Answers issued to Members on 23 June 2009

[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Contents

Questions to the First Minister

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

Questions to the First Minister

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Given that the Welsh Assembly Government will have new offices in Llandudno Junction, what plans does the Assembly Government have for the future of its offices on Dinerth Road in Colwyn Bay? (WAQ54381)

The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): When the new Welsh Assembly Government office in Llandudno Junction opens, the expectation is that Dinerth Road, Colwyn Bay office will be surplus to requirements. Officials are currently working on potential disposal strategies for the Dinerth Road site and any strategy adopted will be fully compliant with all relevant procedures and rules on the disposal of surplus Government assets.

Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Does the Minister have any plans to increase the Welsh Assembly Government’s staffing presence in China, India or other emerging economies? (WAQ54349)

The Deputy First Minister: In China, my officials are considering the recruitment of a mandarin speaker to replace the Head of the China Office. There are currently no plans to recruit additional staff in India.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What specific measurements does the Minister use to measure the success of the Welsh Assembly Government’s offices abroad? (WAQ54351)

The Deputy First Minister: I ensure that my officials maintain close control over the economic development returns, both in terms of inward investment and trade, delivered by overseas offices occupied by IBW staff. The measurements include inward investment jobs delivered, the quality of those jobs and the value of trade supported.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): For how many years does the Welsh Assembly Government anticipate that it will have a base in each of the countries in which it currently has a presence? (WAQ54352)

The Deputy First Minister: I will retain an economic development presence in overseas markets provided that they continue to deliver results for Wales.

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Does the Minister have any plans to reduce the Welsh Assembly Government’s staffing presence in the US? (WAQ54353)

The Deputy First Minister: No.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail (a) how many motor vehicle accidents (major and minor) including those to pedestrians have occurred in the vicinity of Ysgol Syr John Rhys Ponterwyd (1km either side of the school) since 2000 and (b) the amount of these which have included children? (WAQ54374)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail (a) how many motor vehicle (major and minor) including those to pedestrians have occurred in the vicinity of Ysgol Mynach (1km either side of the school) since 2000 and (b) the amount of these which have included children? (WAQ54375)

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail (a) how many motor vehicle accidents (major and minor) including those to pedestrians have occurred in the vicinity of Ysgol Capel Bangor (1km either side of the school) since 2000 and (b) the amount of these which have included children? (WAQ54376)

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): The table below shows the number of road traffic accident casualties for children (aged 15 and under) and adults (aged 16 and over) by the severity of casualty. It shows all these casualties that took place in a square, centred on each school, extending 1km in both North-South and East-West directions from that school.

Road traffic casualties(1) within 1km vicinity(2) of specific schools in Ceredigion: Children(3) and adults(4): 2000 to 2007

Ysgol Syr John Rhys(5)

Mynach C.P.School(6)

Ysgol Gynradd Penllwyn(7)

Source: Welsh Assembly Government

Notes

1. Road accident and casualty data are taken from Stats19 personal injury road accident returns from the police

2. All casualties that took place in a square, centred on each school, extending 1km both North and South, and 1km both East and West, from that school.

3. Aged 0-15.

4. Aged 16 and over.

5. Ysgol Syr John Rhys, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth, SY23 3JX.

6. Mynach CP School, Pontarfynach, Aberystwyth, SY23 4QZ.

7. Ysgol Gynradd Penllwyn, Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth, SY23 3LP.

Questions to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make as statement on the World School Council scheme and what support the Welsh Assembly Government can offer pupils and schools taking part in the scheme? (WAQ54367)

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Jane Hutt): I commend the initiative of pupils at Builth Wells High School in forming and running the World School Council—a peer-led organisation, giving young people opportunities to discuss and act on issues that affect them globally. The Welsh Assembly Government will support this initiative through awareness-raising and networks.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail (a) how often are Health and Safety Inspections carried out in small schools in Wales and (b) how the responsible local authority publishes this information? (WAQ54372)

Jane Hutt: Generally Schools undertake physical inspections of their environments at a frequency based on the size of the premises, numbers of pupils, and degree of risk, this may be daily, weekly but at least once per term.

Specialist inspections (e.g. gas safety) and statutory testing (e.g. lifts) are contracted out by the Local Authority on behalf of the school.

Local Authorities undertake a rolling programme of planned inspections and audits, the frequency of which is dependent on the size of the authority, number and size of buildings to be visited.

Where appropriate, Local Authorities also undertake ad-hoc visits, and act as a point of contact for specialist advice and guidance for schools.

