Written Assembly Questions tabled on 21 may 2015 for answer on 29 May 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 Natural Resources
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the variation in the approach across the nations of the UK regarding the land categorisation of tree canopies as part of the new basic payment system? (WAQ68700)
Answer to follow
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister confirm whether all existing trees have been mapped and what surveillance is in place to ensure that none are felled following the decision to categorise tree canopies as ineligible as part of the new basis payment system in Wales? (WAQ68701)
Answer to follow
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on what the Welsh Government has done to promote the Welsh language through the food policy objectives outlined in the Action Plan for the Food and Drink Industry 2014-2020? (WAQ68702)
Answer to follow
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on when the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board will be fully established and whether the milestone for delivery, as set out in the Action Plan for the Food and Drink Industry 2014-2020, has been met? (WAQ68703)
Answer received on 4 June 2015
Deputy Minister for Farming and Food (Rebecca Evans): I will be giving an update on "Towards Sustainable Growth: An Action Plan for the Food and Drink Industry 2014-2020" in the Senedd on 30 June.
The milestones for delivery of the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board, as set out in 'Towards Sustainable Growth', have been met. Over the summer last year, we appointed Mr Robin Jones, Managing Director of The Village Bakery, as the interim Chair for the Board. Following a light-touch public appointment process we were then able to establish the shadow Board, which has already started the work of providing an industry-led voice for Welsh food and drink.
In order to expand the breadth and depth of coverage of the Board, we have recently undertaken a second recruitment exercise, which will bring it up to a full complement.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the progress which has been made on the short term milestones contained within the Action Plan for the Food and Drink Industry 2014-2020? (WAQ68704)
Answer received on 4 June 2015
Rebecca Evans:
I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Has the Minister written to Welsh local authorities on the future funding available for them to deliver cattle control inspections and enforcement measures? (WAQ68705)
Answer received on 4 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: My officials wrote to the Chief Executives of the Local Authorities in Wales in March 2015 outlining the continuation of the additional Animal Health and Welfare enforcement funding for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 January 2016.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Does the Minister still intend to announce the outcomes of the Basic Payment Scheme consultation in July 2015? (WAQ68706)
Answer received on 4 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: Yes. The consultation closes on 23 June, after which a detailed analysis will be undertaken. This will enable a decision to be made on the best approach for Wales.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Does the Welsh Government intend to make any changes to the balance of the Rural Development Plan? (WAQ68711)
Answer received on 4 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Is the Minister confident that the EID Cymru system will be developed within its £2.42 million budget? (WAQ68712)
Answer received on 4 June 2015
Rebecca Evans: I am confident that EIDCymru will be delivered within budget.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government intends to inform schools in Montgomeryshire about the Lead Creative Schools Scheme? (WAQ68710)
Answer received on 29 May 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis):
I am delighted to advise that the first strand of the Arts and Creative Learning Plan – the Lead Creative Schools scheme – is now being publicized to all local authority maintained and voluntary-aided primary, secondary and special schools in Wales.
I informed schools about the scheme in my Western Mail column on 21 May, and regular bulletins on the scheme are going out to all schools in the Welsh Government e-newsletter, Dysg.
The Arts Council of Wales, implementing the scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government, is working with the regional education consortia to inform schools of the opportunities available. The Arts Council has also been holding information sessions at selected locations across Wales, including a session in Powys.
A prospectus describing the scheme and how schools can apply is available for download from the Arts Council of Wales website. The scheme will be open for applications from schools from 3 June and the closing date for the first round of the Lead Creative Schools Scheme is 17July. All schools will receive a link to the prospectus and application form in the Dysg newsletter.
There is capacity for up to 80 schools to join in the first round. During the course of the 5-year plan, the scheme has the capacity to reach around a third of schools in Wales. In the selection of schools, consideration will be given to ensuring a balance of schools across the regions of Wales, ensuring that rural and Welsh-medium schools are fairly represented.
To ask the Minister for the Economy, Science and Transport
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): How many of the 45,887 premises that have been identified as not being in scope of Superfast Cymru project or any commercial roll-out are in Montgomeryshire? (WAQ68707)
Answer received on 4 June 2015
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (Julie James): 202 premises in Montgomeryshire have been identified as not being in scope of Superfast Cymru project or any commercial roll-out.
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): Will the Welsh Government publish a comprehensive list of the 45,887 premises that have been identified as not being in scope of Superfast Cymru project or any commercial roll-out? (WAQ68708)
Answer to follow
Russell George (Montgomeryshire): In what ways is the Welsh Government supporting the restoration of the Montgomery Canal? (WAQ68709)
Answer to follow