Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru

Galw'r Aelodau i drefn. 

Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Delyth Jewell. 

Llywydd, I thank the Member for that question. When local planning authorities refuse planning permission for a development, the applicant has a right of appeal to the Welsh Ministers. Most appeals are determined by the planning inspector, appointed on behalf of Welsh Ministers. A small number are recovered for determination by decision of the Welsh Ministers themselves. 

I thank the First Minister for his answer. First Minister, nobody is in a better position, surely, to make informed decisions about local planning than the people who live there. In 2016, Caerphilly councillors voted against granting planning permission for a housing development at Hendredenny. Local residents were rightly angry to see this decision overturned by a Minister in Cardiff bay, and councillors are set to vote again on this tomorrow after planning chiefs approved the application. The reality is that the infrastructure isn't there to be able to cope with 260 additional homes in terms of roads, school places and GP access. Only a fraction of these new homes are termed affordable, so the benefit to the local area seems questionable to say the least. Thirty-five letters of objection have been lodged, and there are also concerns about the impact on the environment of building on a greenfield site. First Minister, isn't it time Welsh Government reformed planning policy to make it about planning in the meaningful sense of the word, by involving local voices from the start, and building the provision of suitable infrastructure and services into development plans from the beginning rather than imposing unwanted projects on local residents?

Well, Llywydd, of course, I thank Delyth Jewell for that additional question. It's important to be clear that the right of an appeal is a statutory right. It is set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and the appeals process that is followed in Wales was revised as recently as 2017, and the rules that govern the appeals process here in Wales were agreed here in this National Assembly. So, I hear what the Member says about the need to revise them further, but they were revised, and they were revised here on the floor of this Assembly as recently as the year before last. The changes were designed to make the system more proportionate, cost effective, and to open it more to public participation in the appeals process. It's a very rare occurrence, Llywydd, when an appeal is recovered for determination by the Welsh Ministers. On average, about five planning appeals in any one year—less than 1 per cent of all appeals submitted to the planning inspectorate—are recovered to the Welsh Ministers, and they are recovered in circumstances that are bound by the rules. 

In the case of Hendredenny, the particular example to which the Member referred, there was no statutory challenge to the Welsh Minister's decision. People have six weeks in which they can go to the High Court to challenge that decision. No challenge was mounted. So, the decision is final. There are further matters, as Delyth Jewell said, to be determined now by the local planning authority, and I'm sure that they will bear in mind the issues that she has raised and that have been raised by local residents. 

First Minister, a similar point made by Delyth Jewell. [Interruption.] I hope I'm not causing the crying upstairs. [Interruption.] No, it's not my baby; I hope not anyway. [Laughter.]

Troy House in Monmouth is a grade II listed property, dating back to the seventeenth century, located in the Mitchel Troy ward in Monmouthshire. It's been in a poor state of decline for many years. It's been a hospital at different points in time, it's been a school, and it's currently empty. Monmouthshire County Council approved planning permission to save the building and convert it into flats, but the decision has been overturned by the Welsh Government inspector on the grounds of it being on a flood plain. Now, I know you're probably not going to be able to go into the details of that application, and I'm not asking you to, but if you've got a situation where you've got a grade II listed building that is declining each year, in a serious state of disrepair and there is a plan of some sort on the table to try and restore that building, then there's obviously great concern when the Welsh Government says that that can't go ahead. What can you do? What safeguards can you put into the planning process to make sure that, okay, when issues like this are overturned by the Welsh Government, there is protection in place to make sure that a listed building isn't simply allowed to fall into ruin and be lost to the nation?

I thank Nick Ramsay, Llywydd, for that important point. I'm familiar, as it happens, with Troy House and I understand the point that he makes about the need to take into account in planning decisions the listed status of buildings of that sort. As he says, in this instance, the Planning Inspectorate made their ruling on the grounds that it was not a suitable building for conversion into flats, because of flooding risk. And, to be clear with Members, Llywydd, the Planning Inspectorate is entirely independent of the Welsh Government. It operates through a set of rules that we lay down, but no Minister ever interferes in a decision that a planning inspector makes. The Minister with planning responsibilities has heard the points that Nick Ramsay has made, and we will look again to make sure that the rules within which the Planning Inspectorate operate take into account the points that have been made about the need to have due regard to the listed status of buildings when making those determinations.FootnoteLink

I thank Alun Davies for that. Investment in skills, infrastructure and cyber security are amongst the early projects of the Tech Valleys programme. The expert advisory group continues to shape the £100 million that is to be invested over the 10 years of the programme so that we maximise its impact and support emerging technologies.

First Minister, the announcement of a £100 million programme of investment in Ebbw Vale, in Blaenau Gwent, in the future of the economy of Blaenau Gwent, was welcomed by people both within the borough and across the Heads of the Valleys. It demonstrates a real commitment from the Welsh Government to the economy of Ebbw Vale and Blaenau Gwent, and it also demonstrates a real vote of confidence in the Heads of the Valleys as a place where we can do business. First Minister, can you outline to us today how you expect to see the Tech Valleys programme developing over the coming years and when you believe the people of Blaenau Gwent will see the benefits of this programme of investment?

Llywydd, I thank the Member for that question. I want to thank him for all the work that he did in bringing the programme to fruition and for the way in which, week after week, he makes sure that the interests of his constituents are always raised here on the floor of the National Assembly. And his constituents will, I think, be glad to know that there is already progress—tangible progress—that they will be able to see across the range of strands that make up that complex programme. He will know of the plan to bring TVR to Ebbw Vale. The Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport recently met with senior executives. The company confirmed real progress in finding new equity investment to support pre-production vehicle development, and the tender process is now complete for refurbishment of the building in Rassau, which is TVR's preferred location for full car production. At the same time, planning permissions are now secured for both the Rhyd y Blew and Lime Avenue sites in Ebbw Vale, with building work to commence this year in both cases. Thales, and the National Digital Exploitation Centre—Thales have already moved to their project office in Ebbw Vale. Bids are now in for the £7 million discovery gateways fund for the Valleys park programme, and decisions on funding are expected imminently. And I know that Alun Davies will be especially interested in the new £1.5 million investment that we have agreed in shared apprenticeships in the Tech Valley area—a vote of confidence not simply in the Heads of the Valleys, but in young people in that area, and our determination to make sure that they have a successful future.

First Minister, great news to have this big investment in the Blaenau Gwent area. The Tech Valleys strategic plan states its aim of creating 1,500 new jobs over the next 10 years. How will the Welsh Government monitor progress towards meeting the aim, and will the First Minister commit to making an annual report on this project to the Assembly, and to ensure that promised benefits are delivered for the people of Blaenau Gwent, according to the plans?

I thank the Member for that question. He's right to point to the ambitious number of jobs that we want to create as a result of the Tech Valleys programme. There are construction jobs expected in the coming months, there are the apprenticeships to which I have already referred, and there will be that investment we want to make in the landscape of that valley community in order to make the most of the huge natural assets that it has. Ministers will report here, Llywydd, regularly on the progress of the programme. I'm always glad to answer questions on it, and I know that my colleague Ken Skates reports regularly to Members on how the programme, which is a 10-year programme, with £100 million behind it, is being delivered on the ground. 

First Minister, last time I asked you about your plans to boost the economy in former coalfield areas, I specifically asked you about your economic regeneration plans for the Rhondda, and I was disappointed to receive an answer from you that talked a lot about your plans for spending in a constituency in the Gwent valleys but, as far as the Rhondda is concerned, your answer can be paraphrased as 'not much'. Have you since worked out that the Rhondda is not in Gwent? And, if so, what do you plan to do, from a technological perspective, or indeed any other economic regeneration perspective, about the area that has one of the highest numbers of people without decent work in the whole of this country? 

Well, I thank the Member. I'm not in need of geographical instruction from her. The Tech Valleys programme will be one that, of course, goes beyond the areas that I have referred to in answering the question from the Member who put it to me. Let me give the Member just one example of how the project will go beyond and into her area: we will publish the feasibility report from the project Skyline very soon. The project looked at the possibility of communities managing the landscape that surrounds their town or village, and is focused on three valley communities in Ystradowen, Caerau and Treherbert. That report will provide proposals addressing issues around governance, environmental protection, social inclusion and the sustainability of business models for community stewardship of landscape assets. And I'm quite sure that residents in her constituency are every bit as attached to the area in which they live, keen to take community responsibility for the stewardship of those assets, and the programme will support them in doing so. 

Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price. 

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Brif Weinidog, mae gen i hawl i ofyn cwestiwn i chi yn Gymraeg yn y Senedd hon, ond does gan fy nhad, 84 mlwydd oed, ddim hawl i ofyn cwestiwn yn Gymraeg i'w feddyg, neu i'w optegydd, neu i'w fferyllydd neu i'w ddeintydd. Bum mlynedd yn ôl, fe ddywedoch chi yn bersonol taw gwraidd yr achos dros wella'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg mewn gofal sylfaenol yw'r posibilrwydd mai dim ond yn eu hiaith gyntaf y gall cleifion agored i niwed fynegi eu hunain yn llawn. Heddiw, mae pwyllgor trawsbleidiol yn y Senedd, sy'n cynnwys Aelodau Llafur, yn dweud taw ychydig iawn o gynnydd, os o gwbl, mae'r rheoliadau rŷch chi newydd eu cyhoeddi yn ei wneud o ran hawl i bobl yng Nghymru dderbyn gwasanaethau iechyd yn eu dewis iaith. Pam, ar ôl 84 o flynyddoedd, mae fy nhad i yn dal i gael ei drin fel dinesydd eilradd? 

Wel, a gaf i ddweud, unwaith eto, Llywydd, yn fy marn i, mae cael gwasanaethau yn yr iaith Gymraeg, yn enwedig ym maes iechyd, yn hollbwysig? Dyna pam rŷn ni, yn gynharach, wedi cyhoeddi pethau newydd ddiwedd mis Mai, sy'n estyn y pethau rŷm ni'n eu gwneud yn y maes iechyd i ofal sylfaenol. Wrth gwrs, prosiect tymor hir yw e i dyfu pobl yn y gweithlu sy'n barod a gyda'r sgiliau i roi gwasanaethau trwy gyfrwng yr iaith Gymraeg. Ond, fel Llywodraeth, rŷm ni wedi bod yn gweithio gyda phobl yn y maes, gyda'r colegau brenhinol, gyda'r byrddau iechyd, i berswadio pobl sy'n gallu rhoi gwasanaethau drwy gyfrwng yr iaith Gymraeg i wneud hynny i ddechrau, ac i dynnu fwy o bobl i fewn i'r maes.

Ddoe, es i i Brifysgol Aberystwyth. Cwrddais i gyda'r bobl yna. Maen nhw newydd lwyddo i gael yr hawl yn ôl i hyfforddi yn y maes nyrsio, ac mae tyfu pobl sy'n gallu rhoi gwasanaethau yn yr iaith Gymraeg yn rhywbeth sydd yng nghanol eu cynllun nhw. 

