnerable in our society. These are often people who do not use or do not have access to cars, taxis or buses, whether in urban or rural communities.

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): What assessment has the Welsh Government undertaken of the benefits to the Welsh economy of any potential expansion of air passenger numbers in the south east of England? (WAQ67293)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

Edwina Hart: We recognise the opportunities for business and tourism of enhanced air connectivity and passenger numbers and have engaged positively on these matters with the UK Airports Commission.

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): How many jobs does the Welsh Government estimate have: a) been created to date; b) been supported to date; and c) been planned to date as a result of the creation of the Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone? (WAQ67294)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

Edwina Hart: Enterprise Zones are continuing to focus on jobs, investment and business support. I published progress against these and other key performance indicators last month at http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/help/enterprisezones.

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Has any feasibility study been carried out by the Welsh Government to open the Machen railway line to passengers and, if so, how does the forthcoming new station at Pye corner fit into this? (WAQ67295)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

Edwina Hart: There has been no such study undertaken

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline any meetings she has held and a summary of what was discussed with the following Cardiff Council individuals from 1 January 2014 to date: Cllr Heather Joyce, Cllr Phil Bale, Cllr Russell Goodway and Cllr Ramish Patel? (WAQ67296)

Answer received on 29 July 2014

Edwina Hart: I have regular meetings and discussions with Councillors from all local authorities across Wales to discuss a range of matters within my portfolio.

Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): Will the Minister publish a map showing the location of the Superfast Cymru network and all fibre networks supported by the Welsh Government? (WAQ67297)

Answer received on 30 June 2014

The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): A map is available on the Superfast Cymru website (www.superfast-cymru.com/where-and-when) that shows the location and status of the network by exchange area. An improved map for the website is currently in development. A map of the Fibrespeed network is available on the Fibrespeed website at www.fibrespeed.co.uk/casestudies/map.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How many care applications were received by Cafcass Cymru in the 12 months to the end of March 2011, March 2012, March 2013 and March 2014? (WAQ67300)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

The Deputy Minister for Social Services (Gwenda Thomas): Care applications received by CAFCASS Cymru are recorded as Section 31 applications, for a care or a supervision order. The number received by CAFCASS Cymru in the period April 2010 through to March 2014 is contained in the table below.

To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's policy on factory farming of animals in Wales? (WAQ67298)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): The Welsh Government does not have a policy on the scale of a farming enterprise, the size considered viable for any enterprise is a commercial decision for the individual business to consider.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's policy on Broiler Units in Wales? (WAQ67299)

Answer received on 1 July 2014

Alun Davies: The Welfare of Farm Animals (Wales) Regulations 2010 implement Council Directive 2007/43, which introduced measures that improved meat chicken welfare and set conditions from the time chicks are brought to production sites, until they leave for slaughter.

A maximum stocking density of 39kg/m² introduced by the Welsh Regulations provides for a consistent GB inspection and enforcement framework to operate within slaughterhouses and on farm.

The Food Standards Agency and Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency enforce provisions of the EC Directive in Wales on behalf of Welsh Government and the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) inspects broiler premises in Wales.