Written Assembly Questions tabled on 29 September 2016 for answer on 6 October 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
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Minister publish the total sum awarded to businesses under the Wales retail relief scheme, by local authority, for both 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years? (WAQ71091)
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Minister publish the total number of businesses, by local authority, which benefited from the Wales retail relief scheme for both 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years? (WAQ71092)
Answer received on 11 October 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): Data on the total grant paid to local authorities and number of premises supported through the Wales Retail Relief Scheme 2014-15 is available online at http://gov.wales/docs/det/publications/160330-business-rates-relief-scheme-data-en.pdf. We will consider whether further data can be made available, including an update to cover the 2015-16 financial year.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a list of the Codes of Practices for the welfare of animals that are currently being reviewed by the Welsh Government and provide a summary of what the Welsh Government is considering and the timescales involved? (WAQ71078)
Answer received on 5 October 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The dog, cat, equine, laying hens and pigs codes are being reviewed, whilst a code of practice for broilers is being developed. The objectives of the review is to quality assure the existing codes of practice and update them where there have been changes in the science and legislation.
It is our intention to finalise these codes by the early autumn of 2017.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): How is the Welsh Government engaging with stakeholders regarding any current Codes of Practice on the welfare of animals that are being reviewed? (WAQ71084)
Answer received on 5 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government, through the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group, has adopted a partnership approach to undertake the review of welfare codes of practice and are working with key stakeholders.
When all the proposed changes have been received and scrutinised, we will issue a formal consultation to allow for any further views to be received.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide an update on her statement of the 15th July 2016 on "Mobile Animal Exhibits including Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses" outlining what work the Welsh Government has done on this specific issue and what work the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group has done on this issue? (WAQ71075)
Answer received on 11 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths: I am considering the next steps and will make a statement before the Christmas recess.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide the rationale for expanding the remit of wild animals in circuses to "Mobile Animal Exhibits"? (WAQ71079)
Answer received on 6 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths:
There is sufficient evidence to suggest there are a significant number of animals in captivity which are being used at corporate functions, schools, entertainment and other events. These are animals which are transported from place to place.
It would be wrong not to take the welfare of these animals, as well as wild animals in circuses, into consideration.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a list of any exceptions to the definition of a 'Mobile Animal Exhibit'? (WAQ71080)
Answer received on 6 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths: I refer to my answer to WAQ71081.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm how the Professor Steven Harris report is being taken forward by the Welsh Government? (WAQ71076)
Answer received on 6 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The findings of the independent review will, along with other relevant information, be used in providing the Welsh Government with options to consider for future policy decisions.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm if it is the Welsh Government's intention to introduce legislation in relation to the use of wild animals in circuses and mobile animal exhibits? (WAQ71077)
Answer received on 11 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths AM: I refer to my answer to WAQ 71075.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide a comprehensive list of what the Welsh Government believes constitutes a 'Mobile Animal Exhibit'? (WAQ71081)
Answer received on 6 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths: No. There are several thousand animals across the UK which might fall into this category and it could be any animals which are captive and being used in engagements outside of their normal behavioral requirements.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline what the Welsh Government is doing to promote the consumption of game in Wales? (WAQ71082)
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide figures for the amount of game meat that is exported out of Wales each year for the past five years? (WAQ71083)
Answer received on 6 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government actively supports and promotes the consumption of quality Welsh food and drink. Advice and grant support from the Rural Communities Rural Development Programme 2014-20 are available to farmers and Welsh food and drink companies to develop their businesses to supply domestic and export markets, and to target new opportunities, which can include game. The Welsh Government's actions are geared towards achieving our ambitious action plan for the food and drink industry with the target to increase industry turnover to £7 billion by 2020.
The Welsh Government does not collect statistical information on the amount of game meat exported from Wales each year. Game meat is a specialist and developing sector with producers often selling direct to consumers or to local markets.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): How many responses did the Welsh Government receive to its consultation on 'Improving Opportunities to Access the Outdoors for Responsible Recreation' which closed on 2 October 2015? (WAQ71085)
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm what legal advice was received by the Welsh Government both internally and externally prior to the 'Improving Opportunities to Access the Outdoors for Responsible Recreation' consultation? (WAQ71086)
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Does the Minister intend to legislate in relation to 'Improving Opportunities to Access the Outdoors for Responsible Recreation'? (WAQ71087)
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What public engagement has the Minister had regarding the 'Improving Opportunities to Access the Outdoors for Responsible Recreation' consultation? (WAQ71088)
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's intentions in relation to improving opportunities to access the outdoors for responsible recreation in the Fifth Assembly? (WAQ71089)
Answer received on 6 October 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government received 5796 responses to the public consultation on improving opportunities to access the outdoor for responsible recreation. The summary of responses is available at the following link: https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/improving-opportunities-access-outdoors-responsible-recreation
Welsh Government Legal Services was consulted on various matters relating to the content of the consultation paper as part of the on-going policy development on access and outdoor recreation. Legal Services also cleared the paper prior to publication.
More work has to be done before any decision is made on whether to amend the legislative framework on access and outdoor recreation. The Welsh Government has commissioned research on the costs associated with existing statutory duties and powers exercised by public bodies in relation to rights of way and wider statutory access to the outdoors.
Public engagement played an important role in the development of the consultation paper and during the consultation period. Officials met regularly with stakeholders and encouraged interest groups to publicise the consultation. A series of seminars were held in 2014 covering all the issues contained in the paper, including public rights of way, wider access to the countryside and access to water. In addition it received good media coverage and the use of social media to promote public interest.
I intend to engage very widely before taking any decisions on potential new measures to improve access.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Minister publish the decision record which outlines the Welsh Government's rationale for not continuing the Wales retail relief scheme for the 2016-17 financial year? (WAQ71090)
Answer received on 10 October 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): Welsh Ministers introduced a time limited scheme to support businesses in Wales through the Welsh Retail Relief Scheme, enabled by consequential funding from the UK Government. This scheme ended on 31 March 2016.