So, rŷm ni yn gwneud pethau, ond mae mwy i’w wneud, wrth gwrs. Ond y pwynt sylfaenol yw bod yr hawl sydd gyda phobl i ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg a chael gwasanaethau cyhoeddus trwy gyfrwng yr iaith Gymraeg yn rhywbeth rŷn ni’n ei gefnogi, wrth gwrs, fel Llywodraeth.

Ond, Brif Weinidog, roeddech chi eich hunain wedi adnabod hwn fel gwagle enfawr bum mlynedd yn ôl. Ble ŷch chi wedi bod? Mae’r pwyllgor ei hunan yn dweud rŷn ni’n dal i fod yr un mor bell i ffwrdd o gyflawni’r lefel dewis iaith cydradd ag yr oedden ni ar ddechrau’r Cynulliad hwn. Does dim symud ymlaen o gwbl.

Ac a gaf i droi at fater arall sydd yn greiddiol bwysig o ran dyfodol yr iaith, sef cyflogaeth? Yn yr ardaloedd lle mae’r Gymraeg yn iaith gymunedol, ymhlith y cyflogwyr mwyaf yw’n prifysgolion ni, ac rŷn ni wedi clywed yn ddiweddar am y problemau ariannol dybryd sydd yn y Drindod Dewi Sant ac ym Mangor. Nawr, yn y gorffennol, pan rŷn ni wedi codi problemau mewn prifysgolion unigol, mae eich Llywodraeth chi wedi dweud, ‘Wel, sefydliadau annibynnol ŷn nhw—dŷn ni ddim yn gallu ymyrryd’. O ystyried pa mor ddifrifol nawr ydy’r creisis ariannol o fewn y sector, a allaf i ofyn ichi gadarnhau a fyddech chi, fel mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol wedi datgan, yn gadael i sefydliad prifysgol yng Nghymru fynd i’r wal?

Well, Llywydd, I want to go back to the first point the Member raised because I don't agree with him at all that there has been no progress in relation to the provision of Welsh language services in the health sector. It's one, I think, of the really heartening things that has changed in the last decade that when I go into hospitals in any part of Wales now I see members of staff wearing visible signs that tell you that they are able and prepared to provide a service through the medium of Welsh. We have to encourage those people, we have to support those people, we have to find more of them, of course, but it doesn't help the cause of doing that to act as though those people who have been part of the real effort through the 'Mwy na geiriau' programme—if we dismiss their efforts and act as though nothing at all has been achieved. A great deal has been achieved. The position is very different to what it was. That isn't to say, and particularly in areas like psychiatry, that there isn't a lot more that we want to do, but we bring about improvement by encouraging people who are willing to be part of that effort rather than dismissing their efforts as though they had made no difference.

Now, when my colleague the education Minister says to Members that higher education institutions are independent bodies, they have to be that. It is simply not right that we should ever seek to interfere in the decisions that they make. As a Government, we have worked hard to sustain the sector here in Wales. We've worked with the sector in order to be able to do that. That's why I was, when I went to Aberystwyth yesterday, determined to meet with the vice-chancellor and her colleagues to hear about the work that they are doing and what we can do to support them in their efforts. It's why the education Minister met with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales earlier today in order to carry on that effort. We understand that there are challenges. Of course there are challenges, a decade into austerity, in every part of what the public service tries to achieve in Wales, and higher education is no different. But the difference between the higher education sector in England and that in Wales is that we work with the sector with the aim always of supporting it rather than simply saying that market forces will apply and that those who go to the wall will go to the wall regardless.

Bydd nifer o bobl yn teimlo’n anniddig iawn, yn arbennig, wrth weld prifysgolion yng Nghymru’n diswyddo cannoedd o staff tra ar yr un pryd yn talu cyflogau i’w is-gangellorion, sydd, yn ôl ffigurau diweddaraf HEFCW, yn ennill £254,000 ar gyfartaledd. Nawr, tu allan i’r sector prifysgolion, mae cyflog prif weithredwr Banc Datblygu Cymru ymhlith yr uchaf yn y sector cyhoeddus—hynny yn adlewyrchu, am wn i, pwysigrwydd y rôl. Yn wyneb hynny, allwch chi ddweud pam ŷch chi, fel Llywodraeth, fel mater o bolisi, wedi gosod cynsail wrth gytuno i ddeiliad y swydd ymgymryd â rôl anweithredol cyflogedig tu hwnt i’w waith llawn amser yn y banc?

Well, Llywydd, let me say that I am not in favour of those who are paid at the top of our public services being paid at levels that separate them from the rest of their workforce. It's why the Welsh Government has a ratio that's amongst the narrowest in all public sector bodies in Wales between what is paid at the top of the range and those people who are paid less in our public service itself. That is true in the higher education sector as well, although the decisions that are made about the salaries of vice-chancellors are absolutely not decisions made by Ministers, nor should they be interfered with by Ministers.

There are sectors where the public sector now operates where you are in a competitive market. That is true in the health service, we know, where scarce people have to be found to come to work in Wales. It's why we offer to our GPs—and in parts of Wales that the Member himself represents—additional finance and funding to get people to come and work in parts of Wales where otherwise we would not be able to attract people. It is just inevitable—we may not like it, but it is inevitable that where public services are competing for scarce resources and people who can choose wherever they want to go and work, the amount we pay them becomes part of the way in which we have to find ways of bringing people to discharge these really important responsibilities.

Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Paul Davies. 

Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, do you believe that healthcare services in Wales are meeting the needs of our young people?

I think that health services in Wales meet the needs of all our people to an extent that people beyond Wales regard as remarkable. Of course, that does not mean—and no doubt the Member's about to offer me an example of where there are things that we would like to see done better. Health services and young people have often been a struggle. There is long-standing research that tells you that a GP, for example, will spend less time with somebody under 20 than any other person that they see. So, making sure that the health service is properly geared to understand and meet the needs of young people is something that has been a long-term issue in health inequalities, and there will be examples, I've no doubt, of where there is more we would wish to do.

The First Minister's absolutely right: there are things that can be done better because there are concerns in Wales that there are currently only two child and adolescent mental health services centres open to young people in Wales, only offering a total of 27 beds. Now, the third sector has had their capacity reduced to 12 beds from 24, but due to concerns with standards at the centre back in July last year, Welsh patients were removed and the centre now only takes patients from England. As these centres are currently operating under restricted capacity or have admission restrictions in place, the child and adolescent mental health services centres in Wales are not effectively meeting the needs of high-risk patients. Some patients from Wales are being treated out-of-area, adding an additional burden on them and their families. Now, this limited capacity was actually raised back in 2013, and yet it seems to me that no progress has been made. Surely, First Minister, you agree with me that this is totally unacceptable. Can you therefore tell us what steps are you going to take to resolve this specific situation?

Well, Llywydd, as it happens, I don't agree with the Member. I take a very different view to the one, I think, I've heard him say about the need for tier 4 services in child and adolescent mental health. I definitely don't agree that we need more centres. What we need is to minimise the number of young people who end up needing a service of that sort. So, for me, the test of success is not that we have more beds that we need to take young people into, but that we have more community services, more crisis intervention services, and that we are able to move young people down the escalator of intervention.

So, I am very comfortable that we have a centre in north Wales and a centre in south Wales at Tŷ Llidiard. I think it was exactly the right decision to withdraw Welsh patients from the third centre to which the Member refers because that service was not fit-for-purpose and did not meet the needs of young people. The number of young people from Wales who we place outside Wales is falling. It's been falling over recent years, and I want to see it fall further, because while I'm willing to accept that there will be a small number of children from Wales whose needs are so exceptional and so significant that you have to find a service so specialist that a population of 3 million people cannot support it, I want to see as many young people from Wales looked after closer to their families and closer to their homes. That means bringing back children who are looked after in England to tier 4 services, and it means moving tier 4 services for young people in Wales back into the community and closer to people's homes.

So, I agree it's a really important area, and it's very good to have a chance to discuss it on the floor of the Assembly, but my solution to it is the opposite of the Member's solution—not adding more beds and putting more resource there, it's pulling people, de-escalating, strengthening community services and using those 27 beds only when we're certain that that is essential.

But surely we should be providing services here in Wales for those young people and we should be offering a wide range of services, including beds as well. So, surely, First Minister, you've got to accept that.

Now, further concerns have been raised around patient waiting times with me. A recent Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report found that an average of 57 per cent of patients waited no longer than four weeks. However, the inspectorate states that the majority of patients are waiting between four to 26 weeks for their first appointment. Now, a community health council report, which you're looking to scrap, has warned that young people would only feel that they would be seen if they committed a serious suicide attempt. A further report warned that accident and emergency departments are becoming the default option for cases of overdose and self-harm because of difficulties accessing support from a CAMHS centre or primary care.

Do you think that now is the right time to be scrapping CHCs, which are trusted by patients, and replacing them with national citizen voice bodies that might not feel they can be critical of the Welsh Government or the health boards as they will be appointed by you, funded by you and then won't want to be sacked by you? How will your citizen voice bodies speak up for patients, and especially these young people, at a time when they need it the most?

Well, Llywydd, CHCs are funded by the Welsh Government. Every criticism that he's just made could be equally levied at them, and, absolutely, those arrangements have not prevented CHCs from speaking up on behalf of patients.

What we are aiming to do is to strengthen the citizen's voice in the Welsh NHS. The body that we are proposing will be entirely independent of Government and it will operate—and this is crucial in relation to the question that the Member asked me in the second of his questions—across the health and social care boundary, which CHCs don't. CHCs only operate within the health service. And the young people that he referred to—and I'm grateful to him for highlighting those issues this afternoon—those young people rely on services that are provided both by the health service and very often through social services departments as well. And the new organisation will be able to speak up for those young people across that whole spectrum in a way that the current system cannot. It is entirely designed to be properly independent, to be able to make whatever points it wants to make, and those proposals, Llywydd, are now here on the floor of the Assembly for Members to scrutinise. There will be a Stage 1 inquiry in front of committee, where witnesses can be called. I look forward to Members being able to explore all aspects of the Bill, including looking at how these proposals strengthen independence, strengthen patient voice, and extend it beyond the boundaries within which it is currently confined. I think we'll do a very good job on behalf of patients and young people too.

Arweinydd Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless.

This weekend, the South Wales Argus ran the headline:

'TRAFFIC is queuing and there are heavy delays on…the M4 around Newport.'

As they tweeted it, I suggested they might want to make it their pinned tweet in future. On this occasion, the AA reported that there were severe delays, with an average speed of 15 mph. The AA then said:

'there has not been an accident…the queues are the result of "usual traffic heading to Brynglas Tunnel".'

First Minister, by breaking your manifesto pledge to build a relief road for the M4, aren't you saying that Wales is closed for business under Labour?

Well, those people will be very glad, Llywydd, that they don't now have to wait five years and more for a solution to the difficulties that they faced, because my decision is not a decision that is not about addressing the difficulties that exist around the Brynglas tunnel, it is about finding alternative ways of addressing those problems, of addressing them far sooner than an M4 relief road ever would have done. I look forward to meeting Lord Burns tomorrow, who will chair the group that we have now set up to deliver those rapid ideas that will make a difference at the Brynglas tunnel. I think that will do far more for the people to which the Member referred, and I am determined to go on working with local representatives from the Newport area, including the city council, to make sure that we now move ahead, look to the future, find new solutions and address the issues that are there to be addressed.

