Atebion i Gwestiynau Ysgrifenedig y Cynulliad i’w hateb ar 9 Mehefin 2011
Answers to the Written Assembly Questions for answer on 9 June 2011

Cyhoeddir atebion yn yr iaith y’u darparwyd, gyda chyfieithiad Saesneg o atebion yn y Gymraeg.

Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.

[R] yn nodi bod yr Aelod wedi datgan buddiant/signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] yn nodi bod y cwestiwn wedi’i gyflwyno yn Gymraeg/signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

Cynnwys
Contents

Cwestiynau i’r Prif Weinidog
Questions to the First Minister

Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog Busnes, Menter, Technoleg a Gwyddoniaeth  
Questions to the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science

Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau  
Questions to the Minister for Education and Skills

Gofyn i Brif Weinidog Cymru
To ask the First Minister

Mohammad Asghar (Dwyrain De Cymru): Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi’u cael ynghylch posibilrwydd cynnal rownd derfynol Cynghrair Pencampwyr UEFA yn Stadiwm y Mileniwm yn y dyfodol. (WAQ57451)

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): What discussions has the First Minister had regarding the possibility of a future UEFA Champions League final being played at the Millennium Stadium. (WAQ57451)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 09 Mehefin 2011
Answer received for publication on 09 June 2011

The First Minister (Carwyn Jones): The Football Association of Wales (FAW), supported by the Welsh Government, Millennium Stadium and Cardiff Council have made no secret of the ambition to host a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League Final in Cardiff at some point in the near future.

There has been regular dialogue with UEFA over the last 18 months, following a fact-finding trip by UEFA officials and contacts made at last year’s Ryder Cup.

The Welsh Government will do all that it can to assist the hosting of such an event should the staging opportunity arise. To date, no formal application process or invitation to bid has been received from UEFA.

Mohammad Asghar (Dwyrain De Cymru): Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Gweinidog wedi’u cael ynghylch y posibilrwydd i Gaerdydd gynnig cynnal Gemau’r Gymanwlad yn y dyfodol. (WAQ57452)

Mohammad Asghar (South Wales East): What discussions has the First Minister had concerning the possibility of Cardiff bidding to host a future Commonwealth Games. (WAQ57452)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 09 Mehefin 2011
Answer received for publication on 09 June 2011

The First Minister: If we are to achieve our vision of Wales as a truly global events destination, as set out in 'Event Wales: A Major Event Strategy for Wales 2010 - 2020’ which was launched last year, then the Welsh Government needs to be bold and ambitious in ensuring delivery of these commitments. However, we also need a clear sense of what is realistic, and a bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2022 would need to be carefully considered particularly in the current economic climate.

In order to take an informed view on the feasibility of a bid for the is event the former Heritage Minister asked Cardiff Council to prepare a scoping paper which would examine how a bid might be aligned to, and integrated with, national and local strategies and development plans. Also the long term legacy benefits of hosting the Games and how they can be fully exploited; and the issues and challenges which Wales would face in preparing a viable bid and how they might be overcome. The Welsh Government looks forward to receiving this information.

Kirsty Williams (Brycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed): Ar gyfer pob un o adrannau’r Llywodraeth, rhowch wybod faint o weithwyr sy’n ddynion a faint sy’n fenywod, gan roi cyfanswm a chanran ar gyfer pob adran. (WAQ57453)

Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire): For each Government department, please state how many employees are male and female, giving the total number and percentage for each department. (WAQ57453)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 08 Mehefin 2011
Answer received for publication on 08 June 2011

The Permanent Secretary (Dame Gill Morgan): The new portfolio arrangements have resulted in significant changes to the pre-election departmental structures. We are also midway through a voluntary exits programme which will see some 500 people leave the organisation over the next three months. We are currently in the process of updating our ICT systems to accurately reflect these new structures and I expect this work to be completed by the end of this month. I will write to you again in the first week of July with the detail you have requested.

