Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the First Minister

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

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 Health and Social Services

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Questions to the First Minister

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the First Minister provide details of acts of vandalism carried out on Assembly Government and ASPB property in each of the last five years? (WAQ54164)

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): Acts of vandalism on the Welsh Assembly Government administrative estate over the last five years have been minor in nature. These have mainly consisted of graffiti and broken windows.

Overall, this reflects levels of physical security adopted across the Welsh Assembly Government administrative estate and the importance placed upon minimising criminal damage to Welsh Assembly Government property assets.

Information is not held centrally for Assembly Government Sponsored Bodies.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What is the estimated cost of repairing acts of vandalism on Assembly Government and ASPB property in each of the last five years? (WAQ54165)

The First Minister: Incidents of vandalism on the Welsh Assembly Government administrative estate have been minor in nature.

The estimated cost of repairs in each of the last five years was:

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

2008-09	£3,400
2007-08	£3,500
2006-07	£6,500
2005-06	£6,100
2004-05	£1,700

Information is not held centrally for Assembly Government Sponsored Bodies.

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How many miles of road have been resurfaced in each Local Authority in Wales since 1999 and what was the average cost per mile for each year? (WAQ54081)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): We do not keep such records for local roads as each Local Authority is responsible for maintaining roads for which it is Highway Authority.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What specific discussions did the Assembly Government have with International Motor Sport Ltd with regard to funding for the Wales Rally GB in 2009? (WAQ54131)

The Deputy First Minister: I would refer you to the statement that I issued on 24 April which set out the Welsh Assembly Government’s position. You will note from the concluding paragraph of that statement that we have offered to enter into without prejudice discussions with the rally organisers. This is now being taken forward by officials.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide details of all the Assembly Government-backed international trade missions which took place in 2008? (WAQ54134)

The Deputy First Minister: I provide below details of the Assembly Government backed trade missions, including supporting trade missions at exhibitions, that took place during the 2008/9 financial year:

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

Date	Destination	Duration (days)	Sector
March 08	Canada, Vancouver, Globe Environmental	5	Environmental Goods and Services
April 08	India, Mumbai and Delhi	6	Multi
April 08	Singapore, Food and Hotel Asia	7	Food and Drink
May 08	Canada, Quebec, Futuralia	5	Multi
May 08	Saudi Arabia and Bahrain	12	Multi
May 08	Germany, Munich, IFAT Exhibition	6	Environmental Good and Services
May 08	USA, Las Vegas, HD Expo	8	Creative Industries
May 08	Israel, Tel Aviv	5	Multi
May 08	Netherlands, Amsterdam, PLMA	5	Food and Drink
May/ June 08	China, Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta	7	Multi
June 08	South Africa	7	Multi
June 08	USA, San Diego, AUVSI	4	Aerospace (UAV)
June 08	USA, San Diego, Bio 2008	5	Bioscience
June 08	USA, New York, Summer Fancy Food	5	Food and Drink
Sept 08	Malaysia	7	Multi
Sept 08	Canada, Halifax, DEFSEC	5	Aerospace / Defence
Sept 08	Canada, Toronto and Halifax, TIFF and SP	7	Creative Industries (Film/TV)
Sept/ Oct 08	Japan, Yokohama Airshow	7	Aerospace
Oct 08	Norway and Sweden	5	Multi
Oct 08	Germany, Frankfurt, Book Fair	6	Creative Industries
Oct 08	USA, Washington DC, AUSA	3	Aerospace / Defence
Oct 08	Serbia, Belgrade	5	Multi
Oct 08	France, Cannes, MIPCOM	5	Creative Industries (Entertainment Content)
Oct 08	France, Paris, SIAL	6	Food and Drink
Oct/ Nov 08	Spain, Seville, WOMEX	5	Creative Industries (Music)
Nov 08	China, Shanghai	7	Multi
Nov 08	UAE, Dubai, Big 5 Exhibition	7	Construction
Nov 08	Germany, Dusseldorf, Medica Exhibition	5	Healthcare / Medical
Nov 08	UAE, Abu Dhabi, ADIPEC Exhibition	6	Oil and Gas
Nov 08	USA, Atlanta, AAPS	5	Bioscience
Nov 08	Poland, Warsaw	3	Food and Drink (in conjunction with UKTI)
Jan 09	UAE, Dubai, Arab Health Exhibition	6	Healthcare / Medical
Jan 09	France, Cannes, MIDEM	4	Creative Industries (Music)
Jan 09	France, Lyon, SIRHA	6	Food and Drink
Feb 09	India, Bangalore	5	Aerospace
Feb 09	UAE, Dubai, Gulf Food Exhibition	7	Food and Drink
Feb/ March 09	Japan, Tokyo	7	Multi
March 09	Turkey	5	Multi
March 09	India, Mumbai and Delhi	7	Multi
March 09	Norway, Oslo	3	Food and Drink (in conjunction with UKTI)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What is the estimated cost of staging the Assembly government-backed international trade missions which took place in each of the last five years? (WAQ54135)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What is the estimated amount of orders secured as a result of Assembly Government-backed international trade missions in each of the last five years? (WAQ54136)