That's not what you promised in your manifesto, is it?

The Minister behind you, Lee Waters, says that it's a bit of a cliché to suggest that Wales is closed for business—[Interruption.]

It is not what you put in your manifesto. It said—Labour manifesto—

'We will deliver a relief road for the M4'.

Okay—

You haven't done it—you've broken your promise.

—I can't hear the question; I don't think the First Minister can. Can you continue with your question in some silence?

So, what Lee Waters says was a cliché were not my words—it was the Confederation of British Industry Wales director Ian Price who said this cancellation

'sends the message that Wales is not open for business.'

'Economic growth will be stifled, confidence in the region will weaken and the cost of an eventual relief road will rise'.

Now, I don't often quote Welsh Secretary Alan Cairns, but I agree with him that this decision was hugely disappointing and a 'dark day' for Wales.

It was also the Secretary of State that we had to rely on to find anything out about what was going on with the inquiry and the report, finding out, actually, that the decision was a positive one from the inspector some weeks before Welsh Government told us. Now, does the First Minister not recognise that it was you who closed off effective debate about this report when it might actually have made a difference, by keeping it secret for several months while you were making your own decision? And is the UK Government not correct on the fundamental point that, were it not for 20 years of Labour-led devolution, this road would now be built?

Well, Llywydd, I don't know if there is a great deal to be learnt from the Member on manifestos. He stood for the Conservative Party on a manifesto; he abandoned that in an instant. He stood for the UKIP party on a manifesto; he walked away from that. I don't think there are any lessons anybody here is ever likely to take from him on the subject of staying true to things that you stood for in an election.

As far as the CBI is concerned, I was very pleased to meet with the chief executive of the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Trades Union Congress last week to talk exactly about the decision that has been made, and I want to thank them for the way in which they came to that meeting in an entirely constructive spirit. They came wanting to contribute to the new pool of ideas that are there to address the difficulties that are faced at the Brynglas tunnel. They came to say how keen they were to participate in the group that will now be established to come up with those solutions. I think it's hard to imagine a greater contrast between the constructive spirit in which the CBI and other colleagues came to that table and the carping tone that we have been offered by the Member again this afternoon.

He has no grasp at all of the way in which decisions are made in Government; he has no grasp at all of the proprieties that have to be observed in making those decisions. I am entirely comfortable that, in this case, the decision was properly made, respected the rules within which that decision had to be made, and that the decision that is now made is something that we need to gather round, get on with and make sure that we have solutions that we can put into place far more quickly than a relief road would ever have brought for people in Newport and the difficulties that I've said every time I've been asked I recognise are there and need to be solved.

Tynnwyd cwestiwn 3 [OAQ54038] yn ôl. Felly, cwestiwn 4—Andrew R.T. Davies.

I thank the Member for that. Our economic priorities for the whole of Wales, including South Wales Central, are set out in the economic action plan. These include investing in people, places and businesses through skills, infrastructure and business support.

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Last week, the environment Minister gave a statement, a written statement, around the Welsh Government's change in its commitment to hit zero carbon emissions by 2050. In the penultimate paragraph, it said that the climate change committee report

'makes it clear the scale and pace of change required to meet a net zero target is greater than any other planned economic transition in modern times.'

Could the First Minister confirm that when the Cabinet agreed to this commitment and indeed its declaration on climate change emergency, that detailed economic modelling was made available so that residents in South Wales Central can have confidence that the economic model that the Government is pursuing will not jeopardise jobs and jeopardise prosperity, and, where possible—where possible—those papers will be made available for Members to look over?

Well, Llywydd, I'm very pleased to confirm that, of course, the Welsh Government's actions in this area are underpinned by detailed advice. We have very few Cabinet sub-committees, but we do have a Cabinet sub-committee on decarbonisation, where a great deal of very detailed work is considered, and which underpins all the decisions that we make. We had, of course, the very detailed 300 pages of advice from the climate change committee itself, and all of that was properly considered by the Cabinet before my colleague Lesley Griffiths made her announcement. It was followed the next day, I think, by the UK Government also accepting the advice of the climate change committee in relation to setting emission targets for the future, and I'm sure that Andrew R.T. Davies's colleagues in Government in London also had access to the underpinning analysis that the committee provides in order to inform their decision too.

First Minister, you will be aware that last month the New Zealand Labour Government published its well-being budget, which is described as a world first. It placed social well-being indicators as priorities within their economic policy, instead of a narrow focus on GDP or GVA. With initiatives like the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the economic contract here in Wales, it is clear that this kind of approach resonates with what we're already doing. So, how else can this kind of approach be prioritised within Welsh Government economic policy this Assembly term?

Llywydd, can I thank Vikki Howells for that really interesting question? Of course, we are very interested to learn more about the New Zealand Government's decision. We're lucky we've always had strong links between a Labour Government here and the Labour Government in New Zealand. My colleague, Lesley Griffiths, was in New Zealand not that long ago, looking at other aspects of that Government's work, and we've looked ourselves at the limitations, on the floor of this Assembly, at GVA. We know that, if we're genuinely interested in well-being, then GVA is not a good means of capturing that rounded picture. We know that there are progressive administrations elsewhere looking at well-being economics, and the way in which we intend to pursue that in Wales is through the work that we have commissioned through the OECD—part of our determination that, even in these difficult times, Wales goes on being an outward-looking nation where we learn from others, where we're involved in joint activity with countries in other parts of the world. And the work to which Vikki Howells has referred has come to a fruition in New Zealand maybe sooner than anywhere else, but there is a broader range of countries interested in developing measures that go beyond the narrow range that GVA captures, and we are very much committed, through the well-being of future generations Act and other economic policies of this Government, to being part of that international effort.

I thank the Member. The Welsh Government promotes the history of Wales both nationally and locally. For example, Cadw tells the stories of Wales not only at the sites they manage but also through working with local partners, such as the archaeological trusts.

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. You'll be aware that next February will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the devastating Towyn floods, which occurred along the coastline of my own constituency and, indeed, into the neighbouring constituency of the Vale of Clwyd, because they impacted in Rhyl as well. Those floods saw 5,000 people evacuated from the communities that were devastated by that water, and had a significant impact on all of the lives that were affected. Indeed, many of those people who were involved in the rescue efforts also had their lives impacted too. Can I ask whether the Welsh Government will support local efforts to commemorate that flooding event and what work you might be able to do in order to promote awareness about flood risk as part of any programme that is developed?

Can I thank Darren Millar for that question? I well remember the Towyn floods and the enormous impact on that local community and, as Darren Millar has said, on all those who were involved around that event as well. I'll certainly look to see how, through the different ways in which we support local events to commemorate matters of real significance in local communities, we can look to see whether we are able to support efforts around the Towyn floods.

Wales has a long history of being interested in commemorating matters. I looked, as I went to Aberystwyth yesterday, Llywydd, at the 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' monument there, restored to its former state, I'm pleased to see. Members here will know that, in the circumstances surrounding that monument, it has been replicated in many communities across Wales. So, here in Wales, we have a long, long association with the impact that flooding of different sorts has on local communities, and I think that the Member makes a very good point about making sure that we think about those issues as part of our local histories.  

Mi fyddwn i'n gwahodd y Prif Weinidog, y tro nesaf mae'n dod i ardal Rhuthun, i yrru heibio Ysgol Pentrecelyn, sydd wedi bod yn paentio ei murlun ei hun yn yr ysgol gyda 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' arno fel rhan o waith hanes Cymru yr ysgol, wrth gwrs. Dwi'n cytuno â'r angen, wrth gwrs, i hyrwyddo mwy o gyfleoedd i ddysgu am hanes Cymru ac, yn wir, hanes lleol. Ond y rhwystredigaeth yn aml iawn, wrth gwrs, yw bod yna ddiffyg adnoddau digonol, yn adnoddau cyfoes proffesiynol sydd ar gael ar ystod digon eang o bynciau yn y cyd-destun hanes Cymru a hanes lleol. Felly, a gaf i ofyn beth yw ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod yna adnoddau digonol ar gael ar gyfer bob oedran, er mwyn sicrhau, pan fo'r ewyllys yno i ddarparu'r addysg honno a rhannu'r wybodaeth honno, fod yr adnoddau digonol yno hefyd i gefnogi'r gwaith?

Wel, Llywydd, dwi'n cytuno; mae'n bwysig i gael yr adnoddau. Dwi'n gwybod bod Cadw yn gwneud lot o waith i greu adnoddau lleol a defnyddio posibiliadau newydd i wneud y wybodaeth yna ar gael i bobl. Pan es i Gonwy, i'r castell yng Nghonwy, yn ddiweddar, fe welais i lot o bobl yn mynd o gwmpas gyda'u ffonau ac yn gweld ar eu ffonau lot o wybodaeth yr oedd Cadw wedi'i chasglu. Nawr, nid oes rhaid iddyn nhw brynu taflenni. Maen nhw'n gallu mynd o gwmpas a gweld y wybodaeth o'u blaenau pan fyddan nhw'n mynd o gwmpas y castell. Mae lot mwy o bethau fel yna yn cael eu creu, yn cael eu creu yn swyddogol gan gyrff fel Cadw, ond mae lot o gymdeithasau lleol hefyd—mae un yn Rhuthun, dwi'n gwybod—sy'n gwneud lot o waith i greu adnoddau i bobl pan fo pobl yn dod i ymweld, ledled Cymru. Dwi'n gwybod hefyd bod y Gweinidog Addysg yn gwneud lot o waith i greu adnoddau yn y cwricwlwm newydd. Gan edrych ymlaen, i fod yn glir, bydd hanes Cymru yn rhan ganolog o'r gwaith rŷm ni'n ei wneud yn yr ysgolion. Mae gyda ni yr adnoddau i gefnogi'r gwaith yna.  

Llywydd, Welsh suppliers now win 52 per cent of the annual £6.2 billion-worth of procurement expenditure in Wales, up from 35 per cent in 2004. We aim to increase this further through the procurement action plan for Wales, which includes new supply chain interventions to increase opportunities for Welsh businesses. 

Thank you very much, First Minister. Obviously, the declaration of a climate emergency means we have to reduce our carbon emissions in everything we do, and that, of course, includes reducing food miles. When we are aware that the front runner for the Tory party leadership seems determined to take us out of the European Union with or without a deal on appropriately named Halloween day, when we celebrate the dark arts, that will of course hugely disrupt all our food supplies, including raising the prices of any vegetables and fruit that we import. So, I wondered what plans the Welsh Government has to stimulate an increase in horticultural production in Wales, so that we can supply our schools, our hospitals and our residential homes with fresh local produce.

