Written Assembly Questions tabled on 6 February 2017 for answer on 13 February 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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): What financial guarantees have been issued or authorised by the Welsh Government in relation to the Circuit of Wales project? (WAQ72028)
Answer received on 10 February 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The only Financial Guarantee authorised or issued by Welsh Government on the Circuit of Wales was in relation to part of a loan provided to the company by its bankers in 2014, under which a payment of £7.3m was made in May 2016.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): What will be the process of assessing the Welsh Revenue Authority's location in future, after its temporary location in Trefforest comes to an end? (WAQ72029)W
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): The Welsh Revenue Authority Location Options Appraisal shows that Cathays Park, Merthyr and Trefforest were the three locations on the short-list of places for consideration, on what date was this list compiled? (WAQ72030)W
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): Regarding the Welsh Revenue Authority Location Options Appraisal, what considerations were given to locating the department in North Wales? (WAQ72031)W
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): How important was using existing unused Welsh Government buildings when making the final decision on the location for the Welsh Revenue Authority? (WAQ72032)W
Answer received on 16 February 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): There will be a review of the location of the Welsh Revenue Authority after 18 months of operation. The review will consider the operational requirements required by the WRA, whether it has attracted the specific and specialist skill sets required to operate effectively and also engage with the Welsh Governments wider Location Strategy.
The appraisal of location options report was laid in the Assembly on 3rd Feb, this report provides an assessment of the issues considered in the decision to locate the WRA to Treforest and have a presence in Aberystwyth and Llandudno. The report was finalised in October and given to me for consideration. I took the time to consider and challenge the options. Trade Union side within the Welsh Government were also consulted.
In the course of the appraisal it was confirmed that residing on Welsh Government estate would provide best value for money. The options appraisal (page 14, point 67) details the criteria used for discounting properties that were available on the Welsh Government estate. The criteria consisted of a proposed property being available to occupy by April 2018, the suitability of the lease and meeting the functional requirements of the WRA. The shortlist consisted of six Welsh Government buildings located across Wales.
Welsh Government buildings assessed as part of the appraisal were not unused buildings, but rather offices that had current capacity to accommodate WRA requirements. The Welsh Government offices in North Wales were assessed and the only appropriate Welsh Government building able to accommodate the WRA's needs was the office based at Llandudno Junction.