​Written Assembly Questions tabled on 20 September 2016 for answer on 27 September 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

Steffan Lewis (South Wales East): What representation has the First Minister made to the UK Government on the UK's withdrawal from the EU? (WAQ70975)

Answer received on 30 September 2016

The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): Following the EU referendum I met the new Prime Minister, and also wrote to her, outlining key priorities for negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. I also had an early telephone conversation with David Davis MP, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. In addition a number of my Ministerial colleagues have spoken or corresponded with counterparts in the UK Government, including a discussion between the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. There have also been extensive discussions between Welsh Government officials and counterparts in the UK Government and devolved governments.
In July I convened an extraordinary meeting of the British-Irish Council, in Cardiff, to allow specific discussions on the implications of the outcome of the EU referendum between the devolved governments, the UK and Irish Governments and the islands’ governments. In addition to supporting collective discussion, the meeting enabled me to make direct representations to James Brokenshire MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and David Jones MP, Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union. Arrangements are being made for formal joint discussions between Ministers of the devolved governments and the UK Government, and I will say more on these as they are finalised. 

To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the development of a rapid charging network for electric vehicles in Wales? (WAQ70976)

Answer received on 26 September 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles offer 'plug in' car and van grants, an electric vehicle homecharge scheme and are considering further options for funding charging infrastructure.
Many charge points have been installed, or are planned, in a number of locations across Wales. This growing number of charge points can be viewed on one of the websites that encourage the use of electric vehicles, such as Next Green Car’s Zap Map (www.zap-map.com) and mobile phone applications such as PlugShare. These resources show accessible charge points across Wales.
Our Low Carbon Vehicle Industry Steering Group has considered the measures Wales should be taking to promote the uptake of electric vehicles. We are considering their recommendations, including those to consider support in certain rural areas where the market is slower to intervene, in order to promote the use of low carbon vehicles throughout the country.