I thank Jenny Rathbone for that, Llywydd. I was in Aberystwyth yesterday in the IBERS building to address a meeting of the Farmers Union of Wales. It was a very good place to do that, because of the long and successful history of plant breeding at the institute and the way in which that can support local food production. I heard a lot of both interesting and encouraging ideas that are being developed there as part of any future mid Wales growth deal, to make local food production central to the way in which that deal will be developed using that expertise. When I spoke to the AGM of the FUW they were absolutely seized of the points that Jenny Rathbone has just made, very anxious about the prospects for their industry of leaving the European Union without a deal, fearful of what that will mean for agriculture here in Wales, but interested, definitely, in new possibilities in horticulture. Horticulture is a small but key part of agricultural production here in Wales, and through 'Brexit and our land', which is what I was there to talk to farmers about, I hope that we will, working closely with them, be able to demonstrate that there is a successful future for sustainable farming here in Wales in which sustainable food production and the delivery of public goods go hand in hand, and where new opportunities in horticulture, for exactly the reasons that Jenny Rathbone has outlined, become more available to farming communities in Wales, so that local production of food for local consumption, avoiding food miles, assisting with the impact of Brexit, providing reliable income streams to farmers—all of those things come together in our plan. I was very glad of a chance to explore that with practitioners in the farming world yesterday, and I think that we have a set of ingredients here in Wales that will be successful both in the farming field, but also in the environmental issues to which Jenny Rathbone referred.

Of course, the Welsh Government is a major procurer throughout the whole of Wales, and indeed the organisations that are responsible to the Welsh Government, and so you have a huge amount of influence. You mentioned earlier supply chain interventions; are you able to, or do you, indeed, issue guidance that gives a weighting to organisations so that they can actually give more marks towards, for example, a company that is local, and thereby help to contribute towards a reduction in our climate costs rather than just, say, always going for the cheapest? Because sometimes a slightly more expensive company that's just down the road would be of much greater benefit to the local economy, to the Government and to Wales as a whole.

I thank Angela Burns for those points. Of course, there is guidance issued to procurement services here in Wales. They have to operate within the wider rulebook that the United Kingdom and the European Union operate within, but the purpose of that guidance is to focus the minds of those people who carry out procurement on best value rather than lowest cost in the way that they award contracts. The considerations that Angela Burns has just outlined about impacts in local economies, on employment in those places, in the avoidance of environmental damage through food miles and so on—all of those are legitimate considerations that smart procuring takes into account when it is focused on getting the best value out of public spend, and not just simply the cheapest price. 

Diolch i Llyr Gruffydd am y cwestiwn. Bydd dyfodol y system gynllunio yng Nghymru wedi'i seilio ar 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru'. Cafodd hwn ei ddiwygio'n helaeth cyn cael ei gyhoeddi fis Rhagfyr diwethaf. Mae'n alinio'r system gynllunio yn uniongyrchol ac yn systematig gyda gofynion Deddf llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol.

Dwi'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n rhannu fy ngofid i ar ôl darllen adroddiad diweddar yr archwilydd cyffredinol ar awdurdodau cynllunio yng Nghymru lle roedd e'n amlygu bod gwasanaethau cynllunio yn cael rhy ychydig o adnoddau ac, yn wir, yn tanberfformio. Roedd e'n dweud yn yr adroddiad bod yr holl wasanaethau cynllunio yng Nghymru wedi gweld cyllidebau yn haneru yn y 10 mlynedd diwethaf ar ôl ystyried chwyddiant. Mae yna ddyletswyddau ychwanegol yn dod i gyfeiriad rhai o'r awdurdodau cynllunio yma hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn sgil y Ddeddf gynllunio. Mae'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol yn mynd i fod yn destun ymgynghoriad dros yr haf, a hynny yn arwain at gynlluniau datblygu strategol a fydd wedyn yn bwydo i mewn i'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol ar y lefel leol yna. Felly, a wnewch chi ddweud a ydych chi'n rhannu gofidiau yr archwilydd cyffredinol? Ac os ŷch chi, beth ŷch chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau bod gan awdurdodau cynllunio yr adnoddau digonol ar gael iddyn nhw er mwyn delifro eu gwasanaethau yn effeithiol?

Mae copi o'r adroddiad gyda fi yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma. Dwi wedi cael y cyfle i ddarllen yr adroddiad yn fanwl dros y penwythnos. Mae nifer o argymhellion yn yr adroddiad, ac fel Llywodraeth mae amser gyda ni nawr, fel arfer, i ystyried beth sydd yn yr adroddiad ac i ymateb i'r argymhellion. Dyw'r rhan fwyaf o'r argymhellion ddim yn dod at Lywodraeth Cymru; maen nhw'n argymhellion i'r awdurdodau lleol eu hunain i feddwl amdanynt. Mae nifer o bethau yn yr adroddiad sy'n dangos ble mae'r awdurdodau lleol yn gallu gwneud pethau i ddelio gyda'r problemau ariannol maen nhw'n eu hwynebu: i dynnu fwy o gostau yn ôl pan maen nhw'n gwneud gwaith ar ran pobl ac—mae hyn yn hollbwysig, dwi'n meddwl—i weithio gyda'i gilydd yn rhanbarthol yn y dyfodol i greu gwasanaeth newydd yn y maes yma. Mae hwnnw'n rhan o'r gwaith mae Julie James wedi'i wneud ac mae hi'n mynd i roi datganiad i'r Cynulliad ar y gwaith hwnnw yn ystod y prynhawn. So, mae lot o wersi yn yr adroddiad, rhai i ni fel Llywodraeth, ac rŷm ni'n ystyried beth dŷn ni'n gallu gwneud gyda nhw, ond mae'r rhan fwyaf yn bethau i'r awdurdodau lleol eu hunain—pethau iddyn nhw eu gwneud. 

Last week, Welsh Government accepted the UK Committee on Climate Change's advice to bring forward legislation to adopt a 95 per cent carbon reduction target. We will continue to work with stakeholders to explore how we can set a net zero target in the future.

Thank you for that answer. In order to deal with climate change, we need to reduce carbon emissions and, more importantly, increase the number of plants, especially trees, in order to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When will specific annual targets for Swansea be set?

The advice that I have seen does not suggest that targets for carbon emission reduction should be set at a sub-Wales level. Even at an all-Wales level, we are vulnerable to events beyond Wales and emission levels inside Wales are affected by single factors. So, it was very pleasing to see last week figures that show good progress towards our 2020 target, with figures showing a 25 per cent reduction compared to 1990. But, in some ways, last year's figures were affected positively by a hot summer and by the fact that Aberthaw coal-fired power station was working for fewer days than it otherwise would have been. The Swansea East constituency that Mike Hedges represents is a very good example of how emissions right on his border, in steel making, could be counted against a Swansea target if we were to have targets at that very local level. Of course, that doesn't mean, Llywydd, that local authorities shouldn't be taking action. We have Swansea's innovative housing programme, its participation in research efforts to reduce emissions from steel, and the Swansea bay tidal lagoon proposal, which would have done so much in relation to renewable energy and our efforts. Some local authorities do set their own targets for internal monitoring purposes and, should Swansea be interested to do that, there is experience elsewhere on which they could draw. 

Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Russell George. 

Llywydd, we are in dialogue with a number of stakeholders to test the feasibility of establishing a community bank. The work will be led by stakeholders. They will prepare a full market assessment and business plan, and the intention then is to submit an application for the establishment of a community bank for Wales to the Bank of England.

Thank you for your answer, First Minister. In your manifesto to become First Minister, you set out proposals to support the development of a new Wales-only community bank, with branches open to customers for a face-to-face transaction service, before the end of this Assembly term. Now, the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee has been doing some work in this area and, certainly, the evidence to date has suggested that it is a highly complicated process in terms of regulation to open a bank in the period, perhaps, that you've suggested in your manifesto to become First Minister. They've also talked about the complications of the large amount of public subsidy that would be required to deliver the bank as well. So can I ask you: when do you expect the first community banks to be open, where would you expect them to be located and how much public subsidy will be required to deliver your manifesto pledge?

Well, Llywydd, I am very committed to exploring the potential for a community bank for Wales—a bank that would be ethical, relationship driven, customer owned and that would help us in Wales to tackle some of the detrimental impacts we know there are when a bank branch closes. Lending to small and micro industries in the catchment area of a bank branch goes down by 60 per cent when a branch closes, and we have the phenomenon of people not being able to have a bank account at all and the poverty premium that that involves of an average of £500 a year. So there is something really big to play for here. 

Russell George is right, it is complex. There are others who are further down the track than we are—in London and in Avon in the south-west of England. We are in discussions with the Scottish Government about actions that they are taking, too. I look forward to the report of the committee. But the model that has been put to us, developed by the royal society of arts, does not involve large sums of public money as a subsidy. In fact, when I met with representatives of the RSA who have been leading this work, they are at pains to say to me that the last thing they wanted was the Welsh Government to be putting large sums of money into this bank. It's a community bank. It has to be owned by a much wider range of stakeholders if it is to succeed. 

So, there's detailed work to be done, and some of the questions I was asked, Llywydd, are premature and cannot be answered today. But, the work is going on. It's going on with a very committed group of people here in Wales, with expert help from outside Wales. And if we can make it happen, then I think it has really exciting possibilities for communities right across Wales.

Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog. 

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Prif Chwip, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Suzy Davies. 

As I set out in my oral statement last week, equality is a central priority for the Welsh Government. This is reflected, for example, in our gender equality review, the 'Nation of Sanctuary' plan and our framework for action on disability. 

Thank you for that, and I welcome the work that we're starting to see on this now. I hope you'll join with me in welcoming the news that Neath Port Talbot, in my region, is the first local authority to sign up to the FairPlay Employer scheme to tackle the gender pay gap. But we do have other pay gaps as well, including with the BAME community, and Welsh Government was not able to say recently how many BAME people work in the public sector in total in Wales, let alone how many BAME women. Your Government intends to improve representation within Welsh Government by 0.4 per cent by next year. I'm not sure how many actual people that is, but can you tell me how you'll be doing that in a way that not only improves BAME representation within the workforce, but improves the BAME gender pay gap as well? Perhaps you can also say something about how you and the Equality and Human Rights Commission might be collecting data that would help inform policy on that.

I thank Suzy Davies for those questions. In fact, I also welcome the fact that Neath Port Talbot council has achieved the Chwarae Teg fair employment award, and, of course, part of that is about tackling the gender pay gap. In terms of the opportunities that we have to focus, particularly I would say this week, on making sure that we have a diversity in our ministerial public appointments, we are producing a diversity strategy, which will consider action on how we can better raise awareness of public appointments and ensure that the process is as inclusive as possible. That has to be through an implementation plan; how we improve, for example, the diversity of assessment panels, support appointees, have shadowing arrangements. I'm mentoring, and I think probably, Suzy, you're mentoring also, candidates from the Women's Equality Network. We certainly know that this is a way forward towards those kinds of ministerial appointments, which I hope will particularly address black, Asian, minority ethnic candidates, but particularly women who, of course, can play such a key role. 

Now, in terms of the gender pay gap, it is a gender pay gap where we have to look at the intersectionality issues in relation to the pay gaps. It is, indeed, not just in terms of a gender pay gap; there's also a disability and a race pay gap as well, which we have to address. It is important that we see that this is a crucial part of the rapid review of Welsh Government gender and equality, and I very much welcome the Chwarae Teg 'State of the Nation 2019' report, where we addressed these issues. And we were at Butetown Community Centre to have a panel discussion on these issues, and the focus was on BAME women in Wales because of the research that they're undertaking on BAME women and their experiences in the Welsh labour market. So, all these are key to my agenda in terms of priorities in supporting and extending equality and human rights. 

