Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 January 2017 for answer on 26 January 2017
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
Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central): Will the First Minister make his diary publicly available? (WAQ71905)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
First Minister (Carwyn Jones): I have recently written to all Assembly Members confirming that details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and attendance at engagements will be published to the Welsh Government website quarterly. The first publication will be shortly after the quarter ending March 2017.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the rise in unemployment rates in Wales from December 2016? (WAQ71893)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): Over the year to December 2016, the unemployment rate in Wales fell by 1.0 percentage points, larger than the fall in the UK rate. Over the same period, the number of people unemployed in Wales was down by 15,000 to 66,000, similar to the level of the mid 2000’s. The unemployment rate in Wales (4.4%) is 0.4 percentage points lower than the UK average (4.8%).
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm when the surveying exercise, in accordance with the Noise Action Plan for Wales, was undertaken in respect of properties adjacent to the A48 at Nantycaws, Carmarthen? (WAQ71906)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Ken Skates: A computational noise mapping exercise for major roads across Wales, including the A48 at Nantycaws, took place in 2012. The exercise is being repeated this year, to provide an indication of how noise levels have changed over a 5-year period.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the work of the Milford Haven enterprise zone? (WAQ71909)
Answer received on 31 January 2017
Ken Skates: Activity in the Milford Haven Enterprise Zone has continued since my last up-date to you on 1 November (WAQ71326).
Next month, I will be visiting Mainstay Marine in Pembroke Dock to learn more about its business. The company is increasingly successful in winning and delivering prestigious contracts which is clearly good news for Pembrokeshire, the company and its highly skilled workforce.
The Haven Waterway Enterprise Zone Advisory Board has also facilitated regular meetings with indigenous SMEs in the energy supply chain to network, share best practice and identify opportunities and synergy in collaborative working. Working closely with Business Wales, a series of meetings have been held to highlight Sell2Wales and supply chain opportunities, linked to projects such as the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, the HS2 rail project and the Cardiff Metro Project.
Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline what action the Welsh Government is taking to improve disabled access at railway stations across Wales – particularly at Abergavenny, Cwmbran and Pontypool? (WAQ71910)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Ken Skates: Rail infrastructure and station accessibility are non-devolved. We continue to press the UK Government for capital investment and make contributions where possible. There is a rolling programme of access and integration improvements at train stations across Wales designed to have a positive effect on station accessibility.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What is the average wait for bariatric services and treatments in Wales and will the Cabinet Secretary provide a breakdown for each available treatment by each of Wales's health boards? (WAQ71907)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-Being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): The Welsh Government does not hold information on average waits for bariatric services and treatments in Wales nor by individual procedure. Information in relation to bariatric surgery is available from the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC). In addition, information about bariatric services and treatments should be obtainable from individual health boards.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What was the cost of medical or pharmaceutical waste to each of Wales's health boards for the financial years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16? (WAQ71908)
Answer received on 24 January 2017
Vaughan Gething: This information is not held by the Welsh Government.
Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): How many times did families or individuals, having already received two rounds of treatment from the NHS, apply for a third round of IVF treatment through the individual patient funding request route, in each of Wales' health boards in 2014/15 and 2015/16, and how many of these were successful? (WAQ71911)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) commissions specialist fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilisation on behalf of the seven health boards in Wales. WHSSC has advised they have not received any Individual Patient Funding Request applications for IVF in 2014-15 or 2015-16.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71864, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how much funding the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) receives from the Welsh Government? (WAQ71895)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) investigates the deaths of wildlife, including beneficial insects and some pets, throughout the UK where there is evidence pesticide poisoning may be involved. The Welsh Government contributes staff time, which varies year on year dependant on activity. The costs of WIIS are supported by a levy from the pesticide industry.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71858, will the Cabinet Secretary provide a list of the representatives of "the animal welfare sector and the livestock industry" that she has met to discuss the Welsh Government's review of the Codes of Practice and Recommendation for pets and farm animals? (WAQ71896)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: I have not personally met with stakeholders to discuss the animal welfare Codes of Practice.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the work of the Wales Wildlife Enforcement Group? (WAQ71897)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Wales Wildlife and Environmental Crime Enforcement Group (WWECEG) meet bi-annually and consist of representatives from the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), four Welsh Police Forces and Fire Service. The group determines Welsh specific wildlife crime priorities, shares best practice and enables the organisations involved to work in partnership to tackle wildlife and environmental crime across Wales.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What is the Welsh Government doing to support Welsh butchers and independent retailers to promote Welsh pork? (WAQ71898)
Answer received on 31 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government supports Welsh pork indirectly with marketing undertaken by Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) to promote pork from Wales. Marketing aims to increase the demand for pork as well as highlighting the availability of pork that has been bred and reared in Wales.
