Written Assembly Questions tabled on 15 September 2015 for answer on 22 September 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
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What steps has the Welsh Government taken to ensure that the Welsh language is part of the social fabric of Cardiff? (WAQ69159)
Answer received on 22 September 2015
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones):
I recognise the importance of the Welsh language being heard and seen in our Capital City. This recognition is demonstrated by the capital funding, worth £400,000, provided by the Welsh Government to develop a Welsh language centre in partnership with Cardiff Council's in the city's Old Library, due to open in December. The centre will act as a hub for the Welsh language in the city and host numerous social, educational and economic activities. We also fund Menter Caerdydd (£146,736) to promote the use of Welsh by promoting and organising activities across the city throughout the year. This includes specific funding to hold 'Tafwyl' (£20,000), the annual festival in the city to celebrate the Welsh language. This year the event was held over two days which proved successful with over 30,000 visitors in attendance.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the First Minister please advise on which organisations and persons attended his summit on the refugee crisis? (WAQ69168)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What discussions has the First Minister held with local authorities in Wales regarding the refugee crisis? (WAQ69169)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What considerations has the First Minister made for cross-party consultation on the refugee crisis? (WAQ69170)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the First Minister please advise on which organisations and persons were invited to make representations at his summit on the refugee crisis? (WAQ69171)
Answer received on 22 September 2015
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones):
On Thursday I chaired the Refugee Summit, which brought together key high level stakeholders to ensure Wales is prepared to support refugees from Syria. This included representatives from the Welsh Local Government Association, the Wales Strategic Migration Partnership, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, the Police, Social Services and Health, as well as the Welsh Refugee Council and British Red Cross.
The Summit included statements from myself, as well as the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty and Minister for Public Services. Councillor Bob Wellington of the WLGA also spoke before all stakeholders around the table were invited to contribute.
The WLGA has coordinated discussions with Local Authorities across Wales and presented an overview of those initial discussions at the Summit. Discussions with Local Government will continue as the response to this crisis intensifies.
Following the Summit, the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty will now chair a Syrian Refugee Taskforce which will oversee the co-ordination of preparations to receive Syrian refugees as part of the Voluntary Persons Relocation Scheme. The Minister will make a statement to the National Assembly on 6 October, outlining our planned response in Wales.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement regarding the potential Marine Permit Licence breach, relating to failures by the appointed contractor to carry out sample testing of each lorry load of beach shingle imported as part of Conwy County Borough Council's coastal protection works at Llandudno North Shore in 2014? (WAQ69160)
Answer received on 25 September 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant): Marine licences are monitored and inspected by Marine Enforcement Officers to ensure compliance with marine licence conditions. I can confirm that there have been no prosecutions in regard to breach of marine licence conditions issued to Conwy County Borough Council as part of the County's coastal protection works at Llandudno North Shore.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Elin Jones (Ceredigion): What progress has been made on implementing the new road safety measures on the A44 outlined in the Minister's written statement of 20 November, 2014? (WAQ69161)
Answer received on 22 September 2015
The Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport (Edwina Hart): We have adopted a multi-agency approach to improving safety on the A44, which is already beginning to have a positive impact. Training has been provided to motorcyclists and other high risk road user groups to help improve awareness and behaviours. We have installed new signing and improved the road markings at local collision sites, and have implemented part-time 20mph zones outside two schools.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): How many Welsh Government employees travelled between Cardiff and Llandudno Junction 30 or more times in 2012/12; 2013/14; and 2014/15? (WAQ69164)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What was the total cost for journeys undertaken by Welsh Government staff between Cardiff and Llandudno Junction in 2012/12; 2013/14; and 2014/15? (WAQ69165)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): How many journeys were undertaken by Welsh Government staff between Cardiff and Llandudno Junction in 2012/12; 2013/14; and 2014/15? (WAQ69166)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What was the frequency for each mode of transport used for journeys undertaken by Welsh Government staff between Cardiff and Llandudno Junction in 2012/12; 2013/14; and 2014/15? (WAQ69167)
Answer received on 22 September 2015
The Minsiter for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt): The current systems operated by the Welsh Government do not identify information at the level requested. To provide this information would require a manual review of all invoiced costs, procurement card transactions and the travel records held locally by individual members of staff. Therefore, the information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
To ask the Minister for Public Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline the intended annual budget for the Public Service Staff Commission? (WAQ69162)
Answer received on 22 September 2015
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews):
The running costs for the non-statutory Public Services Staff Commission have been estimated at £560,000 per annum once it is fully operational.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister advise as to the full salaries and remuneration arrangements for the Public Service Staff Commission? (WAQ69163)
Answer received on 22 September 2015
Leighton Andrews:
The Chair and Members of the Public Services Staff Commission are remunerated in accordance with the standard remuneration rates for sponsored bodies. The Chair receives a daily rate of £478 per day and the Members receive £366 per day. Posts were advertised on the basis of the Chair working up to eight days a month and Members, three days a month.