Written Assembly Questions tabled on 17 November 2016 for answer on 24 November 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 detail any meetings he or members of his Government have had with any representatives of Ford since May? (WAQ71503)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): On 21 September the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and infrastructure and I met Linda Cash, the Vice President, Manufacturing of Ford of Europe to discuss engine manufacturing in Bridgend. I have also had two meetings in my role as Assembly Member.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What representations has the Welsh Government made to the UK Government with regards to future trade arrangements with non-EU countries post Brexit? (WAQ71510)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
Carwyn Jones: We have discussed with the UK Government the potential impact of Brexit on Welsh industries including potential future trade arrangements with non-EU countries post-Brexit, although at this point the UK Government’s position is not clear. We are clear that any future trade deals with countries outside the EU need to be in the interests of Wales, and that new arrangements would be needed for reaching agreement on any prospective trade deals across the four governments within the UK.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With regard to WAQ71406, if the DeltaStream device was in a state of disrepair, what is the estimated cost of surfacing it to administer repairs? (WAQ71502)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): With regard to WAQ71406, can you categorically specify if the DeltaStream device is currently capable of generating electricity and, if not, why it is unsafe for it to be currently generating electricity? (WAQ71504)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): To our knowledge, the device is not currently in a state of disrepair. If it were, then the costs of recovery would depend on a number of variables, such as the nature of the defect, the urgency of recovering the device, availability of recovery vessels, weather conditions, etc. Before any ocean energy device can be deployed it must agree a decommissioning plan with the appropriate authority. At the time of deployment that was the Department for Energy and Climate Change, now the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and signed off by the Secretary of State for Energy. Part of any decommissioning plan requires financial security, to be payable in full, and in advance of the commencement of deployment into an escrow type account which neither party can withdraw money from without the approval of the other party, unless in matters of insolvency on the part of the developer.
The financial security must be for the full value of decommissioning costs of the DeltaStream. This amount remains in the escrow account until such a time that the DeltaStream needs to be recovered. This sum has been calculated to be sufficient to recover the device back to port and to place the seabed back to the condition it was in prior to deployment. The DeltaStream device is mechanically capable of generating clean renewable energy. I understand that the device is not currently generating electricity as a safety precaution due to a fault with the equipment monitoring the impact of the device on marine mammals in the area.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many local authorities in Wales provide public car parking spaces with facilities for electric vehicle charging? (WAQ71507)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
Ken Skates: We do not hold this information. Publicly accessible charge points across Wales can be viewed on relevant websites such as Next Green Car’s Zap Map (www.zap-map.com) and mobile phone applications such as PlugShare.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister provide details on the outcome of the recent 'Mobile Summit' meeting with mobile network operators? (WAQ71509)
Answer received on 22 November 2016
The Minister for Skills and Science (Julie James): Unfortunately, due to diary constraints, the mobile network operator roundtable meeting scheduled to take place on 24 November has been postponed.
Alternative dates are currently being explored which I will share with you once details have been finalised.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many new homes are being built with facilities in place for home charging of electric vehicles? (WAQ71505)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): The Welsh Government does not hold this information.
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many new homes in Wales are being built with solar tiles? (WAQ71506)
Answer received on 24 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): The Welsh Government does not hold this information.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): How many 21st Century Schools are being built with provision of electric vehicle charging spaces for staff and visitors? (WAQ71508)
Answer received on 21 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): The 21st Century Schools and Education Programme is delivered in partnership with local authorities and others, and it is our partners that prioritise the projects that need to be delivered.
Sustainability is hugely important, and all new schools in the Programme are required to meet BREEAM Excellent standards. Our partners are responsible for the facilities made available by the school, including the provision of electric vehicle charging spaces. As this would be a matter for local decision, this information is not routinely collected by officials.