Written Assembly Questions tabled on 16 July 2015 for answer on 23 July 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
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister outline the amount of money spent on marketing and public relations by the Welsh Government on 'Carwyn Connect'? (WAQ69002)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister outline if any overnight accommodation will be required for Welsh Government staff involved with the 'Carwyn Connect' events? (WAQ69003)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister outline if Ministerial cars will be used in the travelling to and from 'Carwyn Connect' and if so, provide the cost of this? (WAQ69004)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister outline how many Welsh Government staff have been allocated to the 'Carwyn Connect' events and the respective salaries of those allocated? (WAQ69005)
Answer received on 29 July 2015
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): There has been no additional spend on marketing and PR in relation to these events. In house PR and marketing resources have been used for media relations, production of leaflets/posters and our own digital channels have been used to promote these events.
Two staff will require overnight accommodation for one night for the Rhyl event. No other requirements are currently known. As with most engagements, an official car will be used. It is not possible to calculate an accurate cost for individual journeys. No staff have been allocated specifically to Carwyn Connect, although some staff time has been used in organising the events.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister explain why there is no requirement in the Environment (Wales) Bill for Welsh Ministers to take account of a Future Trends report under the Future Generations Act in preparing a National Natural Resources Policy? (WAQ68971)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister explain why the Bill does not include a timeframe for the development and publication of area statements? (WAQ68972)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, is the Minister satisfied that the provisions on area statements provide the further information stakeholders requested in their consultation responses to the White Paper? (WAQ68973)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister explain why section 5 amends NRW's purpose to "seek to achieve" as opposed to "seek to ensure" sustainable management? (WAQ68974)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister clarify why the Bill amends section 5 of the Establishment Order to require NRW to have regard to Welsh Government guidance in discharging its "general purpose" instead of its "functions"? (WAQ68975)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister clarify why a broader power for Natural Resources Wales to enter into land management agreements with landowners is needed? (WAQ68976)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister explain how the requirement to report on policies to deliver carbon budgets under section 39 relates to the requirement in Section 9(2) for the National Natural Resources Policy to set out what action needs to be taken in relation to climate change? (WAQ68977)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to Section 42 of the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister confirm what the timeframe will be for the statement outlining proposals to compensate for any excess in the final year of a carbon budget? (WAQ68978)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister explain why no provisions have been included in the Bill for adapting to climate change? (WAQ68979)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, what consideration has been given to placing a duty on public bodies to contribute towards emissions reduction targets to address climate change? (WAQ68980)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister set out the reasons why the independent review of the current single use of carrier bags charge has not been completed in time to inform the scrutiny of the Bill? (WAQ68981)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister confirm whether or not the Welsh Government intends to use the provisions in the Bill to direct the net proceeds from the current single use carrier bag charge to charitable purposes? (WAQ68982)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to section 59 of the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister explain why is not a requirement for regulations to set out record keeping requirements for sellers? (WAQ68983)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister set out whether he will consider retaining the publication of records exemption for non-taxable retailers selling fewer than 1,000 bags a year? (WAQ68984)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister clarify whether local authorities would be expected to continue to administer any new carrier bag regulations introduced under this Bill and if so, has he considered providing local authorities with additional resources? (WAQ68985)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to section 66 of the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister clarify whether the he currently intends to use powers to specify increased or new separation standards for paper, glass, metal and plastic? (WAQ68986)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister clarify whether any new separation requirements introduced would be subject to the same tests currently included in the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 in terms of being necessary; and technically, environmentally and economically practicable? (WAQ68987)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister set out whether the Welsh Government will publish codes of practice or guidance for any new requirements introduced? (WAQ68988)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister set out what consideration has been given to the practical implications of requiring non-domestic premises to present waste for collection separately? (WAQ68989)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister outline what mitigation measures could be put in place for small businesses who could face an increase in costs? (WAQ68990)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister outline what consideration has been given as to how the provisions could affect the relative competitiveness of Welsh businesses? (WAQ68991)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister set out how a ban on the disposing of food waste to sewers by non-domestic premises would be enforced and who would be responsible for enforcement action? (WAQ68992)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister set out how a ban on certain materials from energy from waste facilities would be enforced and monitored? (WAQ68993)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister explain what assessment processes the Welsh Government will have in place to ensure that a ban on sending certain materials to incineration is the most environmentally effective option? (WAQ68994)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister confirm whether any additional income generated by NRW through the charging of additional fees will be retained for the provision of marine licensing services to users? (WAQ68995)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): With regards to the Environment (Wales) Bill, will the Minister clarify the timeframe for the introduction of a new charging regime for marine licensing? (WAQ68996)
Answer received on 29 July 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant):
The Environment Bill is currently undergoing scrutiny by the Assembly and the questions tabled follow those being raised within the context of the Bill's scrutiny by the Committee. The Chair of the Committee has written seeking further information and I will be addressing the issues raised in my response in line with the Committee's deadline. I will therefore address the issues raised by the Member within my response to the Committee as part of the Assembly's scrutiny process. I will also be providing further evidence on the Bill when I attend the Environment and Sustainability Committee on 16 September.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Would an SSSI area over 50HA also be in receipt of Basic Payment and, if so, what are the total resources being directed at such sites? (WAQ68997)
Answer received on 29 July 2015
The Deputy Minister for Farming and Food (Rebecca Evans): Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments are made to all eligible land where the claimant holds sufficient BPS entitlements whether or not it has SSSI designation. BPS payments are not due to be calculated until early in the EC payment period (December 2015-June2016) so I am unable to provide any data on such payments at this stage.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What is the total financial impact on the dairy sector in Wales of your policy announcement on CAP Basic Payment Scheme? (WAQ68998)
Answer received on 29 July 2015
Rebecca Evans: The total impact on the dairy sector of introducing a flat payment rate by 2019, coupled with a redistributive payment for the first 54 hectares, will not be known until all 2015 claims have been processed.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How does financial compensation in your CAP Basic Payment Scheme reflect the productive capacity of the land? (WAQ69001)
Answer received on 29 July 2015
Rebecca Evans: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will b put on the internet.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister detail the biggest financial loss, on either land or property, which the Welsh Government has experienced since 1999? (WAQ68997)
Answer received on 24 July 2015
The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt):
Welsh Government recognises a financial loss on disposal of either land or property when the receipts are less than the net value of the asset in our accounts.
A review by officials of accounting records has shown that there are no financial losses recorded in respect of the disposal of land or property by the Welsh Government since 2010. These accounting records are only available from 2010 because regulations require their retention for a period of six years and no longer.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Will the Minister provide an update on the All Wales Taskforce for reducing the number of looked after children in Wales? (WAQ69000)
Answer received on 29 July 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): My officials have been working with the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS Cymru) to design and develop a national approach for looked-after children. A multi-agency leadership group will be set up next month to oversee work to reduce numbers and ensure strategies are in place to improve outcomes. The first stage of this work will be completed by March 2016.