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Written Assembly Questions tabled on 12 August 2015 for answer on 19 August 2015

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

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the First Minister reveal how much has been spent on offices of the Welsh Government in North Wales since 2010, providing the spending per year broken down into capital building costs and furnishings? (WAQ69086)

Answer received on 17 August 2015

The First Minister (Carwyn Jones):

Details of expenditure on capital building cost and furnishings for the administrative offices of Welsh Government in North Wales, for each full financial year beginning 2010/11, are provided in the table below.

Figures for 2010/11 include the costs of the final stages of completion and fit out of the Government's new Llandudno Junction office which officially opened in September 2010.

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Welsh Government held with the Prime Minister David Cameron regarding the expansion of Teach First to include an element of national service in Wales? (WAQ69091W)

Answer received on 26 August 2015

First Minister: No discussions have been held with the Prime Minister's office about making links between Teach First operating in Wales and plans for National Citizen Service. Teach First are currently contracted to the Welsh Government to deliver employment-based teacher training in Wales on a pilot basis to support school improvement.

To ask the Minister for Natural Resources

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister outline the steps that the Welsh Government expects the developers of a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay to carry out to mitigate any impact on fish stocks? (WAQ69085)

Answer received on 19 August 2015

The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be placed on the internet.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Minister held with external bodies regarding the content of the curriculum in light of his statement in response to my question on extremism in the Senedd on 15 July 2015? (WAQ69092W)

Answer received on 26 August 2015

The Minsiter for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis):

On 30^th June, I accepted in full, the recommendations contained within Successful Futures, the Independent Review Report of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales by Professor Graham Donaldson. At that time I signalled that schools and practitioners, alongside other key stakeholders, should be at the forefront of the design and development of our new curriculum. 

That is why I have invited regional education consortia to work with their schools – primary, secondary, special – to apply to become Pioneer Schools.  These schools will work with experts and other key stakeholders as part of an all-Wales partnership to lead on design and development of the new curriculum.

Professor Donaldson's report includes the recommendation that Religious Education should remain a statutory curriculum requirement from reception onwards - as part of the new Humanities Area of Learning and Experience.  This recommendation acknowledges the integral role that Religious Education plays in enabling learners to develop respect and understanding for other cultures.

Linked to this, Professor Donaldson also identifies four purposes for the curriculum, one of which is that children should be ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world. In this context, I have signalled that I would like to consider how the teaching and learning of RE, philosophy and ethics might be strengthened - to ensure that our new curriculum is relevant, engaging and inspiring for learners in the 21^st century.  

I remain fully committed to engaging with all relevant parties throughout the design and development of our new curriculum. As I have stated previously, meaningful engagement with all stakeholders will be essential to achieving the vision set out in Professor Donaldson's report – a vision that I share. 

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that the changes to our curriculum going forward will be subject to full public debate and consultation.

We are currently developing a plan which will set-out how Professor's Donaldson's recommendations will be taken forward by my department.  This will be published in the autumn.

In the meantime to assist schools, in aligning with the Counter Terrorism and Security Act and the Prevent Duty Guidance issued by the UK government, the Welsh Government's Education Department is currently updating Respect and Resilience: Developing community cohesion – a common understanding for schools and their communities (2011) this guidance aims to support the development of community cohesion and prevent extremism in schools and other educational settings in Wales:

http://gov.wales/docs/dcells/publications/110209respecten.pdf

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister reveal the subjects in which there are the largest number of early entrants for both GSCE and A-level, and will the Minister provide figures for these early entrants? (WAQ69093)

Answer received on 19 August 2015

Huw Lewis:

The tables in the spreadsheet below show the year of entry for GCSEs and A levels, for pupils who were aged 15 and 17 at the start of the academic year 2013/2014.

(1) This information does not include entries in November and January series.  Whilst these data are not routinely collected by Welsh Government, we are aware that there are substantial entries in these series, particularly for GCSE Mathematics.       

There are also substantial entries for GCSE English Language in January, this is a unitised qualification and so entries in January are to be expected.

(2) Age at the beginning of the academic year.  

(3) GCSE Science A is currently sat by and awarded to the majority of learners at the end of year 10.Most then go on to sit either GCSE additional science, or separate sciences in year 11.      

* Fewer than 5 entries. Data not published to protect confidentiality.  

Source: Welsh Examinations Database

(1) This information does not include entries in November and January series.                  

(2) Age at the beginning of the academic year.                  

* Fewer than 5 entries. Data not published to protect confidentiality.

The data indicate that early entry by a full year is a relatively rare occurrence.  The exception to this is Science, where established entry patterns in Double Award Science mean that GCSE Science A is sat by and awarded to the majority of learners at the end of year 10, with the majority going on to either GCSE Additional Science, or separate sciences in year 11.  Early entry is also more common in English language, English literature and mathematics.

We are also aware that increasing numbers of candidates are entered for GCSE mathematics and units for GCSE English Language in November or January of their year 11. Whilst data on November and January entries are not complete, we know that for WJEC, who account for the majority of mathematics candidates in Wales, there were some 18,000 candidates for the linear Mathematics GCSE in November 2014.  Only some 2,000 of these were over 16 years old, the remaining candidates were either 16 or under 16 and therefore were likely to be first time candidates.

Entries for GCSE English Language in the January series are also high.  However, it is important to note that GCSE English Language is a unitised qualification.  It is therefore entirely appropriate that candidates should be entered for units in January.  However, we have seen entries for units rise from some 17,500 in 2012 to over 41,000 in 2015 (it should be noted that some candidates will be entered for 1 unit, some for 2 units and others for no units in January). 

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What discussions has the Minister had, or is having, with schools to ensure that a resit culture - which could result from an increase in the number of early entrants into GCSE and A-Levels exams - is not established in Wales? (WAQ69095)

Answer received on 19 August 2015

Huw Lewis:

Generally speaking learners will achieve their best outcomes at the end of their 2 year courses. However, learners can legitimately be entered early for some qualifications, for example:

• More able learners may be entered early for GCSE Mathematics, in order to allow them to enter a Level 2 Certificate in Additional Mathematics in the summer of year 11;
• Schools may judge that some learners' best interests may be served by entering some subjects early, in order to spread the assessment load and concentrate their efforts at different times of the year; or
• Schools may judge that some learners need to be entered for key qualifications early, because there is a risk that they may not be in school for the summer examinations.

Early entry should only be considered where it is in the best interests of students.  I have been clear that where it is improperly used, early entry can cheat pupils of the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

The independent Review of Qualifications for 14-19 year olds in Wales addressed the issue of early entry. Whilst recognising that there can be some circumstances where early entry may be appropriate the Review recommended that in general the practice should be discouraged as it "was likely to disadvantage most learners".

I am aware that the number of early entries for mathematics GCSE has increased significantly in recent years

Entries for GCSE English Language in January are also high. However, it is important to note that GCSE English Language is a unitised qualification. It is therefore entirely appropriate that some candidates should be entered for units in January. 

As a government we are implementing revisions to performance measures. This will be effective from 2017 when there will be a greater emphasis on the capped points score than the current threshold scores. This will incentivise schools to ensure that learners achieve the highest grade that they are capable of. The capped score attributes different points to each grade and so encourages schools to ensure that each learner achieves the highest grade that they are capable of. 

Whilst it may be legitimate to continue to enter some learners for some GCSEs early, it is envisaged that the changes to performance measures from 2017 will discourage wholesale early entry.

In considering the issue I recognise the complexity of the subject and that there are circumstances where it is right that individual learners should be entered early for assessments; however I have also been clear that schools should act to address inappropriate early entry. 

To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline when the loan, which was announced in November 2014, was paid to Cardiff Wales Airport? (WAQ69081)

Answer received on 18 August 2015

The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): The repayable loan facility announced last November has not yet been drawn down. 

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What advice, guidance and support does the Welsh Government offer Cardiff Airport in its adherence to EU state aid rules when making loans available to the airport for new routes such as Flybe's new route network? (WAQ69082)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How does the Minister engage with Cardiff Airport's management and board and how does she exercise ministerial responsibility through this engagement? (WAQ69083)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Before entering into agreement/contract with Flybe to resume flights from Cardiff Airport, can the Minister please outline what agreement or approval was sought for financial support from the Welsh Government? (WAQ69084)

Answer received on 18 August 2015

Edwina Hart:  Cardiff Airport operates on a commercial basis with operational autonomy from the Welsh Government and as such takes its own expert advice on state aid matters.  I understand the agreement between the Airport and Flybe is a commercial arrangement entered into after the loan facility was announced in November 2014.   

William Graham (South Wales East): What level of expenditure has been agreed in relation to the procurement of specialist advice to inform the development of a bilateral relationship between Wales and the State of Qatar and what is the nature of the advice sought? (WAQ69096)

Answer received on 18 August 2015

Edwina Hart: I have allocated funding of £30,000 to support the work in developing our relationship with Qatar, which is our 10^th largest export market.

To ask the Minister for Finance

Nick Ramsay (Monmouthshire): What checking process does the Welsh Government go through with businesses before grants are awarded? (WAQ69087)

Answer received on 19 August 2015

The Minister for Finance (Jane Hutt): The Welsh Government undertakes a full assessment of the viability of any external organisation, prior to agreeing to any funding commitment. This includes full due diligence checks, which considers the organisation's legal status or authenticity, its governance and financial viability.

It also includes utilising the due diligence system introduced in October 2013. The information held on this system can be reviewed by any official in the Welsh Government and provides a mechanism whereby officials can record and efficiently share information about external bodies.

The checks undertaken are proportionate to the size and nature of the grant being awarded, the amount of expenditure involved, the nature of the existing and planned activities and the duration of the funded activity.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouthshire): How many businesses awarded Welsh Government grants over the last three years (and in 2015 to date) are still operational? (WAQ69088)

Answer received on 19 August 2015

Jane Hutt: This information is not held centrally. The terms and conditions of a grant award letter contain a general provision referred to as the "Notification Events".  This requires the funded organisation to notify the Welsh Government immediately if they cease, or threaten to cease, trading within the duration of the grant and up to 5 years following final payment of the grant. These terms and conditions give the Welsh Government powers in these circumstances, to recover all or part of any grant funding paid.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouthshire): Will the Minister provide the names of businesses that have received Welsh Government grants during 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2015 so far? (WAQ69089)

Answer to follow.

Nick Ramsay (Monmouthshire): How many businesses have received Welsh Government grants during 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2015 so far? (WAQ69090)

Answer received on 19 August 2015

Jane Hutt:

2011/12 - 4503 businesses

2012/13 - 3312 businesses

2013/14 - 3540 businesses

2014/15 - 3447 businesses

2015/16 - 1648 businesses

These figures exclude agriculture grants to farming businesses.

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on why Healthcare Inspectorate Wales has decided to move from having paid lay reviewers on patient experience in hospital wards to a volunteer-based model? (WAQ69080)

Answer received on 18 August 2015

The Deputy Minister for Health (Vaughan Gething): This is an operational matter for Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW).

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Further to the Minister's answer to WAQ68053, will the Welsh Government permit a health board to open new NHS beds in a community setting where community hospital beds have previously existed if the health board has determined that it is clinically necessary? (WAQ69094)

Answer received on 18 August 2015

Vaughan Gething:  As the Minister for Health and Social Services explained in his previous response, this is a matter for the health board and local clinicians.