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Written Assembly Questions tabled on 17 August 2016 for answer on 24 August 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

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister confirm, on what date the Welsh Government decided to establish an advisory group concerning Wales's future outside the European Union? (WAQ70839)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Who has the First Minister invited to sit on the new advisory group concerning Wales's future outside the European Union, and on what date were those invitations issued? (WAQ70840)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What discussions were held with the First Minister's cabinet colleagues, with regards to who to invite to sit on the new advisory group, concerning Wales's future outside the European Union? (WAQ70841)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How often will a new advisory group, concerning Wales's future outside the European Union, meet; and on what date will the group meet for the first time? (WAQ70842)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will specific terms of reference be published for the scope of the work being undertaken by a new advisory group, concerning Wales's future outside the European Union? (WAQ70843)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): The establishment of a group to provide advice to Welsh Ministers  on the issues and challenges arising from the UK leaving the EU was discussed in the immediate aftermath of the 23 June referendum.  Advice on the Group was formally submitted to me by officials early in July.  I routinely discuss matters relating to our strategic response to the vote to leave the European Union with Cabinet colleagues.

We intend  to make a statement on  the European Advisory Group and its membership  in September.  The Group is expected to meet regularly as required  beginning early in the autumn.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on how the Wales and Borders franchise will accommodate the threat to Pembroke and Tenby tourist rail services from 2018 because of the end of the Pembroke Dock rail service? (WAQ70869)

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What discussions has the Welsh Government had regarding the Service Level Commitment 3a for the Greater Western franchise that confirms the seasonal Pembroke Dock service will be withdrawn from December 2018? (WAQ70870)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The Welsh Government has for some time been raising concerns with the UK Government about the possible withdrawal of the seasonal service to Pembroke Dock. The UK Government is now considering the feasibility of continuing the service beyond 2018.

Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What discussions took place with Plaid Cymru concerning the appointment of a full-time traffic commissioner? (WAQ70871)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

Ken Skates: No discussions have taken place with Plaid Cymru.

Nathan Gill (North Wales): How many local authority libraries (by region) have closed since April 2011? (WAQ70850)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

Ken Skates: CIPFA figures on public libraries indicate that the number of complete Public library closures between 2011-12 and 2014-15 was just 20. The total number of proposed and actual closures of libraries were: North Wales (2), Mid and West Wales (6), South Wales West (11), South Wales Central (18) and South Wales East (3), however half of these libraries have subsequently re-opened as community managed or independent libraries. 

 
Source: CIPFA Public Library statistics, 2011-12 to 2014-15. 2015-16 data is not yet available. Mobile libraries are included. Gwynedd is included in North Wales region.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): When did the Minister write to local authorities about developing young carers' identity cards and about making them available across Wales? (WAQ70849)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): I refer you to my answer to you, in response to WAQ70436 on the 24 June.

Recent stakeholder meetings have taken place to discuss the refresh of the Carers Strategy and to identify key priorities and actions for delivery.  This includes taking forward identify cards for young carers and ensuring they are available across Wales.  Officials will be working with Stakeholders and writing to local authorities in relation to the implementation of this.

Nathan Gill (North Wales): How many formal complaints has the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board received since it went into special measures? (WAQ70854)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): The number of formal complaints for 2015/16, as submitted by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in its annual data return, was 1905.   This covers the period April 2015 – March 2016.
Data on concerns is published by the health board on a regular basis as part of an integrated quality & performance report within its Board Papers. 

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Following confirmation from ABMU in July 2016 that the development of Vale of Neath Health Centre had been further delayed due to concerns with water mains and that, as a result, discussions were taking place, what advice and assistance has the Welsh Government provided to assist ABMU in resolving this issue so that progress on the health centre can commence? (WAQ70860)

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide details of when the land transfer from the Welsh Government to ABMU Health Board will take place so that construction of the proposed Vale of Neath Health Centre can begin? (WAQ70861)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

Vaughan Gething: Officials have been working directly with Welsh Water to assist the developers in progressing the diversion works required. Negotiations are nearing completion and we hope to be in a position to exchange contracts for the land within the next couple of months.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many Locum GPs are employed by each of Wales's health boards and what is the annual cost to each health board? (WAQ70862)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

Vaughan Gething: No Locum GPs are employed by health boards in Wales. Locum GPs are engaged and paid directly by GP practices.
 
The latest statistics on the GP workforce in Wales indicate that at 30 September 2015, 634 GP locums were registered to work in Wales.
 

