Written Assembly Questions tabled on 26 May 2016 for answer on 3 June 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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on plans to deliver 100,000 apprenticeships over this Assembly? (WAQ70312)
Answer received on 2 June 2016
The Minister for Skills and Science (Julie James): I plan to make a statement in Plenary shortly regarding apprenticeships in Wales.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to increase the take up and inclusion of older people in work based learning? (WAQ70313)
Answer received on 2 June 2016
Julie James: The Apprenticeship programme is our key work based approach and I plan to make a statement in Plenary shortly regarding the plans for apprenticeships in Wales.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister continue to prioritise the recruitment of those aged 16-24 with apprenticeships? (WAQ70314)
Answer received on 2 June 2016
Julie James: I plan to make a statement in Plenary shortly regarding apprenticeships in Wales.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have in place to take forward the partnership in principle plan for a new £80 million convention centre at Celtic Manor? (WAQ70315)
Answer received on 8 June 2016
Ken Skates: I am supportive of the project, and the Welsh Government’s partnership with Celtic Manor Resort Ltd. I will be meeting with executives from Celtic Manor Resort Ltd in due course to discuss plans for the Wales International Convention Centre.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to continue the Wales Management Succession fund? (WAQ70316)
Answer received on 8 June 2016
Ken Skates: The Wales Management Succession Fund was launched on 1st April 2016 and will provide specific funding to support the transfer of ownership of Welsh companies to their employees and management teams. The Fund, managed by Finance Wales, will target companies that are unable to access funding from banks due to a lack of security and where there is no provision by private equity houses due to the relatively low transaction size. It also has the ability to offer investment terms of up to 7 years.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many businesses have successfully transferred ownership through the Wales Management Succession Fund? (WAQ70317)
Answer received on 8 June 2016
Ken Skates: The Wales Management Succession Fund was launched on 1st April 2016 and will provide specific funding to support the transfer of ownership of Welsh companies to their employees and management teams. The Fund, managed by Finance Wales, will target companies that are unable to access funding from banks due to a lack of security and where there is no provision by private equity houses due to the relatively low transaction size. It also has the ability to offer investment terms of up to 7 years.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What is the Welsh Government doing to raise awareness of the dangers of underage drinking in Wales? (WAQ70320)
Answer received on 2 June 2016
The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans):
We continue to promote an alcohol free childhood.
Results from the 2013/14 health behaviour in school-aged children study show that rates of drinking among adolescents in Wales have continued to decline sharply and are currently at their lowest rates since the survey began in 1986, and are substantially below their peak around 1996. We hope to see this trend continue.
Our substance misuse delivery plan 2016-18 sets out the actions we are taking to raise awareness of the dangers of underage drinking in Wales, including guidance and education campaigns to raise awareness of alcohol related harm.
The Welsh Government continues to provide over £2m to the all Wales schools core liaison programme which operates in 100% of schools across Wales and delivers substance misuse education to children and young people at all key stages of the school curriculum.
In addition, £2.75m of the substance misuse action fund is ring fenced specifically for children and young people's services. These have enabled children and young people to access a range of prevention and treatment services across the country.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What are the Minister's next steps in terms of local government reform? (WAQ70306)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Given the First Minister's recent comments on local government mergers, what considerations has the Minister given to setting out timetables for local government reform? (WAQ70307)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detain discussions he has had with local authorities over changes to local government reform? (WAQ70308)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Given the First Minister's recent comments on voluntary local authority mergers, will the Minister detail whether this option will be available in new plans for local government reform? (WAQ70309)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm whether any amendments will be forthcoming under the Local Government (Wales) Act 2015 in light of the First Minister's comments on local government reform? (WAQ70310)
Answer received on 8 June 2016
Mark Drakeford: Over the next few weeks and months, I will meet local government leaders and other stakeholders and listen to what they have to say as part of the Welsh Government’s consideration of local government reform. A statement on our intentions will be made in due course.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail arrangements for cross-party talks on local government reform and confirm whether all parties in the National Assembly for Wales will be invited to participate? (WAQ70311)
Answer received on 8 June 2016
Mark Drakeford: No such talks have yet been scheduled.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many businesses and individuals have utilised the Skills for Employers and Employees project? (WAQ70319)
Answer received on 8 June 2016
Mark Drakeford: The £16.2 million Skills for Employers and Employees project, supported with over £10 million of EU funds, got underway in February 2016 and will run until the end of 2018. Led by Coleg Cambria, in partnership with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and WEA YMCA CC Cymru, the project is expected to train some 7,000 employed workers across 500 businesses in North Wales. The Welsh European Funding Office expects to receive output data as part of the sponsor’s expenditure claim at the end of June and I will write to the Assembly Member following this.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What plans does the Minister have to increase the take up and inclusion of older people in further education? (WAQ70318)
Answer received on 2 June 2016
The Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language (Alun Davies): The opportunities further education offers to individuals, communities and employers in Wales are significant.
Whilst a number of older people need opportunities for re-skilling and up-skilling in order to remain in work, we are also conscious of the huge contribution learning can make to the health and well-being of older people. We are committed to doing all we can to maximise the involvement of older people in adult learning.
In response to recommendations from the Fourth Assembly's Enterprise and Business Committee, the Welsh Government has commissioned a review of evidence on employment opportunities for people aged 50 and over in Wales, identifying gaps and recommendations for further research.
We will consider the recommendations of this review specifically as these relate to the take up and inclusion of older people in further education.