Written Assembly Questions tabled on 27 February 2017 for answer on 6 March 2017
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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 Cabinet Secretary confirm whether the Welsh Government has had to make any financial contribution on occasions when the aircraft used on the Cardiff-Anglesey Air Link has been grounded, and the total cost to the taxpayer on each such instance? (WAQ73079)
Answer received on 6 March 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The PSO aircraft was grounded on 22 October 2015 due to Links Air's AOC being suspended. No subsidy contribution was made to Links Air whilst the aircraft was grounded.
The PSO aircraft was grounded on 24 February 2017 due to Van Air's Foreign Carrier Permit being withdrawn by the CAA. No additional subsidy contribution has been made as a result of this action.
On both occasions, any additional costs to ensure the continued operation of the PSO by a third party operator were borne by the contract holder.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm what, if any, action he has taken in respect of the decision to ground Van Air Europe aircraft and the impacts this will have on the Cardiff-Anglesey Air Link? (WAQ73080)
Answer received on 16 March 2017
Ken Skates: Van Air continues to hold the contract to operate the Intra Wales PSO between Cardiff and Anglesey, however to ensure service continuity this week, Van Air has sub-contracted the operation of the PSO out to Danish operator North Flying.
North Flying has full responsibility for the safe operation of the current PSO flights. The CAA is aware of this arrangement and has raised no issues with the Welsh Government. My officials are working with Van Air to ensure service continuity going forward and Van Air has confirmed that North Flying will continue to operate the route next week on its behalf.
This matter will continue to receive close attention from Welsh Government officials.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm on how many occasions over the past 3 years the Welsh Government-subsidised Cardiff-Angelsey Air Link has been affected by having its aircraft grounded, the dates on which this occurred and the duration of any such instances? (WAQ73081)
Answer received on 6 March 2016
Ken Skates: During the past three years, the PSO aircraft has been grounded on two separate occasions as a result of CAA regulatory decisions.
The first was on 22 October 2015. Links Air (the PSO contract holder at the time) did not operate the route again. Van Air began operating the route on 15 February 2016 following a competitive tender process.
The second was on 24 February 2017 and the situation remains ongoing.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether the Cardiff-Anglesey Air Link has in any way been affected by the decision to ground flights operated by Van Air Europe following an incident on 23 February on the Isle of Man, and the nature of any such disruption, the costs involved and any action taken to remedy the situation? (WAQ73082)
Answer received on 6 March 2017
Ken Skates: Van Air continues to hold the contract to operate the Intra Wales PSO between Cardiff and Anglesey. To ensure service continuity, Van Air has sub-contracted the short term operation of the PSO out to Danish operator North Flying. North Flying has full responsibility for the safe operation of the current PSO flights. The CAA is aware of this arrangement and has raised no issues with the Welsh Government.
Service continuity is an ongoing priority and we maintain regular contact with both Van Air and the UK CAA – who are in open dialogue with each other. There has been no service disruption.
The service continues to run as normal and tickets for travel can still be booked via www.citywing.com.
The additional costs to ensure the continued operation of the PSO by a third party operator are being borne by Van Air.
My officials are working with Van Air to maintain service continuity going forward and Van Air has confirmed that North Flying will continue to operate the route next week on its behalf.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What legal advice have the Cabinet Secretary's officials received on public rights of navigation on rivers and inland waters in Wales in the build up to the proposed consultation on Improving Opportunities to Access the Outdoors for Recreation? (WAQ73087)
Answer received on 6 March 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths: Prior to the publication of the consultation on Improving Opportunities to Access the Outdoors for Recreation in 2015 officials received advice on public access to inland water from the Welsh Government's Legal Services Department and independent Counsel.
The legal advice has not been made available to the public for reasons of legal professional priviledge.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm what steps the Welsh Government have taken to mitigate any losses in funding suffered by voluntary groups following the Welsh Government taking Environment Wales into WCVA? (WAQ73083)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many organisations have been affected by the Welsh Government's changes to the funding previously provided by Environment Wales, which has subsequently been taken into WCVA? (WAQ73084)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline any action he has taken to ensure that organisations previously guaranteed funding under Environment Wales will not lose this funding following the Welsh Government taking over its responsibilities under WVCA? (WAQ73085)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether he has any plans to replace the funding provided to voluntary organisations by Environment Wales with alternative funding streams, and if so how this will operate? (WAQ73086)
Answer received on 16 March 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): Welsh Government grant funding to the 31 voluntary groups benefiting from Environment Wales was extended to 31 March 2017, for a 12 month period only. This is understood by the sector and is to allow groups to seek alternative sources of funding with the support of WCVA, (including through the new core funding arrangements).