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Cwestiynau Ysgrifenedig y Cynulliad a gyflwynwyd ar 23 Awst 2017 i'w hateb ar 30 Awst 2017

R - Yn dynodi bod yr Aelod wedi datgan buddiant.
W - Yn dynodi bod y cwestiwn wedi'i gyflwyno yn Gymraeg.

(Dangosir rhif gwreiddiol y cwestiwn mewn cromfachau)

Mae'n rhaid cyflwyno Cwestiynau Ysgrifenedig o leiaf bum diwrnod gwaith cyn y maent i gael eu hateb.  Yn ymarferol, bydd Gweinidogion yn ceisio ateb o fewn saith neu wyth diwrnod ond nid oes rheidrwydd arnynt i wneud hynny. Caiff yr atebion eu cyhoeddi yn yr iaith y maent yn cael eu darparu, gyda chyfieithiad i'r Saesneg o ymatebion a ddarperir yn Gymraeg.

Gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a'r Seilwaith

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Ymhellach i WAQ74048, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet egluro pam y bu gostyngiad yn y cyllid y flwyddyn o £455,000 yn 2016-17 i £515,000 yn 2017-19, gan restru'r holl brosiectau sy'n derbyn y cyllid uchod? (WAQ74100)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a'r Seilwaith (Ken Skates): The Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF) and the Tourism Product Innovation Fund (TPIF) are both competitive schemes with project bids invited and assessed against the following criteria.

TPIF is a de minimis revenue fund to directly support tourism businesses working collaboratively with private sector trade partnerships to develop tourism product and marketing activity. Project proposals need to:

• Be led by or on behalf of the tourism trade, sectorial partnerships, groups and consortia
• Develop or enhance tourism products that have been identified as priorities within the tourism strategy and action plan
• Be in line with Welsh Government's thematic 'years and meet the needs of one or more of Visit Wales' target market segments; and
• Demonstrate the ability to have an impact in the market place over a longer period of time
  
   

RTEF is aimed at:

• Supporting destinations across Wales to promote and develop distinctive, high quality visitor experiences through the delivery of their destination management plans
• Increasing visitor numbers, visitor spend and improving the visitor experience
• A key consideration for approving projects will be their ability to meet the strategic objectives of Welsh Government's tourism strategy 'A Partnership for Growth' and the ambitions of the thematic years including Year of Legends, Year of the Sea and the Wales Way.

The following links show all the projects supported across Wales in 2016-17 [12 projects in North Wales - £455k] and 2017-19 [11 projects in North Wales - £515k].  There will be a further tranche of funding available for 2017-19.

TPIF 2016/17
https://businesswales.gov.wales/sites/business-wales/files/tourism/TPIF%202016-2017%20Approved%20Project%20Summaries%20with%20Agreed%20Activity%20%28MA%20Summaries%29%20-%20EN.pdf
 
RTEF 2016/17
https://businesswales.gov.wales/sites/business-wales/files/tourism/Regional%20Engagement%20Tourism%20Fund%202016%202017%20Approved%20Project%20Summary%20-%20MA%20Summary%20-%20EN.pdf

TPIF 2017 – 2019
https://businesswales.gov.wales/sites/business-wales/files/tourism/TPIF_Projects_Recommended_for_Funding_2017-2019_-_EN.pdf

RTEF 2017 - 2019
https://businesswales.gov.wales/sites/business-wales/files/tourism/RTEF_Projects_Recommended_for_Funding_2017-2019_-_EN.pdf

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Ymhellach i WAQ74047, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi mwy o fanylion am y ffordd y gogledd (A55), y llwybr arfordirol (A487), a'r ffordd Cambrian (A470), gan esbonio a fydd llwybr yn cael ei greu ar gyfer yr A5? (WAQ74101)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 24 Awst 2017

Ken Skates: As I announced earlier this year ‘The Wales Way’ will comprise the A55 Cultural Corridor to the north, the A487 to the West, and  the A470 through the heart of Wales.  My officials are currently conducting a period of engagement with key regional and local industry partners and stakeholders to ensure that each route represents the very best of the regions. These three key routes will act as a functional connecting device, and visitors will be actively encouraged to explore a number of other local routes, trails and experiences, one of which could be the A5.