Minister, the question you were just asked was specifically about data. You didn't address that point at all, so I'd really be grateful if you would answer that point about the collection of data. There are many types of discrimination within our society. We've got data on all forms of inequality, but there's very little information about the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in this country. I was very glad to be able to speak at the new cross-party group on race equality at the beginning of the month, where the overwhelming message to us there was that we still have a long way to go before we achieve equality. We can have a strategy. We can have awareness. We can have as much mentoring as we like, but unless you are collecting data, you are not going to be able to identify and address those problems. So, if you could answer the question about data, Minister: what is this Government doing to fill the information void that we have on the ethnic minorities who have been part of our communities in this country for centuries?

Data is crucially important, in terms of the way that we measure our outcomes and seek to deliver on our objectives. Just in terms of some data, in terms of public appointments, for example, we are collating and verifying diversity appointments data for 2018-19, but we know from 2017-18 that 6.9 per cent of all ministerial appointments and re-appointments were declared to be from BAME groups, 51.9 per cent female, and 7.6 per cent disabled people. And I'm glad to be able to give that data today. But, clearly, it shows how far we've got to go particularly in terms of BAME groups, and that's why the data is important.

But, also, in terms of data, this is something where we've been working with the Office for National Statistics on to ensure that we can access data. We don't have all the data that we need in order to be informed, particularly in terms of the objectives that we have to address. And we need that in order to deliver on our public sector equality duty and Welsh-specific duties, which we are now, as I said last week, reassessing to see whether we can strengthen them, and data will be a crucial part of that. So I'm completely on side in terms of data.

And can I also welcome the fact that we now have a cross-party group on race equality? I think John Griffiths is chairing that, with Bethan co-chairing it. It is very important that that is a cross-party group that can hold me to account in terms of recognising that we have a long way to go. But we have an opportunity now, in terms of this focus on equality, to make real strides and to use the issues around the general duty that we have—the public sector duty—and the separate duties on race, disability and gender equality. And I know, at that Butetown meeting, we all talked about the importance of that intersectionality, and that approach, in terms of equality.

Our focus is on strengthening the implementation of the Act and supporting our partners to realise the benefits of contributing to the seven well-being goals, and working in a collaborative, integrated and preventative way that looks to the long term and involves people in all their diversity.

Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. I appreciate that you took a topical question on this particular aspect a few weeks ago. But in relation to the judgment that the judge handed down—Mrs Justice Lambert at the time—she said that the Bill was

'deliberately vague, general and aspirational and which applies to a class rather than individuals.'

The Bill is now some four years old. That judgment has been handed down. Do the Welsh Government have any ideas about how they might beef up the legislation, so that it does become more specific and does apply to individuals, rather than groups? Because, obviously, a lot of Government policy has changed in that four years, especially in the field of the environment. And we've heard today, in First Minister's questions, about the planning system—the future generations Bill is very topical in that particular area. So given the change in circumstances, and the judgment that's been handed down, can you confirm that the Welsh Government is looking to beef up that piece of legislation?

I think what is important in terms of the Act is that it provides us with opportunities to use the Act to inform policy, and it's very important that 'Planning Policy Wales' and the developments and the review are being informed by the well-being of future generations Act. But we can look at a whole range of issues in terms of the seven goals—a prosperous Wales, a healthier Wales—in ways in which we are, for example, supporting the delivery of 20,000 affordable homes, completing the task of meeting the Welsh housing quality standard, and also looking in terms of a prosperous Wales, a more resilient Wales, at investing over £300,000 in the new forestry apprenticeships pilot in Wales. It's crucial to the climate emergency in terms of our global responsibilities, in terms of our Wales of cohesive communities. It's informing us in terms of policy and ensuring that we are looking to enhance that in terms of our community cohesion co-ordinators. I think the Act provides for enhanced scrutiny of the Welsh Government, through the powers of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales—an independent commissioner for Wales—and examination duty on the Auditor General for Wales.

The Welsh Government is committed to making our communities safer. We work closely with our four police forces, the UK Government and a raft of other agencies to drive down anti-social behaviour, reduce crime and, importantly, the fear of crime.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. I recently hosted a screening in the Senedd of Anti Social Bob, a film produced by Newport youth offending service to combat and prevent anti-social behaviour. The project's an excellent example of the benefits of multi-agency partnership working. It received funding from Newport City Council and One Newport, and the youth offending service worked closely with school liaison officers from Gwent Police and the fire service to deliver the films in Newport schools. Whilst it was filmed in Newport, Anti Social Bob aims to tackle the issues around anti-social behaviour that can exist in all parts of the country. Our youth services are absolutely key and face incredible pressures. How can this good practice be shared meaningfully throughout other parts of Wales, and what can Welsh Government do to strengthen and support our youth justice service, in relation to community safety?

I'd like to thank Jayne Bryant for that question. I'm very grateful that she shared the video, Anti Social Bob, produced by Newport youth offending service, and it's a video that was developed with young people at its heart. It does actually show the real cost of anti-social behaviour, not just to the young person but the wider impacts on family, friends and communities. We know that using media can have such an impact and is a powerful way of educating. It also helps to divert young people from those behaviours, which can easily lead to criminalisation and long-term impacts of such behaviour. I know that youth offending teams across Wales meet regularly and they will be looking at this as an example of good practice. But what is key, I think, in terms of protecting our youth services, and that obviously is something where we're supporting our local authorities closely, but also in terms of youth justice, we have seen the achievement of the lowest numbers of young people from Wales in custody, and work is under way to improve this even further with the blueprint for youth justice that I published on 21 May. 

Deputy Minister, over the last three years, more than 32,000 schoolchildren in south Wales have benefited from vital rail safety education. Network Rail, in participation with the Crucial Crew safety initiative, have been delivering rail safety sessions to children in areas including Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport. Minister, will you join me in congratulating Network Rail and Crucial Crew on their work and commitment to delivering vital rail safety information to young people in south-east Wales? 

I certainly would want to join the Member in congratulating Network Rail and for developing such an innovative rail safety awareness and education programme, which engages young people and is crucial in terms of rail safety, and also gives them the opportunity to take responsibility in terms of their own safety and their peers' and their communities' safety. 

One leader who's worked tirelessly to promote community safety in south-east Wales is Julian Williams. He's retiring this month as chief constable of Gwent Police. I'd like to associate myself with the remarks of police and crime commissioner, Jeff Cuthbert. He said he's 

'been a very effective leader of Gwent Police and has displayed professionalism, tempered with compassion, at all times.' 

And I know he had a distinguished record at South Wales Police before that. I just wonder if the Minister would also like to put on record her appreciation and that of the Government. 

I would certainly want to join you in recognising the achievements of the chief constable of Gwent Police, and, in fact, he is going to be a great loss. Jeff Cuthbert and the chief constable have worked so closely together and have made such an impact as a result of that close working. I'm sure other Members here, in fact, would like to join me, as Minister, and indeed members of the Welsh Government and the First Minister in recognising his achievements. 

The Welsh Government has robust arrangements in place to ensure we are fulfilling the requirements of the well-being of future generations Act. We continue to collaborate with the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and our partners to realise the benefits of the Act for Wales.

Thank you, Minister. And I don't think you could be criticised for not listening to the future generations commissioner when it came to the M4 decision recently. I'm sure she was pleased that her thoughts were taken on board. I'll leave aside my usual favourite subject of asking about roads, and, if I can, ask you about the monitoring or the enactment of the well-being of future generations legislation when it comes to local government and planning. I'm aware of at least one rural planning application in my constituency that has been called in by the Welsh Government because it breaches, or potentially breaches, the issue of sustainable travel, with an over-reliance on cars in the countryside being a problem at the heart of that application. It seems to me that, whilst we talk the talk here about sustainability and ensuring that future generations are protected, perhaps that message hasn't always permeated out to local authorities or, indeed, to other agencies, which are then responsible for delivering on the ground. So, I wonder if you could tell us how you're liaising with the Minister for planning and local government to make sure that out there, outside the walls of this Chamber, this legislation really is at the heart of everything that local authorities do, because, along with the climate emergency, these are all fine words, but unless they're actually enacted out there on the ground, then we're talking words but good things aren't actually happening in process.

I think there's a recognition, even through the topical question to me earlier on this month from Andrew R.T. Davies and from discussions we've had in questions to the First Minister, how important the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is to us, and how important it is that it is now adopted by the public sector, who are responsible for delivering on those seven goals and the five ways of working. It is helping to drive a renewed focus on how the Welsh Government improves how it engages, involving the diversity of the population of Wales, and I think the example of 'Planning Policy Wales' and the national development framework is a really good example of that. It does take strong leadership from us all to move to the Wales we want and, of course, including the commissioner, we have to work with our partners and particularly those who are local authorities, but those who are making those decisions, particularly around planning, to realise the benefits of this Act. But it is a fundamental part of the policy framework.

And, indeed, we do provide a package of national support for regional funding and regular drop-in sessions to help public services boards implement the Act. We have a cross-Government group of senior officials to look at ways we can accelerate the implementation of the Act, informed by our work with the third sector. I think it's very welcome that this Assembly has embraced the well-being of future generations Act by recommending that the Welsh Government uses the integrated impact assessment tool to assess the impact of all new policy on equality, children's rights, the Welsh language, rural-proofing and biodiversity. So, it is embedded now in the way that we work, and it is embedded in those who are responsible, our public bodies, to deliver on it, particularly in relation to sustainable development. 

Tackling the causes of the gender pay gap and is a priority in the gender review. Actions to remove barriers include providing childcare support, creating training opportunities, tackling discrimination and supporting women into non-traditional careers.

Diolch am yr ateb yna. Mae adroddiad diweddaraf Chwarae Teg ar gyflwr y genedl yn dangos mai yn Ynys Môn mae'r gap mwyaf rhwng cyflogau dynion a merched. Mae'r gap yn Ynys Môn yn 25.5 y cant, sydd yn syfrdanol o uchel, yn enwedig o glywed yn fanna bod hyn i fod yn flaenoriaeth gan y Llywodraeth. Dwi'n mynd i fod yn cadeirio cyfarfod arbennig yn Ynys Môn ym mis Medi, mewn cydweithrediad efo Chwarae Teg, yn edrych ar y mater yma. Ond beth yn union mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud mewn ardaloedd lle mae hyn yn amlwg yn dal i fod yn broblem barhaus? Ac onid ydy'r ffigur yna yn dangos bod y Llywodraeth yma wedi methu yn ei hymgais hyd yma i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem mewn ardaloedd, yn sicr, lle mae'r broblem ar ei mwyaf dwys?  

I thank the Member for the question. Between 2011 and 2018, the gender pay gap in Wales decreased from 9.2 per cent to 7.3 per cent. The UK gender pay gap was 9 per cent in 2018. Clearly, we've got to drive that down and address those areas, like Anglesey, where there is that greatest gap. In fact, I think the recommendations from the Fair Work Commission on tackling the gender pay gap is very relevant, and I hope you'll be able to refer to that in your meeting. It looked at the gender pay gap across all local authorities in Wales, including Anglesey, and it made recommendations about helping to close this gap.

