Answers issued to Members on 16 April 2008
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
Contents
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What representations has the Minister received regarding the Knowledge Exploitation Fund? (WAQ51614)
The
Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): In preparation for my call to the Enterprise and Learning Committee, I have been made aware of the latest position of the Knowledge Exploitation Fund via detailed background information.
I am aware of the benefits of KEF and the programmes direction In relation to the new round of European funding.
Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Bethan Jenkins (South Wales West): How much has each
Local Authority in Wales repaid each year to the Treasury for the last five years in underspent funds allocated for Discretionary Housing Payments? (WAQ51609) Transferred for answer by the Deputy Minister for Housing.
The
Deputy Minister for Housing (Jocelyn Davies):
The Welsh Assembly Government does not hold this information because it is a non-devolved matter and is the responsibility of Rt Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Nick Ramsay (Monmouth): What action is the Welsh Assembly Government taking to provide support to pensioners for their home heating systems? (WAQ51613)
The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): The Welsh Assembly Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Scheme provides heating and insulation measures to pensioners. Pensioners who qualify for HEES+ can access a grant of up to £3,600 to repair or replace an inoperable heating system. Pensioners who own their own home but do not qualifying for HEES+ can access a £500 partial grant for HEES measures.
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Brynle Williams (North Wales): Given the Minister's statement on the 21st of February 2008 that the cost of the Welsh light lambs disposal scheme had been £3.7 million, following payment of £3,178,649.61 in contractor and Local Authority costs and in payments to farmers, how was the remaining £521,350.39 spent, and what specific additional costs were incurred by the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ51582)
The
Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): My Statement made clear that the scheme was funded by the Assembly Government at a cost of £3.17 million. The English language version of the Record of Proceedings, that is being corrected, misprinted the cost
as £3.7 million.
The
cost of running the scheme was met from within existing Welsh Assembly Government administrative budgets.
Nicholas Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement about the use of supplemental foodstuffs to prevent Tuberculosis in badgers? (WAQ51594)
Elin
Jones:
In my statement of 8 April I indicated that as part of a comprehensive approach to bovine TB eradication we
will be taking forward measures such as the development and promotion of improved husbandry and biosecurity practices this will include any emerging
new information. A balanced diet that meets the nutritional needs of an animal is clearly important in maintaining the health and welfare of that animal.
Officials have recently been in correspondence with representatives of a company, Trace Elements Limited with a view to arranging a meeting in the near future to discuss the issues around nutrition and disease.