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Yn dilyn newyddion bod Gwesty Castell Rhuthun, a dderbyniodd gyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru, wedi cael ei erlyn am fethu â thalu yr isafswm cyflog i staff, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gadarnhau pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd yn erbyn cwmnïau sy'n cael cymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru os nad ydynt yn talu'r isafswm cyflog o leiaf? (WAQ74111)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 25 Awst 2017

Ken Skates: All organisations and companies have a statutory obligation to comply with the relevant regulations and legislation applicable. All organisations in receipt of Welsh Government funding are required to sign up to terms and conditions, including compliance with legislation, associated with that funding.  Where those terms and conditions are breached the Welsh Government will consider, on a case by case basis, specific measures to address the breach, including the appropriateness of possible clawback.

Dai Lloyd (Gorllewin De Cymru): A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet amlinellu pa drafodaethau y mae wedi'u cael gyda rheolwyr Maes Awyr Caerdydd a chwmni hedfan Flybe o ran y llwybr maes awyr Caerdydd-Dinas Llundain, a pha gamau y mae wedi'u cymryd i geisio gwarchod gwasanaeth uniongyrchol rhwng y ddwy ddinas? (WAQ74117)

Derbynwiyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ken Skates: The Cardiff to London air link is operated by Flybe as a commercial service with Cardiff Airport. I have not been part of these confidential discussions between the airline and airport, and it would not be appropriate for me to do so. The airport is run at arms length from the Welsh Government as a commercial business. Discussions between the airport and airlines operating from Cardiff are a matter for the individual parties.
It will be disappointing to see the end of this service, which has provided a quick and convenient link between Cardiff and London City airports for the past year. Wales needs more, not fewer, links with the rest of the UK, which is our largest trading partner.
Flybe and Cardiff Airport have both been clear that one reason for the cancellation of this service is the impact of the UK Government’s Air Passenger Duty on shorter flights. We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to devolve Air Passenger Duty to Wales. This call has been repeatedly denied. We will though continue to pursue devolution of Air Passenger Duty to Wales.
 
Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet nodi'r meini prawf a ddefnyddir gan ei adran i ddarparu gwybodaeth ariannol sy'n ymwneud â Chronfa Sgrîn Cymru mewn ymateb i WAQ74054, ac esbonio pam na allai'r un meini prawf gael eu defnyddio i ganfod y gwerth i'r economi leol sy'n deillio o gymorth trethi busnes a ddarperir fel rhan o'r ardal fenter Port Talbot mewn ymateb i WAQ74054? (WAQ74118)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ken Skates: The criteria used to assess Screen Fund application include investment / spend, jobs, supply chain benefit and growth potential. We were able to provide the financial information you requested in relation to the Wales Screen Fund as the Welsh spend confirmed to have been delivered by companies was readily available in our records; it is monitored by officials as part of the conditions of funding.

Individual scheme criteria for reporting have been developed to deliver information and objectives appropriate to different areas of support in responding to relevant needs and opportunities and take account local economic conditions as well as ensuring commercial confidentiality. In Port Talbot for example, it was important to target the rates mechanism to support options for growth and diversification within the steel industry supply chain, in effect allowing the company to free up cash flow to invest in expansion and development of their business. 

As a result and as I have stated previously, we do not directly attribute numbers of jobs created to the Enterprise Zones Business Rates Scheme (EZBRS). Job creation is not a requirement of the Scheme, and where jobs are created or sustained in the Zones, these are likely to be attributable to a range of factors including the wider suite of support that is available to businesses in the Zones. For example, support mechanisms such as Business Wales, Repayable Business Finance and the Finance Wales Reduced Lending Scheme. So whilst data is gathered on jobs and reported bi annually from businesses which have received EZBRS funding, these jobs are not recorded as being directly attributable to the EZBRS support and are reported under the gross impact of Government interventions.

Please find attached link for your information:

http://gov.wales/topics/businessandeconomy/growing-the-economy/enterprisezones/?lang=en

Adam Price (Dwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr): Ar adeg drafftio, a oedd y swyddog neu'r swyddogion a ddrafftiodd y papur ar ddosbarthiad mantolen Cylchffordd Cymru ar gyfer y cabinet ar 27 Mehefin yn ymwybodol na fydd y gwarant Llywodraeth o dan sylw yn dechrau hyd nes cwblhau'r gwaith o adeiladu'r cyfleusterau? (WAQ74104)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 7 Medi 2017

Ken Skates: I will write to you as soon as possible and a copy of my letter will be published on the internet.
 
