Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 March 2015 for answer on 26 March 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 Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What plans does the Welsh Government have for the continuance of small business rate relief into the next financial year and in future years? (WAQ68512)
Answer received on 24 March 2015
Edwina Hart: I have already announced that Small Business Rate Relief will be extended in Wales until March 2016. I will make a decision about the Scheme beyond that in due course.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What plans does the Welsh Government have for the radical review of business rates? (WAQ68513)
Answer received on 24 March 2015
Edwina Hart: I commissioned the Business Rates Panel to make recommendations about business rates policy going forward. Their recommendations propose short, medium and long term action. I have sought views on this from Members and will be considering next steps.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What plans does the Welsh Government have for the Open for Business, New Development and any other initiatives that could benefit smaller towns, such as Mold? (WAQ68514)
Answer received on 24 March 2015
Edwina Hart: The Welsh Government has taken a number of measures through the business rates regime to support smaller towns. I will look at the next steps in terms of the business rates regime as I consider the findings of the Business Rates Panel.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister disclose how many businesses have relocated to Wales, or set up new premises here, in each of the last three financial years, and set out how many of those businesses are still operating in Wales? (WAQ68515)
Answer received on 24 March 2015
Edwina Hart: There is no obligation for businesses to register with the Welsh Government when they set up in Wales, so there is no definitive source for this information.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's strategy for remaining in contact with businesses which have relocated to Wales, or set up new premises here, following their initial set-up? (WAQ68516)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What consideration has the Minister given to the development of a dedicated investor aftercare programme within the Welsh Government? (WAQ68518)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many new businesses in Wales has the Welsh Government been in discussion with following their initial set-up, in each of the last three financial years? (WAQ68519)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many times has the Welsh Government been in contact with each business that has relocated to Wales or set up new premises here, and what form has this contact taken: phone call, email exchange or face-to-face meeting? (WAQ68520)
Answer received on 24 March 2015 (WAQ68516,518,519 & 520)
Edwina Hart: Through its Inward Investment, Sector Development, Business Wales and specific initiatives such as Enterprise Zones, the Welsh Government is fully committed to supporting and after care of new and existing indigenous and inward investment business to create sustain and grow jobs and investment in the Welsh Economy.
Our bespoke offer is summarised on http://justask.wales.com/ for businesses outside Wales and business.wales.gov.uk/ for those already located in Wales.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many Welsh Government roles are currently dedicated to remaining in touch with new businesses that have relocated to Wales or set up new premises here? (WAQ68517)
Answer received on 24 March 2015
Edwina Hart: Support and relationships with all businesses is defined and bespoke to the business requirement whether indigenous, a new businesses that has relocated to Wales or one that is set up new premises here. Contact is provided through a dedicated relationship manager or client led reactive contact through our single Business Wales portal providing phone, internet and face to face access.
To ask the Assembly Commission
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Commission publish details of its policy in relation to requests to film drama productions in the Siambr, including the date on which the policy was first agreed by the Commission; the dates of any reviews thereafter; and copies of the minutes of meetings in which the policy was discussed by the Commission? (WAQ68511)
Answer Receieved 26 March 2015
The Assembly Commission (Rosemary Butler): Guidelines for the use of the Senedd by the media were first put in place by the former House Committee in 2006/07. Since then, the Commission's policy and approach has remained consistent and is currently set out in operational guidance used by Commission staff. The guidance was reviewed last year.
Based on that guidance, the practice throughout the Third and Fourth Assemblies has been that the majority of requests, for example to film or photograph from the public gallery or in public areas of the building, have been delegated to and operated by the Assembly's media team. The guiding principle has been that no media operation should interfere with the proper conduct of Assembly business. Requests with the potential to impact on Assembly business in the Siambr or elsewhere in the Senedd have been dealt with on a case by case basis by the Presiding Officer.
The relevant extract from the guidance on the Siambr says:
- Express permission must be granted by the Presiding Officer, through the Media Relations Team, prior to any media operations in the Siambr;