Answers to questions not reached in Plenary
12/06/2024Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
Questions For - Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning
Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on planning guidance in relation to acceptable levels of shadow flicker and ice shedding when considering applications for onshore wind turbines?
National planning policy does not specify the level of shadow flicker or ice shedding deemed acceptable. These issues are assessed as part of the planning process when a planning application is submitted to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales on a case-by-case basis.
Will the Welsh Government revise its planning guidance to ensure that rural communities have a greater say in decisions that affect them?
All planning applications are subject to statutory publicity and consultation and developers are required to undertake pre-application consultation on major developments. The Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 will introduce new provisions for engagement with communities on significant infrastructure projects.
Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on reforming the governance arrangements of Wales’s fire and rescue services?
It is clear that the governance of fire and rescue services needs reform and I have already started having conversations with key stakeholders, including Local Authority Leaders and the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Commissioners.
What steps is the Cabinet Secretary taking to mitigate the environmental impact of disused coal tips?
Welsh Government has made a significant investment in the safety of coal tips, introducing a regular inspection and monitoring regime and by making £44.4m available for maintenance since 2022. We will modernise our legislation through the new disused tips bill, due to be introduced to the Senedd in the autumn.
Questions For - Cabinet Secretary for Education
How is the Welsh Government monitoring the progress of its additional learning needs reforms?
A comprehensive programme to monitor and evaluate the progress of our ALN reforms is in place. This includes a four-year formative evaluation of the implementation of the ALN system and a series of Estyn thematic reviews.
How is the Government promoting Welsh heritage within the school curriculum?
Learning about Welsh history is mandatory in the Curriculum for Wales through the Statements of What Matters Code. All schools’ curricula should be designed to enable learners to engage with the history and heritage of Wales in all its complexity and diversity.
How does the Curriculum for Wales encourage children to connect with the natural environment in their local community?
Learning about the environment is mandatory in the Curriculum for Wales. The Statements of What Matters for Humanities and Science and Technology include explicit references to the environment. Schools are expected to design learning to help learners to develop a sense of place and belonging, as embodied through cynefin.