Adam Price (Dwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr): A wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru gomisiynu Regeneris Consulting i werthuso'r ffigurau effaith economaidd a ddarparwyd gan gynghorwyr annibynnol yr Heads of the Valleys Development Company; ac a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gyhoeddi astudiaeth hon fel rhan o'r wybodaeth y bydd yn ei rhyddhau yr haf hwn? (WAQ74105)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 1 Medi 2017

Ken Skates: Regeneris were engaged to undertake a review of the economic impact evidence presented by the developer on the proposed Circuit of Wales. Their remit was to test and comment upon the robustness of the evidence produced in support of the proposals, and where feasible, illustrate the effect of changing key assumptions on the overall results. A summary of the report will be published later this summer.

 
Adam Price (Dwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr): Ar adeg drafftio,
a oedd y swyddog neu'r swyddogion a ddrafftiodd y papur ar y ddosbarthiad mantolen Cylchffordd Cymru ar gyfer y cabinet ar 27 Mehefin yn ymwybodol y lluniwyd y contractau gan ddefnyddio SoPC fersiwn 4, fel y cynghorir gan Drysorlys EM? (WAQ74106)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 1 Medi 2017

Ken Skates: The documents submitted in support of the application identified that the construction would utilise the “SOPCO 4 construction contract framework”. A copy of the construction contract was made available to, and reviewed, by the Welsh Government external due diligence team. The use of this contract has however had no bearing on the advice given to Cabinet on the balance sheet classification

Adam Price (Dwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr): A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru gyhoeddi'r papur a aeth i'r cabinet ar 27 Mehefin ar y cwestiwn o ddosbarthiad y fantolen? (WAQ74107)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 1 Medi 2017

Ken Skates: The advice provided to Cabinet by officials will not be published, in common with normal practice, but the minutes of Cabinet have been published on the Welsh Government website.

Adam Price (Dwyrain Caerfyrddin a Dinefwr): A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gyfeirio at yr adrannau hynny o ESA10 a GMDD sy'n cyfiawnhau penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i adael ecwiti preifat allan wrth wneud ei asesiad o gydbwysedd y risgiau y mae'r sector preifat a chyhoeddus yn gyfrifol amdanynt yn y cynnig mwyaf diweddar prosiect Cylchffordd Cymru? (WAQ74108)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 7 Medi 2017

Ken Skates: I will write to you as soon as possible and a copy of my letter will be published on the internet.

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddarparu manylion ynghylch pryd oedd y tro diwethaf iddo ef neu swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru drafod Parc Busnes Felindre gyda Chyngor Abertawe, beth oedd canlyniad y cyfarfod hwnnw, ac ym mha gam y mae'r cynllun ar hyn o bryd? (WAQ74109)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ken Skates: Infrastructure and strategic landscaping works have been completed at the business park to create twelve fully serviced development plots for sale. Swansea Council has appointed marketing agents and an official met with a council officer on 25/08/17 to review marketing proposals.

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet nodi pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r galw am wasanaeth awyr rhwng Caerdydd a Llundain? (WAQ74110)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ken Skates: The Cardiff to London air link is operated by Flybe as a commercial service. I have commissioned external aviation specialists to undertake route analysis and forecasting to determine the future demand for this service. However, the recent announcement that the commercially operated service is being discontinued demonstrates it is not commercially viable whilst burdened with Air Passenger Duty applied to both the outbound and return legs of the journey.
It will be disappointing to see the end of this service, which has provided a quick and convenient link between Cardiff and London City airports for the past year. Wales needs more, not fewer, links with the rest of the UK, which is our largest trading partner.
Flybe and Cardiff Airport have both been clear that one reason for the cancellation of this service is the impact of the UK Government’s Air Passenger Duty on shorter flights. We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to devolve Air Passenger Duty to Wales. This call has been repeatedly denied. We will though continue to pursue devolution of Air Passenger Duty to Wales.

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru):  A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am gynrychiolaeth Llywodraeth Cymru yn yr Unol Daleithiau, gan amlinellu yn benodol costau y 3 blynedd diwethaf, gan hefyd gadarnhau nifer y staff, eu rolau a lleoliadau'r swyddfeydd? (WAQ74112)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ken Skates: The Welsh Government has representation in 5 US locations, shown in the table below.  Where staff are locally engaged the Welsh Government equivalent grade is shown.  Staff work in collaboration with Wales-based staff and assist in opening doors, identifying and maintaining relationships and economic lead generation. They undertake a range of relationship building, information gathering and profile raising activity with both governments and businesses alike.

