Written Assembly Questions tabled on 11 January 2017 for answer on 18 January 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
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister confirm how many meetings have been requested with Theresa May since her appointment as Prime Minister relating specifically to developments with the Tata Steel crisis in Wales? (WAQ71845)
Answer received on 18 January 2017
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): The future of steelmaking by Tata in Wales has been secured largely through partnership between the Welsh Government and the management and staff of Tata Steel. We have also, of course, worked with the UK Government.”
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister disclose the total spend by the Welsh Government on travel and accommodation for members of the media during the recent trip to Norway, including a list of all media attendees receiving any financial contributions towards either? (WAQ71846)
Answer received on 24 January 2017
First Minister: Total Spent - £0.00, List of all media attendees receiving any financial contributions – None.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Of the range of investment models that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance outlined as being available to the Welsh Government, what consideration has he given to how each of these might assest him in investing in Cadw and its sites and facilities? (WAQ71855)
Answer received on 18 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): There are a range of different ways we can invest as Government with capital monies i.e. traditional capital, financial transaction capital, our Invest to Save scheme, and the new borrowing ability that we will have should the Wales Bill be passed and further innovative funding models be created. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government has already stated that we are trying to use all the levers at our disposal to carry out those important capital investments that are across the range of responsibilities of Government.
To date, investment at Cadw sites has been limited to the use of traditional capital and this has been extremely successful. Commercial performance, driven by major improvements to the visitor experience, has significantly improved in Cadw and 2016-17 is on course to be the best in its history. However, we will continue to review which models are suitable to Cadw’s requirements. The Invest to Save scheme, for example, may be suitable as the repayments could be met from increased commercial income.
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What evaluation has the Cabinet secretary undertaken of the My Travel Pass pilot and will he publish the report of any evaluation? (WAQ71856)
Answer received on 17 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): MyTravelPass was introduced as a pilot scheme in September 2015, with funding committed until 31 March 2017. The pilot is testing the appeal of discounted bus travel to young people. The Welsh Government will be analysing the data produced by the scheme to the end of March, to help inform future decisions.
I have invited the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) – representing the bus industry - and others to come forward with detailed proposals for a new, affordable scheme from 1 April 2017.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the work of HASCAS and Donna Ockenden following the Ockenden report on Tawel Fan? (WAQ71854)
Answer received on 18 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): Both these pieces of work are continuing to progress in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. We understand that the work will be completed this spring or early summer, although this is dependent on interviews being completed on schedule. The Health Board is due to discuss the progress of the investigation and the independent governance review.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What is the total budget allocation towards energy efficiency programmes in the residential sector? (WAQ71847)
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Of the extra £40m pledged by the Welsh Government over the next four years for home energy efficiency and other green growth initiatives, how much will be allocated to energy efficiency in the public sector? (WAQ71848)
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Of the extra £40m pledged by the Welsh Government over the next four years for home energy efficiency and other green growth initiatives, how much will be allocated to residential energy efficiency? (WAQ71849)
Answer received on 18 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): I am currently considering options for the budget allocation between energy efficiency programmes and other green growth initiatives and will make an announcement in February.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): How is the Cabinet Secretary working with the education sector to ensure appropriate access and support for refugees and asylum seekers to undertake English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learning in Wales, and what support will he consider providing to higher education institutions to enable such learners to join established and ongoing ESOL courses offered? (WAQ71852)
Answer received on 17 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): Officials are working closely with colleagues across the sector to ensure refugees and asylum seekers have access to appropriate ESOL courses.
The Welsh Government published its ESOL Policy for Wales in 2014. The policy was developed with the full participation of the sector, under the steer and guidance of the ESOL Advisory Board. In the policy, ESOL is given equal status as Essential Skills, and we commit to funding ESOL in the same way as we fund Essential Skills in Wales.
The Welsh Government does not differentiate according to a learner's residential status. All learners, including Refugees and Asylum Seekers are eligible for support.
