Written Assembly Questions tabled on 9 May 2017 for answer on 16 May 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
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What analysis has the Welsh Government made of the impact of a VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality sector? (WAQ73446)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): VAT is a non-devolved matter. The Welsh Government does not hold the data necessary to assess effectively the potential impact of changes to VAT on the tourism and hospitality sector in Wales.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many additional trade promotion events is the Welsh Government planning as a result of Brexit? (WAQ73447)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Ken Skates: There are a number of trade promotion events already in the calendar for this year. In terms of overseas events, there are 24 events identified for the remainder of the year; the link to these is as follows:
https://businesswales.gov.wales/zones/export/export-events/overseas-events
There are also 4 events taking place in-Wales (two in Cardiff, one in Conwy and one in Wrexham); details of these are available at the following link:
Further events will be added to the in-Wales schedule as they emerge.
These events cover current and anticipated economic trends, including those that will come to the fore as we leave the EU.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What steps has the Welsh Government taken to accelerate diversification of overseas tourism to Wales to reduce the impact of a possible decline in visits from the European Union? (WAQ73448)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Ken Skates: At present, work is on-going as to what Brexit will mean for the UK's relationship with the EU. In the short to medium term the weakening of sterling has had an impact on domestic and international tourism flows and Visit Wales has moved quickly to adapt its approach in this context.
Visit Wales has increased its international marketing spend, taking advantage of a boosted budget to up-weight its international marketing programme in key overseas markets including Germany and the USA, delivering multi-media marketing programmes including advertising, PR & social media, digital & direct marketing and long term strategic marketing partnerships.
Visit Wales continues to be proactive in working directly with the travel trade through attendance at a variety of trade shows and other events; familiarisation visits (eg. hosting journalists around Wales) and Key Account Management; and digital and social channels.
International visitor figures for the first nine months of 2016 show figures were well up on the first three quarters of 2015: +12% in terms of trips (856,000) and 9% in terms of spend (£366 million).
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many Welsh companies has the Welsh Government engaged with in order to provide Brexit-related support? (WAQ73449)
Answer to follow.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What additional funds have been made available since June 2016 to identify new market opportunities for Welsh exporters and to attract new investment to Wales? (WAQ73451)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Ken Skates: During his recent visit to the USA, the First Minister announced the Welsh Government's intention to commit additional resources to North America and to establish a presence in Canada.
I also refer you to my answer to WAQ73447. The export support programme includes visits to new markets such as Iran and Vietnam.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What additional sales and marketing support has the Welsh Government provided to Welsh exporters since June 2016? (WAQ73452)
Ken Skates: Our existing trade support programmes (including trade promotion events) are already well equipped to meet the needs of Welsh companies as we transition out of the EU. They have been designed to assist Welsh companies at each stage of their export journey, including free one-to-one advice, help to find new customers, assistance with accessing overseas markets and sales and marketing support.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What has been the increase in Welsh tourism marketing expenditure in nations outside the European Union since June 2016? (WAQ73453)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Ken Skates: From the latest information available, programmed expenditure on tourism marketing in nations outside the EU for the 10 months from 1 July 2016 to 30 April 2017 increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2015-16.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many additional staff has the Welsh Government allocated to maintain and increase trade with the EU since June 2016? (WAQ73454)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Ken Skates: In relation to our response to the EU referendum in June 2016, we have consistently made clear that securing full and unfettered access to the single market is our top priority for the negotiations with the EU on the UK's withdrawal. As such and as indicated in the Welsh Government response to the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee report, there are a range of teams including the European Transition Team, which are contributing to our work to seek to secure this outcome.
More broadly, Welsh Government directorates are prioritising existing resources for dealing with specific Brexit issues. Overall, a wide range of staff are working on issues related to European transition alongside delivery of the overall programme for government, and specific commitments within it, as set out in Taking Wales Forward. In this context, it is not possible to separately identify precise numbers of staff working directly on European transition and supporting trade with the EU.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): Will the Welsh Government publish its sector-by-sector analysis of Brexit on the Welsh economy? (WAQ73456)
Answer to follow.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What additional information has the Welsh Government provided to exporters on the importance of certification to international product and management standards? (WAQ73457)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Ken Skates: I hosted two export fora in Cardiff and Wrexham earlier this year in order to listen to the concerns of exporters. These included workshops on rules of origin as certification had already emerged as one of the key issues affecting businesses.
Further events will be held on this topic as the impact of Brexit on businesses becomes clearer.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): On how many occasions has the Cabinet Secretary met with each enterprise zone to advise on the impact of Brexit? (WAQ73458)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Ken Skates: Since its inception to the end of March 2016 the Wales Enterprise Zone programme has contributed to the Welsh economy by supporting more than 7,000 jobs through a competitive package of financial and other incentives including business rates support, tailored skills support, apprenticeship schemes and bespoke infrastructure projects.
Against the backdrop of uncertainty caused by the vote to leave the European Union, it is important to ensure that the Enterprise Zone programme continues to contribute to the Welsh Government's objectives in our Programme for Government, Taking Wales Forward, to drive improvement in the Welsh economy. The Enterprise Zones have much to contribute to our Prosperous and Secure commitments, in particular those to create new jobs, reduce business rates bills and create apprenticeships. I place great importance on a place-based approach which is tailored to local needs and circumstances and I am reviewing the Enterprise Zone offer to ensure that it will continue to deliver against a more regional approach to economic development.
I met the Chairs of the Anglesey, Deeside and Snowdonia Enterprise Zone Advisory Boards shortly after I was elected last year and the Anglesey Enterprise Zone Board members in March. I have also met a number of the Chairs in the course of project specific activity and other priorities such as the Valleys Task Force. I am looking forward to meeting and engaging further with all Board Chairs again in early July.
