Written Assembly Questions tabled on 21 September 2016 for answer on 28 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 Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister set out the outcomes of his meeting with Midlands Connect in July? (WAQ70992)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): I have not yet been able to meet with Sir John Peace, the Chairman of Midlands Connect but a meeting is currently being arranged.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline the criteria required for successful applications to the growth and prosperity fund? (WAQ70993)
Answer received on 26 September 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The Growth and Prosperity Fund is open to applications from SME businesses. The main focus of the initiative will be the creation of new jobs. It will be a competitive scheme and each project will be assessed against value for money criteria and will focus on the number and quality of the jobs created/ as a result of the project.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline the targets that are set for small and medium enterprises to meet once they receive funding from the growth and prosperity fund? (WAQ70994)
Answer received on 26 September 2016
Ken Skates: Targets are set according to the project outlines. The applicant will receive a detailed Award of Funding letter which sets out capital spend and jobs to be created and/or safeguarded before payments are made. If the business fails to achieve these targets, payments may be withheld or based on a pro-rata basis based on the outputs achieved.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What mechanisms does the Minister have in place to ensure that the 'non-repayable' grant funds supplied by the growth and prosperity fund are independently overseen? (WAQ70995)
Answer received on 26 September 2016
Ken Skates: For the smaller Fund, cases will be presented to an independent Regional Assessment Panel. For the larger Fund, cases will be presented to internal "Investment Recommendation Panel" made up of senior representatives of the Sectors and Business team within my Department. The Panel makes a recommendation on the cases presented to them and I make the final decision whether to fund based on the evidence presented.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What considerations has the Minister made of the benefits to the Welsh economy should small and medium enterprises enter into the £5 million growth and prosperity fund? (WAQ70996)
Answer received on 26 September 2016
Ken Skates: This fund is based on the First Minister's Business Confidence Plan to assist our economy to grow following the instability following the outcome of the EU Referendum, plus to continue to market Wales as an attractive place to do business. Specifically, the £5 million is expected to create and safeguard up to 1200 jobs.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an updated statement on progress to develop the new access road to the Aston Martin facility, with specific reference to the proposed route, start and completion dates and anticipated cost? (WAQ71002)
Answer received on 28 September 2016
Ken Skates: The new “Northern Access Road” to serve the Aerospace Business Park at St Athan is proposed follow the route identified for this purpose in the Local Development Plan. The pre application planning process has commenced and a key part of this will be community consultation. Officials have already met with Llanmaes community council and Llantwit Major Town Council to share the draft proposals. A public exhibition is being planned later this year to explain the proposals to the wider community. This will be followed in the New Year by formal pre-application consultation proceedings. Until we have heard the views of the communities and obtained planning permission it is not possible to confirm the route or estimated cost.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the progress for refurbishing the Red Dragon Hangar to accommodate Aston Martin's development, indicating any financial contribution the Welsh Government might be liable for? (WAQ71001)
Answer received on 28 September 2016
Ken Skates: The Superhangar at St Athan is to be transformed into a car manufacturing plant by Aston Martin Lagonda. Planning permission has been granted for both the use as a car manufacturing plant and for phase one of the conversion works which focuses on the offices and part of the workshop areas. Aston Martin’s current timetable envisages commencement of the phase 1 works within the next 2-3 months and completion of all conversion works by December 2018. I regret I am unable to disclose the full commercial details but can confirm that the Welsh Government will be funding the basic works required to convert the building from aerospace use to general manufacturing.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What action will the Welsh Government be taking in respect of Deeside Parkway Station? (WAQ71004)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
Ken Skates: The National Transport Finance Plan sets out our commitment to undertake a feasibility study to investigate options to improve access to employment sites in the Deeside area by sustainable travel modes. As part of this work we are examining options to improve access to Deeside for rail passengers. The study includes consideration of options for new and improved rail stations, including provision of a Parkway station in Deeside.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister advise as to how many times the A55 Trunk Road has been closed in 2016, to include for each instance: where the closure took place, whether the closure affected one or both directions, what the reason for the closure was, and for what length of time the closure took place? (WAQ70986)
Answer received on 30 September 2016
Ken Skates: Between 1 January and 23 September there were 19 occasions (2 days and 17 nights, not continuous) when sections of the A55 (J1, Holyhead to J36a, Broughton) were required to be fully closed for a period of time. For the remaining closures a batching or contraflow system was in place to allow the movement of traffic. The attached annex provides a breakdown of the information.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how many dog breeders were licensed in Wales in 2014 and 2015? (WAQ70980)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how many Kennel Club assured dog breeders are based in Wales? (WAQ70981)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm how any dog breeder licences were revoked in 2014 and 2015? (WAQ70982)
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm what the Welsh Government has done to ensure the public are educated about buying puppies from responsible breeders? (WAQ70983)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): No data is held by the Welsh Government with regard to the number of dog breeding licences issued, held or revoked in 2014-15. Local Authorities own this information. The Kennel Club own and hold the data on how many Assured Breeders are based in Wales which is accessible on their website.