Information from schools inspections are not published, Local Authority Inspection or Audit Reports are issued to the Head Teacher, Board of Governors and Directors of Education only.

Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): How does the Welsh Assembly Government intend to meet the specific recommendations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child? (WAQ54385)

Jane Hutt: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Committee’s Concluding Observations were received in October 2008 following the 2nd review of UK State Party progress, and full consideration is being given to them. Following the 'Let’s Get it Right!’ Conference in March 2009 in Cardiff the Welsh Assembly Government has been working with our key partners and stakeholders, including children and young people themselves, to prioritise Welsh action on the Concluding Observations, which together with our existing Welsh Priorities will then form the basis of an agreed 5 year action plan for Wales. This will form part of a wider action plan for the UK, both of which will be launched towards the end of 2009. I am confident that this approach will lead to significant progress over the life of the Plan towards full implementation of the UNCRC for every child and young person in Wales.

This is a cross-cutting policy area spread across all ministerial portfolios and implementation of the UNCRC requires action from a broad range of partner organisations and agencies across Wales in addition to the Welsh Assembly Government itself. Officials within the Children and Young People’s Strategy Division are currently working to identify and agree lead responsibilities in taking actions against the plan forward and they intend to work across WAG and with our partners and stakeholders to identify the most effective ways of progressing these actions.

Welsh Assembly Government officials have also been working closely with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations (Northern Ireland and Scotland). We are working together to identify common areas for action such as the general implementation measures, non devolved areas and a coordinated action plan for the UK.

As Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, I was delighted to be asked to host the first annual meeting of the 4 Nations’ Ministers for Children and Young People in Cardiff this month. These meetings are a positive move and provide further opportunity for supporting more rapid progress towards implementation of the convention across the UK State Party.

The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to working in partnership to achieve the most positive outcomes for children and young people in Wales and across the UK.

Within the Welsh Assembly Government, my officials work closely with policy lead officials from other departments and have contributed to a number of policies led from other WAG departments to ensure a consistent message is being given about Wales’ unique approach to rights based policy making for children and young people in Wales.

Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs

Brynle Williams (North Wales): Will the Minister outline her responsibilities for food labelling? (WAQ54384)

The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): My remit includes food marketing and development through the supply chain. I see labelling as an important tool for marketing Welsh products to consumers both nationally and internationally as they make their food choices, not only by price and flavour, but also by origin and value for healthy eating.  

The labelling of agri-food products is governed by complex European regulations and statutory instruments. The European Commission is currently seeking to simplify and clarify regulations. The lead responsibility for food labelling rests with the Food Standards Agency, and my officials are working increasing closely with them to ensure that the interests of the industry in Wales are fully represented. The Welsh Assembly Government remains fully engaged in the current review of the EU’s agricultural product quality and labelling regulations, and has worked closely with the other UK administrations to provide the UK response to the Commission’s Green Paper. State aid rules on labelling are also complex and restrict government support for national branding.

There is a wide range of guidance on voluntary labelling for the industry which builds on the regulations and the latest information available on other aspects nutrition, which is updated regularly by the Food Standards Agency.

The branding of products, to enhance product recognition, and the development of protected food names, certified quality schemes and means to enhance traceability are used to market produce and food products. Interest from producers in Protected Food Names (PFNs) is limited, although discussions have been held between officials and fishing representatives to scope out possible PFNs for fish and shellfish in Wales; Welsh Cider and Welsh Perry are currently under development as Protected Geographical Indicators, one of the PFNs. We have Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef PGI status which is proving successful in marketing the best of Welsh produce. The Wales True Taste brand has proved positive and the high profile awards continue to attract positive attention to the best food and drink offered in Wales.

There are diverse issues arising from labelling and it will be important that when introducing any changes to the labels on our food we will have to consider the needs of businesses and consumers alike. Not all producers may find provenance labelling helpful and may find it difficult to meet the expense involved, and this needs to be balanced with demands from consumers who need clear information to inform their food and drink choices. At a recent summit held in Edinburgh with Ministerial colleagues from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland it was agreed that all four administrations would share the information and research we have where appropriate in order to inform the way forward.

Welsh Assembly Government works across Departments in recognition of the importance of labelling, cutting across to the Welsh Assembly Government health agenda and supporting initiatives such as Appetite for Life Action Plan and the Quality of Food Strategy. Linking in with provenance issues, I have recently launched the Local Sourcing Action Plan to support the production and promotion of Welsh food and drink. I recently re-appointed the Food and Drink Advisory Partnership for Wales which will develop a new strategy for food and drink from Wales which will consider the issues of food labelling include labelling. The draft strategy is expected to be ready by the end of this year.