Written Assembly Questions tabled on 2 September 2015 for answer on 9 September 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 First Minister
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Welsh Government held regarding concerns about the changes to the list of organisations included under Round 3 of the timetable for introducing Welsh language standards? (WAQ69139)W
Answer received on 14 September 2015
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): In accordance with Section 62 of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, conducting standards investigations is a matter for the Welsh Language Commissioner. This includes the timing, and specifying which organisations will be subject to investigations.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions have taken place between the Welsh Government and the UK Government regarding the review of the Feed-In Tariff scheme for supporting small-scale renewables, including solar PV? (WAQ69138)W
Answer received on 14 September 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant): Welsh Government has engaged proactively with the UK Government in respect of the review published by DECC on 27 August and the other related consultations issued over the summer.
I have spoken to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and her junior ministers to discuss these matters, and I have also raised them with Lord Bourne in his dual role with the Wales Office and DECC. I have written to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in my own right, jointly with the Minister for Economy Science and Transport and jointly with Fergus Ewing MSP, Scotland's Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism.
Welsh Government officials have maintained a regular dialogue with their DECC counterparts on emerging proposals, participated in DECC's formal consultation events and responded formally to previous consultations, as they will with the current review.
Ministers and officials have stressed the importance of full and meaningful engagement with Welsh Ministers to the UK Government. We have emphasised the uncertainty being caused to the renewables sector as a whole. I have, in particular, highlighted the disproportionate effect that these proposals would have on local generation schemes that I consider as significant contributors to the future energy mix in Wales.
In particular we need to make sure that communities who have put years of time and money into projects to benefit the poorest in Wales don't lose out from these proposals. I have urged the UK Government to consider how their proposals can be leveraged to protect these investments, and deliver more for deprived communities.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide a comprehensive update on the Welsh Government's actions in relation to the potential extension to the Glan Conwy cycle track, with particular regard to the requirement and costing of the feasibility study? (WAQ69132)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): I provided funding of £15k in 2013-14 to Conwy County Borough Council from the Regional Transport Consortia Grant awarded through Taith, to support a feasibility study of the Glan Conwy cycle track. The Council was not successful in its applications to the Local Transport Fund for 2014-15 and 2015-16 for further development of the scheme.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What action has the Welsh Government taken regarding the future of 60 jobs at the Friday-Ad call centre in Cleddau Bridge business park Pembroke Dock? (WAQ69134)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
Edwina Hart: My officials met the local management of Friday Ads Ltd. on 25 August and offered Welsh Government support to the company in exploring the viability of the site in the future. From these discussions, it is clear that technological developments and customer behaviour changes have impacted on the sales and head count of the business for some time.
Should redundancies be required, whether in full or in part, we would look to support individuals through the ReACT programme which is designed for such circumstances. The programme is able to provide recruitment and training support, alongside vocational training and support grants.
The company are still consulting on these plans, and once this process has concluded officials and the Welsh Contact Centre Forum will also work with the company and its employees to help link with alternative employers as and when necessary.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What support has the Welsh Government provided to Welsh local authorities and others to improve the electric motor vehicle charging network across Wales? (WAQ69135)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): The Low Carbon Vehicle Industry Steering Group have considered measures to promote the uptake of low carbon vehicles. I will be reviewing the recommendations of the Group.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): When was the Welsh Government’s procurement card process last reviewed? (WAQ69136)
Answer received on 4 September 2015
The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt):
The last review of the Welsh Government’s procurement card process was conducted in April 2014.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many Welsh Government civil servants currently have access to a procurement card? (WAQ69137)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
Jane Hutt: There are currently 218 active Welsh Procurement Cards held by civil servants within the Welsh Government.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Aled Roberts (North Wales): How many young carers are there in Wales? (WAQ69128)
Aled Roberts (North Wales): How does the Welsh Government calculate the exact number of young carers in Wales? (WAQ69129)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
The Minsiter for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
There were 11,555 young carers in Wales aged between 5 and 17 identified in the 2011 census.
The number of young carers is defined as the total number of people who were aged 5 to 17 at the census date and who provided one or more hours of unpaid care each week.
Further information is published by the Office for National Statistics at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census-analysis/provision-of-unpaid-care-in-england-and-wales--2011/sty-unpaid-care.html
Aled Roberts (North Wales): How does the Welsh Government ensure that sufficient support is available for all young carers in Wales? (WAQ69130)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government refreshed the Carers Strategy in 2013. It focuses on five main themes, one of which relates solely to young carers. The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 also includes a number of positive changes for carers. The Act has also removed the requirement that a carer must "provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis in order to be eligible for support".
The main vehicles for increasing awareness of young carers within health and social services are the local carers information and consultation strategies. The Welsh Government awarded £89,600 to fund this work in 2015-16. The young carers chapters set out the steps health boards, NHS trusts and local authorities will take to identify, engage and support young carers. They also set out how age-appropriate information and training will be provided to young carers and how they will be consulted and involved in all decisions affecting them.
Often issues affecting young carers are common to all carers. The Welsh Government believes that having one integrated strategy will help agencies address these issues in the round so carers can benefit from joined-up services and support. An integrated approach is also consistent with the model developed through the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act.
For the first time, carers will have equal rights to support as those they care for and must be asked as part of the assessment process if they are willing and able to provide or continue to provide care. The Act will require local authorities to have information and advice services that cover all local government functions, not just social services.
This is particularly important to young carers as their assessment will not simply cover their needs in relation to social care and support but will also include support required to access educational and social opportunities. The level of support can also be adapted, such as increased help during exams or transition to secondary school.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): How will the Minister work with health boards to improve medical support and therapies for those suffering from tinnitus in Wales? (WAQ69131)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
Mark Drakeford:
The Welsh Government has been working with professionals from the health boards to scope services across Wales for people with hearing loss or hearing-related problems, to identify where improvements can be made. The exercise will inform an integrated action plan directed at health boards and social services for people who are deaf or have hearing loss or hearing-related problems, including tinnitus. A consultation will be issued for the first draft action plan in October.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister confirm how the Welsh Government is working with local authorities and housing associations to reduce indoor air pollution in residential buildings, with particular regard to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure? (WAQ69133)
Answer received on 14 September 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
The Welsh Government works with Social landlords and organisations such as Communities First clusters to promote the reduction of exposure to ETS.
In general, private dwellings are not covered by smoke-free legislation. However, any part of a private dwelling shared with other premises is required to be smoke-free if the premises are open to the public. This means that shared facilities, such as communal lifts and stairways in blocks of flats, are required to be smoke-free.
Local authorities in Wales are also involved in Public Health Wales' multi-agency carbon monoxide in Wales working group, which co-ordinates carbon monoxide work in order to prevent exposure; improve responses to incidents; improve information sharing and accident/impact surveillance.