A boiler scrappage scheme will target poor fuel households if it is introduced in Wales, environment minister Jane Davidson announced this week. The cabinet is currently considering the scheme after the UK government made £4.1m available to Wales in the Chancellor’s pre-budget report in December. Davidson said: “We are currently working up a series of proposals taking into consideration the impact on those in fuel poverty, the relative carbon savings and value for money.”

Building work on a £6m training centre for the energy industry in North West Wales has begun, launched by first minister Carwyn Jones. The Welsh Assembly Government is providing two thirds of the funding for the Energy and Fabrication Centre at Coleg Menai, Llangefni, which will provide engineering and specialised health and safety training. The centre will open in September.

The Welsh Assembly Government has approved a £5m flood-risk management scheme for Denbigh, with work beginning on the downstream section of Henllan Brook. The European Union will provide 40 per cent of the funding, the Welsh Assembly Government 51 per cent and the local authority 9 per cent. Drainage construction will move upstream from the A525 to Cysgodfa, through Lenten Pool to Tan y Scubor. The scheme will also feature a flood awareness campaign.

Education minister Leighton Andrews has announced an independent review of how education funding is allocated to schools, colleges and universities. The review, scheduled to begin in February, will look at the costs of administering education in Wales. Cost-saving and resource efficiency recommendations will be made at the end of March. Andrews said: “It is imperative that we reduce the bureaucracy and streamline the education system to make it lean and effective to benefit our learners.”

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