The Deputy First Minister: I set out below the costs and returns associated with Assembly Government backed international trade missions over the past five financial years:

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

YEAR	COSTS	VALUE OF ORDERS SECURED
2008/09	£1.709m	£18.109m
2007/08	£2.297m	£15.926m
2006/07	£2.118m	£31.287m
2005/06	£2.712m	£20.111m
2004/05	£2.231m	£9.236m
Total	£11.066m	£80.891m

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with Newport Council regarding the proposed M4 relief road? (WAQ54138)

The Deputy First Minister: I have had no formal discussions with Newport Council regarding the New M4.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide details of Assembly Government involvement in improving road access to Cardiff Airport? (WAQ54139)

The Deputy First Minister: We are coming to the end of a transport study that has looked at improving Culverhouse Cross and better access to Barry, the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff Airport. The study is multi-modal and options include road based public transport, rail and road. We are using WelTAG to appraise how the options perform.

I shall consider the findings shortly and plan to make an announcement in the summer.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with Network Rail and the Department for Transport regarding modernising London-South Wales rail services? (WAQ54140)

The Deputy First Minister: I have stated to both parties that I would expect electrification and high speed rail line of the Great Western Main-Line route to extend at least as far as Swansea.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What specific discussions has the Minister had with Network Rail and the Department for Transport regarding electrification of the London-South Wales rail line? (WAQ54141)

The Deputy First Minister: I have stated to both parties that I would expect electrification of the Great Western Main-Line route to extend at least as far as Swansea.

I met with Lord Adonis, Transport Minister for UK Government, about this on 13 May 2009. Discussions, which are positive, are ongoing.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What specific discussions has the Minister had with the operators of the Severn crossings regarding the payment of tolls by credit card? (WAQ54143)

The Deputy First Minister: I have had no discussions with the operators of the Severn crossings regarding the payment of tolls by credit card.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Assembly Government’s policy on road pricing and congestion charging? (WAQ54144)

The Deputy First Minister: The Assembly Government has yet to decide what role, if any, road pricing may play in addressing current and future transport challenges. I have made it clear that we would consider road pricing on the strategic network only in the context of new road developments. Any proposals for local road pricing schemes that local authorities may wish to bring forward to tackle congestion in their areas would be considered by the Assembly Government as required by statute.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with the UK government regarding the so-called Ports Tax and its impact on ports in Wales? (WAQ54145)

The Deputy First Minister: My officials and I have regular discussions with the UK Government on port-related matters. This includes the UK Government’s current consultation on light dues and also the situation regarding rates in ports and their operators.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): When did Finance Wales become aware that money from the European Investment Bank would be available for the JEREMIE Scheme? (WAQ54169)

The Deputy First Minister: The potential to access an EIB loan is a key benefit of the European Commission’s JEREMIE initiative. Finance Wales was first aware of this possibility in 2007 when Wales first began informal engagement with the European Investment Fund to discuss a potential JEREMIE fund for Wales. Finance Wales began formal discussions with the EIB in 2008 and the loan was contractually completed on April 9th 2009.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Who took the decision on the timing of the announcement of the availability of JEREMIE funding? (WAQ54170)

