​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 8 November 2016 for answer on 15 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

Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What assessments have the Welsh Government made on the impact of EU tariffs and non-tariff barriers on jobs in Wales, if the UK leaves the Single Market and Customs Union? (WAQ71431)

Answer received on 18 November 2016

The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): We remain clear that having full and unfettered access to the EU Single Market for goods, services and capital is a top priority for us, in order to protect jobs and the Welsh economy. It is vital that businesses in Wales are not disadvantaged through unnecessary trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas or technical barriers to trade.
Extensive analytical and policy work is underway covering both economic and broader issues – taking into account different potential future models and outcomes – which is directly contributing to Ministerial discussions on priorities. We are also engaging widely with stakeholders to gain their first hand insights.
Leaving the EU Single Market and Customs Union would have very far-reaching and, in most respects, detrimental impacts on many sectors. Sectors we are considering include, but are not limited to Advanced Manufacturing and Materials; Agriculture, Food and Drink, Fisheries; Creative Industries; Energy; Financial Services and Professional and Business Services; Higher Education and Research; Infrastructure, Construction, Housing; Tourism; Consumer and Retail; Water and Waste; Defence; Life Sciences; and Digital and Telecoms. However, it is not possible to forecast with certainty the precise impact on jobs in Wales at this stage. Analysis undertaken so far has indicated that, in addition to an impact on jobs, over the long run, significant negative effects are likely to take the form of lower levels of GVA, real wages, incomes, and tax revenues than would otherwise have been expected.
As well as identifying areas of potential vulnerability, we are also seeking to identify potential opportunities in sectors such as tourism, which may benefit from the weaker sterling exchange rate seen since the referendum result.

This work will continue over the coming months as more detail emerges on the potential future economic relationship once the UK leaves the EU. The work will continue to include extensive engagement with business, the public sector, trade unions, the third sector and a range of experts.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): What responsibilities do the Welsh Government have with regards to Electric Vehicle charging points? (WAQ71427)

Answer received on 18 November 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The Welsh Ministers do not have any legal responsibilities with regard to the provision of Electric Vehicle charging points.
 
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): What is the Welsh Government doing to increase the availability of Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Wales? (WAQ71428) 

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): What is Welsh Government doing to invest in Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure in order to promote Wales as an EV destination? (WAQ71429)

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): How much money has the Welsh Government committed to developing Wales as an Electric Vehicle destination? (WAQ71430)

Answer received on 18 November 2016

Ken Skates: Many accessible charge points have been installed, or are planned, in a number of locations across Wales. This growing number of charge points can be viewed on websites such as Next Green Car’s Zap Map (www.zap-map.com) and mobile phone applications such as PlugShare.
The UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles already offer 'plug in' car and van grants, an electric vehicle homecharge scheme and are considering further options for funding charging infrastructure.
Our Low Carbon Vehicle Industry Steering Group has considered the measures Wales should be taking to promote the uptake of electric vehicles, including the availability of charging infrastructure. We are considering their recommendations, including those to consider support in rural areas where the market is slower to intervene, in order to promote the use of low carbon vehicles throughout the country.
Our intention is to reduce vehicle use and move towards low-impact travel methods to help reduce CO2 attributed to the number of visitors travelling by car in Wales and to help build a critical mass and confident suitable tourism car free product. We have provided information in the form of car-free itineraries through the Sustainable Tourism toolkit, and also funded pilot developments encouraging key partners in the public transport arena to develop information and services for visitors.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport

Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): How many people are employed full-time and part-time by NHS Wales as (a) audiologists (b) cardiac physiologists (c) gastro-intestinal physiologists (d) neurophysiologists (e) respiratory physiologists and (f) sleep physiologists? (WAQ71432)

Answer received on 15 November 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): A recoding of ESR occupational codes for healthcare scientists took place in 2014, which resulted in employment figures for certain specialties, such as those listed above, being categorised differently on the annual StatsWales data release from 2014 onwards.
 
However, further interrogation of the StatsWales dataset has provided the figures below. StatsWales data is extracted from the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system, and is correct as at 30 September 2015.
 

Source of data: NHS electronic staff record (ESR), Workforce Services, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many certified child carers do the Welsh Government anticipate are required in order to meet their 2021 manifesto goal? (WAQ71435)

Answer received on 15 November 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): Research and modelling is being undertaken to determine what capacity is required to deliver the Childcare Offer. This will inform discussions with the sector about their capacity and any support they may need to meet demand above existing provision. 
 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Which other local authority expressed an interest in being part of the pilot scheme that the Minister announced in his statement on the childcare offer? (WAQ71436)

Answer received on 15 November 2016

Carl Sargeant: Expressions of interest in becoming early implementers of the government-funded childcare offer were received from sixteen local authorities:
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What will be the total number (not percentage) of businesses that will be paying: a) more in business rates and b) less in business rates, following the revaluation taking effect in April 2017? (WAQ71433)

Answer received on 15 November 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): The valuation of non-domestic properties and maintenance of the rating list, including revaluation, is the responsibility of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The draft rating list which was published by the VOA on 30 September is currently being finalised. Ratepayers have the opportunity to check their new rateable values and raise any queries with the VOA. The VOA will publish statistical data when the rating list has been finalised. 
 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an estimate of the total amount of money to be collected from business rates from 2017 -2018 and will the amounts collected from business rates for the previous three financial years also be provided? (WAQ71434)

Answer received on 18 November 2016

Mark Drakeford: The total amounts of non-domestic rates collected in Wales in each of the past three financial years are as follows. The figures include the rates collected by local authorities and those collected from ratepayers on the Central List. They are net of reliefs. Figures for 2016-17 are provisional.
2014-15 - £1,038 million
2015-16 - £1,051 million
2016-17 - £1,063 million
The estimates for 2017-18 will be available in early 2017 when returns are provided by local authorities and are put together with the figures for contributions for properties on the Central List as part of the process of collecting data for the management of the non-domestic rates pool. The amount to be distributed to contribute to the funding of local government and police services in Wales in 2017-18 was published in the Draft Budget.
Source: 2014-15 and 2015-16 figures are taken from the audited NDR Accounts. The figure for 2016-17 is based on NDR1 returns and Central List entries.