​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 14 February 2017 for answer on 21 February 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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implications for his economy and infrastructure portfolio of CETA - The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada? (WAQ72988)

Answer received on 20 February 2017

Ken Skates: Under CETA, customs duties for almost all imports of goods originating within the EU or Canada will be eliminated within 3, 5 or 7 years.  All tariff lines on industrial products will be eliminated.  There will be a time-limited and reciprocal delay on some automotive products all of which will be eliminated within 7 years.

Welsh goods exports to Canada accounted for 1.8% of our total exports in 2015. The elimination of tariffs on industrial products is positive news for our exporters and we will proactively seek to support businesses in exploring opportunities to boost our exports.

CETA has far more restrictions for the services market than it does for the goods market.  Canada and the EU reserve the right to retain restrictions in certain areas including several relevant to my portfolio, for example communication services, transport services, business services and energy.  

Eluned Morgan (Mid and West Wales): How many people currently work in the Welsh Government's Economy & Culture department? (WAQ72990)

Eluned Morgan (Mid and West Wales): How many Welsh Government employees, specifically working in the Economy and Culture department, are based in Mid & West Wales? (WAQ72992)

Answer received on 20 February 2017

Ken Skates: Staffing matters within the Welsh Government are the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary. I have asked her to write to you separately with the information you have requested.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline how much money the Welsh Government has spent to date on business rates and other such ongoing costs for the Kancoat site in Swansea? (WAQ72994)

Answer received on 24 February 2017

Ken Skates: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
 
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an estimate for the Welsh Government's expected expenditure in returning the Kancoat site to its original state as defined under the lease agreement? (WAQ72995)

Answer received on 22 February 2017

Ken Skates: At the expiry or earlier termination of the lease, the Welsh Government is required to return the property in a condition required by the lease. The cost estimate for this work is dependant upon discussions with the landlord, administrator and any prospective occupiers and is commercially sensitive in nature.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the considerations of the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) to develop a tertiary paediatric rheumatology service in Wales, and what advice he has provided to the Committee with regard to such a service being included in the WHSSC Integrated Commissioning Plan for 2017/18? (WAQ72998)

Answer received on 21 February 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething):This was one of the matters that was discussed when I met Ann Lloyd, the Chair of WHSSC on 19 January. WHSSC has confirmed their intention to undertake a comprehensive review of paediatric specialised services for the Welsh population in the first half of the financial year 2017/18.  The purpose of this work is to review the needs of the Welsh population against all the key paediatric specialties and assess any gaps in provision against demand, service quality and specification. 

 WHSSC will involve patient groups and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) in the review to capture their perspective of service need and experience.  This work will produce a service strategy and plan which will inform the next planning round, the Project Initiation Document for which is going to Joint Committee in March. It is intended that work on the 2018-19 projects will commence in April.  
 
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline how the Welsh Government is working with all public services to develop sustainable and timely support for those with autism spectrum disorder/Asperger's syndrome in Wales, and will he advise as to what consideration he will give to bringing forward legislation in this regard during the Fifth Assembly term? (WAQ72999)

Answer received on 21 February 2017

The Minister for Social Services and Public Health(Rebecca Evans): I am responding due to my responsibilities for autism.

I am confident that the new legislation and policies we have introduced will achieve real advances in services and support for people with autism. The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 which commenced implementation in April last year will transform the way we meet the needs of all people with care and support needs in Wales, including people with autism and their carers. The Act puts the individual at the heart of decisions about their own care and support including defining their own wellbeing outcomes. Specific reference is made to ensuring the needs of people with autism are identified and addressed. 

The refreshed Autistic Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan published on 30^th November 2016 was accompanied by a delivery plan to monitor implementation and measure the progress we are making. The key actions in the plan will be delivered through an all-age National Integrated Autism Service which is being rolled out across Wales. This is backed by £6 million Welsh Government investment over three years which will be delivered through our Regional Partnership Boards. These boards were formed under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and will ensure health boards, local authorities and the third sector are working together. The service will see new specialist teams in every region providing adult diagnosis, support in the community and advice and information for adults with autism, parents and carers and professionals. The first four regions: Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf, Gwent and Powys will offer this service from June this year and the roll out will be completed across Wales by March 2019. 

The new integrated autism service will sit alongside improvements we are making to neurodevelopmental diagnosis and support for children through the Together for Children and Young People programme which is being supported by £2m funding each year. We are setting health boards a new waiting time target of 26 weeks from referral to first assessment appointment for both children and adults and will be collecting this data from the summer. 

The Additional learning Needs (ALN) system being developed to replace the existing Special Educational Need system will provide for a radical new approach to supporting learners with ALN across the 0 to 25 age range including those with autism. The ALN Transformation Programme, already underway, is delivering improvements in practice now, including the new Learning with Autism primary school programme, launched last March, which was very well received. Similar resources are now being developed for early years, secondary schools and further education.

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act and our new National Integrated Autism Service will work alongside the new refreshed Strategic Action Plan and Additional Learning Needs reforms to achieve long lasting improvements to the services and support available for children, young people and adults with autism and their families. Nonetheless, the Welsh Government has made a commitment to consider, in the future, the need for autism legislation if gaps in services and support exist that can only be addressed through new legislation.  
 
