Siambr · Laura Anne Jones
Written questions
15 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 1 of 1.
WQ99561 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm how much of the funding allocated to Skenfrith has been spent on a) feasibility work; b) studies; c) business cases or design work, and d) physical flood prevention works?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Welsh Government funds our Risk Management Authorities (RMAs - namely Natural Resources Wales and Local Authorities) to deliver flood and coastal erosion schemes in Wales. This is delivered through the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Programme.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the RMA undertaking the scheme in Skenfrith.
NRW have confirmed the following breakdown. It is noted that stages a, b and c are all recorded under a single budget line, therefore they are unable to provide a more detailed breakdown of the values.
NRW are also progressing the delivery phase of the bespoke Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures to reduce the risk to residents while a potential wider flood alleviation scheme is developed.
Stage
Cost
Feasibility
£129,553.72
Studies
Business cases or design work
Physical flood prevention works
£38,861.56 (PFR)
WQ99562 · Tabled · Answered
Has any Welsh Government funding been formally approved for the construction of permanent flood defences in Skenfrith?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
To date the Welsh Government has not received a formal confirmation of planned construction for permanent flood defences in Skenfrith.
The Welsh Government provides funding to Risk Management Authorities (RMAs - namely Natural Resources Wales and Local Authorities) to deliver flood and coastal erosion schemes in Wales. This is delivered through the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Programme.
Flood alleviation schemes in Wales are developed using our FCERM business case guidance which complies with the five-case business model process and HM Treasury guidance. This approach applies to all RMAs in Wales to ensure a consistent approach to scheme development.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are the RMA responsible for managing the risk of flooding at Skenfrith and developing the business case for potential future investment at that location. A Strategic Outline Case has been completed, with the Outline Business Case currently ongoing. Upon completion, a Full Business Case will be undertaken. Once complete, NRW are responsible for prioritising which of their schemes receives construction funding.
WQ99560 · Tabled · Answered
What is the total amount of Welsh Government funding allocated specifically to flood prevention and flood defence work in Monmouth in each financial year since 2020?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Welsh Government has made available over £4 million through the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Programme for flood prevention and flood defence work in Monmouth since 2020-21.
This includes capital funding allocated to Monmouthshire County Council and core funding made available to Natural Resources Wales to undertake named schemes.
The allocations identified are as follows:
Monmouthshire County Council
2020-21 – £590,544
2021-22 – £181,950
2022-23 – £179,183
2023-24 – £625,750
2024-25 – £553,500
2025-26 – £496,231
2026-27 – £587,111
Natural Resources Wales – Named Scheme : Skenfrith
2025-26 – £87,000
2026-27 – £700,000
Details of annual FCERM Programme allocations are published on the Welsh Government website.
WQ99558 · Tabled · No answer published
What is the total amount of Welsh Government funding allocated specifically to flood prevention and flood defence work in Pandy in each financial year since 2020?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
WQ99557 · Tabled · Answered
What is the total amount of Welsh Government funding allocated specifically to flood prevention and flood defence work in Skenfrith in each financial year since 2020?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Welsh Government funds our Risk Management Authorities (RMAs - namely Natural Resources Wales and Local Authorities) to deliver flood and coastal erosion schemes in Wales. This is delivered through the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Programme.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the RMA undertaking the scheme in Skenfrith.
Welsh Government provide NRW with core funding, of which NRW determine prioritisation of funding allocation to named schemes.
Named scheme : Skenfrith
2025-26 – £87,000
2026-27 – £700,000
Details of historical FCERM Programme allocations are published on the Welsh Government website.
WQ99432 · Tabled · Answered
What safeguards will the Welsh Government put in place to ensure that farmers are not encouraged to take on additional debt to meet expectations linked to the Sustainable Farming Scheme?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Sustainable Farming Scheme is designed to be practical, proportionate and accessible for farm businesses across Wales, informed by extensive engagement with farming unions and other stakeholders. The Universal Payment recognises the costs of participation, with the Universal Baseline Payment reflecting costs incurred and income foregone, alongside a Social Value Payment recognising wider public benefits. The Scheme also broadens support beyond the Basic Payment Scheme by including additional eligible habitat and woodland areas. Farming Connect will provide advice and guidance to support the delivery of Scheme actions and help farmers make informed business decisions.
WQ99431 · Tabled · Answered
What steps will the Cabinet Minister take to ensure that tenant farmers, small family farms and farms with limited borrowing capacity are able to access the Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme (SALS) is a one-year pilot providing affordable, long-term finance to eligible Welsh farm businesses to support sustainable and resilient food production. The scheme is open to all eligible businesses, including tenant farmers and small family farms, subject to meeting the published criteria and the Development Bank of Wales’ standard due diligence requirements.
The scheme formally launched on 1 July, with up to £5 million available in 2026-27. As this is a one-year pilot, the number of businesses supported will depend on the level and scale of applications received and the loans approved following the Development Bank of Wales’ due diligence process. The pilot will provide evidence to inform any future development of the scheme.
WQ99430 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister ensure that the Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme supports food production and farm productivity, rather than focusing primarily on decarbonisation and environmental targets?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme (SALS) is a one-year pilot providing affordable, long-term finance to eligible Welsh farm businesses to support sustainable and resilient food production. The scheme is open to all eligible businesses, including tenant farmers and small family farms, subject to meeting the published criteria and the Development Bank of Wales’ standard due diligence requirements.
The scheme formally launched on 1 July, with up to £5 million available in 2026-27. As this is a one-year pilot, the number of businesses supported will depend on the level and scale of applications received and the loans approved following the Development Bank of Wales’ due diligence process. The pilot will provide evidence to inform any future development of the scheme.
WQ99429 · Tabled · No answer published
What estimate has the Cabinet Minister made of the number of Welsh farm businesses that will access the Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme during its one-year pilot?
To be answered by: Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
WQ99421 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide a line-by-line breakdown of the current Promoting Welsh Food and Industry Development budget line, including how much is allocated to international promotion, domestic promotion, industry support, events, grants and administration?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
A decision has not yet been taken on the detailed allocation of the Promoting Welsh Food and Industry Development budget. Therefore, a line-by-line breakdown is not currently available.
WQ99420 · Tabled · Answered
How much additional funding has been allocated in the First Supplementary Budget for 2026-27 to promote Welsh food and drink overseas?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The budget for 2026-27 has not yet been agreed. There is currently no additional funding allocated in the First Supplementary Budget for 2026-27 to promote Welsh food and drink overseas.
WQ98885 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to supermarkets phasing out brown eggs to meet net-zero goals?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Welsh Government has not discussed with supermarkets the phasing out of brown eggs.
WQ98630 · Tabled · Answered
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to establishing a lobbyist register?
Answered by First Minister
Lobbying is a matter for the Senedd. The Welsh Government would respond to any recommendations from the relevant committee when received.
WQ98570 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government break down the take-up of the Sustainable Farming Scheme by geographical area and farm type?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
The Single Application Form (SAF) submission window remains open for late submissions until 9 June 2026. All declared information will then be subject to a series of validation checks and the government will publish these in due course.
WQ98478 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government provide an update on the progress of its guidance following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of a woman?
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
The Equality and Human Rights Commission provided an update on their draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations on 14 April: Update on Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations | EHRC
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.