Answers issued to Members on 3 December 2008

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Would the Minister make a statement on the first tranche of KB4B companies, together with the numbers they employed at the time they were included within the programme and the numbers they employ now? (WAQ52846)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): Officials monitor key data—including employment levels—for all KB4B companies and we are currently refreshing that data as part of our regular relationship management function. I will write to you within two weeks with the most up to date position for the first tranche of companies including advice on movement within the original client base.

Peter Black (South Wales West): Will the Minister detail (a) what discussions he or his department have had with Swansea Council about a grant application to carry out environmental improvement and health and safety works on the banks of the River Tawe near Swansea Marina including; (b) what is the value of that work; (c) what conditions is he seeking to impose on the Council with regards to tendering for the work; (d) what considerations is he giving to the work being completed within the current financial year and (e) whether, in negotiations with the council, any matched funding will be available from them? (WAQ52820)

The Deputy Minister for Regeneration (Leighton Andrews): My officials have held tentative discussions with the City and County of Swansea to explore the possibility of potential assistance toward an environmental enhancement scheme on the banks of the River Tawe. Based on indicative estimates the cost of these works is in the region of £500,000, and any tendering for the works would have to be undertaken in accordance with standard public sector tendering procedures. However, I must stress these discussions are at an early stage and project finance has yet to be finalised. Though there has been some limited discussion about delivering some design work this year, no final decisions have yet been taken.

Peter Black (South Wales West): What plans are being considered for physical regeneration works under convergence funding for the City and County of Swansea in the next financial year? (WAQ52821)

Leighton Andrews: My officials have been working with Local Authorities through the Regional Partnership Forum for South West Wales in order to jointly agree priorities in respect of physical regeneration.

Expressions of interest for European Convergence funding are currently being progressed with the Welsh European Funding Office in relation to the following projects:

Commercial Renewal Area—Enhancement of buildings in the commercial area of the City; Waterfront—Works to facilitate development along the Waterfront area; Oystermouth Road Improvement Works—Improve linkages between the City and its Waterfront, and create active commercial frontages; City Centre—Environmental works to help regenerate areas in the centre of Swansea.

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many pupils in Wales have been excluded for racism and can the Minister provide a breakdown for primary and secondary schools and for each LEA in Wales? (WAQ52835)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): The information sought on exclusions due to Racial Harassment at primary and secondary level is not collected at present. The following table relates to exclusions due to Racial Harassment at LEA level, for both primary and secondary level. It relates to occurrences and not to individual pupils.

Exclusions due to Racial Harassment, by LEA, 2006/07 (a)

(a) Figures relate to incidents in all schools.

* Where the number of pupils is less than five, but greater than zero, the number has not been disclosed to protect the pupils identity.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many incidents have there been of serious injury on school premises over the past five years? (WAQ52836)

Jane Hutt: The Welsh Assembly Government does not collate this information as responsibility for schools health and safety rests with Head Teachers and Governors at schools level and then with the relevant Local Authority.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many deaths have occurred in Welsh schools for each year since 1999? (WAQ52837)

Jane Hutt: The Welsh Assembly Government does not collate this information as responsibility for schools health and safety rests with Head Teachers and Governors at schools level and then with the relevant Local Authority.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on any changes to the conditions or circumstances under which the Welsh Assembly Government can access accumulated EYF? (WAQ52825)

The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery (Andrew Davies): The Assembly Government has always drawn EYF in discussion with HM Treasury. EYF is drawn down in year via the Winter or Spring Parliamentary Estimates and allocated to departmental budgets via a Supplementary Budget Motion. At my recent meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury she confirmed there was no change to this procedure.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on the levels of End Year Flexibility held by the Treasury on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ52826)

Andrew Davies: Our 2009-10 Budget Proposals published in October outlined cumulative historic levels of End Year Flexibility. The EYF accumulated in 2007-08 is in the process of being finalised with the UK Government and therefore the cumulative figures for the stocks of EYF at the end of 2007-08 should be treated as provisional.

Cumulative EYF stocks as at the end of each Financial Year

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on the financial implementation of the pre-budget report? (WAQ52831)

Andrew Davies: The UK Government’s Pre-Budget Report (PBR) contains a number of measures to help individuals, families and businesses through these challenging times. This fits with the Assembly Government’s approach during this budget setting process of helping people where it matters most.

The PBR provides an opportunity to bring forward some £140 million of capital expenditure. The Welsh Assembly Government intends to make use of this opportunity, which supports work on bringing forward capital projects that was already underway as a result of the All-Wales Economic Summits in October and November.

The Assembly Government will also receive small capital budget Barnett consequentials of close to £3m in 2008/09 & 2009/10.

I have constantly stated that future budgets from 2010-11 onwards will be significantly tighter than now, in the same way that budgets now are tighter than in the 1st and 2nd Assembly periods. The PBR is consistent with this position.

It is too early to say exactly what the impact of the PBR will be on the Assembly Government’s future budgets, as these will be set in the next Spending Review. However, the Welsh Assembly Government will continue to budget prudently to ensure our One Wales agenda can be taken forward.