Written Assembly Questions tabled on 9 August 2017 for answer on 16 August 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 First Minister
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What meetings has the Welsh Government held with the UK Government on the tidal lagoon industry, since the Westminster election on 8 June 2017? (WAQ74071)W
Answer received on 17 August 2017
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): We have communicated regularly with the UK Government on the tidal lagoon industry since the Westminster election and continue to do so. The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs continues to press the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clarke, for an update on the UK Government’s response to the Hendry Report. She received a further holding response on 8 August from the Minister for Energy and Industry, in which it was stated a Government response to the Hendry Review will be published in due course.
In early July, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure requested a meeting with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to which he is awaiting a response.
We have expressed our disappointment to the UK Government about its approach and continue to press for full engagement given the importance to Wales of the decision.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on rural bank closures, and explain what the Welsh Government is doing to mitigate the expenses incurred by businesses as a result of these? (WAQ74046)
Answer received on 16 August 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): Professor Russel Griggs published his review of the Access to Banking Protocol In November 2016. The review made a number of recommendations to improve the way the banks engage with those communities facing branch closures, including working with small business customers to see how they can mitigate further the real challenge of cash deposits and collection that closures bring to some of them. We welcome Professor Griggs' recommendations for better engagement and communication between the banks and its customers and will be encouraging the banks to implement these changes. We will of course be watching closely to see how this situation develops and the impact on communities.
In January, Post Office Limited signed an agreement to provide face to face services including cash deposits and withdrawals, and balance checking for nearly all of the larger banks' personal customers and 75 per cent of small business clients. In the past local post offices offered more limited access covering around 40 per cent of business customers. While we accept that post offices cannot replace all the services offered by bank branches we are hopeful that the rollout of this service in Wales will provide at least a basic service for every community.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary explain what Visit Wales is doing to promote north Wales, and in particular Aberconwy, as a holiday destination for tourists throughout the year? (WAQ74047)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): Wales' series of thematic years were strategically selected to highlight a core product strength where Wales either has established or evolving credibility and potential competitive advantage over other destinations. They provide a focal point for Visit Wales' Marketing campaigns and act as a means for the tourism industry to support us through their own promotional activity; and work with us to strengthen the local tourism product and experiences for visitors.
These themes capitalise on our rural and seaside destinations. Year of the Sea 2018 will focus on our wealth of outstanding seaside destinations, whereas Year of Adventure 2016, Legends 2017 and Discovery 2019 themes all ensure that our rural destinations are included in the spotlight.
At the end of 2017 a new world class family of tourism routes will be launched, celebrating key tourism products and experiences along three primary rural and coastal routes in Wales. These will include the North Wales Way (A55), the Coastal Way (A487) and the Cambrian Way (A470). This new initiative will aim to encourage more international visitors, drive new high yield and shoulder-season visits from the UK and Ireland, and increase more local day visitor spend throughout the year.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the marketing strategy used by Visit Wales and explain whether there are different strategies for both rural and seaside destinations? (WAQ74048)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
Ken Skates: Our national tourism strategy sets out our priorities to support the tourism industry throughout Wales. This provides the platform for our marketing programmes and capital and revenue funding to enhance Wales' tourism offering. North Wales offers a wide range of heritage sites, coastal landscapes and tourism attractions and these are featured as part of Visit Wales' campaigns, website and through working with destination partnerships.
North Wales has received revenue funding of £455,000 in 2016-17 for 12 projects via Visit Wales through its Regional Tourism Engagement Fund and Tourism Product Innovation Fund. For the two financial years (2017-2019), 11 further projects have been approved with funding of £515,000 from these funds aligned to activities which support Year of Legends 2017 and Year of the Sea 2018.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): How does the Cabinet Secretary intend to increase the TrawsCymru bus services to North Wales? (WAQ74049)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
Ken Skates: The current network of seven TrawsCymru routes is based on the recommendations of the independent review carried out by Dr Winkler of the Bevan Foundation.
We keep the network under constant review and have recently begun a pilot programme offering free weekend TrawsCymru bus travel across Wales. The pilot applies to all buses on the TrawsCymru network and will run every weekend until at least May 2018. It is hoped the scheme will act as a catalyst for bus travel in Wales, boosting not only the number of passengers but also wider use of the TrawsCymru routes.