I would say, in terms of opportunities that we're taking, we've got the personal learning account pilot that's part of the employability plan launched in September, with a pilot area in north Wales, including Anglesey, providing occupational courses and improved qualifications linked to key sectors. It will be available to women from the isle of Anglesey and across Wales. But, during 2017-18, 400 women living on the isle of Anglesey started an apprenticeship programme, as opposed to 290 men. More women are coming forward and also taking advantage of the parents, childcare and employment adviser in terms of access to childcare and support. Over 1,500 parents have started work since the programme started in July 2015, and that includes 124 parents from Anglesey. So, I hope that I will be able to advise you and also work with you to ensure that our road map for gender equality does address and support those areas where there are particular unacceptable gaps in relation to the gender pay gap, but also looks at how we can support women in terms of their achievements.

I will just finally say that I think Chwarae Teg obviously will be talking about their Agile Nation project, and that's been supported over the years, helping women and employers to gain qualifications and to progress in the labour market in employment and tackle occupational segregation.

We continue to support the public sector workforce to be able to identify coercive control through our national training framework. I also launched the ‘This is Not Love. This is Control’ campaign in January, which focuses on raising awareness of coercive control, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Thank you for your answer. I was very involved in work that resulted in the introduction of the coercive control law when I was in Westminster so this is an area very close to my heart, but legislation is only as good as its implementation, and there remain concerns about the take-up of training in this area. Until all public services receive training of the highest standard, we are unlikely to see a change in attitudes towards this pernicious crime. Now, whilst I appreciate that some of the picture, including policing, will be a reserved matter for Westminster, can I ask what steps Welsh Government are taking to ensure that all relevant public service providers are receiving training in not just the realities of coercive control but the need to signpost survivors to help? Until all survivors get that, we're going to see a system where some people are going to be punished by a system where some providers realise what the horrors are that they're going through whilst others don't.

Well, I thank Delyth Jewell for this really important question, particularly given the fact that we have that recent case, the Sally Challen case, bringing this insidious topic of coercive control to the forefront of national news.

I think, as you say, training is key. It's part of our national strategy. Through the national training framework, we have trained over 142,000 professionals in the public sector workforce in Wales, and it is at different levels. We've got over 3,000 professionals being trained in our early intervention and prevention training, 'Ask and Act', where identifying coercive control is a key aspect, but the national training framework has six different groups to ensure that we reach out to those who are nearest to women particularly who are at risk, catching the widest audience in terms of group 1, raising awareness of the violence against women and domestic abuse legislation, and moving to those professionals with frequent contact with potential victims to those whose specialism is tackling violence against women, and also to leaders as well. We are currently planning regional workshops for public sector leaders—those with commissioning and planning responsibilities—and we also have a strength in leadership series of films, which has been viewed over 7,800 times. So, training-the-trainer training has been completed by 20 professionals in mid and West Wales.

I appreciate that this is about reaching out to the professionals who are at the forefront and the sharp end of being able to address this issue, and I'm very glad that you brought this to our attention to show what is being done in terms of the national strategy delivering on our pioneering legislation.

Diolch i’r Dirprwy Weinidog.

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw’r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi’n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud ei datganiad—Rebecca Evans.

Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's business. The motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments to the Legislation (Wales) Bill has been withdrawn. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.

Thank you, Trefnydd. I wonder if I could ask for two items, please, the first being a letter to all Assembly Members, perhaps from you, actually, but I'm not 100 per cent sure who, about why the consultation document—this document—on amending the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Budget Motions and Designated Bodies) Order 2018—I know it doesn't sound very exciting—isn't on the Government website for wider consultation. It's a draft Order that seeks to bring new bodies within the scope of Welsh Government's financial reporting processes, and at least one of the bodies listed here in the draft Order was not informed about this even happening and so didn't know that there was a consultation going on, and one doesn't come within the definition of 'central Government sector', and this only applied to central Government sector bodies. The reason I'm asking you to, perhaps, issue a letter on this is this matter is due to come before the Finance Committee, if it hasn't already.

And if I could also just raise this with you: in March, the Brexit Secretary told us that a significant piece of work was necessary in relation to the qualifications make-up of the public sector workforce across Wales post Brexit. I'd raised a question in the context of teachers' qualifications and the current distinction between EU citizens and non-EU citizens, which is something that could disappear once we leave the EU. Now that it's clear that the main party in this place would campaign for 'remain' should there be a second referendum, I think we could do with some reassurance that this work on what's going to happen to qualifications post Brexit is continuing. Perhaps we could just have a written statement to that effect—not just on education, but the public sector generally. Thank you.

Yes, thank you very much. On the first issue of the consultation document, I'll certainly find out what's going on there and update Members, as you've requested, in terms of the availability of that consultation document and the circulation of it.FootnoteLink

On the second issue, we've been very clear that Welsh Government does see Britain and Wales's best interests best served by remaining in the European Union, and the First Minister has set out why he feels that is the case now, having set out for a number of years the best possible Brexit that Wales could have achieved in terms of causing the least damage. There just doesn't seem any prospect now of the UK Government taking that forward. So, the response now, really, is to make the case to remain within the EU. That said, that does not mean for a second that we are taking our foot off the gas in terms of the preparations that we are doing to prepare Wales should there be a 'no deal' Brexit, and that's one of the reasons, today, I've announced as part of the first supplementary budget, a capital stimulus programme of £85 million, which will be allowing the construction industry particularly to gain some confidence, but also the supply chains that rely on it. So, work is going on both in terms of promoting the case for a second referendum but also in terms of preparing ourselves for any possible Brexit, but particularly a 'no deal' Brexit. And the example you gave in terms of qualifications, I'll be sure that you have an update on that.

Trefnydd, fel llefarydd Plaid Cymru ar lywodraeth leol, dwi'n ymwybodol iawn o'r pwysau ariannol ar gyllidebau awdurdodau lleol. Yn wir, dyna pam roeddwn i'n pwyso ar Lywodraeth Cymru i roi mwy o arian i'n cynghorau sir ni rai misoedd yn ôl. Fodd bynnag, yn ddiweddar yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, mae cynigion wedi cael eu cyflwyno i gynyddu taliadau am gludiant ôl-16 yn sylweddol iawn, o £100 y flwyddyn i £390 y flwyddyn. Yn amlwg, bydd hyn yn cael effaith sylweddol ar deuluoedd ledled y sir, ond bydd yn cael effaith arbennig ar unig ysgol gyfrwng Gymraeg y sir, sef Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera Bro Dur, ac unig ysgol ffydd y sir, sef Ysgol Gyfun Gatholig San Joseff. Gyda disgyblion yn teithio'n draddodiadol i'r ysgolion hyn o bob cwr o'r sir, bydd y teuluoedd hyn yn cael eu taro'n fwy na'r mwyafrif. Rwyf i, ynghyd â'm cyd-Aelod rhanbarthol Bethan Sayed, eisoes wedi derbyn sylwadau gan deuluoedd sy'n anfon eu plant i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg a'r pryderon sydd ganddynt yn hyn o beth, a dŷn ni wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi eu hachos. 

Nawr, dŷn ni'n gwybod bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru darged o greu miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg, ac er mwyn cyrraedd y targed hwnnw, bydd angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol wneud addysg Gymraeg yn hygyrch ledled Cymru. Mae'r cynnig hwn gan Gyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn gwneud y gwrthwyneb. Wrth benderfynu ar addysg eu plentyn, mae'n siŵr y bydd rhieni'n cael eu dylanwadu gan y gost sy'n gysylltiedig â hi, ac mae perygl gwirioneddol y bydd rhieni'n dewis anfon eu plant i'r ddarpariaeth agosaf—cyfrwng Saesneg—yn hytrach nag anfon disgyblion i Ystalyfera. Felly, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno datganiad ar yr hyn mae'n bwriadu gwneud i sicrhau nad yw addysg Gymraeg yn cael ei roi dan anfantais yn y modd yma, ac a fyddwch yn ystyried cyflwyno deddfwriaeth genedlaethol ar fater trafnidiaeth er mwyn rhoi chwarae teg i'r Gymraeg? [Torri ar draws.]

You're to answer, Trefnydd.

So, as the Member quite rightly points out, Welsh in education strategic plans are central to the growth in Welsh-medium education and is one of the key factors in terms of helping us achieve our ambition of a million Welsh speakers by 2050. As part of those WESP requirements, local authorities must have a statement on the availability of Welsh-medium provision in relation to home-to-school transport in order to promote access to education and training through the medium of Welsh.

In the case of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Ystalyfera in Neath Port Talbot, there is no equivalent access to Welsh-medium education as compared to English-medium education, as we've heard. And such issues relating to travelling distance for the individuals who wish to continue with their post-16 education through the medium of Welsh does place them at a disadvantage. So, we would certainly be concerned about the negative impact that the introduction of the proposed changes might have on the number of students following post-16 courses through the medium of Welsh, and we have sought reassurances from the local authority that all possible options are being considered to remove those financial barriers to ensure that Welsh-medium education is supported within the whole county.

The Minister will note the vote last week by 83 per cent of the Ford workforce to support industrial action up to and including strike action in response to the Ford closure proposal. So, I wonder whether time can be found for a statement on Ford Bridgend in the near future, and at least before the summer recess, which would allow the Minister to update us on progress with the taskforce, and in particular in reference to the representations made to ensure that in the event of closure, the pensions and the redundancies are at least equal to those offered to Ford workers before, in the UK or in any plant in Europe, and that any legacy left by Ford in the event of closure should be equal to any they've given to other EU plants that have closed as well.

We're only asking for fair play to workers who've given 40 years commitment to this plant. I welcome what the First Minister has said, I welcome what the economy Minister has said, standing squarely, shoulder to shoulder, with these workers, but it would be good to get an update in the right, timely manner before we get to the summer.

I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for raising this issue and the concern that he's been steadfastly expressing for his constituents who are employed at the Ford plant at Bridgend and constituents even beyond his own area. I know that the economy Minister is very keen to keep all Members up to date on progress, but I would say today that we've begun the process of establishing that taskforce to work with partners, over the difficult weeks and months ahead, to help to find a sustainable, long-term solution for the plant and its workforce. We are acting quickly to progress this and have approached a prominent figure, as you know, from the automotive industry, to chair the taskforce.

As part of the taskforce being established, the people's work stream, in conjunction with Ford, will consider the provision of appropriate financial advice for the workforce. The First Minister has spoken to the Prime Minister about the situation and the need for the two Governments to work together seamlessly for the people of Bridgend and the wider region. This was a message I was able to reiterate in a meeting that I was at of the Cabinet sub-committee with the UK Government just last week.

The First Minister has also spoken with senior management at Ford who've committed to working with us on the taskforce to support their employees and the supply chain, and also to provide a legacy for the wider community. But I'll be certain to ensure that the economy Minister, in his updates, does address that legacy issue that you have particular concern about, and also the issue of pensions and the issue of parity with the agreements that have been made in similar situations elsewhere.

