Written Assembly Questions tabled on 27 May 2015 for answer on 3 June 2015
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): What underspends or overspends have been identified with regards to TB eradication between the supplementary budget in February and the end of the financial year? (WAQ68714)
Answer received 9 June 2015
Deputy Minister for Farming and Food (Rebecca Evans): The Wales Audit Office is currently auditing the Welsh Government annual accounts and adjustments are still taking place. Until the accounts have been formally signed off by WAO, which is likely to be in July, I am not in a position to comment on the final outturn position
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline what discussions the Welsh Government has had with banks about some farmers who will potentially need assistance in the event of late payments under the Basic Payment Scheme? (WAQ68718)
Answer received on 9 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What considerations has the Welsh Government given to supporting small farm businesses through the Rural Development Plan? (WAQ68717)
Answer to follow
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What assessment has been made to confirm that the reduced 2015-16 budgets for TB eradication and slaughter payments will be sufficient to fund the additional actions highlighted in the 2015 TB eradication plan and the impact of the developing Cymorth TB and TB Epidemiologist initiatives? (WAQ68716)
Answer received on 9 June 2015
Rebecca Evans : Initiatives such as Cymorth TB and the TB Epidemiologist have now been expanded following successful pilots. This may result in some increased budgetary pressures associated with these developments. However, our assessment of estimated costs over the next year has taken this into account and we are satisfied that potential increased budgetary pressures are accommodated within the budget provision.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What specific support will be made available to encourage the protection of grazed woodland on farms? (WAQ68715)
Answer to follow
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What will be delivered by the £0.6 million currently allocated to the County Parish Holdings project in 2015-16? (WAQ68713)
Answer received 9 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: The County Parish Holdings project is a significant investment by the Welsh Government on behalf of the farming industry in Wales. It will improve and simplify the current system, establish consistent rules across species, reduce administration requirements, allow farmers to improve their efficiency through better land parcel management and enable a more effective response to any future animal disease outbreak. The £0.6 million allocated during 2015-16 will allow the vitally important work on the cleansing of Sole Occupancy Authorities (SOAs) and Cattle Tracing System (CTS) links to commence.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce the current waiting time for a child to be referred to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services? (WAQ68719)