Written Assembly Questions tabled on 5 February 2014 for answer on 12 February 2014
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)
To ask the Minister for Culture and Sport
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail, with reference to the Premier League School Sport Programme, what benchmarks are being used to assess the success of the project in terms of numbers of new children taking up sport and who will be responsible for collating this information? (WAQ66392)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With reference to the Premier League School Sport Programme, will the Minister provide a list of individual projects currently being supported by the scheme and an additional list of projects scheduled to start in the coming months? (WAQ66393)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With reference to the Premier League School Sport Programme, which schools in South Wales Central have so far enrolled into the scheme? (WAQ66394)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With reference to the Premier League School Sport Programme, will the Minister confirm the total investment by the Welsh Government over the three years for which it is scheduled to run? (WAQ66395)
Answer received for publication on 12 February 2014 (WAQ66392 - 395)
The Minister for Culture and Sport (John Griffiths): The Welsh Government is working with the Premier League to maximise the opportunities of having two teams from Wales competing in the Premier League.
The Premier League School Sport programme aims to provide high quality opportunities for young people to take part in sport. Discussions are underway involving key partners including the Welsh Football Trust, Sport Wales and the clubs. A service level agreement is being drawn up which will include some key outcomes in order that our investment and performance can be monitored and key partners will be analysing progress collectively. To avoid duplication of effort these outcomes will coincide with the existing work already being carried out by the FAW Trust, Sport Wales and both clubs.
The schools taking part in the programme have already enrolled for a period of 3 years. The number of schools in the programme is extensive: I shall write to you separately with a list of all those involved along with those situated in the constituency of South Wales Central.
The Welsh Government is investing a total of £60k over the 3 year period with £10k per annum allocated to each club.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How much has Play Wales spent on publishing and distribution in the last 5 years? (WAQ66390)
Answer received for publication on 12 February 2014
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): This is a matter for the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty and I have asked him to write to you.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Further to the answer given to WAQ66217, will the Minister make a statement on the capital grant intervention rate? (WAQ66396)
Answer received for publication on 14 February 2014
Huw Lewis: The Welsh Government has approved, in principle, the first wave of investment in the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. The anticipated cost of this investment is £1.4 billion over a five year period..
This programme has been established on a collaborative basis between Welsh Government and Local Government. The Welsh Government’s capital grant intervention rate is 50% in this first wave and is set at programme level.
Prior to the approval of each local authority’s programme, confirmation of match funding from each local authority was required for this first wave of investment. This level of intervention demonstrates a clear commitment by Welsh Government to support the successful delivery of this programme through partnership. In working with local authorities Welsh Government seeks to drive improvements to the condition of our schools infrastructure and provide a learning environment fit for delivery of the 21st century curriculum.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Are statutory plant notices requiring the felling of Phytophthora –infected trees in South Wales due to be withdrawn and, if so, why? (WAQ66391)
Answer received for publication on 12 February 2014
The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): The revised Phytophthora ramorum Disease Management Strategy introduced in December 2013 requires all Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHN) within the Core Disease Zone to be rescinded if no felling has commenced in the area specified within it. Rescinded SPHN’s will be replaced with an SPHN (m) movement licence and a felling licence. Unlike an SPHN, a felling licence stipulates that the felled trees must be replanted. If felling has commenced, the SPHN will not be rescinded and the trees must be cleared.
This new process is designed to enable owners of infected larch to maintain its value by providing a longer period in which to fell and market their timber. This enables better control over movement to slow the rate of infection across Wales. Details of the new strategy can be found on the Welsh Government’s website at: