Written Assembly Questions tabled on 21 June 2016 for answer on 28 June 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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister confirm why the Welsh Government's bid for EU funding to remove the roundabouts on the A55 did not meet the funding criteria? (WAQ70520)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Following the rejection of the bid for EU funding to remove the roundabouts on the A55, will the minister confirm whether the Welsh Government intends to submit a further bid for such funding for these potential works? (WAQ70521)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): Calls for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility are highly competitive and oversubscribed. The bid was judged eligible but was not recommended for funding after an assessment against the Award Criteria set by the Commission. Yes, the Welsh Government will submit a bid for funding under the West Wales and the Valleys ERDF Programme as indicated in the National Transport Finance Plan 2015.
Russell George AM: Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the £400,000 Factual and Entertainment Fund to promote Welsh TV production, as promised by the previous Welsh Government and Sky Vision? (WAQ70522)
Answer received on 23 June 2016
Ken Skates: The Welsh Government and Sky Vision will each invest £200,000 into the Fund. The project levels for each individual project will vary as will the contribution ratio from Welsh Government and Sky Vision, depending on the stage of development:
- Development Funding. Up to £10,000 per project. Funding ratio: 70:30 Welsh Government : Sky Vision.
- Pilots Funding . Up to £50,000 per project. Funding ratio: 50:50
- Top-up Funding for commissioned content. Up to £75,000 per project. Funding ration 30:70 Welsh Government :Sky Vision.
Russell George AM: What indicators will the Minister use to measure the success of the Factual and Entertainment Fund? (WAQ70523)
Answer received on 23 June 2016
Ken Skates: The main aims of the Fund are to:
• encourage producers and broadcasters to produce more in Wales, and with Welsh creative and production talent.
• develop the skillset of Welsh talent in the creation and production of factual and the entertainment television.
• establish on-going revenue opportunities for producers in Wales through the exploitation of IP both nationally and internationally.
In order to ensure close monitoring of whether the above aims are being met, Sky Vision are required to submit a written summary of all approved projects to the Welsh Government on a quarterly basis. This will enable us to monitor the number and type of projects supported, the total amount invested by the Fund, the level of Welsh Government contribution, a brief description of the project and any deliverables, such as expenditure on Welsh goods and services.
Russell George AM: Can the Minister provide a breakdown of the international television companies interested in Welsh television production as a result of the Factual and Entertainment Fund? (WAQ70524)
Answer received on 23 June 2016
Ken Skates: The Fund was only launched in May and so it is too early to be able to provide this information. The intention is that the Fund will enable a significant increase in the number of factual and entertainment programmes coming out of Wales, and will provide unprecedented access to the international content market. Sky Vision is a global distributor of tv programmes across all genres, and represents content from an extensive range of broadcasters, including Sky's own channels and other UK and European broadcasters, and producers in the UK, the USA, Australia, Germany, France, Holland and South Africa. Sky Vision's sales team has worldwide reach, through attendance and representation at all major markets, and the company has significant experience of launching programmes internationally. This gives us confidence that the opportunity to work in an international arena will be greatly enhanced as a result of this Fund.
Russell George AM: Will the Minister provide an update on the progress of Local Growth Zones in rural Wales? (WAQ70525)
Russell George AM: Will the Minister provide an update on the Teifi Valley Local Growth Zone's implementation group? (WAQ70526)
Russell George AM: Will the Minister confirm if he will continue to support Local Growth Zones during the Fifth Assembly? (WAQ70527)
Russell George AM: What indicators will the Minister use to measure the performance of Local Growth Zones against, during the Fifth Assembly term? (WAQ70528)
Answer received on 27 June 2016
Ken Skates: Task and Finish Groups, established in both Powys and the Teifi Valley areas, proposed a broad range of actions, many of which are being taken forward and as part of wider programmes, such as Business Wales, transport and ICT infrastructure improvements. The Task and Finish Group in the Teifi Valley is currently reviewing implementation and I look forward to receiving their further advice in due course. In the meantime, I will continue to review progress and consider appropriate indicators in due course to help shape future direction.