With regard to the work undertaken to educate the public about buying from responsible breeders, my officials have previously worked with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) on this matter. The Welsh Government also commissioned the RSPCA-led review into Responsible Dog Ownership in Wales. Continuing the theme of responsible ownership, the Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group has published its Implementation Plan for 2016/17 which includes the Responsible Ownership of all animals.
Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central): Will the Minister confirm whether the Welsh Government plans to continue its current level of funding for the Brecon Beacons visitor centre and that the current employees are not faced with redundancy? (WAQ70984)
Answer received on 30 September 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The funding and staffing of the Brecon Beacons Visitor Centre are the responsibility of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What assessment has the Minister made of the Bevan Foundation Report in July 2016, which highlighted that the amount of pensioners living in poverty increased to 17 per cent, up three per cent since 2011/12-2012/13? (WAQ70978)
Answer received on 26 September 2016
Ken Skates: The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has estimated that absolute and relative pensioner poverty in the UK (defined as those aged 65 or over and before housing costs) will fall over the period 2013–14 to 2020–21.
The main reasons for this anticipated fall are due to increasing labour market participation among older people, linked to increases in the state pension age, and growth in private and state pension income.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What steps has the Minister taken in light of the Bevan Foundation's Report in July 2016, which stated that "the proportion of adults living below the poverty threshold has been at around 22 per cent since 1997/98-1999/00"? (WAQ70979)
Answer received on 26 September 2016
Ken Skates: We are continuing to feel the impacts of UK Government welfare reforms, which are affecting many vulnerable families. In spite of this backdrop, we remain committed to using all available levers to reduce inequalities, improve prosperity and increase people’s participation in labour market.
Tackling poverty continues to be a priority for this new Welsh Government. While I have responsibility for the coordination of cross-cutting measures to promote economic opportunity for all, tackling poverty is the shared responsibility of every Cabinet Secretary and Minister.
As a Government, our focus continues to be on improving outcomes in the early years and increasing employability. These priorities reflect where the evidence tells us we can have most impact. Building a strong economy and providing access to sustainable employment will be fundamental to delivering on both of these agendas.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): What considerations has the Minister made to introducing schemes which 'better targets support' for small businesses, as outlined in the statement on future arrangements for small business rates relief? (WAQ70997)
Answer received on 28 September 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): I will work with local authorities, business organisations and other key stakeholders to develop a small business rates relief scheme that better meets the needs of Wales. The permanent scheme will be in place from 1 April 2018.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of avoidance of business rates and percentages of collection by local authority for the years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16? (WAQ70998)
Answer received on 28 September 2016
Mark Drakeford: Information on the levels of non-domestic rates avoidance is not collected centrally.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of how much funding he has set aside for rates relief in 2017-18? (WAQ70999)
Answer received on 28 September 2016
Mark Drakeford: The plans for non-domestic rates and rates reliefs for 2017-18 form part of our budget considerations. The Draft Budget will be published on 18 October.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister outline what guarantees he has made to small businesses in light of the Welsh Labour manifesto pledge to 'offer a tax cut to all small businesses in Wales'? (WAQ71000)
Answer received on 28 September 2016
Mark Drakeford: Our Small Business Rates Relief scheme is already providing an estimated £98 million of relief to small businesses in Wales this year. I recently announced that the tax cut represented by the scheme is being extended into 2017-18 and we will review it with a view to putting a permanent scheme in place from 1 April 2018.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister advise as to what consideration he has made for the compulsory training of Town and Community Council Clerks and Chairs? (WAQ70990)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
Mark Drakeford: These matters were subject to consultation through the Draft Local Government (Wales) Bill, between 24 November 2015 and 15 February 2016.