 
This information can be viewed by accessing the attached link
http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/general-medical-practitioners/?lang=en

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many General Practices are there in Wales and how many of these are independent contractors? (WAQ70863)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

Vaughan Gething: The published 2015 GP access statistics show that at the end of November 2015, there were 453 GP practices in Wales. This information can be viewed by accessing the attached link. 
http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/gp-access-wales/?lang=en
 
At July 2016, health boards indicated fourteen GP practices in Wales were under health board management. All other GP practices are independent contractors.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What policies or initiatives does the Welsh Government have in place to tackle the challenge of staff retention and recruitment in the Welsh NHS? (WAQ70864)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

Vaughan Gething: Following on from previous marketing to recruitment campaigns, we are currently well advanced in developing a national and international campaign with health boards and trusts to market Wales and NHS Wales as an attractive place to train, work and live.
We are also working to develop a refreshed deal for General Practitioners (GPs) in the form of a ‘Wales Offer’ to communicate the benefits already in place for GPs. A Ministerial Taskforce on Primary Care has been established to take this forward. It includes members from the secondary and primary care sector, as well as universities and organisations that represent professional staff interests, as the second phase of the campaign will focus on the importance of multi-disciplinary teams.

Health boards and trusts, as employers, are already undertaking a range of local recruitment and retention initiatives, via their local networks, to promote Wales as a great place to train, work and live. This is underpinned by advertising in specialist publications, together with attendance at medical careers fairs at the time of recruitment rounds. They are also holding, for example, their own open days and specialist nurse events; working with the universities; undertaking overseas recruitment campaigns; improving staff performance appraisal development rates and delivering a range of staff well-being initiatives.

Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): Over the last three years, what financial support, if any, has the Welsh Government allocated to each of Wales's health boards to address issues around staff recruitment? (WAQ70865)

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister detail what recent assessment she has made of the accuracy of information provided by supermarkets to consumers on country of origin status of food? (WAQ70844)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The Food Standards Agency in Wales has the overall responsibility for food standards and both labelling policy and legislation. There are strict Country of Origin (CoO) rules for foods including honey, olive oil, beef and pigmeat, sheep, goats, and poultry. There are also general labelling rules within the Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 that includes the requirement not to mislead as to the Country of Origin of food.
In Wales, Local Authority officers examine and enforce food labelling requirements, including information relating to Country of Origin, where this is appropriate.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What assessment has the Minister made of the potential effect of future tariffs on trade with EU countries on the food and farming industry? (WAQ70845)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government wants the best possible access for trade to EU countries without tariff barriers for our exports. I met stakeholders on 4 and 18 July to begin assessing the impact of the result of the EU Referendum across my portfolio. Officials are holding further workshops with stakeholders during August and September to consider the impact and how Wales should respond in more detail. The future trading relationship will be determined at an EU-UK level and it is too early to forecast the potential effect or to anticipate whether there might be tariffs.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Minister outline how the Welsh Government is supporting access to mobile digital technology for farmers? (WAQ70846)

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government on reviewing sentencing for crimes which involve violence or cruelty against animals? (WAQ70847)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): I have had no such discussions, however, my officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the UK Government on animal welfare issues.

Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What steps is the Welsh Government taking to minimise bureaucracy for farmers in Wales? (WAQ70848)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is continually seeking to reduce bureaucracy for farmers in Wales whilst also needing to maintain appropriate financial and management controls. The move to online systems such as Rural Payments Wales (RPW) online and EIDCymru are examples of where we have reduced the administrative burden and complexity that would have been associated with paper applications.
The Single Application Form (SAF) was only available using RPW Online in 2016 and was created working with farmers, their agents and farming unions to create a SAF that was as easy to use as possible. The Welsh Government also introduced an optional measure this year to help farmers reduce the risk of receiving administrative penalties on their SAF. 
 
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What meetings has the Welsh Government had with George Eustice, UK Farming Minister regarding the implications of the leaving the European Union on the Welsh agricultural sector? (WAQ70867)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

Lesley Griffiths: I met with George Eustice MP, UK Minister of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment, on 20 July 2016, when
I was keen to seek assurances over future funding for agriculture in Wales and stress the importance of future trading relationships and access to the single market to the long-term success of our agriculture and environment sectors.

I emphasised agricultural and environmental policy is devolved to Wales and under the devolution settlement, powers repatriated from the EU in devolved areas will come to Wales. However, we will work with the UK Government to look at the emerging UK context and agree shared arrangements where it is in Wales' best interest.

