Written Assembly Questions tabled on 17 June 2015 for answer on 24 June 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): What land or property has been purchased, sold or leased by Mr. David Goldstone during the course of his employment with the Welsh Government? (WAQ68794)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What assurances did the Welsh Government seek from Mr. David Goldstone prior to and during his employment that he would not use information made privy to him for personal financial gain in relation to the purchase, sale or leasing of property or land in the future? (WAQ68796)
I will also be answering the below on behalf of the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm whether Mr David Goldstone declared all pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, prior to and during his employment with the Welsh Government? (WAQ68792)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Welsh Government make public all declarations of interest (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) made by Mr. David Goldstone prior to and during his employment with the Welsh Government? (WAQ68793)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What land or property purchased, sold or leased by Mr. David Goldstone during the course of his employment with the Welsh Government, is located next to or adjacent to land currently owned by the Welsh Government? (WAQ68795)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): As these are contractual matters I have asked the Permanent Secretary to write to you to respond to your questions.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources
Elin Jones (Ceredigion): Will the Minister detail the financial support that the Welsh Government currently gives the Dyfi Osprey Project and will that support continue? (WAQ68811)
Answer received on 29 June 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant):
This year Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust has received £6,000 of Welsh Government grant funding via Environment Wales. This grant was awarded by Environment Wales to contribute towards the cost of employing a full time volunteer development co-ordinator at the Dyfi Osprey Project.
Following careful consideration I have decided to extend funding of the management grant allocation currently provided via Environment Wales for a period of 18 months.
As a result of my decision Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust will receive funding from Welsh Government for this specific element of their work until the end of March 2017.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister confirm that the Common Agricultural Policy reform IT project will be delivered on time, at the current budget and to the required specification? (WAQ68797)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
The Deputy Minister for Farming and Food (Rebecca Evans): Yes the Common Agricultural Policy IT project will be delivered on time, to budget and specification.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline how the outcomes of the consultation on the Basic Payment Scheme will impact on the Common Agricultural Policy reform IT budget? (WAQ68798)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: Impact assessments have been made, and plans have been put in place for different possible outcomes for the consultation. The Judicial Review for moorlands has increased the cost of delivering the BPS IT solution, the full extent of the cost will not be known until the consultation is closed and I have decided on the payment model to be implemented.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline how the latest estimate of the cost of the Common Agricultural Policy reform IT project compares to the original estimates? (WAQ68799)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: The latest estimate ranges between £22.2m to £23.3m depending on the payment model decided upon, this compares to our original estimate of £21.5m. In comparison, England & Scotland have both spent more than £150m each on their CAP IT Programmes and both have had to extend the BPS application window due to IT issues. Northern Ireland's budget was £54m.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What consideration has been given to the implications of a national ban on genetically modified food and feed for Welsh agriculture? (WAQ68800)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Rebecca Evans:
Policy concerning genetically modified (GM) food and feed falls within the Health and Social Services portfolio. The Food Standards Agency (FSA), accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, through the Deputy Minister for Health is the central competent authority for Wales (and the UK) in terms of EU law relating to food and animal feed.
My officials work closely with counterparts in the FSA and Department for Health and Social Services when considering proposed policy and its implications in this area.
The Welsh Government acknowledges that, to date, no proposed grounds to restrict the use of GM food and feed have been suggested by the European Commission. Any proposed restriction would rely on measures that are in conformity with European Union (EU) law, reasoned, proportional and non-discriminatory, and in addition based on compelling grounds.
This means taking a precautionary approach to the potential impacts of new technologies like GM. We will consider the use of GM food and feed and any resulting implications on a case by case basis, on the basis of the science available, the impact on health and the environment, as well as socio-economic factors.
The Deputy Minister for Health will be responding in writing to the Environment & Sustainability Committee, following its request, on this and related queries by
7 July.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What funding has the Welsh Government made available to deliver the improvements programme in veterinary infrastructure? (WAQ68801)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: The programme to support the development of veterinary infrastructure in Wales includes a range of activity including development of laboratory services in Wales and support to our vets, in both the public and private sectors.
Last year I made available some £80,000 for refurbishment, equipment and staff recruitment to the laboratory in the Carmarthen Veterinary Investigation Centre to facilitate to the introduction of TB Gamma Interferon testing into that facility. Over £130k per annum is allocated for expenditure with third-party suppliers for the provision of first-opinion post-mortem examinations and related carcase collection services in Wales. These services are an important element of the scanning surveillance network for new and re-emerging animal disease threats in Wales and Great Britain.
To support the delivery of our policies in Wales, for the 2014/15 financial year, the Welsh Government made available nearly £13m to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Of that amount, over £5.6m was paid to Official Veterinarians (OVs), private sector veterinary practices contracted to deliver work on behalf of Government. As of 1st April this year, all new TB testing and other OV work in Wales is being undertaken by two Welsh suppliers, Menter a Busnes (North Wales) and Iechyd Da (Gwledig) Ltd (South Wales). A further contract was awarded to Improve International for the provision of OV training.
There is an on-going commitment to develop and support services in Wales and we continue to work with our partners in the public and private sector to take this forward
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline what help will be available through Farming Connect to support farm businesses that experience a reduction in their direct payments? (WAQ68802)
Answer received on 29 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: The support provided through Farming Connect is designed to help deliver the vision the Welsh Government shares with the agriculture industry of modern, professional and profitable farm businesses against a backdrop of what will be, for some farm businesses in Wales, reducing levels of direct support from the taxpayer via the Basic Payment Scheme.
