Written Assembly Questions tabled on 19 December 2014 for answer on 31 December 2014
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 First Minister
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide the total number of individuals appointed to public bodies since the start of the fourth Assembly? (WAQ68161)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The First Minister of Wales (Carywn Jones): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the number of women appointed to public bodies in Wales since the start of the fourth Assembly? (WAQ68162)
Answer recevied on 7 January 2014
The First Minister of Wales (Carwyn Jones): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
To ask the Minister for Natural Resources
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on how planning departments are monitored for compliance with guidance on the accumulative effect of noise from wind turbine applications? (WAQ68165)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Natural Resources (Carl Sargeant): The Welsh Government, through Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8: Planning for Renewable Energy endorses the use of 'Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms (ETSU-R-97)', published by the Institute of Acoustics, and its supplementary guidance, to assess the impacts from noise from wind turbine developments, including cumulative effects.
This document gives example planning conditions which Local Planning Authorities can use to mitigate against the impact of noise from wind turbines when permitting such developments. The making and monitoring of these conditions is a matter entirely for Local Planning Authorities.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): Can farmers in Wales apply for a licence to cull badgers on their own farm if that farm is infected with TB? (WAQ68180)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
Rebecca Evans : Information on the different types of licences in relation to badgers, and how to apply for them, is available on the Wildlife Licensing pages of the Welsh Government website:
To ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on the distribution of the Welsh Government publication, 'Mobile Homes - Know Your Rights'? (WAQ68167)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
Lesley Griffiths: A copy of the "Mobile Homes – Know Your Rights" leaflet was issued to all mobile home owners who live permanently on a residential site in advance of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 coming into force on 1 October 2014.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on implementation of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013? (WAQ68168)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): The Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 came into force on 1 October 2014 and provides more rights and increased protections for mobile home owners who live permanently on a residential site.
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on whether war veterans receive priority on local authority housing registers? (WAQ68170)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): Local Authorities can, within their local housing allocation schemes, give additional preference to applicants who need accommodation as a result of leaving the armed forces, or to those who require suitable, adapted, accommodation because of needs which result from their service. The Welsh Government's Code of Guidance on Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness for Local Authorities outlines what consideration should be given to service personnel, their families and veterans when framing allocation policies and when providing homelessness assistance.
Under the Homeless Persons (Priority Need) (Wales) Order 2001. personnel who have served in the regular armed forces of the Crown and who have been homeless since leaving the forces are recognised as being in priority need.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): When is the proposed code of practice for landlords, made under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, expected to be compiled? (WAQ68177)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
Lesley Griffiths: My officials are currently working on implementing Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, this work includes developing the code of practice for landlords and letting and management agents. More details about the code will be available by Summer 2015.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What will the proposed code of practice made under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 specify landlords to do? (WAQ68178)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty (Lesley Griffiths): The Code of Practice that will be made under Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 will supply landlords and letting and management agents with information on their legal rights and duties under existing housing legislation. Before the code is finalised, there will be consultation on its content.
Mark Isherwood (North Wales): When will local authorities start training landlords on the proposed code of practice and when will they expect landlords to adhere with it? (WAQ68179)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
Lesley Griffiths: Work on implementing Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 is underway. A consultation on aspects of the training has recently been published and this is available at http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/housing-and-regeneration/designation-of-licensing-authority-under-part1-of-housing-wales-act-2014/?lang=en
To ask the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): Will the Minister make a statement on extending small business rate relief beyond March 2015? (WAQ68166)
Answer received on 23 December 2014
Edwina Hart: Business rates will be devolved to Wales in April 2015 and I have established the Business Rates Panel to consider a strategic approach. I will ensure that Members are informed of decisions regarding rate reliefs in due course.
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the recent Estyn report on Llandrindod High School? (WAQ68160W)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): Estyn is an independent body responsible for inspecting the quality of education services in Wales. Decisions in respect of the inspection framework, the inspection methodologies utilised and the judgements reached by inspectors are entirely a matter for the inspectorate. Llandrindod High School was inspected by Estyn in October 2014 and was judged to require special measures.
Estyn will monitor the progress of the school on a termly basis and write to the chair of the governing body, the local authority and myself following each visit to report on progress. Estyn will continue to monitor the school until it is satisfied that the school has improved sufficiently to be removed from the formal category of requiring special measures.