Overall, respondents agreed it would be beneficial for both councillors and employees properly to consider and plan for the training needs of their own members and employees. The majority of responses supported the proposals for community councils to determine their own training needs.
Ways in which community councils can be enabled to be effective and maximise their potential will form a key part of the reform of local government. I will take the stakeholder views expressed to date on this matter into consideration as I determine how to proceed.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister disclose the full costs associated with developing the Maps, published on 17th June 2015, outlining the previous Minister's proposals for 8 or 9 local authorities in Wales? (WAQ70988)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister disclose the full costs associated with the development of the Draft Local Government (Wales) Bill? (WAQ70991)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
Mark Drakeford: I refer you to the answer provided by officials on 23 June to the Welsh Conservative Group Researcher in respect of the Request for Recorded Information (Ref : ATISN 10491). Development of the Maps published on 17June 2015 falls within administration costs. Link :
http://gov.wales/docs/decisions/2016/localgov/160624atisn10491lttr.pdf
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide a comprehensive update on the implementation by local authorities of the recommendations of the KPMG Welsh Local Authorities Administrative Cost Review, and how the Welsh Government is monitoring progress towards the £151m of savings identified? (WAQ70989)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Government is not responsible for the administrative costs of Local Authorities. Each Authority received its own benchmarking report based on the data collected through the KPMG Administrative Cost Review exercise. It is for each authority to use this information to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its administrative activities allowing it to focus more resources on the delivery of frontline services. I am pleased that Local Authorities have recognised the value of this information and are undertaking further benchmarking activities to inform the delivery of future efficiencies including joint working.
The recommendations of the KPMG Review and the delivery of the savings were factored into the previous Welsh Government’s programme for reforming local government. I will make a statement on 4 October on this Government’s proposals for local authority reform.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): With regard to his response to WAQ70812, will the Minister provide an update on the report regarding Council Tax Collection Scheme pilots? (WAQ71003)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): A report by the Behavioural Insights Team on applying behavioural insights to Council Tax collection in Wales is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide an update on the findings of the WLGA's investigation into equal pay claims held against Local Authorities in Wales; to include how he intends to take forward any recommendations provided? (WAQ70987)
Answer received on 27 September 2016
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) was asked to engage with all local authorities on this matter to understand the underlying issues relating to any outstanding pay claims. WLGA advises that its officers have done so and confirmed that there are around 600 outstanding claims within a workforce of nearly 130,000 employees. This is a complex area and there are a number of reasons why some claims have taken some time to resolve, such as claims which are attached to people who have left employment in local government, claims with multiple claimants and difficulties in designating appropriate comparators. The appeals process also has slowed down payments in some areas. Moreover the decision on a 2012 Birmingham City Council case increased the period within which claims could be lodged to 6 years increasing the number of claims which could be lodged. As WLGA acknowledges, the issue of outstanding pay claims causes anxiety and concern for those involved but each Local Authority is responsible for its own employment matters; to date, the Welsh Government has been able to accommodate all Authorities’ requests for Capitalisation Directions to enable them to deal with equal pay claims.