Answers issued to Members on 14 April 2009

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What steps is the Welsh Assembly Government taking to plan for the future of Anglesey Airways after the initial 3 years funding has come to an end? (WAQ53944)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): I have asked my officials to explore in detail future options for the Intra Wales Air Service so that arrangements can be planned before the existing contract expires.

Mike German (South Wales East): Of the money given to HSBC in 2008, has WAG retrieved any of this? (WAQ53945)

The Deputy First Minister: In May 2008, my officials made an offer to HSBC of up to £1 million under Regional Selective Assistance for the creation of 450 jobs over a two-year period linked to a capital investment of £400,000.  However, the project did not proceed and therefore no assistance was given.

Mike German (South Wales East): what funding did the Welsh Assembly Government give to HSBC in 2008 and what conditions were attached? (WAQ53946)

The Deputy First Minister: I refer you to my answer to WAQ53945.

Mike German (South Wales East): What was the money given by the Welsh Assembly Government to HSBC in 2008 spent on? (WAQ53947)

The Deputy First Minister: I refer you to my answer to WAQ53945.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister advise how much was spent on legal costs by his department in each year since 1999? (WAQ53904)

The Deputy First Minister: It is not possible to provide this time series broken down by department as departmental responsibilities have changed significantly over time, most recently after the last Assembly election. Total spend from central administration budgets on external legal advice is summarised in the table below along with the running costs for the Welsh Assembly Government’s Legal Services Department.

Costs of Legal Services

Please note that:

• the increase in costs between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 is mainly due to the merging of the Assembly Government with the former ASPBs;

• the increase in Legal Services Department costs between 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 is mainly due to the introduction of the Government of Wales Act 2006;

• financial information for earlier years has been archived and is not readily available; and

• there is likely to have been some additional expenditure on external legal services in direct support of the Welsh Assembly Government’s policy objectives which would have been recorded against programme budgets. This information is not held centrally.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement about the provision for legal costs within their budget and advise what they are doing to contain these costs? (WAQ53903)

The Deputy First Minister: Much of the legal advice required by departments is provided by Welsh Assembly Government lawyers and departments are not charged for these internal services.

With the exception of legal advice relating to employment matters and roads schemes, most departments do not regularly engage external legal advice.  Should a department require external legal advice, the costs are accommodated within existing administration or programme budgets.

As with all other types of expenditure, when purchasing external legal advice, departments are expected to seek the best possible value for money.