Written Assembly Questions tabled on 27 January 2016 for answer on 3 February 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 Minister for Natural Resources
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the nitrates directive and review of nitrate vulnerable zones, what assessment has been undertaken of the impact of the proposed designations on farming and the wider rural economy? (WAQ69728)
Answer received on 5 February 2016
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant): A full Regulatory Impact Assessment will be undertaken prior to the new regulations being laid at the end of 2016.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the nitrates directive and review of nitrate vulnerable zones, will the Minister commit to a full 12-week consultation which includes proposed designations together with proposals for the action programme? (WAQ69729)
Answer received on 5 February 2016
Carl Sargeant: While we are aiming to consult on the designations of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and the Action Programme measures together, we have to consider the need to afford sufficient time for appeals to be made so it therefore may be necessary to undertake separate consultations. Should this happen, both consultations will run for the full 12 weeks.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on whether the Prevention of Pollution (Oil Storage) (Wales) Regulations are an appropriate and proportionate response for the farming industry in Wales? (WAQ69731)
Answer received on 5 February 2016
Carl Sargeant:
These proposed Regulations provide a common standard for oil storage across all sectors in Wales.
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What assessment has the Minister made on the socioeconomic improvements in Aberconwy resulting from Communities First funding? (WAQ69724)
Answer received on 5 February 2016
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): The Conwy Communities First Cluster comprises 13 ''Lower Super Output Areas', four of which are in Aberconwy and nine in Clwyd West. Conwy County Borough Council is the Lead Delivery Body and grant recipient. The Cluster delivers activity under all three strands of the Communities First Outcomes Framework – Prosperous, Healthy and Learning.
Under the "Prosperous" strand, Communities First in Conwy is helping people to develop employment skills, reducing youth unemployment and disengagement, promoting digital inclusion, improving financial capability, managing debt and raising income and supporting enterprise. During 2014-15, 655 participants engaged with Communities First through a range of projects.
Conwy's activity under the Healthy and Learning strands includes support and encouragement for people to make healthy lifestyle choices and helping them gain the skills and qualifications they need to enter employment.
Cluster-level data is prepared by Conwy CBC and reported to the Welsh Government. I have provided examples in the table below:
| 2014-15 Outcomes Conwy Cluster Reported on: | Actual outcomes for 2014-15 |
| Number of participants completing employment related courses | 25 |
| Number of participants actively accessing advice and support | 245 |
| Number of participants entered employment | 21 |
| Number of participants able to use the Internet for online services | 5 |
| Number of participants gained basic IT skills | 5 |
| Number of participants more confident in managing their finances | 70 |
| Number of participants reduced/managing debt | 55 |
| Number of participants supported to access the benefits they are entitled to | 49 |
| Number of participants with a better Knowledge for running a social enterprise. | 37 |
| Number of people gaining a qualification | 130 |
| Number of people who have increased Physical Activity | 39 |
This activity makes an important contribution, both immediately and over time, to improving socioeconomic conditions within Aberconwy.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide the figures for how much Communities First grand funding was returned to the Welsh Government by each local authority in Wales, for 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16? (WAQ69725)
Answer received on 5 February 2016
Lesley Griffiths:
The information is not currently held in the format you request and it will be collated by the end of February.
Not all Communities First Lead Delivery Bodies are Local Authorities with a number being Third Sector organisations. In providing the requested information, we will proceed on the basis you require details of funding returned by all Lead Delivery Bodies.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What was the cost to install the current central barriers, which are able to open to facilitate traffic on the A55? (WAQ69727)
Answer received on 2 February 2016
The Minister for the Economy, Science and TransEdwina Hart: The total cost for the emergency crossover points as well as new hardened verges was £3.879 million. This included all liaison, feasibility, design and site supervision, development of operating procedures, training, safety audits, construction and traffic management.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister state how many bids for the Newtown bypass were received from contractors from outside the UK? (WAQ69732)
Answer received on 2 February 2016
Edwina Hart: We received a tender from one supplier outside the UK.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the rationale behind the policy differences between England and Wales regarding positron emission tomography (PET) scans? (WAQ69730)
Answer received on 5 February 2016
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
PET was introduced in Wales in 2010 and the clinical commissioning policy is periodically reviewed to consider the evolving evidence base. As the service matures, a greater number of clinical indications are likely to be incorporated into the policy. PET provision in England is at a different stage of development and so a different number of indications are covered in their commissioning policies. The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, which is responsible for PET commissioning policy in Wales, is undertaking a review of its commissioning policy in the coming months.
http://www.whssc.wales.nhs.uk/policies-and-procedures
To ask the Minister for Public Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister advise which local authorities in Wales are currently signed up to the community toilet grant scheme? (WAQ69726)
Answer received on 5 February 2016
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews):
The Public Facilities Grant Scheme ended as a separate scheme in 2013-14. In line with Welsh Ministers' commitment to maximise funding flexibility for Local Authorities, the associated £200,000 funding was transferred into the 2014-15 Local Government Settlement and distributed to all Authorities. Local Authorities have their own policies with regards to funding public facilities taking account of local needs and priorities.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline what active engagement he has sought with the general public as part of the consultation on 'Devolution, Democracy and Delivery'? (WAQ69733)
Answer received on 2 February 2016
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews): We have consulted extensively on our proposals for Local Government reform, publishing three White Papers and a supporting public awareness campaign for Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People. Three versions of the Paper were produced to make consultation more accessible, including an Everyday Summary and a Young People's version.
948 responses have been received to the three consultations. Forty one per cent were from members of the public. The campaign also generated over 3,000 responses to our online 'Opinion Poll'.
These views have shaped the Draft Local Government (Wales) Bill which is the basis of the current consultation and provides a further opportunity for the public to submit their views.