Written Questions Answered Between 7 and 14 April 2005
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Written Questions answered between 7 and 14 April 2005 [R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest. [W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh. Contents 2 Questions to the First Minister 6 Questions to the Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport 9 Questions to the Minister for Economic Development and Transport 13 Questions to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning 16 Questions to the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside 19 Questions to the Finance Minister 17 Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services 29 Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration 39 Questions to the Business Minister 1 Questions to the First Minister Nick Bourne: Will the Welsh Assembly Government make it its policy to support the proposed name change of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41485) Nick Bourne: Will the Minister publish any correspondence, including minutes, records of telephone conversations, e-mails, memoranda, letters and any other documents relating to discussions regarding the proposed name changes of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41486) Nick Bourne: Will the Welsh Assembly Government make representations to Westminster colleagues concerning the proposed change of names of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41487) Nick Bourne: What discussions, if any, has the Welsh Assembly Government had with the Ministry of Defence regarding the proposed name change of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment? (WAQ41488) Substantive answer following holding reply. The First Minister (Rhodri Morgan): I am writing in response to the questions you submitted concerning the amalgamation of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Welsh Regiment. The decision to amalgamate has been one purely for the army, which has been working on how the changes associated with moving to large regiments of more than one battalion should be effected. The army believes that the decision to amalgamate is the right one and that the move to larger regiments is the only sustainable way forward. These are not matters for me to discuss with the Ministry of Defence. The decision was not political in nature, but was one that was taken from a military operational perspective. It was announced last week that the amalgamation would be taking place. During the period leading up to that announcement, I was advising anyone writing to me on this subject that the appropriate place to make representations was the executive committee of the army board. The Secretary of State for Wales issued the same advice to people who had written to him. The army has made clear its commitment to maintain the traditions and ethos of the battalions in the new regiment. This will include further work by the regiment itself to establish which elements are preserved in future to ensure that the unique identities of the historic regiments are preserved when they become battalions of the new style regiment. In respect of WAQ41486, I will consider your request and respond in due course. Jonathan Morgan: Will the First Minister list the number of engagements undertaken in each constituency during the past year and all planned engagements until July 2005? (WAQ41851) Substantive answer following holding reply. The First Minster: The table below shows the number of engagements for April 2004 until March 2005, by constituency, for each Minister and the number of planned engagements for April 2005 until July 2005. I trust this information meets your requirements 2 First Minister Jane Davidson Sue Essex AM Brian Gibbons AM AM/ Jane Hutt AM Constitiuency 04/05 April – 04/05 April – 04/05 April – 04/05 April July 05 July 05 July 05 – July 05 Aberavon 5 1 9 2 0 0 4 0 Alyn and Deeside 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 Blaenau Gwent 1 1 14 1 4 0 0 0 Brecon and Radnorshire 5 0 16 2 6 3 5 3 Bridgend 3 0 6 0 3 0 3 0 Caernarfon 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 Caerphilly 6 0 7 1 3 0 7 0 Cardiff Central 61 7 46 14 21 3 38 6 Cardiff North 10 0 5 4 0 0 15 1 Cardiff West 7 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 Cardiff South and Penarth 37 2 21 4 73 9 44 44 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 Carmarthen West and South 2 0 9 0 1 0 0 0 Pembrokeshire Ceredigion 2 0 7 3 2 0 1 0 Clwyd South 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 Clwyd West 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 Conwy 4 1 13 2 8 0 3 1 Cynon Valley 4 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 Delyn 0 0 4 2 3 0 2 0 Gower 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 Islwyn 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 Llanelli 1 0 5 0 2 2 1 0 Merionnydd Nant Conwy 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney 4 0 3 1 3 0 7 0 Monmouth 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Montgomeryshire 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 Neath 0 0 4 0 2 0 2 0 Newport East 4 0 2 2 1 0 2 0 Newport West 9 0 8 5 1 0 7 1 Ogmore 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 Pontypridd 5 0 18 5 3 0 6 1 Preseli Pembrokeshire 6 0 1 1 2 0 2 1 Rhondda 1 0 6 1 4 0 2 0 Swansea East 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 0 Swansea West 10 1 10 5 8 0 6 0 Torfaen 1 0 11 1 3 0 4 0 Vale of Clwyd 1 0 3 0 4 0 2 0 Vale of Glamorgan 9 1 8 1 2 0 13 4 Wrexham 6 0 9 2 4 0 5 2 Ynys Môn 2 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 Ieuan Wyn Jones: Will the First Minister list his official ministerial engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005, giving the date, location and mode of travel in each case? (WAQ42104) Substantive answer following holding reply. 