The introduction of any new services in north Wales would be done in consultation with local authorities and local stakeholders.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary explain what the Welsh Government is doing to address the skills shortage in the hospitality industry with particular reference to North Wales? (WAQ74050)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
The Minister for Skills and Science (Julie James): Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs) are in place to drive investment in skills by developing responses based upon local and regional need.
There are three RSPs:
- North Wales Economic Ambition Board – Regional Skills Partnership North Wales (NWEAB - RSP)
- South West and Mid Wales Regional Learning and Skills Partnership (RLSP)
- South East Wales Learning, Skills and Innovation Partnership (LSkIP).
RSPs have a key role in producing regional intelligence informed by employers and, as a result, have developed robust employer engagement strategies to capture the skills needs of the region and, in particular, the skills needs associated with priority/growth sectors and major infrastructure projects. Each RSP produces an annual employment and skills plan, identifying priorities for their region based upon employer need. Regional employment and skills plans identify key economic sectors and are driving planning decisions for providers and providing a critical evidence base from which to make skills investment decisions.
The tourism and hospitality sector is identified within the North Wales regional employment and skills plan (updated in July 2017) as one of the growth sectors for employment and skills across the region, and is recognised as a key contributor to the economy - aided by the Lonely Planet recommendations that North Wales is one of the best destinations to visit in 2017.
Increased investment and expansion is forecast with 3,000 new jobs within the sector over the next 5-10 years. With a move away from seasonal only offers to one which is more of a permanent, year round suite of attractions, the regional employment and skills plan identifies recruitment and skills issues connected to sustainable career pathways - particularly amongst local people with recruitment of key roles such as those currently with chefs across the region.
Our Further Education and Work Based Learning providers are working closely with sector employers to attract and develop appropriate skills, such as the recent joint recruitment events between Grwp Llandrillo Menai and Dylan's new Llandudno restaurant for 60 multi-skilled and disciplined jobs.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): When will work to lay new track on the Ebbw Valley line and provide new platforms at Newbridge and Llanhilleth stations be completed? (WAQ74051)R
Answer received on 22 August 2017
Ken Skates: Network Rail are currently reviewing the scheme objectives, delivery plan, and cost estimates for this scheme, which will conclude in the autumn 2017 enabling us to determine the most efficient infrastructure solution to enhance frequency and improve the passenger experience along the line. A revised programme will be provided by Network Rail as part of the review. I will be able to provide a further update once Network Rail have submitted this programme.
We are currently procuring an operator and delivery partner for Wales and Borders services from 2018 and Metro Phase 2 which will focus on modernising the core Valley Lines and the wider South Wales rail network. This process will also include discussions with bidders on how services from Ebbw Vale to Newport can be best delivered as part of the wider provision of the South Wales Metro.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on what the Welsh Government has done to incentivise the introduction of a network of rapid charging points for electric cars throughout rural Wales? (WAQ74052)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What conclusions has the Cabinet Secretary drawn following the recommendations of the low carbon vehicle expert steering group? (WAQ74053)
Answer received on 14 August 2017
Ken Skates: My officials are currently looking at the steering group’s recommendations within the Welsh Government’s wider decarbonisation agenda. As announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs in her Written Statement of 25 May, we will be working together to drive the decarbonisation pathway for Wales through the Ministerial Task and Finish Group that she has established, in recognition of the need for a whole government approach.
Interventions to promote the uptake of low emission vehicles are fundamental to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. Interventions to increase the availability of charging infrastructure across Wales are under active consideration through a cross government group and I will be able to say more about the development of that work in the autumn.
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs’ Written Statement can be accessed via this link:
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many projects have, to date, received funding from Wales Screen Fund, when each project received funding, how much each project received, and whether each project has paid that funding back yet? (WAQ74054)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
Ken Skates: Since the introduction of the 2015-20 Wales Screen Fund notification, 21 productions have been awarded a total of £9,475,643 funding, details of which are attached. One project was committed on a repayable basis. These projects have achieved over £75m spend on Welsh Goods and services.
