Written Assembly Questions tabled on 26 October for answer on 2 November 2016
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 First Minister
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister confirm how much taxpayers' money the Welsh Government has spent on legal fees in disputes with private individuals, companies and organisations in the past year, 3 years and 5 years? (WAQ71327)
Answer received on 7 November 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister confirm the total cost to the Welsh Government of litigation in its dispute over the use of the Dylan Thomas photographs with Pablo Star Ltd and Pablo Star Media Ltd, and will he provide a full breakdown of these costs to date? (WAQ71329)
Answer received on 4 November 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): I refer you to the responses provided following Freedom of Information Requests on this matter:
http://gov.wales/about/foi/responses/2015/May15/atisn9187/?lang=en
http://gov.wales/about/foi/responses/2016/Mar16/atisn10176/?lang=en
http://gov.wales/about/foi/responses/2016/sep16/atisn10643/?lang=en
Further expenditure to date since the last Freedom of Information request (which covers costs up to the period of 8 August 2016) totals:
Geldards (main file, Ireland and Dutch activity) - £809.90 + VAT
Netherlands – 1350 Euro
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Does the First Minister now consider it was an efficient and worthwhile use of taxpayers' money to proceed with litigation in the Welsh Government's dispute with Pablo Star Ltd and Pablo Star Media Ltd and did he ever consider it would be more appropriate to settle the matter out of court? (WAQ71328)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister confirm if he personally took the decision to proceed with litigation in the Welsh Government's dispute over the use of Dylan Thomas photographs with Pablo Star Ltd and Pablo Star Media Ltd, and if so, what factors did he take into account when deciding whether this was an appropriate course of action? (WAQ71330)
Answer received on 4 November 2016
First Minister: We cannot comment on the detail of ongoing litigation but Welsh Ministers continue to deny the allegations of copyright infringement made against it in various countries.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the figure proposed for Non Domestic Rates Relief in the 2017-18 Draft Budget? (WAQ71331)
Answer received on 4 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): The draft budget provides for a tax cut for small businesses through extending our Small Business Rates Relief scheme which would otherwise have ended. Current forecasts indicate that this will cost around £100 million in 2017-18. We will also ring-fence £10 million in reserves to fund our new transitional relief scheme which will provide additional support to small businesses adversely affected by the revaluation exercise.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What assessment has the Minister made of the Welsh Local Government Association's predictions that running costs for councils will increase by £200million in the next two to three years? (WAQ71332)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): The effect of austerity policies pursued by the Westminster Government is felt directly in local government in Wales. The figure of £200million represents the WLGA's assessment of the impact of centre government cuts on their members.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline the measures the Welsh Government will take to ensure that local authorities are able to find innovative solutions to the delivery of council services, given that the 2015-16 revenue and capital outturn figures have highlighted a drop in provision for libraries, culture, heritage and sport of 9.8 per cent and a drop in planning, economic and community development of 28 per cent? (WAQ71333)
Answer received on 1 November 2016
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government continues to protect local authorities from the worst of the cuts imposed from Westminster. The settlement proposed for 2017/18 provides a platform from which to plan and manage the difficult decisions that lie ahead. This funding is provided to Welsh local authorities as unhypothecated grant, enabling them to make spending decisions based on their own assessments of local needs and priorities.