Written Assembly Questions tabled on 4 November 2016 for answer on 11 November 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 First Minister
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister make a statement on how much the Welsh Government and that preceding it, has to-date spent on change management services? (WAQ71407)
Answer received on 18 November 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): The Welsh Government does not separately identify expenditure on change management services. Such expenditure is met by our general running cost budgets.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister provide more detail about the £10 million transitional relief scheme for small businesses that have been adversely affected by rate revaluation and how businesses can apply for it? (WAQ71401)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The £10m Transitional Rate Relief scheme will assist businesses currently in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief whose entitlement to this support will be adversely affected by increases in their rateable value following the revaluation. This Welsh Government funded scheme will assist eligible ratepayers by enabling them to phase in any increases in the amount they have to pay over a three-year period. The scheme will be administered by billing authorities to all qualifying businesses and the relief automatically applied to eligible ratepayers’ bills.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With regard to WAQ71319, WAQ71320, WAQ71321 and WAQ71322; will the Minister make a statement on the present mechanical worthiness of the DeltaStream generator and whether it is still producing electricity? (WAQ71406)
Answer received on 18 November 2016
Ken Skates: The DeltaStream device is mechanically capable of generating clean renewable energy. The Deltastream scheme was supported with EU funds to develop and test a new tidal energy system. As part of the completion of the scheme, the 0.5MW Deltastream device was deployed off Ramsay Sound, Pembrokeshire, connected to the grid network and produced electricity from the ocean, which was a key milestone for the company and the development of tidal marine technology in Wales.
Tidal Energy Ltd has ceased trading in November 2016 and the business and the assets have been put up for sale. It is hoped that in the coming months that prospective new owners can be found who will continue to invest and develop this ground breaking Marine Energy site in Pembrokeshire. In the meantime, we understand that the device is not currently generating electricity as a safety precaution.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many children and young people in each health board have been referred to mental health services outside of their health board each year, for the last three years and of these, how many have been referred to services in England? (WAQ71391)
Answer received on 8 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): We do not hold this information centrally. Local health boards will have this level of detail and should be contacted directly. My priority is to ensure that young people are treated locally in their home community wherever possible. Occasionally there will be valid reasons for sending children and young people for assessment or treatment outside their own health board. Ty Liddiard, the CAMHS inpatient unit within the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board area provides inpatient facilities for all of south Wales and south Powys health boards.
Health boards occasionally will need to send young people for very specialised care in England, at facilities which provide for the whole of the UK e.g. transgender assessments and which, due to the very small numbers involved, are impractical or unsafe to provide in Wales. In recent years as a result of the significant investment we have made in CAMHS both for inpatients and in the community, more children and young people are being cared for within Wales at the most specialist level.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How much funding has been allocated by each health board to neo-natal services, each year for the last three years? (WAQ71392)
Answer received on 11 November 2016
Vaughan Gething: Health board neonatal services are funded through the annual discretionary revenue allocation and health boards will set out their local priorities with regards to neonatal services in their Integrated Medium Term Plans (IMTP), which will also detail their neonatal budget allocation to WHSSC for 2017-18. Health boards are unable to disaggregate their neonatal spend for the years since 2008.
Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) manages the majority of the health boards' budget for commissioning Neonatal Intensive Care and Neonatal High Dependency services. The WHSSC revenue budget (£000s) for Neonatal Intensive Care and Neonatal High Dependency services for the last three years is given below, by heath board:
| | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 |
| Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board | 4,094 | 4,146 | 4,187 |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 576 | 576 | 582 |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 1,048 | 1,048 | 1,058 |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 6,833 | 6,818 | 6,886 |
| Cwm Taf University Health Board | 589 | 639 | 645 |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Total | 13,158 | 13,244 | 13,376 |
To support further improvement to services, WHSSC is currently working with the health boards on a transfer of the Special Care Baby Unit budget into WHSSC from 2017-18 to enable neonatal system funding flows to follow the activity through the system.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): When does the Minister intend to publish a new surveillance framework to monitor animal disease trends? (WAQ71393)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): Animal disease surveillance is delivered on a GB basis and so the framework for the policy and future development requirements is being drafted by officials in the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Defra.
It will then be considered by the Animal Health Surveillance Governance Board and approved by the respective Chief Veterinary Officers. It is, however, likely to be completed early in 2017.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm whether or not the Welsh Government commissions any research at all into Bovine TB in Wales? (WAQ71394)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Welsh Government has not independently commissioned any of the current research into Bovine TB. However, as previously explained (WAQ71292), my officials represent the Welsh Government on the relevant research project boards and groups that consider research and development priorities and jointly commission research on a Wales and England basis. The content and direction of the research programme is designed to cover the requirements of both countries.