I would encourage all farmers in Wales who have yet to engage with Farming Connect to do so. Within the Farming Connect portfolio there is a range of important support mechanisms including knowledge transfer, training and on-farm one-to-one advice that will help farmers to manage their businesses successfully and profitably.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): As a result of the changes to the funding of Environment Wales, will the Minister make a statement on which organisations in Montgomeryshire will no longer receive funding? (WAQ68803)
Answer received on 29 June 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant):
This year 5 organisations in Montgomeryshire have received Welsh Government grant funding via Envrionment Wales. These are: The Centre for Alternative Technology, Cwm Harry Land Trust, Dyfi Land Share, Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation Trust and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.
Following careful consideration I have decided to extend funding of the management grant allocation currently provided via Environment Wales for a period of 18 months.
As a result of my decision the Centre for Alternative Technology and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust will receive funding from Welsh Government for this specific element of their work until the end of March 2017.
I am not extending other types of grants currently provided via Environment Wales. As part of the new grant funding arrangements Environment Wales will no longer be able to distribute funding as they and others have previously done however the Environment Wales partnership organisations are eligible to apply for core funding.
Capacity building support will continue to be funded for smaller groups and organisations. Furthermore such groups will be able to apply for project funding themselves under the arrangements that I have set in place.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on stakeholder concerns that elements of Glastir remain complex and inefficient? (WAQ68804)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Rebecca Evans:
Officials have worked closely with stakeholders to reduce unnecessary complexity in Glastir and I established a strategic communication plan to ensure better understanding of the scheme and its objectives. Compliance with European regulations governing rural development payments does nevertheless necessitate some element of paperwork and controls processes to avoid the risk of disallowance. Since the 2012 stocktake Glastir has grown in popularity and now has more participants than any previous agri-environment scheme in Wales.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What actions has the Welsh Government taken to influence the negotiations on the EU organic regulations? (WAQ68805)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Rebecca Evans:
Welsh Government officials have worked closely with Defra to establish negotiation lines for the UK delegation. In March I met the UK delegation in Brussels at pre-meeting before the main Agriculture and Fishery Council where I contributed directly to establishing the negotiation strategy. The UK position has been held and I welcome the new compromise text that was accepted at the Council meeting on 16 June.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government is balancing support for environmental improvements and farm business support with regards to the Rural Development Plan? (WAQ68806)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: The Rural Development Programme will support farm businesses through a combination of knowledge-based and financial measures. Improving the use of resources will be key to both aspects.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on what discussions he has had with the UK Government Ministers regarding the issue of reducing waste from packaging? (WAQ68812)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant):
I have not had any discussions with the UK Government Ministers regarding the issue of reducing waste from packaging.
The UK has commitments under the Packaging Directive (1994/62/EC) to recycle a proportion of the packaging materials that are placed on the market and in order to meet these obligations the UK has a producer responsibility regime covering packaging waste. The regime places a financial obligation on producers to bear the costs of collecting, treating and recycling/recovering a proportion of the packaging they place on the market to meet legal targets and minimum standards. This reduces the amount of packaging waste going to landfill and reduces the environmental impacts in a way that is better for the environment and natural resources.
A joint consultation with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations was recently held on proposed changes to the packaging producer responsibility scheme. This also sought evidence to help underpin a review of the waste plastic packaging target, and to support analysis with WRAP and other partners to consider what further actions can be taken to ensure that the household waste recycling target is met.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What steps is the Welsh Government taking to work with the food industry and supermarkets to reduce excess packaging? (WAQ68813)
Answer received on 24 June 2015
Carl Sargeant:
The Welsh Government has provided grant funding to the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) Cymru to work with the food industry and the grocery retailers to reduce excess packaging.
WRAP Cymru are working with grocery retailers and their supply chains to implement commitments under a UK industry agreement (the 'Courtauld 3 programme'). They aim to assist Courtauld 3 signatories in Wales to deliver a 3% reduction in food, drink and packaging waste by 2015.
WRAP Cymru are also working with the food services industry through the 'Hospitality and Food Services Agreement' (HaFSA). This was launched in June 2012 to deliver targets on food and associated packaging waste prevention, as well as increasing recycling rates. There are 40 Welsh signatories and supporters to the Agreement and good progress is being made against both targets.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister provide the date when he expects the music services task and finish group to publish its report? (WAQ68810)
Answer received on 23 June 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): The Music Services Task and Finish Group Report will be published on the Welsh Government website within the next few weeks. I am confident that the report will be welcomed by our stakeholders as it provides a number of different approaches that can be adopted to ensure music education thrives in Wales. It includes a series of recommendations for the Welsh Government, local authorities and other stakeholders.
Once the report is published I will allow time to be given for all the organisations affected by these recommendations to digest the report and make their opinions known. I will then make an official response to the report after the summer recess.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister set out what the Welsh Government is doing to encourage more people to give blood? (WAQ68807)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister explain why, in his view, there has been a fall in the numbers of donors giving blood in Wales? (WAQ68808)
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister confirm that the Welsh Blood Service has sufficient capacity to accept donations from all volunteers who wish to give blood? (WAQ68809)
Answer received on 23 June 2015
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford):
The Welsh Blood Service has plans to recruit new donors, which range from national campaigns to local initiatives. These are closely aligned with the demand for blood products from the NHS and maximise the use of every donation.
There has been a fall in blood donor numbers across the UK. Research suggests that changing lifestyles and young people's perceptions underpin this. Recruitment activities focus on reaching young people through universities, colleges and community organisations.
The blood services operating in Wales – the Welsh Blood Service and NHS Blood and Transplant – have sufficient capacity to meet demand.