Minister, please could we have a statement from the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism on the outcome of the Wales tourism summit in Llandrindod Wells in March? The current 'Partnership for Growth' strategy for tourism expires next year, and I understand that the Deputy Minister has been consulting with the tourism sector following the summit. Given the importance of tourism to the Welsh economy, please could we have a statement on how the Welsh Government intends to support and increase tourism in Wales in future? Thank you.

Thank you very much for your question. The statement on Welsh Government support for tourism—you'll be aware, of course, of the additional £2 million that was invested in the industry to make sure that Wales does have an excellent tourism offer. I know that the Minister for international relations intends to make a statement on the international strategy on 9 July, and I'm certain that there'll be opportunities there to discuss how we can ensure that we have the best possible international tourism offer to attract people from across the globe to what we have to offer here in Wales. But on the specifics of your question, I will ask the Deputy Minister to write to you.

I'm compelled to raise yet again the centralisation agenda of this Government, which has had such an adverse impact upon the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. I regularly receive concerns and complaints from both patients and staff. The decision to remove consultants from the Royal Glamorgan, relocating them to Merthyr, has not had a positive impact. The removal of paediatric consultants from the Royal Glamorgan has been halted for now, and I would like to see a decision be taken to halt that on a permanent basis. I'm now hearing deep concerns about consultants being removed from the accident and emergency department at the Royal Glamorgan, sparking genuine fears that, in the medium to long term, the A&E may close, and I share those concerns. I'd therefore like a statement from the Government about the progress of the centralisation agenda, allied with a careful analysis of patient outcomes and staff satisfaction, alongside a commitment to a moratorium on any future centralisation if that exercise shows the dissatisfaction that I believe that it will show. And I'd like a further statement on the future of the accident and emergency department at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital that includes some solid guarantees about its future.

May I ask you in the first instance to write to the health Minister outlining the concerns that you have raised? I'm sure that he'll be pleased to address them with the health board. The Minister will be bringing forward a statement on the task and finish group on critical care's report on 2 July, and I think that would be an appropriate opportunity, as well, to have these discussions on the floor of the Assembly.

Minister, the previous business items included two questions about the well-being of future generation Act, and there is clearly keen political and public interest in that legislation. So, could I request further time to discuss the Act, particularly how local authorities are interpreting the law in respect of public land? You may be aware that there's an ongoing campaign in Solva for public acquisition of Trecadwgan Farm, and the plan is for local residents to develop the site, which dates back to the fourteenth century, and to run it as a community farm. Despite this, Pembrokeshire council has so far refused to cancel next month's auction and give campaigners time to put together a robust business plan. Instead of helping the community, they're asking for an upfront non-refundable £50,000 deposit. In my view, Pembrokeshire's priorities seem to be making a fast buck, not the development of a historic site for the benefit of future generations. I think it's the case that they should be reminded of their legal obligation and given clear lessons and guidance to that end.

I thank Joyce Watson for raising this issue. Public land and, particularly, the disposal of public land is something that I've taken a particular interest in and have had some good discussions or early discussions with my colleague the Minister for economy and also the Minister with responsibility for local government. We're at very early days in these discussions, but I'd be keen to explore further the example that you've given as a potential case study, really, in terms of how we can ensure that when we do dispose of public land, we are doing so in a way that is very much cognisant of our wider Government priorities, the well-being of future generations Act and our aspirations in terms of getting the best value, not just in terms of the bottom line, but, actually, the added value that we can have, in the way that the First Minister described in his response to Angela Burns's question today on procurement.

Can I call for two statements? Firstly, an update from the Minister for transport and economy on the north Wales metro. The Welsh Government announced details of what was initially called the north-east Wales metro project in 2017 to improve public transport in north Wales. Today, the local The Leader newspaper has published comments made by the new Labour leader of Flintshire County Council, Ian Roberts, following comments he made during a meeting in County Hall, in which he says there had only been limited discussions about how the main parts of the project would be implemented, that

'Transport and the North Wales Metro is unfinished business with the Welsh Government'

and that he thinks 

'it is of particular interest to really ask the Welsh Government what their intentions are for the North East Wales Metro.'

Clearly, if those calls are not only coming more broadly but specifically from a Flintshire council leader who happens to be a member of your party, I hope you'll agree that that merits a public response.

Secondly and finally, could I call for a statement on alcohol misuse by older people in Wales? Two weeks ago, I sponsored and spoke at the launch event for the Drink Wise Age Well programme's 'Calling time for change' charter, held in the Assembly's Pierhead building. This is looking to reduce the harms caused by alcohol in older adults across Wales, working with members of the charter advocacy group, all of whom are volunteers with lived experience of alcohol. After first getting together as an advocacy group, the charter is the culmination of 12 months of their hard work. An important ethos of the programme is that people should not merely be passive recipients of support but active participants in their own and others' well-being and recovery. Worryingly, the report said that in addressing ageism and age discrimination in alcohol policy, practice and research, they found that more than 4 million Britons over 50 think they should cut back on the amount of alcohol they drink, and that in Wales, those aged 65 and over are the only age group where drinking above the daily guidelines is increasing. Again, I call for a statement from the health Minister accordingly. Thank you.

Thank you for raising both of those issues. With regard to the first, which was the north-east Wales metro, it is certainly a vital part of our plan to improve and modernise transport in the region, and work on delivering the metro vision is progressing well. A Transport for Wales business unit in north Wales has been established to support the delivery of the metro project, including the development of a new Deeside parkway railway station, an integrated Shotton railway station, and an integrated transport hub at Wrexham General rail station. That work is continuing.

Increasing weekday service frequency on the Wrexham-Bidston line to two trains per hour from the end of 2021 is an important aspect of delivering the north-east Wales metro, and we've provided funding to Flintshire County Council for schemes to improve access to and within the Deeside industrial park, with a focus on bus and active travel, and to Wrexham County Borough Council for improvements to Wrexham bus station. We're also progressing plans for the Flintshire corridor red route, which has been supported by the local authority and will be integral to the delivery of the metro. Our proposals for the north-east Wales metro will help the region be better connected and provide access to jobs, facilities and services, which will be a boost for commuters, businesses and the economy, and will also support our ambitions for a north Wales and cross-border area that is competitive and a key component of the Northern Powerhouse.

I think it should be recognised that implementing improvements, in many cases, does require the need to go through the statutory process, and we recognise that some of those interventions will not be quick, but we will begin the roll-out of our vision for the integrated metro system by focusing on those things that could be delivered quickly. If the new leader has particular concerns, I'm sure that he'll take the opportunity to raise them directly with the Minister for transport.

Your point about the Drink Wise Age Well campaign and alcohol misuse amongst older people is very well made, and I know that it's something that the health Minister is keen to address through the substance misuse delivery plan, but I will ask him to provide you with the latest update on that.FootnoteLink

Roeddwn i eisiau gofyn am ddatganiad ar yr adroddiad Augar sydd wedi dod mas yn Lloegr ynglŷn â sut maen nhw'n mynd i dalu am y ffioedd a sut maen nhw'n mynd i dalu am y system addysg ôl-16 yno. Yn sicr, maen nhw wedi argymell i leihau'r ffioedd sydd yn mynd i fynd ar fyfyrwyr, a dwi eisiau deall o Lywodraeth Cymru sut mae hynny yn mynd i effeithio arnoch chi. Felly, a fydden ni'n gallu cael datganiad yn hynny o beth? Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i fod yn ymateb yn rhan o ymateb Llywodraeth Prydain, ond hoffwn i gael trafodaeth yn y Senedd yma cyn i'r Gweinidog Addysg wneud unrhyw fath o benderfyniad.

My second statement is—. I know that we have had this debate here numerous times about a Welsh cricket team, and many of us here do want that still, but we know that there will be disagreement across the board. Many of us have noticed, with some of the games happening in Wales, the pitiful branding, actually, that Wales gets as part of this Cricket World Cup, and I'm wondering what analysis you will be doing as part of brand Wales, post the Cricket World Cup. You would hardly realise that it was happening, for one, and you'd hardly realise that Wales was part of this alleged England-and-Wales cricket team. So, can we have a statement from the Welsh Government as to how they are creating brand Wales as part of this Cricket World Cup, how they will have lessons to learn for the future, and whether they are minded to change their mind on supporting a Welsh cricket team?  

Thank you for raising those issues. With regard to the Augar review, obviously, at the moment, we are exploring that particular report and formulating our own response, and understanding, really, what it would mean for us in a Welsh context. I would encourage you and any other Members with an interest to make representations to the education Minister to assist in formulating the response and formulating our ideas as to how we would react.

Your point about cricket and branding I think is again very well made, in the sense that we need to be making sure that, when we do host events here in Wales—and we do have an incredible variety of events that we host here in Wales and an incredible reputation, I think, for hosting events well, particularly sporting events—then we do need to be making the most of those marketing opportunities. I will ask the Minister to give the matter some consideration and then to respond to you.

Trefnydd, can I first concur with the earlier comments made by my colleague Suzy Davies as regards the document amending the Government of Wales Act 2006 not being available on the Welsh Government website? As a Member of the Finance Committee, I have access to it, but I think it is helpful if it's available to a wider audience.

Secondly, last week, we had the important debate on plastics and how we might seek to minimise our reliance on plastics. I know that the Welsh Government did respond to that debate, but I wonder if we could have, well, a strategy and maybe regular or semi-regular updates on what Welsh Government is doing to try and tackle this problem. I think if we all do try to take the issue head on then perhaps we can get somewhere over the medium term. Could we have a statement on how any strategy would incorporate the local dimension? I think that there's a lot of good work and a lot of good practice going on out there on a local level that we don't always hear about. I heard last week about an initiative from Raglan Dairy in my constituency, which is a local milk supplier that is seeking to get—or has actually got—the contract with a lot of primary schools in Monmouthshire to replace plastic bottles with conventional bottles. They've made a huge difference over just a year. I think that there are probably other examples, other companies, doing similar out there, and we could have a bottom-up approach, whereby we really do take that good practice and extend it across Wales.

Finally, Llywydd, I'm sure you want to join me in congratulating Usk school ski team, managed by local councillor Sara Jones, who have won silver and bronze medals in a recent competition—that's for girls and boys, respectively—and are very pleased and let me know about their success. I'm sure the Assembly would also like to congratulate them too.  

Thank you very much, Nick Ramsay. On the first issue, as I said to Suzy Davies, I'll certainly explore the issues regarding the publication of the consultation document and make sure that those people who will have an interest and would like and need to respond to it do have the opportunity to do so. 

On the second issue of plastic waste and innovative ways to reduce the amount of plastic that we use, particularly single-use plastic, I know that the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, with responsibility for waste, has taken a particularly strong interest in this. She does intend to make a statement to the Assembly, but I don't think that we can accommodate it until next term, which is why I know that she's planning on issuing a written statement very shortly, given the high level of interest that there is, quite rightly, in this issue.