| Financial Year of Offer | Name of Production Company | Production Title | Value of Offer |
| 2014/15 | DNA Films/FX | The Bastard Executioner | £2,500,000 |
| 2014/15 | YJB Films | Jack to a King | £ 100,000 |
| 2014/15 | Hartswood Television Ltd | Lady Chatterleys Lover | £ 125,000 |
| 2014/15 | Trampires Ltd | The Trampires | £ 673,784 |
| 2014/15 | Tiger Aspect (D&F) Ltd | Decline and Fall | £ 100,000 |
| 2014/15 | Touchpaper | Coming up | £ 80,000 |
| 2015/16 | Sherlock TV Limited | Sherlock Season 4 | £ 240,000 |
| 2015/16 | Heel Stone Pictures Ltd | Crossing the Border | £ 201,504 |
| 2015/16 | Turner Productions | Will Season 1 | £1,500,000 |
| 2015/16 | Pinewood | The Collection | £ 600,000 |
| 2015/16 | Red & Black Films | Don't Knock Twice | £ 75,000 |
| 2015/16 | Vertigo | Britannia VFX | £1,100,000 * |
| 2016/17 | Toggle Top | Toggle Top | £ 75,513 |
| 2016/17 | Cloth Cat Animation | Luo Bao Bai | £ 225,000 |
| 2016/17 | Riverstone Pictures (Showdogs) Ltd | Showdogs | £ 361,842 |
| 2016/17 | Vox Pictures | Keeping Faith | £ 328,000 ** |
| 2016/17 | Green Bay Media | Mountains and Life | £ 30,000 |
| 2016/17 | New Pictures | Requiem | £ 400,000 |
| 2016/17 | XYZ/Severn Screen | Apostle | £ 360,000 |
| 2017/18 | BTK 2016 Ltd | Born to Kill | £ 200,000 |
| 2017/18 | World Productions | Kiri | £ 200,000 |
| | | | |
| | | |
*Production changed location to Europe therefore claim will be substantially smaller at £55k
** Offer made on Repayable basis. The project has not yet entered its repayment period.
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary explain the Welsh Government's plans for Swansea's SA1 Waterfront, comfirm when these plans were last updated, and, in doing so, give an update on the proposed multi-story car park development in the area? (WAQ74055)
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many units in Swansea's SA1 Waterfront development are currently vacant, how long each of those has been vacant for, and what action Welsh Government has taken to market and fill each vacant unit? (WAQ74056)
Answer received on 17 August 2017
Ken Skates: All of the development land at Swansea SA1 has now either been sold or is currently under offer. The first phase of the new campus development for University of Wales Trinity St David’s is well underway and several of the housing development sites are under construction, providing both private and affordable housing. The next phase of infrastructure work is shortly to commence which will complete the public realm to the eastern end of the site. A further viability assessment is being undertaken on the multi storey car parking provision by the Welsh Government to ensure the final solution not only provides the number of car spaces required but also represents value for money. We are currently providing the requisite number of surface car parking spaces as required by the local planning authority.
One unit under the control of the Welsh Government is currently vacant. It is being marketed on our behalf by external agents and negotiations are currently taking place with a potential occupier. The tenant of another unit in the same building who held a sub lease of the property from WM has recently gone into voluntary liquidation. Discussions are being held with the liquidator who has control of the lease. That unit has already attracted potential occupier interest
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With reference to WAQ73913, will the Cabinet Secretary set out the academics, economists and businesses he has met in the last four months in relation to the establishment of the automotive park in Ebbw Vale, and itemise the date, time and length of each meeting? (WAQ74058)
Answer received on 22 August 2017
Ken Skates: As I have previously stated, we will publish a full business case in relation to the automotive technology park later in the year. It is not my intention to publish the specific details of individual discussions or advice received in advance of this.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how much land the Welsh Government owns in the St Athan and Llantwit Major wards of the Vale of Glamorgan, and set out the location and size in acres of each piece of land? (WAQ74059)
Answer received on 17 August 2017
Ken Skates: The Welsh Government owns circa 1,154 acres of land in St Athan and Llantwit Major wards. The size and location of each parcel of land is provided below.
Site Acres
RAF St Athan (inc Superhangar) 611.0
Pancross Farm 28.4
Former Sports Ground 5.25
RAF St Athan Golf Club 58.7
Castleton Farm 220.0
West Orchard Farm 14.7
3,4,5,6 Bingle Lane 0.47
Davelyn 0.18
The Bungalow 0.2
1 & 2 Beggars Pound 0.37
Seren Wyb 0.08
Coedenbach 0.12
Rose Cottage 0.13
Picketston House 1.9
New Barn 12.9
Picketston 105.13
Froglands Farm 13.7
Millands Farm 4.9
Tremains Farm 9.85
Boverton Court Farm 28.42
Batslays Farm 37.49
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the availability of broadband to households in Llansoar near Caerleon? (WAQ74063)
Answer received on 14 August 2017
The Minister for Skills and Science (Julie James): The Llansoar postcode area currently has four fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) connected structures two of which are live and accepting orders with the remaining two accepting orders in late September.
