Written Assembly Questions tabled on 21 January 2014 for answer on 21 January 2014
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
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the First Minister disclose how many data scientists are currently employed by the Welsh Government in each department, to analyse data received by the Assembly? (WAQ66238)
Answer received for publication on 23 January 2014
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): Staffing within the Welsh Government is a matter for the Permanent Secretary. I have asked him to write to you separately with the information you have requested.
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): What powers does the Minister have to ensure the listing of sports grounds as assets of community value? (WAQ66233)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Jeff Cuthbert):The assets of community value provisions contained in the Localism Act 2011, Part 5, Chapter 3 apply in Wales as in England.
To ask the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With reference to the Welsh Government’s new campaign on inward investment, Just Ask Wales, will the Minister provide the evidence base for the claim that Wales offers “unbeatable financial incentives”? (WAQ66229)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): Wales has Tier 1 funding areas which means that we are able to offer the maximum level of assistance to businesses under state aid rules.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With reference to the Welsh Government’s new campaign on inward investment, Just Ask Wales, will the Minister provide a breakdown of the related costs in terms of design, marketing and promotion, additional staffing costs and any external fees? (WAQ66230)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
Edwina Hart: The campaign costs were £300k for Creative & Production and agency fees and a budget of up to £700k for media & promotion (costs are inclusive of VAT).
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What action is the Welsh Government taking to support homes and businesses, whose telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged in the recent storms? (WAQ66234)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
Edwina Hart: Repairing damage to telecommunications infrastructure is a matter for telecommunications providers.
Eluned Parrott (South Wales Central): Is it still the policy of the Welsh Government that Wales’ Enterprise Zones will seek to create new private sector jobs, rather than new public sector jobs or through the relocation of existing private and public sector jobs from outside Enterprise Zones? (WAQ66237)
Answer received for publication on 17 January 2014
Edwina Hart: Our Enterprise Zones will continue to deliver a range of interventions, support and incentives which are designed to assist new and expanding businesses, as part of our wider approach to jobs and growth.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What assessment has the Minister made of the Estyn "Working together to tackle the impact of poverty on educational achievements" Report's recommendations (published December 2013)? (WAQ66242)
Answer received for publication on 22 January 2014
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): The Government’s response to this report was published on December 17th and can be accessed here:
The report contained recommendations for schools and local authorities, but none for the Welsh Government. Reducing the impact of poverty on educational attainment is my number one priority and as a Government we are doing everything we can to achieve this. We are collaborating with Estyn and recently held a joint seminar on tackling the impact of poverty on educational attainment. Agreement has been reached with Estyn that from September 2014, as part of their general inspection remit, inspectors will be required to comment on how learners eligible for free school meals are supported to improve their rates of attainment. There will also be a specific requirement for inspection reports to refer to how well schools make use of resources, such as the PDG, to support this group of learners.
We are providing guidance and support to schools, local authorities and consortia to develop the kinds of essential support structures that are described in the Estyn Report such as:
- adopting clear systems for working with outside agencies to support disadvantaged learners;
- providing training and support to develop the skills of school leaders to manage partnership working to tackle poverty; and
- using the Pupil Deprivation Grant to target the needs of disadvantaged pupils specifically, whatever their ability.
My officials are developing a tackling deprivation programme that will focus on:
- Early Years
- Family and Community Engagement
- Realising Aspirations and Supporting Pupils to achieve their Potential
- Family and Community Engagement
They will be seeking contributions from key stakeholders, including Estyn, as the programme is developed.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on whether there has been any consideration given to providing a short self-defense course in high school? (WAQ66243)
Answer received for publication on 22 January 2014
Huw Lewis: As part of the school curriculum, there is opportunity for schools to provide self-defense courses through, Personal and Social Education (PSE). PSE provides opportunities for learners to be personally and socially effective by providing learning experiences in which they can develop and apply skills, explore personal attitudes and values, and acquire appropriate knowledge and understanding.
The PSE framework for 7 to 19-year-olds in Wales has five main themes, one of which is Health and emotional well being, this provides opportunities for schools to teach about all aspects of Health and emotional well-being, particularly the key features of being safe. Schools should help learners develop the skills to develop effective relationships, assume greater personal responsibility, keep themselves safe and stress the importance of personal safety.
However, the delivery of the curriculum is delegated to schools and decisions on the precise content of a schools PSE programme lie with head teachers and their governing bodies to ensure that this meets the needs of the children and local community. I announced in October 2013 that as part of the curriculum and assessment review we will revisit the Basic Curriculum, which includes PSE, to ensure that it is broad and balanced and that is fit for the twenty first century.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the When I’m Ready scheme in Wales, including the likely start date? (WAQ66232)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
The Deputy Minister for Social Services (Gwenda Thomas): In my Written Statement I indicated that the ‘Pioneer’ areas would run for up to 12 months and would be supported by a Monitoring Group comprising WLGA, ADSS, Action for Children & the Fostering Network. This group has met 3 times and is making good progress in testing the guidance. It is important to restate that there have been no legislative or operational barriers to preclude young people benefitting from these arrangements now.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What steps is the Minister taking to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning? (WAQ66235)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What funding is available to support carbon monoxide awareness groups? (WAQ66236)
Answer received on 21 January 2014 (WAQ66235 - 36)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): These questions are for the Minister for Housing and Regeneration to answer, and he will write to you.
To ask the Minister for Housing and Regeneration
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Was the Minister advised by any of his officials to 'call in' the Vale of Glamorgan's Deposit Local Development Plan? (WAQ66231)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
The Minister for Housing and Regeneration (Carl Sargeant): No
To ask the Minister for Local Government and Government Business
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): Will the Minister detail the dates of her meetings with the Fire Brigades Union since taking office? (WAQ66240)R
Answer received for publication on 23 January 2014
The Minister for Local Government and Government Business (Lesley Griffiths): The dates of my meetings with the FBU (all in 2013) are as follows:
- 5 June
- 3 July
- 22 October
- 12 November
- 16 December
Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd): What representations has the Minister received from the Leader of Denbighshire County Council regarding the local government settlement 2014-15? (WAQ66241)
Answer received for publication on 16 January 2014
Lesley Griffiths: I have not received any representations from the Leader of Denbighshire County Council regarding the 2014-15 Local Government Settlement.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources and Food
Antoinette Sandbach (North Wales): Will the Minister explain why the review into the resilience of the agricultural industry, carried out by Kevin Roberts, has not been put into the public domain? (WAQ66239)
Answer received for publication on 21 January 2014
The Minister for Natural Resources and Food (Alun Davies): The Independent Review into the Resilience of Welsh Farming has been undertaken in two phases. The interim report and key recommendations were published in July 2013. A summary of his final report and the final key recommendations are in the public domain and available on Welsh Government web site. The full report is due to be released imminently and I will be outlining my response in an oral statement to the National Assembly on 28 January 2014.