Written Assembly Questions tabled on 23 January 2017 for answer on 30 January 2017
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
Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline what plans he has to expand British Sign Language provision at tourism sites? (WAQ71923)
Answer recieved on 27 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): The Equality Act 2010 requires businesses, including tourism businesses, to anticipate and provide for disabled people and others with ‘protected ‘characteristics. It is for individual businesses to consider the support they provide but there is growing technology available that can help translate a tour into one which includes subtitles or British Sign Language (BSL) for deaf or deafened visitors. For example Cardiff Castle now has audio guides of the site that include a sign-language tour (BSL) and Cadw staffed sites have portable induction loops for use by the deaf and hearing impaired.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm the amount each Local Authority has in its reserves, and explain how the Welsh Government is ensuring that these are being put to use to help assist Council services? (WAQ71925)
Answer received on 31 January 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford):
I publish the levels of reserves held by each local authority on the Welsh Government's website. http://gov.wales/topics/localgovernment/finandfunding/whole-government-accounts/publications/whole-government-accounts-reserves/?lang=en
Decisions about the use of reserves are matters for the Executive of each authority, supported by professionally qualified finance officers.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide information on the communication skills of people who support deaf people in education? (WAQ71924)
Answer to follow.