We're currently undertaking joint consultations with the UK Government on both the possibility of introducing a deposit-return scheme and extending producer responsibility. That closed last month, so, as part of that, I know the Deputy Minister did host a briefing session for Assembly Members and a stakeholder round-table, which did give the opportunity to bring together some of those more local ideas of things that we should be celebrating in Wales, but also scaling up so that they don't become small things that we think are worthy of celebration, but actually things that are mainstreamed in the way that we do things. But, as I say, the Deputy Minister does intend to issue a written statement very shortly to update Members as to where we are on the issue of plastic, and of course I'm very happy on behalf of the Welsh Government to extend my congratulations to Usk school's ski team on the successes that they've had and the medals that they've won.

Mae etholwyr wedi cysylltu efo fi yn bryderus am effaith ddinistriol toriadau posib yn yr ysgol addysg ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, ac yn enwedig y goblygiadau o gael gwared â staff profiadol Cymraeg eu hiaith, a'u disodli gan strategaeth ad hoc sy'n bwriadu dod ag athrawon o ysgolion i mewn i hyfforddi a mentora myfyrwyr. Mi fuaswn i'n ddiolchgar am ddatganiad ar y mater hwn, ac yn enwedig barn y Llywodraeth am effaith dadfuddsoddi mewn hyfforddiant athrawon ac mewn addysg Gymraeg, effaith hynny ar gynaliadwyedd a llwyddiant eich strategaeth addysg a'ch strategaeth iaith Cymraeg—hynny yw, a fyddai dileu swyddi yn yr ysgol addysg yn tanseilio'ch nod chi o recriwtio mwy o athrawon ac yn tanseilio'r nod o greu miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg?

I thank you for raising this issue. May I ask that you write directly to the Minister for Education and she'll provide a response?

In the last few days, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has started a hunger strike in an Iranian prison. She had a sham trial and has been subject to all sorts of torments since being arrested in 2016. Her husband Richard has started a parallel hunger strike outside the Iranian embassy in London and Richard's sister, Rebecca Jones, lives in my constituency and has been campaigning locally. Could we have a statement on what Welsh Government can do to add our voice and send a message of support to both Nazanin and Richard at this most heartbreaking of times?

Thank you for raising this. It's not something that I am familiar with, but it certainly sounds like a deeply stressful and worrying time for the family concerned. I'll ask the Minister with responsibility for international relations to explore this with you further.

Can I call for a statement from the Minister responsible for the economy and transport on road signage in Wales? You may have seen some reports in the media yesterday that new hedgehog signs are to be introduced for use in the UK because of the hazards that can often be presented by small wildlife in the roads. Now, many of us in this Chamber are species champions, and of course we need to protect wildlife and motorists from the hazards that roads can cause. We know, for example, that squirrels are often casualties on the roads, and of course the red squirrel population on Anglesey and around the Clocaenog forest in my constituency is particularly precious to me as the local species champion. Given that there have been over 100 deaths in 2017, according to the Department for Transport, as a result of small wildlife in our roads, and over 14,000 casualties as a result of animals on highways, will the Welsh Government consider using these sorts of signs in appropriate places in order to protect local wildlife and motorists from those sorts of hazards?

I thank Darren Millar for raising this, and I'll certainly explore precisely that with the Minister for transport.

I'd like to ask the Trefnydd for two statements. Firstly, following up on your response to Joyce Watson with regard to the situation of the community in Solfa's attempted purchase of Trecadwgan farm, I'm very interested in the points that Joyce made about the well-being of future generations Act; I think those were very well made. I wonder if it would be possible, in the context of the efforts that that community are making, for the Government to bring forward a statement, perhaps a written statement, about the support that's available from the Welsh Government to enable communities to build resilience and protect community assets? This might be possibly by the Deputy Minister for the Economy under his social enterprise and social economy responsibilities. I think it would be helpful to those residents, but I think it's a case study, and it would be helpful to other residents who may be facing similar situations elsewhere to know what sort of support may be available to them, whether that would be through direct grants or in any other way. 

The second statement I'd like to ask for is I'd like to request the Welsh Government stand ready to make a statement once the legal case currently being taken through the High Court by the 1950s women, the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign and others—if the Government can stand ready when that decision is made to make a statement about how that will impact on Wales. I appreciate that this is a reserved matter, and I'm sure that the Trefnydd, like me, was very disappointed with the UK Government's letter of response that was shared by the Welsh Government recently.

On these benches, we still believe that Welsh Government should give consideration, particularly if there is further legal action, as to whether they could have some locus in the proceedings, because of the huge loss to the Welsh economy, not only to those individual women but the huge loss to the Welsh economy, of the very unjust decisions that have been made around the raising of the pension age.

So, I'd ask the Trefnydd to ask whichever Minister—whether it would be the Deputy Minister with responsibility for equalities or whether it would be the Counsel General—to keep an eye out for that legal response, for the decision, and to be ready perhaps to make a statement about what further we could do to support the women, depending on, of course, the nature of the outcome of the case. 

I thank Helen Mary Jones for raising both of those issues. On the first, I will make sure that the Minister with responsibility for the economy is aware of the request for a statement in terms of what can be done to support the public and community groups in terms of the protection of community assets and the use of community assets in a way that is very much in keeping with the well-being of future generations Act and our wider Welsh Government priorities in terms of ensuring that we have the circular economy, that we have a foundational economy, and that we're able to invest in a way that best benefits all of the people in our communities locally.FootnoteLink 

On the second issue of the WASPI campaign, I know that we have as an Assembly sent a really strong and I think united message to the UK Government in terms of our despair, really, at the incredibly poor way that the WASPI women and other women identified in different groups—the 1950s, 1960s women, who have found themselves on the receiving end of this policy, which is going to have a big impact on them, because they've had no chance to plan for the kind of future that they now find themselves facing. 

The impact on Wales, as you say, is something that Welsh Government is particularly keeping in mind in terms of the impact on the economy, but also the impact on health and social care for women who find themselves more in need of support and assistance. Obviously, I can give you our assurance that we are watching the case very closely and I know that the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip is very keen to update Members as soon as we have anything more.

Diolch i'r Trefnydd. 

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cynigion i ethol Aelodau i bwyllgorau, ac, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 12.24 ac 12.40, rwy'n cynnig bod y cynigion i ethol Aelodau i bwyllgorau yn cael eu grwpio ar gyfer eu trafod a'u pleidleisio. Felly, dwi'n galw ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynigion yn ffurfiol—Rebecca Evans.

Yes, formally.

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynigion? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly, derbynnir y cynigion yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Ac mae'r eitem nesaf hefyd yn ymwneud â chynigion i ethol Aelodau i bwyllgorau, ac dwi'n cynnig bod y cynigion yma hefyd yn cael eu grwpio ar gyfer eu trafod a'u pleidleisio. Dwi'n galw ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynigion yn ffurfiol—eto, Rebecca Evans.

Yes, formally.

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynigion yma? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynigion yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Sy'n dod â ni at y datganiad nesaf, sef y datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar y Bil Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol (Ansawdd ac Ymgysylltu) (Cymru). Dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog iechyd i wneud ei ddatganiad—Vaughan Gething. 

Thank you, Llywydd. Yesterday, I laid the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill, together with the explanatory memorandum, before the National Assembly for Wales. I am pleased to have this opportunity to make a statement about the Bill. The promotion of quality has long been a central and integral part of the NHS Wales. This was recognised in the report published in 2016 by the highly respected Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development—otherwise known, of course, as the OECD. The provisions in this Bill build on the arrangements already in place to ensure a quality-driven national health service. This is currently underpinned by the existing duty of quality in the 2003 health and social care Act. But we cannot stand still. There is always scope to learn and do more to deliver continuous improvement.

The parliamentary review of health and social care in Wales highlighted the need to continually improve the experience and quality of care, to ensure we have a health and social care system that is always learning and where the voice of the citizen is central and clearly heard. I published the Welsh Government’s response, our long-term plan for health and social care, 'A Healthier Wales' in June last year. It outlines how quality will be key to making the health and social care system in Wales fit for the future—a health and social care system that achieves good outcomes, good experience for people and the best value. Our plan sets out the ambitions of this Government to bring together health and social care services so that they are designed and delivered around the needs and preferences of people. Our plan emphasises the importance of continuous improvement and engagement with citizens that values and enables people to contribute their knowledge, experience and, of course, preferences.

The Bill represents a next step forward in the journey of ever-improving quality in health and social care. The Bill builds on the assets that we already have in Wales, to strengthen and futureproof our health and social care services, facilitating a stronger citizen voice, improving the accountability of services to deliver improved experience, better quality of care and better outcomes for people in Wales. The Bill introduces changes that will strengthen the existing duty of quality on NHS bodies and extend this to Welsh Ministers in relation to health service functions; establish an organisational duty of candour on providers of NHS services, requiring them to be open and honest with patients and service users when things go wrong; strengthen the voice of citizens, by replacing community health councils with a new all-Wales citizen voice body that will represent the interests of people across health and social care; and enable the appointment of vice-chairs for NHS trusts, bringing them into line with health boards.

The existing duty of quality in the 2003 Act has succeeded in providing some focus on improvement in quality and the development of an infrastructure. However, it has been interpreted in a relatively narrow way and led to attention on quality assurance rather than proactively planning and improving quality. Quality needs to be more extensive than this. I want quality to become a system-wide way of working, to enable safe, effective, person-centred, timely, efficient and equitable services. That must include the promotion of a learning culture. The Bill replaces the 2003 duty with a broader duty of quality, more in keeping with how we want our NHS bodies to work together. It will strengthen actions and decision making to drive improvements in quality across our system. And the duty of quality will be placed on NHS bodies and Welsh Ministers. It will ensure impact on the quality of services in its broadest sense. It will be the first consideration when making decisions about health services.

Inevitably, in a system as wide and complex as the NHS, things will occasionally go wrong. The duty of candour will help to ensure that when this happens, providers of NHS services are open and honest with people affected. Recent events in the former Cwm Taf area have shown us the importance of this. The Bill will help ensure that individuals are supported, that organisations do the right thing and use such events to learn and improve.

There is growing evidence that high-performing health and social care systems have people at their heart, and the starting point of any decision should be centred on what is best for the person. Delivering on our ambitions for improving quality means listening to and valuing the voice of people in Wales. Creating a new all-Wales citizen voice body will strengthen that voice across health and social services on national, regional and local levels. Strengthening public engagement, and supporting a stronger citizen voice, will amplify the influence of people. When triangulated with the work of the two inspectorates—Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales—it will support the drive for higher-quality services.

Finally, the provisions on vice-chairs for NHS trusts will strengthen their governance arrangements and bring them into line with local health boards. This Bill is just one aspect of a suite of measures we are taking in our relentless drive towards increased quality in health and social care. We will, for instance, be taking forward separately further work around how service change decisions are made in the NHS and consider how the composition of health boards can be used to strengthen governance arrangements. We are also moving forward with work to strengthen regulation and inspection, including work to consider HIW’s legislative underpinning. In the short term, we have invested extra money to incrementally develop HIW sustainability and be ready to respond to any future new legislative framework.

It is my pleasure to introduce this Bill for scrutiny. I look forward to engaging with the Assembly and its committees over the coming months on a Bill that I believe will deliver positive benefits for the people of Wales. The Bill will help to realise our shared ambitions for a health and social care system with quality at its heart—a health and social care system that is open and honest, and where the voice of the citizen is heard loud and clear.