 
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail progress on the consultation on scallop fishing in Cardigan Bay? (WAQ70868)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The consultation on scallop fishing in Cardigan Bay generated a significant level of interest. Officials are in the process of analysing over 5000 responses to the consultation, while also reviewing the latest scientific evidence.
I will make a decision on the way forward this autumn after full consideration of all views and evidence. A Consultation Response Document and Written Statement will be published following my decision.

Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide an update on the marine energy plan for Wales that was prepared last year for the Economy, Science, and Transport Department? (WAQ70856)

Answer received on 25 August 2016

Lesley Griffiths: The Marine Energy Task and Finish Group, which was established in 2015, presented its report to the Welsh Government earlier this year. I will be up-dating Members before the end of October 2016 on our response to that report.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children

Nathan Gill (North Wales): What assessment has the Minister made of the gap in the North Wales region between housing need and housing supply? (WAQ70852)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): The housing requirements for Wales, including details for north Wales, are assessed as the principle projections in the Public Policy Institute for Wales report “Future Need and Demand for Housing in Wales”. 
 
Nathan Gill (North Wales): What plans does the Minister have to assess the efficacy of the use of the social housing grant in terms of percentage contribution and housing need? (WAQ70853)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

Carl Sargeant: We have a formula for allocating Social Housing Grant which takes account of local housing demand and affordability. This provides a fair distribution, ensuring social housing is built where it is most needed. 

 
David Rees (Aberavon): What analysis has the Welsh Government undertaken on the take up of the child trust fund accounts that were established under the UK Government in 2005? (WAQ70857)

David Rees (Aberavon): What actions are the Welsh Government taking to encourage parents to make full use of child trust fund accounts? (WAQ70858)

David Rees (Aberavon): How many child trust fund accounts are dormant in Wales? (WAQ70859)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

Carl Sargeant: The UK Government ended the child trust fund scheme in January 2011. These have been replaced by Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) which are funded by the Department for Education and administered by The Share Foundation. Monitoring and encouraging the take up of child trust fund and savings accounts, including information about dormant accounts is a matter for the UK Government.

Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the withdrawal of funding to Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) that enabled third sector organisations and charities to access Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks free for volunteers? (WAQ70866)

Answer received on 26 August 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): Welsh Government has been unique across the UK in providing additional support for Third Sector organisations to carry out Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks. However, much has changed since 2003 when this grant was first introduced, including the introduction of a free update service for volunteers so that only an initial check incurs a cost.

The same update service is also available to staff employed in the Third Sector for just £13 per annum. We cannot continue to do things the same way when there are alternative, more cost effective, options available.

Our engagement with Third Sector stakeholders has highlighted the need for a wider focus on safeguarding. This recognises that DBS checks are just one part of the practices which all organisations working with children or vulnerable adults must have in place. Welsh Government will continue to support work in this area, placing a strong emphasis on embedding safeguarding practices where they are needed most.

Some funding has been earmarked for continuing support for the Third Sector with regard to safeguarding. Initial proposals for the use of this funding have been received from WCVA and I will consider these and arrangement for the use of the funding shortly.
I am also considering the provision for DBS checks to be undertaken through the medium of Welsh, if Third Sector organisations experience difficulties in this regard with other providers. As part of this, Welsh Government is continuing to work closely with the Disclosure and Barring Service to ensure that Welsh language provision is widely available for Third Sector organisations and others. Assurances have already been received from Disclosure and Barring Service that their new online services which are due to launch this autumn will be fully bilingual.

The previous Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty agreed to extend the current grant to support WCVA’s Criminal Records Unit (CRU) to the end of September 2016 only. This extension was agreed specifically to allow time for stakeholders to identify alternative arrangements for carrying out DBS checks.
WCVA has worked closely with stakeholders to help them through this process including identifying alternative, cost effective providers for DBS checks. With Third Sector Support Wales doing more to promote increased awareness of the availability of the free update service and implementation of check ‘portability’ across organisations, the impact of the withdrawal of the Welsh Government funding is expected to be greatly reduced.

I remain clear that the previous Minister’s decision was the right one; transitional funding for the Third Sector to carry out DBS checks will end in September 2016.

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

Nathan Gill (North Wales): How many local authority staff in Wales have been made redundant or have taken voluntary severance since April 2011? (WAQ70851)

Answer received on 6 September 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): This information is available from local authorities’ published statements of accounts. 
 
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Further to WAQ70751, will the Minister provide a full breakdown of the funding provided by the Welsh Government to One Voice Wales to prepare training modules? (WAQ70855)

Answer received on 6 September 2016

Mark Drakeford: The table below provides a breakdown of Welsh Government funding provided to One Voice Wales during the fourth Assembly term period to prepare training modules.