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What action is the Cabinet Secretary taking to ensure that all patients attending a pre-op assessment receive their operation within the appropriate timeframe, without the need for a repeat assessment? (WAQ73000)

Answer received on 21 February 2017

Vaughan Gething:  The Welsh Government expects all health boards in Wales to deliver pre-assessment for theatre services in line with the principles set out in the Guide to Good Practice.  It is for health boards to use this information to monitor performance through this process. As part of our theatre efficiency work we are looking at avoidable late notice cancellations, which may include an element of the effectiveness of pre-operative assessment.
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with UK Defra Ministers on pending bi-lateral trade talks with New Zealand with regard to Welsh agri-food produce? (WAQ72986)

Answer received on 20 February 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): I have not discussed specific bi-lateral trade talks with UK Defra Ministers.  I have, however, in discussions with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsom MP and Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Food, George Eustice MP, raised the significant potential risks to our agri-food sector associated with trade deals with countries such as New Zealand.
 
Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implications for her environment and rural affairs portfolio of CETA - The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada? (WAQ72987)

Answer received on 20 February 2017

Lesley Griffiths: This is an example of one of the many trade deals with Third Countries negotiated by the EU.

Many customs duties between Europe and Canada will disappear as a result of this trade agreement. For example Europe will be able to export over 90% of its agricultural and food products to Canada duty-free.

This, alongside the fact that Canada will recognise the European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is welcome news for our exporters and there may be opportunities to boost our Welsh lamb exports.

The deal also limits the quota of tariff reduced beef which can be imported. Beef entering the EU from Canada is limited to a tonnage equivalent to only 0.6% of the continent's current consumption.

A Trade Development Visit to Toronto in September involved 14 Welsh food and drink companies. The visit provided companies with an insight into the Canadian market and opportunities to meet national buyers to secure new export business into this important market.

Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether she plans to review and publish an update on the Wales Marine and Fisheries Strategic Action Plan? (WAQ72989)

Answer received on 20 February 2017

Lesley Griffiths: The Wales Marine and Fisheries Strategic Action Plan set out the principles and priority work areas for the previous administration.  With the Welsh National Marine Plan and the Natural Resources Policy being published later this year coupled with our commitment to produce a Fisheries policy tailored to Wales' needs for the future, I do not intend to revisit or update the Strategic Action Plan.

As I mentioned in my response to a recent question about an action plan, I will write to the member on this matter.

Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implications of private companies competing against council-wide waste and recycling contracts on a) recycling targets and b) the risk of illegal dumping? (WAQ72993)

Answer received on 21 February 2017

Lesley Griffiths: There is nothing to stop private companies from offering services that compete with Local Authority waste and recycling services. However, this competition usually takes place for trade customers, whilst householders usually make use of the waste services provided by their Local Authority.
Where private companies offer waste and recycling services, they must ensure that they are fully compliant with all applicable regulations relating to the collection, carrying, treatment and disposal of wastes. Householders and trade customers must also comply with their duty of care responsibilities when contracting for commercial waste and recycling services. 
As regards the operation of trade waste services, Local Authorities try to encourage high levels of recycling amongst their trade customers, though it should be noted that trade waste recycling levels are typically lower than those from residents.
 Where Local Authority trade customers move to being served by private companies the effect on recycling performance will, if anything, be beneficial to the Local Authority. This is because, typically, the non-recyclable material which it no longer collects weighs more than what is recycled.
Where private companies offer waste collection services to residents the uptake is usually so small that it makes financial viability difficult. One exception is with house clearances, which provide sufficient revenues for waste companies to be able to offer such services at a profit. There is evidence that some operators are operating illegally and have collected waste and then illegally disposed of it through fly-tipping.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) regulates waste management activities and together with Local Authorities works to tackle fly-tipping and illegal waste disposal. Local Authorities and NRW will prosecute illegal operators where justified by the evidence.
 
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): What progress is the Welsh Government making in taking forward the review of the All Wales Child Protection Procedures and corresponding adult protection procedures and to what extent have the relevant review groups been involved in this process? (WAQ72996)

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Can the Welsh Government confirm that the revised All Wales Child Protection Procedures will be entirely separate and distinct from the All Wales Adult Protection Procedures? (WAQ72997)

Answer received on 21 February 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant):  Whilst the Welsh Government will fund this work, the procedures will be developed and maintained through a partnership approach with practitioners through the Safeguarding Boards that will use them in practice.  The Association of Directors of Social Services will lead this work and the intention is to develop the procedures for adults and children in one document.
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on guidance provided to Town and Community Councils in Wales in relation to engaging auditors? (WAQ73002)

Answer received on 20 February 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): The Auditor General for Wales is responsible for appointing external auditors to Town and Community Councils in Wales.

One Voice Wales and the Society of Local Council Clerks publish the 'Practitioners' Guide to Governance and Accountability for Local Councils' in consultation with the Local Councils Audit Liaison Group. 
 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How many learners undertook a Welsh baccalaureate qualification in each of the past 5 years and what were the results? (WAQ72985)

Answer received on 20 February 2017

The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): The WJEC have provided data on the number of learners who undertook a Welsh Baccalaureate in each of the last five years and the results which is outlined in the tables below.

Advanced Diploma

Intermediate and Foundation Diploma (includes pre and post-16 candidates)

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on funding for Careers Wales and advise as to how he intends to ensure that it continues to provide support to young people who need it? (WAQ73001)

Answer received on 24 February 2017

The Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language (Alun Davies):  I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.