Russell George AM: Will the Minister detail the tailored support and advice available from Finance Wales and Business Wales for applicants to the Management Succession Fund? (WAQ70529)
Answer received on 23 June 2016
Ken Skates: Finance Wales and Business Wales will work collaboratively in promoting and implementing the Fund. This is in line with the Welsh Government's stated objective of achieving a better integration of business funding and support for SMEs, in identifying and supporting succession deals.
Specifically Business Wales will assess and where appropriate support the needs of companies, whether referred from Finance Wales or otherwise, in order to improve their investment readiness.
Russell George AM: Will the Minister outline his plans for the Management Succession Fund during the Fifth Assembly? (WAQ70530)
Answer received on 23 June 2016
Ken Skates: The Wales Management Succession Fund will provide specific funding to support the transfer of ownership of Welsh companies to their employees and management teams. The Fund, managed by Finance Wales, will target companies that are unable to access funding from banks due to a lack of security and where there is no provision by private equity houses due to the relatively low transaction size. It also has the ability to offer investment terms of up to 7 years.
Russell George AM: Will the Minister detail how many individuals have applied for the Management Succession Fund since it was announced in April 2016? (WAQ70531)
Answer received on 23 June 2016
Ken Skates: No businesses have yet benefitted from the fund which was launched in April 2016. However, Finance Wales is currently considering a strong pipeline of proposals and the Fund is expected to make its first investments in the near future. To date, Finance Wales has assisted over 90 businesses in Wales to secure succession funding through its other funds.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): How many ambulances are in operational use in Betsi Cadwaladr for responding to red and amber calls? (WAQ70511)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): How many ambulances in operational use are based in Ynys Môn? (WAQ70512)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): How many occasions during the 15/16 financial year have ambulances based in Ynys Mon been required to transfer patients already in one hospital to another? (WAQ70513)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): How many occasions during the 15/16 financial year has an ambulance and its crew based in Ynys Môn spent the majority (over 50%) of its shift outside of Ynys Môn? (WAQ70514)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn): How many occasions during the 15/16 financial year has an ambulance based outside of Ynys Môn responded to a call within Ynys Môn? (WAQ70515)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): We do not hold this information centrally. This type of operational information would be held by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust:
www.was-tr.wales.nhs.uk/
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister detail Welsh Government support for befriending services in Wales, such as the pilot in the Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board, Prescription for Loneliness? (WAQ70537)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Vaughan Gething: Welsh Government recognises the importance of befriending schemes in helping to tackle loneliness and isolation. We have worked with and provided funding to a number of third sector organisations in Wales. The Aneurin Bevan pilot has been funded by the Big Lottery and my officials will update me on the findings of this work, so we can learn from and share with others.
The issue of loneliness and isolation has also been recognised in the Older People's Strategy and the Ageing Well in Wales Programme. We have worked closely with the Older People's Commissioner and have also provided £50k funding this year to support the Ageing Well in Wales Programme. This work recognises that loneliness and isolation is a cross government and cross sector issue.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister provide an exact figure of veterans suffering from PTSD in Wales in the year 2015-16? (WAQ70541)
Answer received on 1 July 2016
The Minister for Social Services and Public Health (Rebecca Evans): This information in not held centrally.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of veterans referred to Veterans' NHS Wales in the years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16? (WAQ70542)
Answer received on 1 July 2016
Rebecca Evans: The breakdown of referrals to Veterans NHS Wales by year is:
2010-11 191
2011-12 205
2012-13 329
2013-14 390
2014-15 542
2015-16 592*
*The 2015-16 figure includes extrapolated data for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board between December 2015 and March 2016.
