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Written Assembly Questions tabled on 5 August 2015 for answer on 12 August 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 First Minister

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): For each of the last four financial years, what was the total budget allocated to the Wales for Africa Programme, how much was spent and was any underspend returned to the Welsh Government? (WAQ69078)

Answer received on 17 August 2015

The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): The Wales for Africa budget for the last four years has been £845,000. From 2013-14 the budget has increased by £37,500 to £882,500. This funding comes from the Climate Change and Sustainability budget and is utilised to fund a joint programme of work with Size of Wales. Over the past four years the Wales for Africa budget has overspent by just £4,000. 

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): For each of the last four financial years, will the First Minister detail how much was spent on:
a) staffing costs
b) office rent
c) domestic staff travel/expenses
d) international staff travel/expenses
e) general admin/office overheads
from the Wales for Africa budget? (WAQ69079)

Answer received on 17 August 2015

Carwyn Jones: No Welsh Government salaries, office or administration costs are derived from the Wales for Africa budget. Welsh Government staff travel costs associated in delivering Wales for Africa activity are charged to the budget. The figures are as follows:

2011-12 - £1,561.08

2012-13 - £1,638.59

2013-14 - £2,124.07

2014-15 - £5,993.70

To ask the Minister for Natural Resources

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): When will the Minister publish the Order to ensure that section 31 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 comes into force? (WAQ69069)W

Answer received on 14 August 2015

The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant):

Work is underway to implement provisions contained in the Planning (Wales) Act

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on whether faith groups have been consulted on the proposed changes to religious education as a stand-alone subject? (WAQ69063)

Answer received on 14 August 2015

The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): You will be aware that on 30 June, I announced my support for the development of a new curriculum.  I accepted, in full, the recommendations contained within Professor Graham Donaldson's Successful Futures report.

Professor Donaldson's report includes the recommendation that Religious Education should remain a statutory curriculum requirement from reception onwards - as part of the new Humanities Area of Learning and Experience.  This recommendation acknowledges the integral role that Religious Education plays in enabling learners to develop respect and understanding for other cultures. Linked to this, Professor Donaldson also identifies four purposes for the curriculum, one of which is that children should be ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world. In this context, I have signalled that I would like to consider how the teaching and learning of RE, philosophy and ethics might be strengthened - to ensure that our new curriculum is relevant, engaging and inspiring for learners in the 21^st century.   

I remain fully committed to engaging with all relevant parties throughout the design and development of our new curriculum. As I have stated previously, meaningful engagement with all relevant stakeholders will be essential to our success going forward.  That is why I have invited regional education consortia to work with their schools – primary, secondary, special – to apply to become Pioneer Schools. These schools will work with experts and other key stakeholders as part of an all-Wales partnership to design and develop the new curriculum. Faith, denominational and other wider interest groups have an important role to play here. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that the changes to our curriculum going forward will be subject to a full public debate and consultation.

We are currently developing a plan which will set-out how Professor's Donaldson's recommendations will be taken forward by my department.  This will be published in the autumn.

Aled Roberts (North Wales): How much specific funding has been given to each of the four regional education consortia to enable them to meet the Welsh Government commitment in 'Qualified for Life' to 'undertake activities that support the implementation of their Welsh in Education Strategic Plans'? (WAQ69070)

Answer received on 17 August 2015

Huw Lewis: A total of £5.63m of funding was provided to the four regional consortia during the 2014-15 financial year via the Welsh in Education Grant, distributed as follows:

GWE (North Wales) - £1.488m

ERW (South-west and Mid Wales) - £1.870m

CSC (Central South Wales) - £1.426m

EAS (South-east Wales) - £0.847m

Each of these allocations was subject to a minimum match funding contribution of 33%, meaning that at least £8.403m was spent on these activities during the year.

Other Welsh Government programmes and funding streams also contribute to the implementation of local authority Welsh in Education Strategic Plans, but funding specifically used to support the development of Welsh-medium education cannot be identified within overall expenditure.

Aled Roberts (North Wales): How have the four regional consortia used Welsh Government funding outlined in 'Qualified for Life' to 'undertake activities that support the implementation of their Welsh in Education Strategic Plans'? (WAQ69071)

Answer received on 10 August 2015

Huw Lewis: Strategic Objective 1 of Qualified for Life states that we will ensure that there are sufficient numbers of practitioners with high-level Welsh language skills and competence in Welsh-medium and bilingual teaching methodologies. To assist in achieving this, the four regional consortia have been allocated funding through the Educational Improvement Grant to help improve performance in Welsh and Welsh Second Language by providing related professional development activities.   In addition, our Welsh-language Sabbatical Scheme makes a vital contribution to this aim by providing a programme of Welsh‑language and methodology training at a range of levels.   In the academic year 2014/15, 212 practitioners successfully completed Welsh-language training under the auspices of the Sabbatical Scheme.  In turn, support from regional consortia  helps local authorities carry out the actions and achieve the results outlined in relation to Outcome 7 of their Welsh in Education Strategic Plans.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the Minister doing to address recent statistics which show that over 40 per cent of disabled young people aged between 19 and 24 are NEET - significantly more than disabled young people between 16 and 18? (WAQ69073)