The Deputy First Minister: The date of the JEREMIE launch announcement was proposed by the European Investment Bank and was accepted by Ministers. This was the earliest date available following completion of the transaction.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement about the status of Finance Wales in terms of its ability to operate independently of the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ54171)

The Deputy First Minister: Finance Wales plc is a subsidiary company of the Welsh Assembly Government that operates on a commercially independent basis and takes all investment decisions against commercial criteria.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement about governance issues within Finance Wales? (WAQ54172)

The Deputy First Minister: As a plc company Finance Wales is governed through a Board of Directors and is subject to the Companies Act.

Alun Cairns (South Wales West): Will the Minister list, individually, the cost of all feasibility studies, consultations, groundworks and consultancy fees since 1999 in relation to the Cardiff Airport access roads and options for trunking the A48? (WAQ54182)

The Deputy First Minister: The total cost of work relating to the 'Cardiff International Airport and Culverhouse Cross Access Improvements Study’ includes all survey work exhibitions, consultations, design and development and environmental issues is £1.9m. The total costs of the options that involved the proposed trunking of the A48 was £369k. This included the two documents the 'A48 / A4232 Culverhouse Cross and Airport Access Road’ and the supplementary report 'The 'A48 / A4232 Culverhouse Cross and Airport Access Road—The Way Forward.’ It is not possible to breakdown costs individually.

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Janet Ryder (North Wales): Will the Minister give a definition of the use of 'rare or rarely’ as used in the Workload Agreement for Teachers, (i.e. what constitutes a Head Teacher to ask members of his staff to cover others on 'rare’ occasions.)? (WAQ54118)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): The Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group, of which WAG is a member, has issued guidance on the definition of 'rarely cover’. This makes clear that, subject to consultation on the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document, from September 2009 teachers will be able to provide cover only rarely, in circumstances that are not foreseeable.

Within this document, it states that a school should ensure

'…that there is in place a clear policy and robust system that does not require teachers or the headteacher to provide cover other than rarely. A robust system would be expected to deal with all foreseeable events and should take into account the school’s historic patterns of absence. A robust system would not be expected to deal with events that are not foreseeable.’

'Foreseeable circumstances’ for the school include events that are foreseeable on the basis of historic experience; events that are foreseeable in the normal local experience; and events that may be expected as part of the evolving pattern of provision.

Peter Black (South Wales West): Will the Minister outline the targets set for Swansea and Gorseinon Colleges in each of the last three years and what progress was made by each college in achieving them? (WAQ54121)

Jane Hutt: Individual FE Institutions are given Weighted Credit Equivalent Unit (WCEU) Targets annually. This is based on their funding allocation which is based on historical performance. Each CEU reflects 10 hours of learning time.

DCELLS then set WCEU targets for the institution based on this funding allocation. Institutions are required to agree the deployment of WCEUs by sector subject area with their DCELLS Area Director and need to ensure that WCEU deployment proposals take account of the DCELLS Priorities for Change for post-16 learning and education and the provision development intentions set out within their Provision Development Plan.

The following table shows the targets for the last three years.

Gorseinon College - Targets

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

Academic Year	WCEU Target
2006/07	253,663
2007/08	261,916
2008/09	289,591

Swansea College - Targets

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

Academic Year	WCEU Target
2006/07	427,638
2007/08	449,510
2008/09	520,909

In terms of both 2006/07 and 2007/08 the targets have been met by both colleges. The 2008/09 targets are still being monitored.

In terms of the quality of the education delivered specific targets are not set for individual FE, Colleges other than the global target set in The Learning Country: Vision into Action: By 2010, the quality of FE programmes assessed by Estyn to be grade 3 or better in 95% of programmes, and grade 2 or better in 65% of programmes. This is not translated into individual colleges’ funding agreements.

Both colleges are above these targets already.

Gorseinon College

Estyn FE Inspection - March 2007

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

Key Question	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Grade	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Of the three learning areas inspected Estyn awarded three grade 1s.

Estyn WBL Inspection - March 2009

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

Key Question	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Grade	1	1	1	1	1	1	2

Of the four learning areas inspected Estyn awarded three grade 1s and one grade 2.

Swansea College

Estyn FE Inspection - March 2006

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

Key Question	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Grade	1	2	2	1	2	3	1

Of the eight learning areas inspected Estyn awarded three grade 1s, two grade 2’s and three grade 3s.

Estyn WBL Inspection - December 2008

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

Key Question	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Grade	1	1	1	2	2	2	2

Of the three learning areas inspected Estyn awarded two grade 1s and one grade 2.

FE institutions are required to set their own targets for quality improvement as part of a well-established self-assessment process; validated through DCELLS quality assurance and Estyn inspections.

DCELLS set a contractual target for WBL framework success of 50%. Both institutions have met this target.

The 2007/08 national comparators for FE and WBL will be released by the Statistical Directorate on 21 May.

Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What estimate has the Minister made of the proportion of a) rural and b) urban households in Wales which are in fuel poverty? (WAQ54149)

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): The most recent published figures available for the number of people who are classed as being in fuel poverty was the 2004 Living in Wales Property Survey. The survey identified that there were around 134,000 households in Wales who were in fuel poverty which is around 11% of all households in Wales.

The survey identified that 17% of households in rural areas and 8% of households in urban areas are classified as being in fuel poverty. This is in part driven by the fact that dwellings in rural areas are much more likely to be off the gas network compared to dwellings in urban areas.

A further Living in Wales Property Survey was undertaken in 2008 and provide us with more up to date figures on the number of fuel poor households in Wales. This survey is due to be published early next year.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What specific discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding proposals for a new nuclear power station at Wylfa on Anglesey? (WAQ54156)

Jane Davidson: The consenting of new nuclear power stations is currently a reserved matter.

My communications with the UK Government on this matter have been to raise our specific concerns about the health protection, radioactive waste and spent fuel, and the security aspects of any new nuclear power developments in or close to Wales.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What estimate has a) her department and b) the Environment Agency made of the proportion and volume of household rubbish that is burned by households in their gardens? (WAQ54157)

Jane Davidson: It is not possible to make a realistic estimate of the proportion and volume of household rubbish that is burned by households in their gardens.

It is Assembly Government policy to discourage burning of household waste in gardens. Apart from potential pollutants and the waste of recoverable resources for recycling or composting, this can potentially cause a statutory nuisance under the Environment Protection Act or constitute an offence under the Clean Air Act. Enforcement of this legislation is a matter for local authorities.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister had with a) local authorities and b) other organisations regarding direct and variable charging for residual waste from householders? (WAQ54160)

Jane Davidson: I have held no discussions with local authorities or other organisations regarding direct and variable charging (DVC) for residual waste from householders.

The Welsh Assembly Government undertook to scope the introduction of charging for residual waste collection in the Environment Strategy. As part of the evidence base for the consultation on a revised waste strategy, Towards Zero Waste, launched on 29 April, the Assembly Government commissioned Fehily Timoney and Company to scope DVC and their report is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.

As the Strategy makes clear, there are no plans to introduce DVC at this time.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister provide details, including their locations and broken down into individual local authority area of the number of recycling and domestic waste facilities in Wales? (WAQ54161)

Jane Davidson: There are a total of 22 permitted recycling facilities in Wales, 4 of which are composting facilities. There are a total of 159 permitted domestic facilities in Wales.

Please see the table [published as an attachment to this file] for facilities broken down by local authority.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What percentage of residual household waste is transported out of Wales for disposal in landfill? (WAQ54162)

Jane Davidson: Data for April 2007-March 2008 indicate that 6.48% of municipal waste arising in Wales was landfilled in England. This is data taken from WasteDataFlow for directly landfilled municipal waste.

Waste is generally collected and managed by private waste companies that operate freely throughout the UK. It is therefore a commercial matter as to which waste facilities those companies choose to use. Some waste from Wales is landfilled in England and vice versa.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What percentage of residual household waste is transported out of Wales for recycling, and will the Minister provide details of where the waste is taken to? (WAQ54163)

Jane Davidson: Data for April 2007-March 2008 taken from WasteDataFlow (WDF) indicate that 22% of materials collected for recycling in Wales was sent to England.

The table [published as an attachment to this file] gives a breakdown of where the recyclate is taken.

This does not include materials taken for reuse and is not necessarily the final treatment destination. Destinations listed in WDF may be Head Office in England for recycling that has been treated in Wales.

'Other/exempt’ data is not included in these totals, this is recorded when authorities do not have the details for the facility. The Environment Agency have recently issued new guidance to all local authorities in Wales on the reporting of 'other/exempt’ to ensure better data quality.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister advise how the £5m allocated last year to support the treatment of wet AMD has been used? (WAQ54173)

The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): The allocation has been used to support the establishment of Wet AMD services in the following centres:

Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport;

University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff;

Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant;

Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend;

Singleton Hospital, Swansea;

Amman Valley Hospital, Glanamman;

Withybush Hospital, Haverforswest;

North Road Clinic, Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth;

Ysbyty Gwynedd: HM Stanley Hospital, St Asaph;

And Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

In addition, service development is underway at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

Funding has also provided the necessary 'clean’ rooms so that these patients can be treated without occupying theatre time and for Ocular Coherence Tomagraphs (OCTs), to undertake high quality standards of treatment.

The objective was to provide an All Wales service which has been achieved in a relatively short time scale.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on how capacity is being increased in Opthamology departments to provide treatment for wet AMD as the number of people needing this treatment is rapidly growing? (WAQ54174)

Edwina Hart: Funding has included the addition of up to two clinical sessions for the treatment of 'wet’ AMD in each of the centres.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister advise on the level of referrals to Wet AMD clinics and advise on the impact that the increased referrals have on other Ophthalmology services, in particular follow up treatments for conditions such as glaucoma? (WAQ54176)

Edwina Hart: There has been no increase in the number of referrals to secondary care but there has been an increase in the number of patients who are eligible for treatment.

Funding for treatment of Wet AMD has resulted in a reduction of waiting lists to less than eight weeks and this figure is further reducing.

There should be no impact on other ophthalmology services as additional sessions have been funded to pre-empt this scenario.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the project to develop a South Powys Local General Hospital? (WAQ54177)

Edwina Hart: The plans for the proposal to build a local General Hospital for South Powys are at an early stage. My Department is providing financial assistance from the all Wales Capital Programme to Powys LHB to engage external support to help prepare a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for the development. This will ensure that the appropriate service model and functional content for these facilities is identified.

I anticipate that the SOC will be submitted for evaluation and scrutiny later in 2009.

Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central): How much money has the Welsh Assembly Government spent on consultants in the Health and Social Services portfolio for each year since 1999? (WAQ54179)

Edwina Hart: This information is not held centrally.

Questions to the Minister for Heritage

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Assembly Government targets to increase the number of a) children and b) adults attending designated historic environment sites? (WAQ54122)

The Minister for Heritage (Alun Ffred Jones): The Assembly Government’s Historic Environment Service, Cadw has, as one of its key objectives, a commitment to increase all levels of public access to, participation in and appreciation of the historic environment.

Cadw has a target of attracting 1.3 million visitors to its sites including 90,000 on lifelong learning visits, during 2009/10.

Cadw appointed a Lifelong Learning Development Manager in the Autumn of 2007 to work with a variety of organisations, teachers and education professionals to develop and deliver a variety of high quality educational programmes and resources at Cadw monuments.

Examples of projects and initiatives being developed by Cadw to increase the number of children and adults visiting its monuments are as follows:

During Adult Learners week in May 2008, over 550 local adult learners visited Cadw sites and enjoyed a diverse range of learning opportunities at Caernarfon and Caerphilly Castles. In 2009, the event was extended to include Tintern Abbey and St Davids Bishop’s Palace in addition to Caernarfon and Caerphilly Castles. There were 65 diverse learning activities on offer between 9th and 17th May.