Veterans who think they may be suffering from PTSD can refer themselves to Veterans NHS Wales or can access it through other organisations such as military charities and primary care.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of Welsh Government funding for Veterans' NHS Wales in the years 2010-2011, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16? (WAQ70545)
Answer received on 1 July 2016
Rebecca Evans: The breakdown of Welsh Government funding to Veterans NHS Wales by year is:
2010-11 £485,000
2011-12 £485,000
2012-13 £485,000
2013-14 £485,000
2014-15 £585,000
2015-16 £585,000
Welsh Government also provided an additional £30,000 from June 2015 to June 2016, to Veterans NHS Wales to provide support to victims and families in Wales who may have been affected psychologically by the Tunisian and Paris atrocities.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister outline the tailored support currently available for veterans in the Welsh NHS? (WAQ70546)
Answer received on 27 June 2016
Rebecca Evans: Veterans NHS Wales provides dedicated Veteran therapists in each health board area providing specialist outpatient care for veterans with mental health problems, such as PTSD. It can also help signpost veterans and their families to other support they may require.
The Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme continues to support referrals and self-referrals. It is available to all ex-Service personnel (including Reservists) and provides access to consultants with the knowledge and skills of a military background.
WHC (2008) 051 ‘Priority Treatment and Healthcare for Veterans’ asks GPs to consider when making referrals whether, in their clinical opinion, priority treatment may be appropriate as the patient’s condition relates to military service.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to help protect endangered and protected species living in Wales? (WAQ70516)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The Environment (Wales) Act and the Well-being of Future Generations Act provides new drivers and frameworks to support biodiversity action across Wales. Our Nature Recovery Plan, developed alongside this new legislation, sets out our objectives and actions to achieve our ambition to reverse the decline in our biodiversity by 2020. This will contribute to the nation’s well-being and the sustainable management of our natural resources.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to address the islandisation of red squirrel populations? (WAQ70517)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: A framework has been developed for the recovery of the red squirrel population. This is set out in the 'Conservation Plan for Red Squirrels in Wales' (2009) developed by the Wales Squirrel Forum and Wales Squirrel Partnership.
This framework is reinforced through the Welsh Government's commitment to the UK Squirrel Accord. The aim being, 'Red squirrel populations protected, thriving and greys controlled, through targeted and sustained action'.
The Welsh Government is contributing to the outcomes of a UK-wide, European LIFE project to advance the effective management of invasive grey squirrels and reverse regional native red squirrel decline.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to support Wales's red squirrel population? (WAQ70518)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: A framework has been developed for the recovery of the red squirrel population. This is set out in the ‘Conservation Plan for Red Squirrels in Wales’ (2009) developed by the Wales Squirrel Forum and Wales Squirrel Partnership.
This framework is reinforced through the Welsh Government’s commitment to the UK Squirrel Accord. The aim being ‘Red squirrel populations protected, thriving and greys controlled, through targeted and sustained action’.
The Welsh Government is contributing to the outcomes of a UK-wide, European LIFE project to advance the effective management of invasive grey squirrels and reverse regional native red squirrel decline.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to manage grey squirrel populations in areas with red squirrel populations? (WAQ70519)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government supports the approach to grey squirrel management set out in the 'Conservation Plan for Red Squirrels in Wales' (2009) as developed by the Wales Squirrel Forum and Wales Squirrel Partnership.
Welsh Government officials are working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Woodland Strategy Advisory Panel to develop a Grey squirrel management plan.
There is a selection process for Glastir Advanced applicants which include identifying land which falls within priority red squirrel areas. Successful applicants are offered Glastir Contracts which may contain a number of activities to benefit red squirrel populations including the management of grey squirrels.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What assessment has the Minister made of Age Cymru's estimates in 2015 that 57% of older people were in fuel poverty? (WAQ70533)
Answer received on 1 July 2016
Lesley Griffiths: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister outline her plans to combat fuel poverty during the Fifth Assembly term? (WAQ70534)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Within the powers available to the Welsh Government, the most direct way in which we can tackle fuel poverty is to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Wales. We will prioritise support for those householders on low incomes or living in the most energy inefficient homes.
From April 2012 to March 2015, the Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest and Arbed schemes improved the energy efficiency of over 27,000 homes across Wales. This figure will increase further when we publish the achievements of the Nest scheme in 2015/16.