3 The First Minister: The attached tables show the number of engagements outside Cardiff since 1 January 2005 for me. I trust this information meets your requirements. First Minister Date Engagement Location Mode of Travel 12/01/05 Cabinet open-mic Session Barry Memorial Hall official car 20/01/05 launch the revised Wrexham compact Wrexham Memorial Hall official car 20/01/05 visit to Airbus and the west factory Broughton official car 21/01/05 open the new rehabilitation unit Wrexham Maelor official car Hospital 21/01/05 attend the Walkabout Wrexham Caia Park, Wrexham official car 27/01/05 Financial Services Industry luncheon Tower 42, 24 Old Broad train/Government car Street, London 27/01/05 National Holocaust Memorial Day, national Westminster Hall, Government car commemoration London 28/01/05 address the Qualtech award ceremony QED Centre Treforest official car Industrial Estate 04/02/05 address the Wales carers and employment Orangery, Margam Park official car conference 04/02 /05 address the non-officer members of the Parkway Hotel, Newport official car south-east Wales local health boards 09/02/05 launch of the child poverty strategy White Rose School, New official car Tredegar 10/02/05 attend the Lyons review luncheon Reform Club, London official car 10/02/05 address the Prince of Wales - business and Dorney lake, Eton official car the environment programme event College, Windsor 11/02/05 attend the lord mayor’s ball Gwbert-on-Sea, official car Cardigan 13/02/05 address the Chinese new year celebrations Brangwyn Hall, Swansea official car 17/02/05 launch the ‘Their past and Your Future’ Rhyd-y-Car leisure official car exhibition centre, Merthyr Tydfil 23/02/05 attend Larry Johnson retirement dinner Vintners Hall, London train/Government car 25/02/05 visit to Trinity Fields School and Resource Ystrad Mynach official car Centre 27/02/05 St David’s Day dinner - Brussels Welsh Brussels official Society car/commercial flight/Government car 28/02/05 St David’s Day celebrations Brussels Government car 01/03/05 St David’s Day visit to Welsh Troops in Iraq Iraq commercial flight/MoD/official car 03/03/05 St David’s Day reception for the UK Foreign and train/Government car Diplomatic Corps Commonwealth Office, London Nick Bourne: Has the Welsh Assembly Government had any input into the agenda for the UK Presidency of the European Union from July to December 2005? (WAQ42234) The First Minister: I have been consulted about the policy agenda for the Presidency, in which the UK will look to deliver progress across the EU agenda by running an effective, impartial and business-like Presidency. I have also been consulted about the schedule of meetings taking place during the Presidency, a number of which will be held in Wales. 4 Nick Bourne: Has the First Minister had discussions with UK Government Ministers about the elimination of global poverty, and will he give details of those discussions, or say when he intends to have such discussions? (WAQ42261) The First Minister: This is not a matter on which I have had direct discussions with UK Ministers because international development is not a devolved function. On matters with which we deal that can help to make poverty history, for instance reform of the common agricultural policy, we will be playing our part. Nick Bourne: When is it intended that the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government should be completed? (WAQ42284) Nick Bourne: Where is the advertisement for the office of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government to be placed, or where has it been placed if it has already been advertised? (WAQ42285) Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister provide details of the advertisement that is to be placed, or has been placed, in relation to the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42286) Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister be involved in any of the interviewing of candidates for the post of director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42287) Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister provide such documentation as exists at 17 March 2005 in relation to the appointment of a director of legal services to the Welsh Assembly Government? (WAQ42288) Nick Bourne: Will the First Minister have a veto over the appointment of a director of legal services