Written Assembly Questions tabled on 14 June 2016 for answer on 21 June 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
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What assessment has been made of global recognition of Wales? (WAQ70398)
Answer received on 21 June 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): There is no definitive or objective measure of global recognition. Global recognition of Wales can be advanced through sport, business, education, culture and tourism.
The International Passenger Survey, undertaken by the Office for National Statistics, indicates that Wales attracted 970,000 international visits in 2015, up 4.1% in comparison with 2014; and related expenditure rose by 11.4% to a record £410 million. Wales has seen 10.4% growth in visits and 25% growth in expenditure from international markets between 2011 and 2015.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What is the import/export value of Welsh trade with each European state, including non-EU members? (WAQ70397)
Answer received on 21 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates):
For the year up to March 2016, the value of exports from Wales was estimated at £12,058m, of which £4,800m was to European countries. Data for each country are published on StatsWales.
Data on imports is published by HMRC, as part of the Regional Trade Statistics statistical release, however it is important to note that HMRC highlight that this data is of limited quality due to issues when matching to regions (see the Quality report of the HMRC release for more detail). Estimates for imports to Wales for the year up to March 2016 were £7,004m, of which £3,555m was from European countries.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on the removal of the Independent Domestic Violence Advice Grant? (WAQ70399)
Answer received on 21 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant):
The Welsh Government has not removed a specific grant to Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs). Funding for IDVAs was included in the Domestic Abuse Services Grant from 2011 - 2015. Each Community Safety Partnership received £10,000 as part of that Grant to use towards IDVA provision.
Funding for 2016-17 has been allocated to Community Safety Partnerships for the purposes of implementation of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015, although there has been no specific allocation for IDVAs within the grant for 2016-17.
All CSPs have continued to provide funding for IDVAs at the same or increased levels as previously.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on what steps he is taking to provide advisory and refuge facilities for male victims suffering from domestic abuse in north Wales? (WAQ70400)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on what steps he is taking to support male victims suffering from domestic abuse in north Wales? (WAQ70401)
Answer received on 24 June 2016
Carl Sargeant: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.