Answer received on 14 August 2015

The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (Julie James):

In 2013 we launched the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework (YEPF) and Implementation Plan as part of the Welsh Government's commitment to increase the engagement and progression of all young people. The YEPF brings together all of the elements of effective NEET reduction in one place. There are two key new features introduced as part of the YEPF:  One is the Youth Guarantee which means that all young people aged 16 leaving compulsory education can expect an offer, acceptance and commencement of a suitable place in education or training.  The second key feature is the identification of a lead worker and a co-ordinating role. This ensures that particular attention can be paid to the requirements of young people with additional needs or who may have particular barriers including those with learning difficulties or disabilities, looked after children, care leavers, young carers, teenage parents, young people who have committed offences.

The overarching findings of the recent evaluation are that all local authorities have made progress with implementing the Framework since it was launched. We were recently pleased to see that the Annual Population Survey (APS) data has once again shown a decrease in the percentage of 16-18 year olds estimated to be NEET. For the year ending Quarter 1 2015, 8.4 per cent of 16-18 year olds were estimated to be NEET, compared with 10.7 per cent at the year ending Q1 2014.

Reducing the number of disabled young people who are NEET 19-24 is more challenging and is impacted by a number of issues, specifically economic and employment factors which fall under the remit of the UK Government. We acknowledge that more needs to be done to support 19-24 disabled young people to access education, training and employment and we are committed to ensuring that all disabled people are equipped with the skills they need to secure satisfying careers. There is already much we are doing in this area which I have outlined below.

The Welsh Government Work Based Learning (WBL) suite of employability programmes, which consists of Traineeships (for young people aged 16-18), Work-Ready (for adults aged 18 plus) and Apprenticeships, aim to support young people and adults gain sustained employment by improving their skills levels through the delivery of NVQs in their chosen occupational area and appropriate to their level of learning. All WBL Providers delivering the above programmes may claim 'Additional Learning Support' (ALS) funding to assist them with the costs of securing the support necessary to make their provision accessible to learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. 

We are in the process of developing the replacement programme for Work-Ready.  During the consultation phase for this programme, we met with a number of representatives from several special interest groups, including Disability Wales, Innovate Trust, NHS Wales, Remploy and Hearing Loss UK, to better understand issues they raised around our work based learning delivery to their client groups.  The new programme will aim to address the issues raised.

Our ESF funded Jobs Growth Wales II programme provides young people aged between 16 and 24 with a job opportunity of six months duration paid at the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week.  Jobs Growth Wales has been developed to ensure opportunities are available for all job ready young people, including those with disabilities. 

Our ESF funded Communities for Work (C4W) programme will target economically inactive and long term unemployed adults over 25 as well as 16-24 year olds who are not in employment education or training (NEET) in the 52 clusters in Wales which include the 10% most deprived communities in Wales. The support offered will include intensive employment support mentoring, training and advice. The programme will also benefit from the wider support available through Communities First delivery such as training, benefits advice and health promotion, offering a holistic package of support based within communities and targeting those furthest from employment.

Following the UK Government's decision to close the majority of Remploy factories across the UK (including Wales) the Welsh Government implemented the Employer Support Grant (ESG).  The ESG supported employers who offer new employment opportunities to disabled former Remploy staff who lost their jobs during the 2012/13 closures of Remploy factories in Wales.  This included staff with learning difficulties.  The scheme has helped 237 disabled former Remploy workers to start new employment.  These are around two thirds of disabled former Remploy staff in Wales.  It is also very welcome news that in Wales several new businesses have been founded by disabled former Remploy staff, with the support of the Welsh Government.

There is also support from the DWP that can be accessed via the local Jobcentre network, such as: 

• Access to a specialist Disability Employment Adviser - who can discuss available options, both for in work support and skills training provision.  They can  advise on the availability of special funding such as 'Access to Work' 
   
• Access to Work - is a special fund for employers that can pay for practical support for individuals who have a disability, health or mental health condition to help them start working, stay in work or move into self-employment or start a business.

• 'Work Choice', a DWP run employment support programme for people with disabilities, which can help disabled people who find it hard to work.  The type of support offered depends on the help they need, but support can include training and skills development, confidence building and interview coaching.

In December 2013, the DWP launched its 'report' 'Disability and Health Employment Strategy – the discussion so far' which set out ideas on how to help more disabled people and those with health conditions get into and stay in work.  Officials in Welsh Government have had the opportunity to work with the DWP in the development of this strategy.

