Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 11 March 2010

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

Contents

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

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

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

To ask the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): How much money is spent on education by each local authority per primary school pupil. (WAQ55733)

Answer issued on 11 March 2010

I refer you to the table below:

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): How much money is spent on education by each local authority per secondary school pupil. (WAQ55734)

Answer issued on 11 March 2010

I refer you to the table below:

To ask the Minister for the Economy and Transport

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Following the Minister's announcement regarding the Transport Grant Settlement 2010-11 allocation of funding on 24/2/10, will the Minister provide comprehensive details of all bids, successful and unsuccessful, from Carmarthenshire County Council. (WAQ55737)

Answer issued on 15 March 2010

Carmarthenshire County Council submitted three bids for Transport Grant Funding, two in respect of Local Roads schemes and one Safe Routes in Communities Scheme (SRIC). Full copies of the bids are available from the Assembly Library.

For the Local Road schemes, Ammanford Distributor Road and the A485 North Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion Link Road, funding of £0.450million and £0.180million respectively, is provided to enable the Council  to continue with the settlement of Part 1 claims under the Land Compensation Act 1973.

The allocation of £0.491 million to the Safe Routes in Communities scheme at Dafen/Felinfoel allows for works in the vicinity of four schools and Prince Phillip Hospital to be implemented which will improve accessibility within the community.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Following the Minister's announcement regarding the Transport Grant Settlement 2010-11 allocation of funding on 24/2/10, will the Minister provide comprehensive details of all bids, successful and unsuccessful, from Pembrokeshire County Council. (WAQ55738)

Answer issued on 15 March 2010

Pembrokeshire County Council submitted, two Safe Routes in Communities (SRIC)  bids, Monkton Community and Goodwick Community. Full copies of the bids are available from the Assembly Library.

The allocation of £0.250 million to the Monkton SRIC scheme allows the Council to decide the priority works to be implemented which will encourage more walking and cycling within the community. Their allocation of £0.465 million for the Goodwick scheme allows the priority works identified by the Council to be implemented in the community which will improve accessibility.

To ask the Minister for Heritage

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): How much of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales's collection is not currently on display - both percentage of items, and absolute number of items, and of this number, how much of the collection is ineligible for display. (WAQ55736)

Answer issued on 16 March 2010

The total number of items not currently on display at Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales (AC-NMW) is 4,319,485 (94.47%) of the total collection. Of these, 1,952,545 objects are ineligible for display.

As is the case with every museum, several factors preclude the physical display of more of the collection. While some 250,000 objects are currently displayed, it would be impractical to display everything. Much of the collections would not make for effective or attractive exhibitions but are crucial for pioneering research work. Some items such as watercolours are too light-sensitive for long-term display.  

AC-NMW and the Welsh Assembly Government are however keen to increase intellectual access to the Museum’s collections.

Rhagor is the Museum’s online collections discovery facility and enables users to access information on over 170,000 items. The Museum is also playing a key role in delivering Casgliad y Bobl, which is being co-ordinated by my officials in CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales. This innovative website, to be unveiled later this year, will draw on content from existing digital collections in our museums, archives and libraries, including AC-NMW.

The Welsh Assembly Government has invested £1 million in refurbishing art galleries at AC-NMW. These will open in 2011 and will increase access by providing 40% more exhibition space. It will also enable major travelling exhibitions to visit, further raising the profile of Cardiff and Wales.

You are welcome to visit the Museum to see the fascinating behind-the-scenes work that goes on there, and the exciting development of the art galleries.

To ask the Minister for Rural Affairs

Brynle Williams (North Wales): Will the Minister detail, separately, (a) the number of applications the Welsh Assembly Government were targeting, and (b) the number of successful applications, for both the Tir Cynnal and Tir Gofal agri-environment schemes in each year of their operation. (WAQ55735)

Answer issued on 11 March 2010

All agri-environment schemes were reviewed against new priorities and objectives, including climate change, carbon capture, water management and biodiversity under the Axis 2 Review.  I announced on the 5 May 2009 the introduction of Glastir from January 2012, with transitional arrangements in place until 2014.  As a result of my announcement there is no longer a target for Tir Gofal and Tir Cynnal.

a) The target for Tir Cynnal under the Rural development Plan 2000- 2006 was to bring 60% of the agricultural land not already covered by an agri-environment agreement (or approximately 10,000-12,000 farms) into Tir Cynnal (successful applications).

The target for Tir Cynnal schemes under the Rural Development Plan 2007 -2013 are on a measure basis (i.e. all agri-environmental schemes).  This target is for 21,173 farm holdings to receive support under this measure.  This includes existing agri-environmental schemes (e.g. Tir Cynnal, Tir Gofal and Organic) and Glastir.

b) The table below lists the number of successful application each year for Tir Cynnal:

a) The target for the Tir Gofal Scheme under the Rural Development Plan 2000 - 2006 was to sign 600 agreements (successful applications) annually up to a ceiling of 4200 agreements.

The target for Tir Gofal schemes under the Rural Development Plan 2007 -2013 are on a measure basis (i.e. all agri-environmental schemes).  This target is for 21,173 farm holdings to receive support under this measure.  This includes existing agri-environmental schemes (e.g. Tir Cynnal, Tir Gofal and Organic) and Glastir.

b) The table below lists the number of successful applications each year for Tir Gofal: