Written Assembly Questions tabled on 12 July 2016 for answer on 19 July 2016
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): In relation to comments made in plenary on 5 July, will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government office in Brussels, providing details of the work and role it will be undertaking in relation to Brexit? (WAQ70677)
Answer received on 22 July 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With reference to WAQ70566, how many of the stated meetings with Welsh businesses were specifically convened to discuss the possibility of Britain voting to leave the EU? (WAQ70681)
Answer received on 22 July 2016
Carwyn Jones: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide the timeframe for the sale of the hangar at St Athan and details to how long negotiations have been underway with the MOD to conclude the sale? (WAQ70678)
Answer received on 23 October 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): A working relationship with the MOD, which ensures that access to the Superhangar facility is provided for Aston Martin, has been operating successfully since the Aston Martin project was announced in late February 2016. The Superhangar property transaction will take place in phases starting in Autumn 2016. The final phase is likely to complete in spring 2017.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): Will the Minister make a statement on the availability of Avastin from Local Health Boards in Wales? (WAQ70679)
Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): What plans does the Welsh Government have to change the criteria regarding the availability of Avastin from Local Health Boards in Wales? (WAQ70680)
Answer received on 14 July 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): Avastin® has been appraised by NICE on several occasions. However, on each occasion NICE was unable to recommend the routine use of Avastin® for any of its cancer indications because the manufacturer, Roche, was unable to demonstrate a benefit to patients in balance with the cost.
Where medicines such as Avastin® are not routinely available in NHS Wales, a clinician may apply for the medicine on behalf of their patient by making an Individual Patient Funding Request (IPFR) application.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister confirm that the third tranche of the EU Structural Funds will continue until 2020? (WAQ70671)
Answer received on 23 October 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): Such confirmation can only be supplied by the UK Government as it negotiates the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European union.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline his response to comments made by the Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, who recently stated that the Welsh European Funding Office should immediately start spending EU Structural Funds, which have been allocated up to 2020? (WAQ70672)
Answer received on 23 October 2017
Mark Drakeford: We are determined to maximise the EU funds allocated to Wales for the benefit of our people, communities, businesses, universities and colleges. Where there is scope to accelerate draw-down of EU funds, we will aim to do just that.
The delivery of our programmes in Wales is hugely dependent on the timescale for leaving the EU and we need early clarification from the UK Government of that timescale. We have also called for a guarantee from the UK Government that every penny of EU funds to Wales is safe.
Wales was among the first nations in the EU to have its Structural Funds programmes agreed with the EU and we have already announced investments worth 46 per cent (£831 million) of our allocation. We also have a healthy pipeline of investments in detailed development (worth around £377million) and while Brexit arrangements are being made for the longer term, we will continue to make vital investments which will meet our programme performance targets on jobs, support for business, and helping people into work and training.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline the next steps for local government reform in light of the EU Referendum result? (WAQ70673)
Answer received on 14 July 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): There are significant new challenges arising from the EU referendum. The Welsh Government will be doing all it can to engage with the Commission and Whitehall.
However, the EU referendum result does not change my plans. I will continue to meet with local authority leaders and others and look at all the options for local government reform over the summer. I will set out a way forward in the autumn.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What discussions has the Minister had with the Welsh Local Government Association regarding delivery of local government services in light of the EU Referendum result? (WAQ70674)
Answer received on 23 October 2017
Mark Drakeford: When I met with the WLGA at their Council Meeting on the 1st July we discussed the impact of the EU Referendum on local government.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): With regard to the Minister's response to WAQ 70443, will he provide a breakdown of the reviews and improvements to the Local Government Settlement, which have been agreed by the Welsh Government, in the years 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16? (WAQ70675)
Answer received on 23 October 2017
Mark Drakeford: The Local Government Settlement funding formula is developed in consultation with local government through the Distribution Sub Group (DSG) and overseen by the Finance Sub Group of the Partnership Council for Wales. Details of the DSG’s work and recommendations can be found on the Welsh Government website at: http://gov.wales/topics/localgovernment/finandfunding/dsg1/item/?lang=en
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement in relation to land tax and whether it is his intention to classify agricultural land as being eligible as having tax raised against it? (WAQ70676)R
Answer received on 23 October 2017
Mark Drakeford: The land transaction tax and anti-avoidance of devolved taxes bill is due to be introduced in the autumn. Consultation responses and wider engagement have highlighted the importance of retaining consistency with the existing UK Stamp Duty Land Tax. In line with this, the Bill does not make exceptions from the charge to Land Transaction Tax in relation to the nature or current use of the land that is the subject of the transaction. As such, transactions involving agricultural land will be subject to Land Transaction Tax in the same way as transactions involving commercial, retail or residential property, subject to the reliefs outlined in the Bill.
On 5 July I published a draft of the land transaction tax and anti-avoidance of devolved tax Bill, for familiarisation purposes over the summer period prior to introduction.