​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 4 July 2017 for answer on 11 July 2017
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
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many times has the First Minister written to the UK Government asking for additional resources for Welsh Government in order to lift the public sector pay cap between 8 June and 4 July? (WAQ73792)
Answer recived on 14 July 2017
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): As the lead Minister the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government has written. The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport has also written.
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the First Minister provide details of the companies he referred to in his comments in Plenary on 4 July that have indicated support for the proposed automotive technology park, and can he say in each case when that support was confirmed by each company in question? (WAQ73795)
Answer received on 14 July 2017
Carwyn Jones: In the weeks leading up to the cabinet decision, officials from the Welsh Government were in discussions with several senior automotive industry figures including TVR, to discuss the Circuit of Wales racetrack proposal and its potential impact on their business plans. Those same Officials have also been in discussion with a number of companies from the ultra low emissions sector who have expressed significant interest in developing their business proposals in South Wales. These discussions are still commercial in confidence and I am not at liberty to provide any further details at this stage.
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Has the First Minister initiated a leak inquiry following the disclosure of commercially confidential information relating to the Circuit of Wales project to the Western Mail? (WAQ73796)
Answer received on 7 July 2017
Carwyn Jones: The Permanent Secretary has commissioned an internal inquiry into the disclosure.
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): What rules of conduct and legal requirements govern the protection of: personal financial information and commercially confidential information held by the Welsh Government, and what remedies are available to citizens when such rules and legal requirements are breached? (WAQ73797)
Answer received on 11 July 2017
Carwyn Jones: Civil servants are subject to the normal rules of confidentiality of information but also by specific requirements within their contracts of employment, the Welsh Government Civil Service Code and the Welsh Government's Code of Conduct for Staff. The Welsh Government has a complaints procedure if individuals feel civil servants have not lived up to the standards expected.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Did the work on the balance sheet treatment of the Circuit of Wales project form part of the externally commissioned due diligence work? (WAQ73798)
Answer received on 14 July 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): Advice on classification was informed by the due diligence work.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales): What representations is the Welsh Government making on behalf of Welsh farmers against the proposal that the EU is considering to introduce a ban on zinc oxides for the post-weaning process of pigs, given that if zinc oxides were banned, to compensate, farmers could delay weaning from 28 to 42 days, leading to a diminution in farmers' incomes? (WAQ73793)
Answer received on 13 July 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): Veterinary medicine regulation is a reserved competence and the responsible authority for the UK is the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), an Executive Agency of Defra.
My officials have been in regular communication with the VMD on this issue.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the impact of pupil development grants in the Ogmore constituency? (WAQ73794)
Answer received on 10 July 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): I announced changes to an extended PDG in March and provided reassurance of my commitment to the PDG for the remainder of this Assembly term. This long-term commitment will enable schools to make sustainable, long-term decisions on investment that help identify and address barriers to learning early.
In Ogmore, 36.5 percent of eFSM learners are achieving the Level 2 inclusive at Key Stage 4. This is a 12 percentage points increase since the introduction of the PDG. Also, 76% of eFSM learners achieved the Core Subject Indicator (CSI) at Key Stage 2, up from 62% in 2012. This is an increase of 14 percentage points.
This reflects the excellent progress that is being made by disadvantaged learners all across Wales. I will continue to explore ways in which we can maximise the impact of the PDG to ensure that our disadvantaged learners are given the very best opportunity to succeed, not just in school and at exams but for the rest of their lives.