Fibre to the premises (FTTP) connectivity also remains in scope for the Llansoar area, to be delivered by late October.
Assistance via our Access Broadband Cymru and Ultrafast Connectivity Voucher schemes continues to remain available to residents of Llansoar should they wish to secure a superfast broadband connection via alternative solutions sooner.
Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government in order to issue bonds to pay for electrification of the railway line between Cardiff and Swansea? (WAQ74064)
Answer received on 14 August 2017
Ken Skates: I am very disappointed by the UK Government's decision to cancel electrification between Cardiff and Swansea and am challenging the decision that has been made by the Secretary of State for Transport.
We are pressing the UK Government to make a commitment towards a fairer share of rail funding for Wales to redress the historical underfunding of our network. This includes ensuring the money that would have been spent in electrifying the line to Swansea is still invested in railway infrastructure in Wales.
Rail infrastructure is not devolved to the Welsh Government and it is the responsibility of the UK Government to ensure they invest in the network in Wales. We continue to make the case for further devolution of powers for the Welsh Government to be able to direct investment into Wales' rail infrastructure.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on how the Welsh Government is improving broadband in mid and west Wales in light of a recent report by the British Infrastructure Group? (WAQ74073)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
Julie James: Our Superfast Cymru project has made a significant impact in the provision of superfast broadband connectivity to Mid and West Wales. To date we have invested over £65.1million in facilitating access to superfast broadband across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd, providing average download speeds of 81Mbps to over 229,000 eligible premises, premises that would otherwise not have been reached under normal commercial operations.
Assistance also remains available to individuals and businesses to secure a superfast broadband connection via alternative technologies through our Access Broadband Cymru and Ultrafast Connectivity Voucher schemes.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Vertex and NHS Wales with regard to making Orkambi available to treat Cystic Fibrosis sufferers in Wales? (WAQ74061)
Answer received on 14 August 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): My previous answers to Welsh Assembly Questions 73727 and 73835 on 4 July explain the position fully regarding the routine availability of lumacaftor/ivacaftor (Orkambi®).
I can confirm the manufacturer has not contacted my officials. Nor would it be appropriate for my officials to contact the manufacturer in light of the NICE recommendation that this medicine should not be available routinely due to the high costs and modest clinical benefit.
Should the manufacturer wish to reconsider their pricing they may do so and consider submitting for re-appraisal. The Welsh appraisal body, the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group, have contacted the manufacturer to open a discussion about a further appraisal. The manufacturer has not responded to date.
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the availability of Orkambi to treat Cystic Fibrosis sufferers in Wales? (WAQ74062)
Answer received on 16 August 2017
Vaughan Gething: My previous answers to Welsh Assembly Questions 73727 and 73835 on 4 July explain the position fully regarding the routine availability of lumacaftor/ivacaftor (Orkambi®).
NICE issued final guidance in July and did not recommend lumacaftor/ivacaftor (Orkambi®) for routine use in the NHS in Wales or England. In December last year, NICE re-issued its Technology Appraisal guidance under its “Do Not Do” guidance, emphasising this treatment should not be made routinely available. The NICE independent appraisal committee found that when compared to the current standard of care, the clinical benefit offered was modest and comes at a considerable cost. The Scottish Medicines Consortium has also turned down this medicine for the same reason.
Should the manufacturer wish to reconsider their pricing they may do so and consider submitting for re-appraisal. However this will remain subject to assessment against the overall benefits.
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the current provision of thrombectomy for stroke patients in Wales? (WAQ74075)
Answer received on 16 August 2017
Vaughan Gething: Thrombectomy for stroke patients is a highly specialised procedure with a lack of appropriately trained neuroradiologists able to perform this task across the UK. Wales, like many other regions across the UK, does not yet provide 24/7 access to this service.
The Stroke Implementation Group is committed to improving availability and the national clinical lead for stroke, Dr Phil Jones, has recently written to health boards to highlight the importance of providing thrombectomy services. An options paper on the expansion and full provision of clot retrieval/mechanical thrombectomy services to stroke patients where this is a viable treatment option is being prepared and will be considered at the next meeting of the Stroke Implementation Group.