With regard to the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Programme (SRP) specifically, officials are working with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and the Wales Migration Partnership (WMP) to coordinate this additional provision across Wales. This aims to support Local Authorities to deliver ESOL; and to ensure the additional provision compliments the mainstream provision available to allow learners to access provision at all levels.
In terms of Higher Education (HE); asylum seekers and refugees have the same access to statutory student finance support for higher education as 'home' students. Existing regulations which apply across the UK, stipulate that only certain categories of students are eligible for both student support and home fee status. In general terms these are:
- Persons who have permanent residence status in the UK and have been resident here for three years;
- EEA and Swiss workers and their spouses/civil partners and children in the UK who have been resident in the EEA or Switzerland for three years;
- EU nationals and their spouses/civil partners and children who have been resident in the EEA or Switzerland for three years;
- Refugees (recognised by the UK government) and their spouses/ civil partners and children;
- Persons who have applied for asylum and have been granted Exceptional Leave, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave, and their families.
In terms of eligibility for student support, students would also need to satisfy the three year ordinarily resident in the UK criterion and also be ordinarily resident in Wales on the first day of the first academic year of the course.
Asylum seekers whose status has yet to be resolved are not eligible for student support. However, Universities have discretion to charge asylum seekers home student fees or waive fees altogether. Some universities may also offer scholarships or bursaries. Universities in Wales recognise that asylum seekers may have complex needs. Most, if not all, institutions will have support services which asylum seekers can access, however not all will be able to offer specialist support.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide a breakdown of how UK Government funding for ESOL in Wales is distributed? (WAQ71853)
Answer received on 17 January 2017
Kirsty Williams: Mainstream funding of ESOL in Wales is provided through Welsh Government post-16 funding allocations to Further Education Institutions and Community Learning funding to Local Authorities. All adults in Wales who have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection are eligible for our education funding in the same way as any other UK resident.
In addition, local authorities across the UK participating in the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Programme (SRP) and/or the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme receive funding in the form of a per person tariff from the UK Government.
Local Authorities in Wales can claim the additional funding for any refugees resettled under either of these programmes. Some of this funding is to be used to provide ESOL provision for resettled people within 1 month of arrival until they are at a standard where they are able to access mainstream provision.
In September 2016, the UK Government announced an additional investment of £10m for the provision of ESOL. This funding is available to support all resettled adults arriving as part of these Schemes, and can be claimed by local authorities participating in either scheme, based upon the number of adults they have resettled.
The additional ESOL funding comes from the UK Government’s Department of Education budget and from the Syrian Resettlement Programme budget.
NB. Individuals are identified for resettlement in the UK by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) based upon their vulnerability, English language skills is essential for them to begin a new life here.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretart respond to evidence taken by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee that there is a 'two-tier' system of asylum with regards to refugees in Wales, and will he address the concerns noted by witnesses that the Welsh Government's choice to focus strategy groups on the Syrian programme is embedding this 'two-tier' system? (WAQ71850)
Answer received on 18 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): I am aware that refugees arriving under the Syrian Resettlement Programme have received welcome support through arrangements put in place by the UK Government. We would like to see the same support available to all refugees in Wales, regardless of their origin. However, as you are aware, asylum policy is not devolved to the Welsh Government and is decided by the UK Government. Welsh public authorities are considerably constrained by the funding conditions which the UK Government has put in place.
Where possible, however, we are aiming to achieve parity. Looking to the future, a new Welsh Government National Support Service for Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants is expected to commence in April 2017. This will be inclusive of all asylum seekers and refugees in Wales and will focus on practical support issues, including advice with asylum claims, helping people to avoid destitution, and encouraging integration. It will also promote the wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers in Wales. This service will support and complement our Refugee and Asylum Seeker Delivery Plan which is also inclusive of all asylum seekers and refugees living in Wales.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What steps is the Cabinet Secretary taking to ensure parity of treatment for all refugees and asylum seekers in Wales? (WAQ71851)
Answer to follow.