We are working closely with our anchor and regionally important companies, and speaking directly to medium sized companies, about the issues they face as a consequence of a UK exit from the EU and about what can be done to support them; workshops have been undertaken with our Anchor and Regionally Important Companies to explore the risks and opportunities arising from Brexit, and my officials continue to review and consider further intensive pieces of engagement with businesses and other stakeholders to complete analysis as issues emerge.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many Welsh companies has the Welsh Government identified as being most exposed to the impact of Brexit? (WAQ73459)
Answer to follow.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many new jobs does the Welsh Government plan to create in rural regions in the current Assembly term? (WAQ73460)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Ken Skates: We will strive to create prosperity for all and that means reducing national, regional and sub-regional unemployment to an absolute minimum.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What additional support has been provided by the Welsh Government to support farmers facing exchange rate volatility since June 2016? (WAQ73450)
Answer received on 17 May 2017
Cabinet Secrertary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): Whilst appreciating the importance of a stable exchange rate for farming and other businesses this is, of course, something the Welsh Government cannot control. Financial support delivered to farmers over the years, under the Basic Payment Scheme, has seen wide variances both negative and positive as a result of the exchange rate.
It is primarily for individual farm business owners to take measures to ensure their resilience against this issue and to help, income tax averaging was announced in the 2015 budget. This measure enables farmers to average their profits over five years for income tax purposes. It encourages a more efficient, productive and resilient agricultural industry and ensures the tax system supports farmers cope with fluctuating profits.
Through Farming Connect, bespoke, one to one and group advice on a range of strategic business and technical issues is available to improve the sustainable management and the economic and environmental performance of farming and forestry businesses. Farming Connect has also held a number of events across Wales covering exchange rate volatility, the likely impacts of Brexit and the importance of business planning.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): Has the Welsh Government identified potential new markets for the Welsh food sector as part of its Brexit preparations? (WAQ73455)
Answer received on 15 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Potential new markets for the Welsh food sector depend on the outcome of Brexit, in particular the trading arrangements agreed with the EU, and any trading agreements in development or agreed between the UK and non-EU countries. Trade tariffs and non-tariff barriers are expected to have a significant impact on market viability and therefore the potential markets for Welsh products.
In the meantime the Welsh Government continues its successful programme of international events to support businesses export. In March we welcomed the global food and drink industry to Wales for BlasCymru/TasteWales – our first ever national and international trade event for the food and drinks industry in Wales. Over 150 trade buyers attended, including from key overseas markets across Europe, North America, Middle East and Far East. Taste Wales raised the profile and reputation of Welsh food and drink on the world stage.
A calendar for 2017 onwards is available at:
https://businesswales.gov.wales/foodanddrink/sites/fooddrink/files/30681_Food%20%26%20Drink_Trade%20Event%20Calendar%202017-18_E_FINAL_0.pdf
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact of recent fires at woodchip stocks across the south-east of Wales, and does the Welsh Government plan to introduce a legal minimum exclusion area for developments away from homes and businesses? (WAQ73461)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): An assessment is made by the relevant authorities at the time of the incidents to determine what action to take to extinguish the fire, putting measures in place to reduce the risks to local environment and surrounding communities, and allowing business continuity. For example, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) would assess the potential impact on watercourses and work with the Fire & Rescue Service to try to minimise any risk from fire water. In the case of a recent fire at a wood chip site in South Wales, a multiple agency response, which include the Fire & Rescue Service, NRW, the Wales Air Quality Technical Advisor, Local Authority and Public Health Wales, worked together to assess and minimise impacts of fire on the nearby communities and local environment.
National planning policy in Planning Policy Wales and TAN 21 Waste provides a robust framework for decision making in relation to waste facilities, which ensures adverse environmental impacts are minimised, risks to human health are avoided and the amenity of residents is protected. The impact of proposals for waste management facilities on the amenity of local people and the environment must be fully assessed to determine whether a planning application is acceptable and if adverse impacts on amenity or the environment cannot be mitigated, planning permission should be refused. Work is underway between Planning Officer’s Society Wales, Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales to provide good practice guidance in relation to planning and permitting on waste sites.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Does Natural Resources Wales have the power to order an Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed biomass incinerator in Barry, following the Vale of Glamorgan Council's failure to designate the application as Schedule-1? (WAQ73462)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Natural Resources Wales does not have the power to order an Environmental Impact Assessment for the purposes of town and country planning.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Welsh Government review health and safety rules applying to incinerators to address concerns about nano-particles created by high temperature incineration? (WAQ73463)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Stringent and protective regulatory requirements are already in place in relation to incineration. Where an environmental permit from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is necessary for the operation of an incinerator, the detailed requirements of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 apply. Amongst those requirements are obligations upon the regulator to exercise their permitting functions in a manner which ensures Best Available Techniques (BAT) are applied for the purposes of preventing and, where this is not practicable, reducing emissions and impact on the environment as a whole, and which also ensures no significant pollution is caused. ‘Pollution’ in this context includes any emissions which may be harmful to human health or the quality of the environment, such as particulates. In each case NRW will require the applicant to provide evidence the necessary requirements will be met, including a suitable assessment of emissions against environmental quality standards, before any decision is made by the regulator to grant or refuse an environmental permit.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary instruct Natural Resources Wales to refer to 'gasification' as a form of incineration in all official documents, to address public confusion and uncertainty? (WAQ73464)
Answer recieved on 18 May 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Incineration-specific environmental permitting guidance makes explicit reference to 'gasification', as does the definition of waste incineration plant set out in the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. In addition, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) publicises permit applications for incineration plant on its website and where a 'gasification' process forms part of a waste incineration plant, this will be clearly expressed. At the same place NRW describes how the public can access the application documents and submit comments for consideration by the regulator.