Written Assembly Questions tabled on 4 March 2015 for answer on 11 March 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 Minister for Education and Skills
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail the reasons as to why the Minority Ethnic Achievement Grant (MEAG) has been cut mid-year? (WAQ68451)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail the measures being put in place to cover the cutting of specialist teachers, many of whom are provided for by local authorities Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) which is directly funded by MEAG? (WAQ68452)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail what measures are being put in place to compensate for the loss of EMTAS workers in Welsh schools, particularly in relation to their Home Office "Prevent" training which helps identify radicalised youngsters? (WAQ68453)
Answer received on 10 March 2015 (WAQ68451-453)
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): Unprecedented financial pressures have required the Welsh Government to make difficult in-year budget decisions, including proposals to reduce the minority ethnic achievement grant (MEAG). We have been working with local authorities and regional education consortia to ensure flexibility in making savings. Some local authorities have decided to protect the funding to support ethnic minority learners. I support those local decisions.
Decisions about how services are delivered, including staffing, are matters for individual local authorities which are best placed to understand the needs of their learners. The Education Improvement Grant for Schools, to be introduced in April, will give authorities and regional education consortia flexibility to decide where to target resources so they are directed towards areas of greatest need and address local, regional and national priorities.
I am alert to the risks of extremism. The Welsh Government is working with the UK Government, the police and emergency services, other statutory partners and community and faith groups to deliver the Prevent Strategy in Wales and promote community cohesion to address the factors which can contribute to extremism. By working together we can establish a united front against all forms of extremism and help protect our diverse and vibrant communities from harm.
In January, the Welsh Government issued ‘Keeping learners safe’ to support education services in safeguarding children in education. This guidance provides information on safeguarding children from radicalisation.
To ask the Minister for Public Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): As regards sections 11 to 15 of the Local Government (Wales) Bill, will the Minister state what representation there will be on transition committees at elected member and senior officer level? (WAQ68454)
Answer received on 13 March 2015
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews): Section 12 of the Local Government (Wales) Bill sets out the requirements for the composition of transition committees. A committee must comprise an equal number, not being less than 5, of elected members of each merging authority. The executive leader and executive member with responsibility for finance (if not also the executive leader) of each merging authority must be members of the committee. In appointing its members to a transition committee, each merging authority must reflect the political balance of the merging authority.
A transition committee may co-opt additional non-voting persons to serve on the committee. Officers will not be members of the committee, but will have an important supporting role.
I will consult on draft guidance on the composition of transition committees and the exercise by them of their functions in due course.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): In relation to the Local Government (Wales) Bill, will the Minister make a statement on the consideration made as regards the impact on service delivery of the costs associated with establishing transition committees? (WAQ68455)
Answer received on 13 March 2015
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews): Transition committees will have a vital role in undertaking necessary preparatory work and planning prior to the establishment of shadow authorities for merging authorities.
The Local Government (Wales) Bill requires merging authorities to provide appropriate resources (including staff support) to facilitate the work of transition committees. The Explanatory Memorandum sets out the estimated cost of each committee to be £77,000 per annum. Whilst committees must be properly and adequately resourced, the anticipated cost per authority is not significant in the context of the potential savings which transition committees could identify.