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary please detail how many patients from each local health board received thrombectomy in 2016-17? (WAQ74076)
Answer received on 16 August 2017
Vaughan Gething: This information is not collected centrally. Health boards are expected to ensure that all patients resident in Wales receive the most appropriate treatment for their condition in the most appropriate setting.
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline how many thrombectomies were performed on Welsh patients at a) the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff; b) The Walton Centre, Liverpool; c) any other hospital in England (and if any, how many and which hospitals); and d) any other hospital in Wales (and if any, how many and which hospitals), in 2016-17? (WAQ74077)
Answer received on 16 August 2017
Vaughan Gething: We do not collect this information centrally. Health boards are expected to ensure that all patients resident in Wales receive the most appropriate treatment for their condition in the most appropriate setting.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What legal obligations are there on a homeowner or prospective property seller to deal with radon gas readings above 100 Bqm-3 but below readings of 200Bqm-3? (WAQ74057)
Answer received on 5 August 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The Building Regulations provide for preventative measures to be undertaken on new buildings at construction stage in radon affected areas. These measures can include the sealing floor membranes and cavities and the provision of a radon sump under the floor of the building. In existing buildings, the owner can obtain radon measurement test pack. Depending upon the result of the test it would be the occupier's decision whether to undertake remedial measures.
Radon in homes is not subject to regulation either by HSE or the environmental regulators such as Natural Resources Wales. Advice in relation to radon in homes is availalbe from Public Health England (on behalf of Public Health Wales) and Environmental Health Departments in local councils.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on promoting farming in wales following the meeting with the UK Government's Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove, in Llanelwedd on 24 July 2017? (WAQ74072)W
Answer received on 16 August 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government position is that agricultural policy is devolved to Wales and that our aim is to continue our strong support for the rural economy and for farming, after we leave the EU, through policies tailored to the unique context of Wales. We are working closely with partners and stakeholders across my portfolio to achieve this, but such an outcome is, of course, subject to the UK Government making good the promise of those, like Michael Gove, who campaigned for Brexit, that Wales would not lose a penny as a result of leaving the EU.
I made clear to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that the attempt in the UK Government's EU (Withdrawal) Bill to claw back powers over agriculture is completely unacceptable. The UK Government does not have a mandate to row back on devolution or to turn Brexit into a power grab - a view clearly reflected in the recent report from the House of Lords' EU Committee.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What assessment has been made of the proposed planting of a conifer forest on Loftwen Farm Hill, Llanwrtyd Wells? (WAQ74074)W
Answer received on 22 August 2017
Lesley Griffiths: All woodland creation proposals exceeding a specified threshold size must be submitted for a determination under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Forestry) Regulations, administered by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). NRW give their opinion on whether projects are relevant projects, i.e. whether they are likely to have significant effects on the environment.
In cases where NRW determine a project is a relevant project, then consent is required to proceed. Applications for consent must be publicised, enabling the public to express an opinion before such applications are determined. Public consultation only takes place where projects are likely to have significant effects on the environment. The project at Lofftwen Farm, Llanwrtyd Wells was considered by NRW and they have concluded it does not require consent. In NRW’s opinion, the project is unlikely to have significant effects on the environment.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many meetings and telephone conversations has the Cabinet Secretary had in the last six months with UK Government Ministers in the Ministry of Defence in relation to military appointments and operations in Wales, setting out the date and length of time of each meeting? (WAQ74060)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): Responsibility for military appointments and operations in Wales lies with the UK Government. However, the Welsh Government has made it clear through Taking Wales Forward, our commitment to providing support and services for our Armed Forces community.
Due to pressing commitments from both UK Ministers and myself, which included the General Election and the subsequent change of UK Ministers within the Ministry of Defence, meetings that had been arranged were postponed and have been re-arranged for September following recess.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm when the next round of funding under the Coastal Communities Fund will be made available and provide details of how organisations can apply? (WAQ74065)
Answer received on 16 August 2017
Carl Sargeant: Discussions are taking place with the UK Government and the Big Lottery Fund, who administer the fund in Wales, with regards a future round. We are not in a position to outline the details or the application process at this stage.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many projects in Wales have been awarded funding from the Coastal Communities Fund, and set out specific details of each project including the amount awarded and the local authority area in which it is located? (WAQ74066)
Answer received on 16 August 2017
Carl Sargeant: 18 projects, totalling £4,098,233, were successful for the fourth round of the Coastal Communities Fund in Wales. Project details are provided below.