 We will continue to develop stronger links with the DWP to help in the delivery of more support for disabled people and people with a health condition to fulfil their employment aspirations, enabling them to find work, and to stay and progress in work.  We believe it is essential that we contribute from a Welsh perspective, to maximise the outcomes for disabled people and those with health conditions in Wales.  In this context, the Welsh Government held an Access to Work Review Stakeholder Workshop in September 2014 to provide an opportunity for Welsh stakeholders to input into the Access to Work Review which was being undertaken by DWP.

Welsh Government officials also hold regular liaison meetings with DWP Wales, providing the forum in which to raise and discuss any issues of concern and to look at ways in which we can work together on this agenda to help disabled people into employment. 

To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Is the Welsh Government in a position to confirm whether there will be a requirement that any new rolling stock which will be either leased or purchased for the next Wales and Borders franchise will be required to have toilets in every unit? (WAQ69061)

Answer received 10 August 2015

The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): We are currently exploring options for securing the right rolling stock to meet the needs of passengers.

Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Since your appointment as transport Minister, how many meetings of the Active Travel Board have there been and how many have you personally attended? (WAQ69062)

Answer received on 10 August 2015

Edwina Hart:  Since 2014 there have been 4 meetings of the Active Travel Board which are attended by my senior officials.  I meet with the Chair of the Board regularly to discuss the Active Travel agenda and progress of the work of the Board.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What is the Welsh Government's long term plan for the financial sustainability of Cardiff Airport? (WAQ69064)

Answer received on 10 August 2015

Edwina Hart: Welsh Government is working with the board of Cardiff International Airport Limited to develop a refreshed long term strategy for the Airport.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Welsh Government had regarding future private sector investment in Cardiff Airport? (WAQ69065)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With how many private sector companies is the Welsh Government currently discussing investment at Cardiff Airport? (WAQ69066)

Answer received on 10 August 2015

Edwina Hart: The subject of discussions held with private sector companies is commercial in confidence. 

William Graham (South Wales East): Will the Minister provide details of the financial support offered by the Welsh Government earlier this year to the call centre project at Llantarnam Industrial Park, including the total amount invested and the expected boost to job numbers in the region? (WAQ69072)

Answer received on 10 August 2015

Edwina Hart: The Welsh Government provided financial support of £600k to the company.  This was conditional on over £1m of private investment and loans and that jobs created were to be maintained for at least three years.  The company had met its contractual jobs target of creating 121 jobs prior to drawing down the funding.  Having created the initial jobs and drawn the majority of the funding it is clearly disappointing to hear that the employees have been made redundant, in breach of the terms of our grant.  My Officials have, therefore, commenced the legal process to seek recovery.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on ensuring that there are more regular clean-ups of rubbish on our trunk roads? (WAQ69074)

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on any work being undertaken to address the issue of large amounts of waste from commercial vehicles along our trunk road verges? (WAQ69075)

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's work on targeting the small percentage of car users who eject litter from the windows? (WAQ69076)

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on any work being undertaken to encourage volunteers to adopt local verges of trunk roads where 30 mph speed limits are in force? (WAQ69077)

Answer received on 10 August 2015

Edwina Hart: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 local authorities are responsible for litter picking on the local and trunk road network apart from the M4, M48(M) and parts of the A55 which we maintain. This includes litter from commercial  vehicles.

We carry out regular inspections in accordance with our Trunk Road Maintenance Manual to ensure that the standards set out in the Act are maintained. Where actions are identified we will either arrange for clearance by our service provider or advise the relevant local authority on trunk road routes for which they are responsible. We work closely with local authorities to coordinate litter picking activities, and support the Keep Wales Tidy Campaign usually held around April each year.

In the interests of road safety, we do not currently have any plans to allow volunteers to adopt trunk road verges.

To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What is the total amount of money spent on Welsh Government procurement cards in 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015 so far? (WAQ69067)

Answer received on 17 August 2015

The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt):  The total amount of money spent on Welsh Government procurement cards in 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 (April to end June 2015) is detailed in the table below.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much has each ministerial office spent on Welsh Government procurement cards during 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015 so far? (WAQ69068)

Answer received on 10 August 2015

Jane Hutt: It is not possible for this period to accurately assign Welsh Government procurement card spend to individual Ministerial offices.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the progress against the actions contained in the Respiratory Health Delivery Plan? (WAQ69059)

Answer received on 14 August 2015

The Deputy Minister for Health (Vaughan Gething): The annual report, detailing progress against actions in the respiratory health delivery plan, will be published in the autumn.

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): When does the Welsh Government plan to publish revised clinical guidance on the care of premature babies? (WAQ69060)

Answer received on 14 August 2015

The Deputy Minister for Health (Vaughan Gething):

Guidelines about the care of premature babies – Care at the Margins of Viability – are being developed by the All-Wales Neonatal Network and the All-Wales Maternity Network.

They are due to be published by the end of 2015.

The guidelines are based on current British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) guidance. BAPM is an organisation committed to publishing evidence-based standards and providing guidance on good management and care in all aspects of perinatal practice.