SCS – Senior Civil Service
EB – Executive Band
MB – Management Band
(S) – one year secondment

The total operating costs for the Welsh Government representation in the USA is as follows

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru):  A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am adeiladu lôn newydd pum milltir ym Mro Morgannwg, gan gadarnhau yn benodol y dyddiad dechrau, y gyllideb a'r amcangyfrif ar gyfer y dyddiad cwblhau? (WAQ74114)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ken Skates:  The A4226 (Five Mile Lane) connects Barry at the Weycock Cross roundabout with the Sycamore Cross junction on the A48, and comprises an essential part of the highway network leading to the St Athan and Cardiff Airport Enterprise Zones. We have provided a transport grant of £25.8m to the Vale of Glamorgan for on line improvements to this road.

The appointment of a contractor for the design and build of this road is expected this autumn with construction expected in the new year. The estimated completion date is summer 2019.
 
You can find more details about the scheme on the Vale of Glamorgan Council planning portal using the following link
 http://vogonline.planning-register.co.uk/PlaRecord.aspx?AppNo=2016/00305/RG3&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd, Llesiant a Chwaraeon

Angela Burns (Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro): A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddarparu manylion ynghylch cyfraddau goroesi canser un blwyddyn a phum mlynedd yng Nghymru rhwng 2011 a 2016 ac, os nad yw ystadegau hyn ar gael eto, a wnaiff ddarparu nodi'r dyddiad y cânt eu rhyddhau? (WAQ74103)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd, Llesiant a Chwaraeon (Vaughan Gething): Cancer survival statistics are produced and published by the Wales Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU) and can be found at:
http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk/home

The latest survival statistics will be published on 28 September.

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Sut y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gweithio gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr i sicrhau bod y wardiau sydd wedi'u cau ar draws gogledd Cymru yn cael eu hailagor fel mater o flaenoriaeth, gan gyfeirio'n arbennig at y rhai yn Llandudno a Bae Colwyn? (WAQ74115)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Vaughan Gething: This is a clinical matter for the health board. I would expect the wards to be re-opened only when it is safe to do so.

Gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru):  A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gadarnhau faint o ymgeiswyr a wnaeth gais am swydd cadeirydd Hybu Cig Cymru a chadarnhau faint o'r ymgeiswyr hynny a gafodd eu cyfweld yn ffurfiol ar gyfer y swydd? (WAQ74113)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 31 Awst 2017

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig (Lesley Griffiths): 20 applications were received for the position of Chair of Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales. Five candidates were invited to interview. One subsequently withdrew, leaving four applicants who were formally interviewed.

Gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gymunedau a Phlant

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): O dan Rhentu Doeth Nghymru, faint o landlordiaid y dyfarnwyd trwydded iddynt, a beth yw'r cyfnod hiraf o amser y mae ymgeisydd wedi aros am gerdyn trwydded? (WAQ74116)

Ateb i ddilyn.

Gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg 

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am y gefnogaeth ariannol sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr sy'n astudio ar gyfer diploma ôl-raddedig, gan esbonio pam nad oes benthyciad ôl-raddedig ar gael i unigolion sy'n ymgymryd â chyrsiau ymarfer cyfreithiol yn 2017/18? (WAQ74102)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 25 Awst 2017

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg (Kirsty Williams): In 2017/18, students wanting to study a post graduate course will be entitled to apply for a loan of up to £10,280 as a contribution to the costs of undertaking a postgraduate qualification.

In order to be eligible for student support, a student must be enrolled on a course that has been designated for the purposes of student support funding.  There are two routes to designation.  Automatic designation applies to courses of higher education provided by ‘recognised educational’ institutions as specified in the Welsh student support regulations. A recognised educational institution will qualify for automatic designation of its full-time higher education courses that satisfy the conditions set out in the Welsh student support regulations.  Specific course designation is available to other providers that can demonstrate they meet specific criteria, relating to, for example, financial viability and quality standards.  We have published designation policies for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.  Alternative providers can apply for the designation of postgraduate Master’s courses, including legal practice courses, enabling eligible students to apply for support to study courses provided by them.

In order to have their courses designated, providers must submit an application which satisfies the specified criteria.  If a postgraduate course has not been awarded specific designation for Wales, students will not be able to apply for the postgraduate loan.  The Welsh Government has received applications from a number of providers for designation of postgraduate courses, including the LLM.  These are being processed as quickly as possible and we have recently awarded specific designation to several such courses.