| Project | Award amount | Detail |
| West Wales Shellfishermans Association Ltd – Ceredigion | £191,416 | The project will establish a shellfish storage facility in the town of Cardigan that will provide up to 3000kg of storage for shellfish including crab and lobster. |
| GreenSeas Resources Ltd – Pembrokeshire | £299,711 | The project aims to tackle the issue of seaweed blooms in the Milford Haven waterway, and to help address the high nutrient levels caused by industrial and agricultural activities. |
| The Marine & Property Group Ltd – Cardiff | £300,000 | The project will extend the Cardiff Marine Service Centre to provide further space to allow more boats and commercial equipment to be serviced and repaired in the area. |
| Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum Community Interest Company – Pembrokeshire | £300,000 | The project will create a Marine Energy Test Area, creating pre-consented test areas in Pembrokeshire for developers to deploy non-grid connected devices, test components and deployment techniques; |
| Vale of Rheidol Railway Limited – Ceredigion | £251,280 | This project will train two young people in the skills to refurbish derelict steam train carriages. |
| Bluestone Brewing Company Limited - Newport | £81,750 | The project will repair and upgrade an existing traditional stone building and install a beer bottling plant with shrink wrap packing line. |
| Milford Haven Port Authority – Pembrokeshire | £139,571 | As part of the Milford Waterfront development, the project will install four floating hotel rooms - "floatel cabins" - in the 328 berth marina. |
| Mainstay Marine Solutions Limited – Pembrokeshire | £300,000 | The project will purchase an amphibian hoist lift for use on Pembroke Dock, which is capable of lifting 150/200 tonnes. |
| Haemaflow Limited - Swansea | £249,500 | Haemaflow's two year project will use revenue funding to develop a blood pump that will support patients during cardiopulmonary surgery and during extracorporeal life support. |
| Dyfed Marine Training Limited - Pembrokeshire | £300,000 | The two year project will establish a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) accredited training centre based in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. |
| Carmarthen Bay Ferries Community Interest Company - Carmarthenshire | £300,000 | The two year project will reinstate and sustain a commercial ferry service on the Tywi estuary between the villages of Ferryside and Llansteffan, and will develop additional excursion trips between the Carmarthen Bay communities of Kidwelly, Laugharne, Pendine and Carmarthen. |
| Nova Innovation Ltd – Gwynedd | £265,000 | The project will establish Nova Innovations Ltd in Wales, specifically North Wales. |
| Port Talbot And Afan Women's Aid - Neath Port Talbot | £165,654 | The THRIVE Project will support Port Talbot and Afon Women's Aid (PTAWA) to develop a social enterprise to build the skills of 30 disadvantaged women, build the capacity of the coastal community of Port Talbot and create 6 FTE jobs |
| Torth y Tir Limited – Pembrokeshire | £139,990 | To develop a community supported bakery, producing organic products through sustainable agriculture methods, and sharing their learning through educational programmes and a residential course. |
| Snowdonia Ice Cream Company Ltd – Gwynedd | £94,000 | The two year project will grow a small artisan ice cream business to increase production capacity, support product development and increase marketing and brand awareness to expand the customer base. |
| Saundersfoot Harbour Commissioners – Pembrokeshire | £298,000 | The project will build an Interpretation 'Storm Centre' as part of a much wider redevelopment of the Saundersfoot harbour area. |
| Llaethdy Llŷn - Gwynedd | £122,361 | This two year project will expand an existing dairy business based in Pwllheli, to supply locally produced and branded milk and milk products to the local market in North West Wales. |
| Grwp Llandrillo Menai - Anglesey | £300,000 | Menter Môn's two year project will facilitate and foster collaboration and information exchange between tidal energy developers and the local supply chain, strengthening their involvement in the local area and securing their long term commitment to the Morlais Development Zone (MDZ), a tidal energy test and demonstration zone off the coast of Anglesey |
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on implementing each of the Learning in Digital Wales (LIDW) evaluation recommendations? (WAQ74067)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): Progress against each recommendation is summarised below.
- Communication to teachers, head teachers and other school leaders
A targeted communication campaign, including regular tweets, articles in the Dysg newsletter and on Hwb; stakeholder engagement sessions and HwbMeets has been implemented.