Further details of ongoing research and reports of completed projects are available at: http://randd.defra.gov.uk.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71297, will the Minister confirm whether a formal relationship framework document will be put in place before the end of the year? (WAQ71395)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: My officials met with Hybu Cig Cymru on 8 November to discuss the detail of the framework agreement. The aim of both organisations is to have an agreed framework in place before the end of this calendar year.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government will maintain the Legal Protection of bats after Britain leaves the European Union? (WAQ71396)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Protection for bats and their roosts resulting from European Union requirements is provided through the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (the ‘Habitats Regulations’). The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides additional protection.
The current EU framework of legislation has delivered significant benefits in relation to the environment including bats. It is important the benefits are safeguarded and built upon. The UK Government have not yet set out the likely implications of withdrawal for our current environmental obligations.
It is anticipated the Great Repeal Bill will repeal the European Communities Act 1972. The UK Government have stated that it will use this Bill to save existing EU law into domestic law.
Environmental matters, including those related to protected species like bats are devolved to Wales. The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and the Well-being of Future Generations Act both provide a strong foundation on which to build and both Acts fully recognise the importance of Wales’ natural resources, including its wildlife.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister confirm that the Welsh Government has met every recommendation in the Independent Review of the Dairy Sector in Wales and will she provide a breakdown of the Welsh Government's action in relation to each recommendation? (WAQ71397)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Review of the Dairy Sector in Wales by Andy Richardson made a number of recommendations for Welsh Government, but also importantly for the dairy industry. The recommendations were either accepted in full or in part and the industry led Welsh Dairy Leadership Board has been working towards the delivery of those recommendations.
The majority of recommendations have now been completed or are continuing to be delivered as by their very nature they are ongoing. An RDP project is being developed in close consultation with the Welsh Dairy Leadership Board through which a number of the remaining recommendations will be actioned.
The attached table includes a summary of progress against each Dairy Review recommendation:
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): By what percent does the Welsh Government estimate the number of Welsh cattle culled is likely to increase under the TB testing policies proposed in its consultation document? (WAQ71398)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: There are a variety of factors which have the potential to influence the number of cattle slaughtered for TB. These include real changes in the volume of disease, the locations and severity of future outbreaks, 'outliers' (i.e. very large breakdowns which have a disproportionate impact on the total), changes to testing policies and various ways in which these factors may interact with each other. It is not possible to isolate and quantify the potential impact of the changes proposed in the consultation document from the other, known and unknown, potential influences.
Of course, the proposed measures have been developed on the basis of a body of relevant evidence that is available to the Welsh Government. The changes are intended to support our immediate priorities – dealing with chronic breakdown herds, reducing recurrence, protecting the low TB area and reducing prevalence in high TB areas – and will contribute to the long-term goal of eradicating bovine TB in Wales. As we have seen with the recent increases in the number of gamma test reactors, it is possible that policies intended to deliver improvements over the long-term may also result in increases in cattle slaughtered in the short-term.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71204, will the Minister confirm when the Welsh Government will be launching the Co-operative Forest Planning Scheme? (WAQ71399)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Yes. The first window for Expressions of Interest is planned to open on the 14 November 2016, and will stay open until 30 April 2017.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71298, will the minister confirm what new action will be taken to tackle chronic herd breakdowns, as a result of the workshop held on October 10th? (WAQ71400)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: My Officials are continuing to consider the suggested proposals discussed during the workshop. These will feed into tailored action plans to tackle chronic herd breakdowns. General advice and guidance will be made available to all farmers to reduce direct and indirect cattle/badger contact.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71296, will the Minister detail what licensing criteria and protocols she has asked her officials to develop with wildlife experts and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) ecologists? (WAQ71402)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: As I highlighted in my statement, I have asked my officials to work with wildlife groups, ecologists and badger trust to consider the criteria and protocols required to ensure that the processes involved with trapping and euthanising badgers comply with animal welfare standards, this work is ongoing.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71194, will the Minister publish the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework (AHWF) Group research on the prevalence of sheep scab in Wales and outline what steps she intends to take to tackle sheep scab in Wales? (WAQ71403)
Answer received on 18 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: I will be looking to publish the research commissioned by the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group along with recommendations for tackling sheep scab in Wales by the end of January 2017.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Given that the Welsh Government's consultation document "A Refreshed TB Eradication Programme" states that many TB Reactors have been Inconclusive Reactors (IRs) in the past, how many Inconclusive Reactors were there in 2015, and what proportion of these went on to become TB Reactors? (WAQ71404)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: In relation to proposed change in the handling of Inconclusive Reactors as set out in the consultation document, we are currently in the process of collating and cleansing the necessary data required for a detailed cost benefit analysis. I will write to you when this information has been finalised.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Given that the Welsh Government's consultation document "A Refreshed TB Eradication Programme" now proposes the culling of Standard Inconclusive Reactors as if they were Reactors, how many additional animals would have been removed in 2015 under such a policy? (WAQ71405)
Answer received on 15 November 2016
Lesley Griffiths: I refer to my response to WAQ71404. I will write to you when this information has been finalised.