HCC also maintains a website, Porc.Wales. This highlights the availability of pork from Wales and maintains a presence on the main social media channels. Point of sale promotional material with recipe suggestions is produced and has proved very popular with retailers and the consumer. The peak of the campaign is in the run up to Christmas.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71793, what targeted marketing and promotion of Welsh pork does the Welsh Government have planned for the next twelve months? (WAQ71899)
Answer received on 31 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government through Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) will continue to manage the delivery of the campaign to promote pork from Wales. The website Porc.Wales will be maintained and improved and new point of sale material, including recipe cards and posters will be produced and distributed through retailers. An extensive social media campaign will be conducted to increase awareness of the product, engage with consumers, provide recipes suggestions, drive traffic to the Porc.Wales website and promote the availability of pork from Wales by signposting local producers.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71793, will the Cabinet Secretary provide an assessment of the Welsh pig project? (WAQ71900)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh pig project was approved on 28 September 2016 and is, therefore, in its early stages of delivery.
There is potential to grow a sustainable pig sector in Wales and this project will evaluate these opportunities. My officials will continue to work closely with the project to ensure it delivers on its aspirations.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether she has discussed the possibility of an animal abuse register with her Ministerial counterparts across the UK? (WAQ71901)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: No I have not.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an initial assessment of the effectiveness of the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014? (WAQ71902)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: There is a statutory requirement to review the effectiveness of the Act and this work is currently underway. A report on the operation and effect of the Act is due by 30 July 2017. The report will be brought to the attention of the National Assembly as soon as practicable after that date. Consultation on the review is planned to take place during Spring 2017.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What outcomes were realised from the Wales Women in Agriculture Forum 2016 and what new action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage women to take a more active role in farm businesses? (WAQ71903)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The key objectives of this year’s event, attended by over 160 women, was to: establish new regional Farming Connect Women in Agriculture Forums; inform the development of the Welsh Government’s new agricultural policy post Brexit; inform the development of a programme of activity tailored to support women in agriculture; and provide networking opportunities and ongoing support for women in the industry.
Following on from the event, three regional Women in Agriculture Forums have taken place, in Conwy, Lampeter and Brecon. The groups discussed the development on an agricultural policy for Wales post Brexit. The regional groups will be meeting again in March to finalise their thinking before submitting their work to me. The regional forums will be encouraged to form Agrisgôp groups. A fully-funded action learning programme, Agrisgôp brings together forward-thinking, like-minded individuals from farm and forestry businesses at a local level. Based on the concept of Action Learning, Agrisgôp provides the opportunity to develop skills and build confidence.
In addition to the regional forums, the Farming Connect programme also delivers a leadership programme via the Agri Academy. The Agri Academy has proved to be hugely successful in the promotion and nurturing of future leaders and entrepreneurs. The latest intake included the highest ever proportion of female students and it is important that Welsh Government and the agriculture sector recognises and nurtures both young men and young women as the industry’s future senior leaders.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Further to WAQ71811, will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how much funding was allocated to the approved project in the first Express of Interest round for the Rural Community Development fund? (WAQ71904)
Answer received on 27 January 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The grant value approved for the project is £95,248
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What analysis has the Cabinet Secretary undertaken with regards to value-for-money to the taxpayer in terms of the resource and time cost to the National Assembly for Wales of bringing forward the Trade Union (Wales) Bill? (WAQ71891)
Answer received on 31 January 2017
Mark Drakeford: Resource for the legislative process is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, rather than the Welsh Government.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary held with cross-border businesses with regards to the Trade Union (Wales) Bill? (WAQ71892)
Answer received on 31 January 2017
Mark Drakeford: None. The provisions in the Trade Union (Wales) Bill only apply to devolved Welsh public authorities.
To ask the Assembly Commission
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What were the full costs to the National Assembly for Wales associated with considering each Bill brought forward in the fourth Assembly term, from introduction to the final stage reached? (WAQ71894)
Answer received on 24 January 2017
Suzy Davies on behalf of the Assembly Commission: The Assembly Commission does not hold the full costs to the National Assembly for Wales associated with considering each Bill brought forward in the fourth Assembly term, from introduction to the final stage reached.
The Commission provides a range of services to Members and Committees to support the legislative process. These include procedural, legal, research, communications, ICT, interpretation, translation and administrative support as well as public facing services such as visitor engagement and security.
Although a few specific costs may be identifiable for particular pieces of legislation (for example, where an external venue was hired for engagement related to a Bill's scrutiny), the vast majority of costs will relate to the time of Assembly Members and Commission and Member staff involved in scrutinising a Bill. Staff and Members, of course, engage in all aspects of parliamentary work and it is not possible to disaggregate accurately the elements devoted to legislative scrutiny alone.