- Working with Regional Education Consortia and local authorities
The Welsh Government has worked with and provided grant funding to Regional Education Consortia to build their own capacity and support schools to develop digital strategies.
This includes supporting practitioners to:
- use the range of digital resources and tools available through the Learning in Digital Wales programme;
- promote Digital Citizenship; and
- develop their skills to implement the Digital Competency Framework.
- Parents and the general public
The Welsh Government is working closely with local authority colleagues to identify and improve the features available across the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets to help schools better engage with parents, school governors and the wider community.
- Technical investments and improvements;
Improvements to the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets have included: - A technology upgrade to the Hwb+ user interface.
- A customisable Hwb dashboard that can be tailored depending on the age of the learner.
- Enhancements to practitioner networks.
- The introduction of Hwb Classrooms, a new and dynamic teaching and learning tool for practitioners.
- Creation of new zones to support specific policy areas, such as:
- Online Safety
- Creative Learning
- National Network for Excellence in Maths.
- Connectivity and Hardware
In November 2016, I announced £5 million of new funding to provide all schools in Wales with access to superfast broadband speeds.
In addition, services are being identified that can be delivered via the Public Services Broadband Aggregation (PSBA) network to support schools in making effective use of digital in the classroom.Work is also underway to develop a set of digital standards for schools.
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide detail on action by the Welsh Government to seek distinction between Hwb and Hwb+ as per the recommendation of the evaluation report? (WAQ74068)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
Kirsty Williams: The Welsh Government has taken the following actions to help distinguish between Hwb and Hwb+:
- A targeted communication campaign, including regular tweets, articles in Dysg and news articles on Hwb; has been initiated to raise awareness and promote how each of the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets (including Hwb and Hwb+) can be used effectively within the classroom.
- Regular stakeholder engagement sessions have been held across the teaching community to raise awareness and ensure future deliverables address the key issues and are fit for purpose. In addition, regular HwbMeets have been held at locations across Wales to demonstrate the use of the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets and how they can be effectively used in schools to improve teaching and learning activity.
- During the autumn term a roadmap will be published to inform practitioners of the new developments which will be made available as part of the Learning Digital Wales toolsets.
- The Welsh Government, in conjunction with the National Digital Learning Council, is developing a wider communications plan that will help outline the next phase of the Learning in Digital Wales programme.
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): How many training days have been commissioned as part of the contract of delivery across the whole Hwb platform, which includes Hwb & Hwb+ (Microsoft, CDSN and Learning Possibilities) and how many have been utilised in last academic year? (WAQ74069)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
Kirsty Williams: Since the inception of the Learning in Digital Wales programme, an extensive training and engagement programme has taken place. A team of eight teachers were seconded as Digital Leaders to deliver 2 day training sessions on the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets to schools throughout Wales. This initiative proved extremely successful with over 99% of schools attending.
As part of the move towards regional school improvement functions, the Welsh Government worked closely with the Regional Education Consortia to support them to build their own capacity to support schools in using and exploiting digital technology. These digital leader functions are now well established within the Consortia. In line with this model, grant funding has been provided to the Consortia to increase the engagement and uptake of the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets and aid the implementation of the digital competence framework through training and other support in line with their own assessments of need.
In addition, the Welsh Government has maintained access for schools to utilise additional training. These opportunities are provided via the suppliers of the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets with an allowance of 200 contracted days each year. During this academic year 50 days training have been requested by schools and/or the Regional Education Consortia.
Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update of usage across the Hwb platform (including Hwb+) as defined by LIDW report since research was conducted in order to compare like with like? (WAQ74070)
Answer received on 15 August 2017
Kirsty Williams: Since the evaluation report was published in October 2016, the usage of the Learning in Digital Wales toolsets is as follows:
| Total logins | | | |
| | Hwb | J2E | Office 365 |
| January 2016 | 210,368 | 107,000 | 91,900 |
| January 2017 | 667,641 | 237,518 | 255,150 |
| June 2017 | 695,755 | 319, 545 | 378,755 |
Hwb+ data is collated and recorded in a different way to the other Learning in Digital Wales toolsets. Work is currently ongoing with the Hwb+ supplier to review this. I will write to you with details of usage for Hwb+ as soon as possible and a copy of my letter will be published on the Internet.