Cadw is developing Discovery Day education programmes aimed at enhancing Key Stage 2 pupil understanding of life in various periods of history. At Castell Coch, pupils engage in Knight School and Storytelling, at Caerphilly Castle they prepare the tables in the Great Hall for a medieval feast, at St Davids Bishop’s Palace pupils explore medieval headwear and undertake art activities, and at Blaenavon Ironworks pupils engage in a range of activities designed to enhance understanding of several aspects of life in the 19th century.

Cadw is also working with the Arts Council for Wales to develop a programme of creative activities between 2009 and 2012 as part of the Welsh Cultural Olympiad project. One of the strands of the initiative, 'Cauldrons and Furnaces’, aims to involve young people, via school and community groups in the development and delivery of artistic product at eight Cadw sites across Wales: Flint, Denbigh, Caernarfon, Harlech, St David’s, Laugharne, Caerphilly, Blaenavon.

A 'creative animateur’ is being introduced into the community around each site to work in schools and with community groups to work out how the young people would like to develop the project at 'their’ site. The aim is to create eight multi-media performance pieces so that by 2012 a spectacular linked performance can be achieved on the eve of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Between 400 and 500 young people should have been involved in workshops and/or performances at each of the sites, each year (until 2012). And at least 48 artists/animateurs will have been involved in the first 6 months of the implementation of the project.

Songs from Stones was an experimental and unique arts project funded by Cadw, devised and developed by Sean Harris, and supported by Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum of Wales, Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery, Oriel Ynys Mon and Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. The project’s aim was to increase interest in, and engage people with, Anglesey’s rich prehistoric past. An illustrated map and guide to five of Anglesey’s prehistoric monuments was produced to catch the eye and interest of visitors to Beaumaris.

The project encompassed a varied programme of archaeological activities, model making, story telling, music and poetry events that engaged and involved several hundred people—a mixture of visitors and members of the island community. The animation workshops were held in a studio in a converted grain silo temporarily relocated into a tower in Beaumaris castle and enabled several young potential animators to develop and practice their skills.

Cadw has a varied programme of events that it runs at a number of its monuments each year to encourage people of all ages to visit the historic environment. Activities include from re-enactments, theatrical plays in dramatic surroundings storytelling, talks and tours. A full list of events due to take place at Cadw sites during its 25th anniversary year in 2009 can be found at www.cadw.wales.gov.uk

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What is the estimated number of tourists from a) other parts of the United Kingdom, b) Europe, and c) North America who have visited Wales on golf holidays in each year since 1999? (WAQ54125)

Alun Ffred Jones: There are no statistics for visitor numbers taking golf holidays prior to 2004, at which point the Golf Tourism Monitor was first published. Therefore the following table sets out estimated visitor numbers in each specified category from 2004 to 2008.

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Other parts of UK Excluding Wales	37,100	42,900	43,300	49,500	52,200
Europe	4,100	3,700	3,400	5,700	3,200
N. America	800	2,000	1,200	1,600	900

Source: Visit Britain and Wales National Golf Tourism Monitor (undertaken by Sports Marketing Surveys)

Figures refer to staying visits, rounded to the nearest 100. It should also be noted that fluctuations in figures for North and South America may be influenced by the small sample sizes for these markets.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): How many local authority-run swimming pools have closed in Wales in each year since 1999? (WAQ54127)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): How may local authority run leisure centres have closed in Wales in each year since 1999? (WAQ54128)

Alun Ffred Jones: The tables below provided by the Sports Council for Wales show the latest figures in response to the questions you have raised.

Local authority leisure centre closures in Wales since 1999 are as follows:

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
0	0	0	1	1	2	1	1	0	2	0

Local authority swimming pools closures in Wales since 1999 are as follows:

Answers issued to Members on 18 May 2009

1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
0	1	0	1	3	1	2	0	1	4	1

Eight of these pools have been directly replaced by new pools with improved facilities. In addition six new local authority pools have opened in the same period.