Welsh Government Warm Homes is continuing and we will continue to do all that we can do to reduce the number of households in Wales living in fuel poverty.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of veterans housed in supported accommodation as a result of the £2million Social Housing Grant, announced by the previous Welsh Government in 2013-14? (WAQ70532)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children (Carl Sargeant): Schemes were identified for funding based on expressions of interest identified by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Joint Housing Advice Office (JSHAO).
The funding has provided 26 new affordable homes, 20 of which have been allocated to ex-Armed Forces personnel to date.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister detail his plans to increase financial inclusion during the Fifth Assembly? (WAQ70535)
Answer received on 27 June 2016
Carl Sargeant: Promoting financial inclusion is a key priority for the Welsh Government during the Fifth Assembly. The 2016 Financial Inclusion Strategy sets out how we aspire to work with partner organisations – in Wales and at a UK level - to help improve access to affordable credit and financial services, access to financial information, including debt advice, as well as the need to improve financial capability in Wales.
A Delivery Plan is currently being developed in consultation with key partners and informed by responses to the public consultation on the draft Strategy. The Delivery Plan, which will be published later this year, will set out the actions and success measures required to increase financial inclusion across Wales.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister confirm if the Welsh Government will continue to provide funding for credit unions after 2017? (WAQ70536)
Answer received on 27 June 2016
Carl Sargeant: Whilst no decisions have been made on Welsh Government funding for Credit Unions post March 2017, I see Credit Unions continuing to play a key role in the promotion of financial inclusion. £1.9m of Welsh Government funding has been provided over three years since April 2014 to help credit unions support financially excluded members. I will set out my intentions when I have fully considered the possible options.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What plans does the Minister have for the Front-line advice services grant once it finishes in 2017? (WAQ70538)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What considerations has the Minister made to streamline public funding sources such as the Front-line advice services grant? (WAQ70539)
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister outline whether the Welsh Government will guarantee funding for the Front-line advice services grant until the end of the Fifth Assembly? (WAQ70544)
Answer received on 27 June 2016
Carl Sargeant: No decisions have been made on the Front Line Advice services Grant post March 2017. The Welsh Government recognises the importance of free and independent advice being available to the most vulnerable people in our society. I expect to make decisions in relation to future Front-line advice services grant in the coming months.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What measures is the Minister taking to empower communities so that they may be able to help tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour, loneliness and community safety? (WAQ70540)
Answer received on 27 June 2016
Carl Sargeant: It is vital that the people of Wales should feel safe in their homes and communities. Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour are not directly devolved matters but many of the drivers that impact on Community Safety such as housing and health are devolved and we are determined to do everything in our power to make the people of Wales feel safer. We work closely with the four Chief Constables of Wales and the four Police and Crime Commissioners on matters of mutual interest and we provide funding for a number of initiatives aimed at making communities safer including:
- Funding for an additional 500 Community Support Officers (CSOs) in Wales. North Wales has been allocated an additional 101 CSOs. In Penmaenmawr in North Wales, one of our CSOs organised a Christmas lunch for the over 65's, using it as an opportunity to promote services with a view to making people feel safer in the area
- North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority deliver a wide range of general and focused interventions, such as the Phoenix project, funded by the Welsh Government, to divert young people from fire-setting and anti-social behaviour.
- Promoting Positive Engagement for Young People at risk of offending funds projects aimed at diverting young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour. This is contributing to a reduction in first time entrants into the Youth Justice System.
- Funding for a National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre through Victim Support Cymru. This service provides enhanced advice, support and advocacy for victims. There were 2320 referrals in 2015-16, including 104 self referrals to the centre. This is helping to build victim confidence and to enhance engagement across our communities throughout Wales.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Will the Minister detail how much has been set aside for the Front-line services grant in 2016-17? (WAQ70543)
Derbyniwyd ateb ar 27 Mehefin 2016
Carl Sargeant: £2.2million has been committed this year until March 2017 for the Front Line Advice Services grant.