Answers issued to Members on 28 May 2009
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
Contents
Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport
Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Questions to the Minister for Heritage
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What are the indicators which the Minister uses to assess the effectiveness of the running of his department and could he outline the most recent trends of each of those indicators? (WAQ54216)
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): What are the economic indicators which the Minister uses to assess the effectiveness of the Welsh Assembly Government’s economic policies and could he outline the most recent trends of each of those indicators? (WAQ54217)
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport (Ieuan Wyn Jones): I regularly review a range of performance indicators in respect of the effectiveness of my Department covering resources and programme delivery. Trends both in resource indicators of finance and staffing, and delivery indicators are relevant only in the context of the level of budgets and objectives I set for my Department each financial year. Financial and staff resource indicators are performing against plan. Many delivery indicators remain strong whilst others reflect the challenges of achieving economic results for the people of Wales in the current economic conditions.
I also regularly consider a range of economic indicators including the employment rate and inactivity. These are in the public domain as is the historic trend data.
Questions to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the answer to WAQ51631 what were final costs of return travel, accommodation, subsistence and other allowances and expenses for the whole period of secondment of the Manager of Waste Awareness Wales to Australia? (WAQ54212)
The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing (Jane Davidson): The total cost excluding salary of the project 'Researching community engagement in the zero waste culture in Australia’ being carried out by Waste Awareness Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government was £28,870.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the answer to WAQ51631 what were the final salary costs of the Manager of Waste Awareness Wales whilst in Australia and the actual cost of providing staff cover during the absence? (WAQ54213)
Jane Davidson: The total salary costs relating to the project (including on costs and staff cover) were £67,936.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the answer to WAQ51631 what were the outcomes of the secondment and are there any plans to repeat the process? (WAQ54214)
Jane Davidson: The main outcome from the project will be a report identifying how waste materials are managed in Australia. Other outcomes include study visit reports and best practice exchanges with waste practitioners in Australia. Consideration is also being given to maintaining more formal contacts with the Government of New South Wales as one of a number of international best practice examples.
Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister detail any discussions with colleagues in Scotland on the issue of 2km buffer zones between wind turbines and the edge of villages? (WAQ54223)
Jane Davidson: My officials maintain regular contact with Scottish colleagues on a range of planning issues. Policies in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government. We liaise with them on a range of renewable energy matters but no discussions have been held with colleagues in Scotland regarding the use of a 2km buffer zone between wind turbines and the edge of villages as the Scottish Government’s policy on this matter post-dates Technical Advice Note 8.
Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What representations has the Minister received from the public with a view to introducing a 2km buffer zone between wind turbines and the edge of villages? (WAQ54224)
Jane Davidson: I have received various representations on the subject of buffer zones between wind turbines and the edge of villages in Wales. It is a common issue brought to my attention by my officials through correspondence received from members of the public.
Nick Bourne (Mid and West Wales): What consideration has been given to introducing a 2km buffer zone between wind turbines and the edge of villages in Wales? (WAQ54225)
Jane Davidson: Planning policy on renewable energy is set out in Planning Policy Wales, Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statement 01/2005 'Planning for Renewable Energy’ and Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8: Planning for Renewable Energy. TAN 8 suggests that when local planning authorities undertake refinement work of the SSAs, a 500 metre distance between wind turbines and residential properties is considered to be a typical buffer to avoid unacceptable noise impacts. It is recognised that the impact of wind turbines can vary depending on local circumstances and that Local Planning Authorities require evidence that proposed wind farm developments will not cause undue environmental harm. The spacing of individual wind turbines is a matter for local consideration, however TAN 8 advocates that wind turbines need to be positioned so that the distance between them are around 3-10 rotor diameters (this would equate to 180-600m for a development using 60m diameter rotors, 1.3 MW turbines). This spacing represents a compromise between compactness, which minimises capital cost, and the need for adequate separations to lessen energy loss through wind shadowing from upstream machines. No consideration to revise the buffer zone distance will take place until the review of TAN 8 commences later this year following the production of an Energy Strategy.
Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of kidney dialysis services in Brecon and Radnorshire, including any plans for new units in the constituency? (WAQ54221)
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Edwina Hart): Following an all-Wales prioritisation exercise facilitated by the Renal Advisory Group and Renal Networks earlier this year, new dialysis provision for Powys was confirmed as a priority. An option appraisal is now underway to consider various locations and configurations and will inform a business case which will be submitted to the Assembly Government by September 2009.
Questions to the Minister for Heritage
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the Minister’s answer to WAQ54092, what have been the total printing costs associated with the registration of over 60 for the Cadw free entry scheme? (WAQ54194).
The Minister for Heritage (Alun Ffred Jones): The total printing costs to date associated with the registration of Welsh residents aged 60 and over or 16 and under is £4,600.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the Minister’s answer to WAQ54092,what is the total number of individuals that have benefited from the scheme? (WAQ54195)
Alun Ffred Jones: So far 6,417 Welsh residents have taken advantage of the free pass scheme. Free entry for Welsh residents is just one category of free admission that sits alongside the free entry for schools and for disabled visitors and their companions. Of the 127 monuments in the care of Cadw, 99 remain free of charge for all to visit. The most recent additions to the free estate include Caerleon Roman Fortress Baths and Blaenafon Ironworks.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Further to the Minister’s answer to WAQ54092, what has been the total cost of marketing the Cadw free entry scheme? (WAQ54196).
Alun Ffred Jones: The total cost to date of marketing the Cadw free entry scheme for Welsh residents aged 60 and over or 16 and under is £7,100.
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister make a statement on what requirements there are for the Welsh local authorities to publish details of the salaries and remuneration packages offered to their chief executives and senior managers? (WAQ54215)
The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government (Brian Gibbons): The Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2005 require local authorities, as a minimum, to provide a note in their annual reports and accounts of remuneration paid to senior employees and officials. The note should show the number of employees, in bands of £10,000, whose remuneration exceeds £60,000 per annum. Remuneration for the purposes of the note includes all amounts paid or receivable and also includes expenses allowances and estimates of the cash value of any non-cash benefits.
A consultation is under way on amendments to the current Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations where views are sought on remuneration reporting by local authorities; in particular around greater detail on remuneration paid to senior employees and officials. The consultation ends on 31 July 2009.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): How many successful liability orders have there been in Wales for non-payment of council tax in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority? (WAQ54227)
Brian Gibbons: Prosecutions for non-payment of council tax take place in the magistrate’s courts. Court matters are non-devolved; they remain the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. The Welsh Assembly Government does not therefore collect these statistics. The latest information we have is for England and Wales for 2006/2007 and is published on the website where it was supplied as part of the answer to a Written Assembly Question from Nicholas Bourne AM on 16th February (WAQ53360). Details are attached [published as further information to this file] for your information.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): When will the review of the Community Facilities and Activities Programme be completed and open for tender? (WAQ54233)
Brian Gibbons: The internal review of the Community Facilities and Activities Programme is currently being finalised and an announcement will be made shortly. The aim is that the review will come into effect for the October 2009 bidding round.