Written Assembly Questions tabled on 9 October 2017 for answer on 16 October 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 First Minister
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the First Minister provide a list of the overseas nations the First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and Welsh Ministers intend to travel to during the next 12 months? (WAQ74393)
Answer recieved on 13 October 2017
The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): For operational reasons we do not publish Minister's overseas travel plans 12 months in advance.
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the First Minister confirm that there has been no breach of the Ministerial Code in relation to the leak inquiry involving the Circuit of Wales project? (WAQ74396)
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the First Minister confirm that there has been no breach of the Special Adviser Code in relation to the leak inquiry involving the Circuit of Wales project? (WAQ74397)
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Will the First Minister confirm if he has been informed by the Permanent Secretary that there was no Civil Service Code breach in relation to the leak inquiry involving the Circuit of Wales project? (WAQ74398)
Answer received on 17 October 2017
Carwyn Jones: The leak inquiry in to the Circuit of Wales is ongoing. I will ask the Permanent Secretary to write to you once it has concluded.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Further to his written statement on 6 October 2017, when was Mr Michael Carrick's permission sought to publish the fit and proper person test and when did Mr Carrick refuse to give that permission? (WAQ74399)W
Answer received on 17 October 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure (Ken Skates): Michael Carrick, as Chief Executive Officer of Heads of the Valleys Development Company (HOVDC), was first provided with a redacted copy of Grant Thornton’s corporate intelligence report (which covers the Fit and Proper Person test) in May. Mr Carrick wrote to Welsh Government on 30 May, setting out the company’s observation that the report contained areas of concern for him and his colleagues. On 1 September, Mr Carrick wrote again to Welsh Government about the disclosure of a range of due diligence extracts, emphasising the company’s position that the corporate intelligence report not be released at that stage. Welsh Government wrote to the company on 6 October, providing a further copy of the redacted report that was originally shared with HOVDC in May, asking if they would consider the matter again and advise if they were content for the material to be made publicly available. The company confirmed on 9 October that their position remains unchanged in that they decline any consent for the release of the report.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
David Melding (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the details of the procedure that took place when EDF Energy was granted its marine license to deposit dredged material from Hinkley Point C off Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan? (WAQ74394)
Answer received on 18 October 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): I issued a Written Statement to Assembly Members regarding this marine licence (12/45/ML) on 29 September.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) act on behalf of the Welsh Ministers as the marine licensing authority in Wales, under Part 4 (marine licensing) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
NRW are responsible for this licence and the conditions associated with it and any further queries on this licence should be directed to them.
NRW have advised me the standard marine licensing procedure (in accordance with the MCAA) was applied to this licence determination, which included public consultation and consultation with technical experts, with an additional step of further sampling and a radiological assessment being carried out.
David Melding (South Wales Central): Will the Cabinet Secretary provide details on the activation notice period for a dredging company with an active marine license should they wish to begin dredging? (WAQ74395)
Answer received on 18 October 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have been delegated the marine licensing functions in Wales and act on behalf of Welsh Ministers.
NRW advise me all marine licences have the following standard condition:
“The Licence Holder must advise NRW acting on behalf of the Licensing Authority and Marine Enforcement Officers 10 days before the licensed operation, or an individual phase of the operation is expected to commence.”
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Has the Cabinet Secretary or officials in her department discussed the Welsh language White Paper with the Public Services Ombudsman, formally or informally, and was that before or after the Ombudsman announced his response to the White Paper; and could the dates be provided for any discussions held? (WAQ74400)W
Answer recieved on 13 October 2017
The Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language (Alun Davies): Welsh Government officials attended a meeting of the Ombudsman's Advisory Panel on 13 September, at the invitation of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. At that meeting, the Ombudsman outlined the main elements of his proposed response to the White Paper. The Ombudsman's written response was received on 26 September.