However, for information, I attach details of the gender split across the Welsh Government as at 31 March 2011.

Welsh Government-Staff breakdown as at 31 March 2011

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 12 Gorffennaf 2011
Answer issued for publication on 12 July 2011

The Permanent Secretary (Dame Gill Morgan): Structural changes to the existing departments have now largely been completed, although the Department of the First Minister and Cabinet is being disbanded and its functions distributed between other areas. I have attached a table with the details you requested.

Over the next 3-4 months there will be further changes as a result of the restructuring of the Department of the First Minister and Cabinet. I have already assumed personal responsibility for two of the teams and other changes will follow as we streamline the support service we provide to Ministers.

Welsh Government Staffing Levels as at 30 June 2011

Gofyn i’r Gweinidog Busnes, Menter, Technoleg a Gwyddoniaeth
To ask the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru): A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am oblygiadau canlyniadau adroddiad Llywodraeth Cymru, Ymchwil ar Rwystrau sy’n Atal Cyfleoedd Caffael, i’r sector cyhoeddus. (WAQ57448) Trosglwyddwyd i’w ateb gan y Gweinidog Cyllid ac Arweinydd y Tŷ

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on the implications of the results from the Welsh Government report, The Barriers to Procurement Opportunity Research, on the public sector. (WAQ57448) Transferred for answer by the Minister for Finance and Leader of the House

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 15 Mehefin 2011
Answer received for publication on 15 June 2011

The Minister for Finance and Leader of the House (Jane Hutt): The Barriers to Procurement Opportunity recommendations identified two key themes which prevented smaller, indigenous businesses accessing public contracts: pre-qualification and visibility of contract opportunities. Addressing these issues formed part of our Manifesto commitments and actions are well underway.

The Supplier Qualification Information Database (SQuID) has been developed consultatively with the public sector and industry to produce a simpler, consistent and risk-based approach to pre-qualification in public procurement. The SQuID has been extensively piloted and trialled and initial results are very encouraging with smaller, more local suppliers qualifying and winning public contracts, notably in areas such as construction, where they have previously been less successful. I wrote to all Chief Executives in March to encourage adoption of this approach and over 20 public sector organisations have  committed to using the SQuID for pre-qualification in procurement with more anticipated to follow suit.

Work has also progressed in raising awareness of the advantages of wider advertising of contract opportunities that fall below the EU threshold - these are the opportunities that are of real importance to our smaller, more local businesses. This too has had a very positive effect: the number of sub-EU contracts advertised on the National Procurement Website in the last calendar year grew by 24% and, for the first time, exceeded the number of above-EU contract advertisements.

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru): A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am sut mae’n bwriadu datblygu cynnydd at ddarpariaeth band eang cyflym yng Nghymru. (WAQ57449)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on how she intends to develop progress towards high-speed broadband coverage in Wales. (WAQ57449)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 09 Mehefin 2011
Answer received for publication on 09 June 2011

The Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science (Edwina Hart): Our Next Generation Broadband for Wales (NGBW) project covers the territory and interests of each of our 22 local authorities in Wales.  We are currently on target to award a contract to the successful bidder(s) by March 2012.

Gofyn i’r Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru): A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am statws Adeiladu Sgiliau ar hyn o bryd. (WAQ57450)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on the current status of Skill Build. (WAQ57450)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 09 Mehefin 2011
Answer received for publication on 09 June 2011

The Deputy Minister for Skills (Jeff Cuthbert): The current Skill Build programme will end on 31 July 2011 and will be replaced by two successor programmes: Traineeships, aimed at young people; and Steps-to-Employment, aimed at adults. Providers who were successful in the recent work based learning tender exercise will begin delivering the new programmes on 1 August 2011.

Where learners are currently undertaking their learning with a Skill Build provider who has not secured a work-based learning contract from 1 August 2011, transition arrangements are in place to ensure that they are transferred as seamlessly as possible to a successful provider within their area.