A range of parties will now continue their involvement in the progress of the school, including its governing body, the local authority, the regional consortia and Estyn. These agencies will all play a role in supporting and challenging the school to continue to make changes and improve standards.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that Coleg Ceredigion is fairly funded in relation to deprivation allocation funding? (WAQ68171W)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): For Coleg Ceredigion, as with other colleges in Wales, the recurrent funding formula has an element that is related to learners who come from those areas of Wales that are educationally deprived. The formula contains an uplift that is based on the Education domain of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.
It operates by the application of an uplift (or weight) to each learner from a Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) with a level of educational deprivation above a specified threshold, with the purpose of covering the additional costs needed to serve the needs of learners from deprived areas.
The Deprivation uplift is scheduled for review during 2015, with the aim that any changes will be agreed prior to announcing the recurrent funding allocations for the following academic year.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on reassessing the formula for the provision of deprivation allocation for further education colleges? (WAQ68172W)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): The main recurrent funding formula for Further Education Colleges includes an uplift relating to provision for learners who come from educationally deprived areas.
The uplift is scheduled for review during 2015, with the aim of influencing recurrent funding allocations for the following academic year.
The review of the deprivation uplift is being undertaken, by officials, in conjunction with a working group of stakeholders drawn from the further education and local authority sectors.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Minister detail what funds have been awarded to Cyrenians Cymru – via the Welsh European Funding Office or otherwise – since 1999? (WAQ68169)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Simon Thomas (Mid and West Wales): Will the Minister make a statement on the implications of the fact that Ceredigion, as a county, is now a European Regional Development fund area? (WAQ68173W)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
Jane Hutt: Ceredigion has been a beneficiary of EU funding, including from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) for a number of years: the 2007-2013 Structural Fund Programmes having already helped to create almost 1,500 jobs, supported over 550 businesses and helped 1,000 people into work and 3,500 to gain qualifications.
The first project to be approved through the new 2014–2020 Programmes is the £35 million (£20 million ERDF) Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus (AIEC) development, also based in Ceredigion.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How much has the Welsh Government spent on Christmas cards in 2013 and 2014 including production, postage, copyright, photography and any associated legal costs? (WAQ68181)
Answer received on 7 January 2015
Jane Hutt: Expenditure on printing cards and envelopes was as follows:
| Year | Cost of cards and envelopes (£ net of VAT) |
| 2013 | £165 |
| 2014 | £257.82 |
We do not hold figures on postage costs, excluding those sent overseas, cards are sent by Royal Mail, second class. The remainder were sent internally via the internal mail service, were hand delivered or were sent electronically.
There are no copyright, photography or associated legal costs. Cards were designed by Welsh Government Design Team and images were obtained via our photolibrary.
To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on any consideration given to a mandatory training programme on dementia for all NHS staff in Wales? (WAQ68163)
Answer received on 7 January 2014
The Minister for Health and Social Services (Mark Drakeford): I will write to you and a copy of the letter will be put on the internet.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide a statement on the north Wales adult mental health services unit in Abergele? (WAQ68164)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister detail any consideration given to the re-structure of mental health commissioning in Wales, specifically in the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board? (WAQ68182)
Answer received on 7 January 2015 (WAQ68164 and WAQ68182)
Mark Drakeford: 'The configuration, service planning and delivery of local mental health services are the responsibility of the Betsi Cadwaladr University health board including those provided at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.'
To ask the Minister for Public Services
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister provide assurances that public opinion will be given appropriate consideration at stage two of any voluntary merger process? (WAQ68174)
Answer received on 23 December 2014
Leighton Andrews: The 'Invitation to Principal Local Authorities in Wales to submit proposals for voluntary merger' makes it clear that any voluntary merger must proceed with full consultation and engagement with people and communities (including Town and Community Councils), Elected Members, the workforce, trade unions, business, third sector, other local public service and any other interested stakeholders. As part of this, we would expect a full and objective summary of consultation responses received, including those opposed to voluntary merger proposals.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline his intentions with regard to the reference in the expression of interest for voluntary merger submitted by Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council there to the 'relaxation in the level of cuts to which we are subject'? (WAQ68175)
Answer received on 23 December 2014
The Minister for Public Services (Leighton Andrews): We are currently in the process of reviewing the Expressions of Interest received. I will make a further statement in the New Year.