Written Questions tabled on 21/10/2022 for answer on 28/10/2022
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.
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Will the Minister confirm that the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 valued at £842million will be spent in full by the end of 2023 in line with N+3 rules?
I will make every endeavour to ensure the funding available is fully spent, this is my objective. The programme is over-committed, and we expect projects to deliver against their agreed objectives in line with Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 N+3 rules and timeframe.
Will the Minister confirm whether the Welsh budget that includes funding of £27.3 million for a Rural Economy and Sustainability Programme in 2022-23, will be spent in full during this financial year?
It is my objective to ensure the funding is fully spent. I have already announced £227m worth of rural investment schemes over 3 years to support farmers, foresters, land managers and food businesses and I am currently considering advice from officials regarding the further use of funding for rural investment during this financial year.
Minister for Climate Change
What assessment has the Minister made in relation to concerns over noise, impact and the potential damage to properties regarding the Craig-yr-Hesg Quarry appeal decision?
Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
What is the Welsh Government doing to support adult learners and those re-training in later life?
The Welsh Government has just celebrated adult learners’ week in Wales (17-23 October) where, working with our partners, we have promoted our vision as a ‘second chance nation’ for lifelong learning. This is being achieved by the promotion of online, live and in-person events, courses, taster sessions, open days, resources and careers advice and guidance.
Specifically, this package of support includes access to:
- Personal Learning Accounts – which provide flexible courses and qualifications and are fully funded by the Welsh Government. Through this, adults are able to acquire new skills and qualifications that local employers need to help progress an adult’s current career or change it altogether
- Adult and Community Learning – provision of community led courses providing high quality education for adults, funded by the Welsh Government.
- Part time Further Education provision – provision of a wide range of courses ranging from literacy, numeracy, digital and ESOL provision to Workplace Diplomas, providing funded second chance and upskilling opportunities to adult learners
- The Apprenticeship programme - which aims to increase opportunities for people of all ages and background to develop transferable skills in the workplace and boost their life chances.
- Working Wales – a single point of access for employment support needs.
- ReAct+ - which offers tailored solutions which may include financial support, skills training and Personal Development Support to help remove barriers to employment, such as support with mental health, confidence building, language skills and more.
Will the Minister provide a list of nations, territories and educational institutions who are partners under the Taith exchange programme?
The number of partner countries as indicated by organisations in their Taith Pathway 1 applications is 95. The full list of these, as well as details of partner organisations will be published on the Taith website once mobilities have occurred.
The Pathway 2 funding call, which aims to build partnership and strategic collaboration through international collaborative projects will close on 1 December. Detailed information on the international partners who will work alongside Welsh institutions on Pathway 2 projects will be available on the Taith website once outcomes of the call are known.
Latest updates on the programme are available on the Taith website and will be updated periodically https://www.taith.wales/news/
Does the Welsh Government have targets for scores in the next PISA tests?
This government does not have a numerical target for PISA 2022 but is focussed on supporting learners and schools to feel well placed to give a strong account of their capability and resilience, and derive the benefits of participating in PISA, so that we are able to learn from the experience.
How does the Minister envisage the Unions and the World of Work project improving educational outcomes?
Careers and Work-Related Experiences is a cross-cutting theme throughout the Curriculum for Wales. It will inspire learners to develop an understanding of the purpose of work in life, both for themselves and for society as a whole, and develop resilience and the ability to be adaptable in response to the challenges, choices and responsibilities of work and life. There are a range of existing programmes of work which facilitate and support schools’ collaboration with employers and businesses to support CWRE, and this pilot will complement that ongoing engagement.
The Unions and the World of Work pilot is one element of our support for CWRE, and will see a range of materials being made available to secondary schools across Wales, with the aim of ensuring the next generation of workers and employers have a better understanding of employment rights, the role of trade unions and the impact of collective voice in addressing issues in the workplace and beyond.
It is for schools and practitioners to decide what specific experiences, knowledge and skills will support their specific learners to realise the four purposes. A school’s curriculum should enable learners to gain experiences related to work and careers, developing knowledge of the breadth of opportunities available to them throughout their lives. This learning can help them make informed decisions about their career pathways.
Minister for Health and Social Services
Will the Minister make a statement on the frequency of emergency department black alerts and how the Government plans to reduce them?
On Monday 3 October, the health and social care system was under extreme pressure which led to three acute hospital sites declaring a ‘black alert /business continuity incident’. These were Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil; Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend; and Morriston Hospital, Swansea. All three sites deescalated to escalation status level 4 within 24 hours following actions taken in line with the national escalation and de-escalation framework.
The declaration of such alerts in Wales is extremely rare. However, you will be aware peaks in extreme pressure and declarations of business continuity or major incidents are not unique to Wales with several Trusts in England having declared such alerts in recent days and weeks.
In support of delivery by Health Boards of resilient urgent and emergency care services, the Welsh Government has invested an additional £25m in recurrent funding. A further £3m has been allocated to the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust for 100 additional frontline staff, all of which will become operational this Winter. A national programme has also been established to support Health Boards deliver safe, effective and timely urgent and emergency care safe services in line with our six policy goals for these essential services.
Will the Welsh Government outline what the policy will be this winter regarding COVID-19, and if this includes the instruction to stay at home?