Sam Rowlands: In their current form—exactly. So, what is the plan? We need to see a plan for north Wales. Seven years ago, Llyr Gruffydd, you know that the north Wales metro project was announced. We haven't seen that take place there at the moment. It needs to be sorted out. The final point I'd like to raise today, outlined in point 2 of our motion, is the sheer lack of engagement by the roads review...
Sam Rowlands: Llyr, yes.
Sam Rowlands: Can I thank my colleague, Darren Millar, for submitting today's debate on the roads review, and also Natasha Asghar for opening today's debate? It's clear, from our side of the benches here, we believe that the Welsh Government's roads review is very badly thought out, to say the least. In my contribution today, I'd firstly like to highlight the sheer impact that this review will have on...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you for your response, Minister. As one of those people who aren't registered with an NHS dentist in north Wales, last week I decided to contact every dentist in north Wales on the health board's website to see if they'd be willing to take on a new patient such as me. I contacted 69 dentists, spoke to 57 of those practices, and, staggeringly, just four of those practices in the whole of...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you for your response, Minister. I'm sure those regular conversations are enjoyable. You mention there the benefits to businesses and the economy of 20 mph, but of course you'll be fully aware of your own explanatory memorandum on the Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022, and, on page 32 of that explanatory memorandum, Minister, and I'll quote, it says: 'Overall an...
Sam Rowlands: 6. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the impact that default 20 mph speed limits will have on the Welsh economy? OQ59212
Sam Rowlands: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on access to dentists in north Wales? OQ59211
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, and Welsh Government also for bringing forward today's debate on the 2023-24 local government settlement, which, of course, councils and councillors up and down Wales have been eagerly awaiting, because we know this local government settlement is crucially important for our councils and councillors, who do so much in providing the public services that our local...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for that response. As you will know, almost all major road building and upgrade projects across north Wales have been scrapped with this roads review, which is quite staggering for my residents in north Wales. Communities and residents that I represent have been let down again by this Labour Welsh Government. Minister, private road transport is the only practical option...
Sam Rowlands: 2. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact that the road review outcomes will have on promoting prosperity and tackling poverty in north Wales? OQ59168
Sam Rowlands: Minister, can I thank you for bringing forward today's statement and also for meeting with the north Wales MSs yesterday? I appreciate you taking that time. But I'd still like to echo the comments made by colleagues from across the Chamber, first and foremost, because, as outlined by them already, it's clear that the executive team of Betsi Cadwadladr University Health Board are not...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, for bringing forward today's statement on the Welsh Government's net-zero skills strategy and the action plan as well. Minister, you'll be glad to hear that, last week, I had the pleasure of attending Growth Track 360's Westminster parliamentary reception, joined there also by a number of MSs, MPs, council leaders and members of the Lords as well, from across parties....
Sam Rowlands: I'm grateful to Ken Skates for submitting today's important question. I would like to echo the comments made by him, and by you as well, First Minister, in relation to the young person's guarantee, something which, on these sides of the benches, we have been supporting. Of course, as you outlined, it's that offer there for everyone under the age of 25—the offer of work, education, training...
Sam Rowlands: I'm grateful to be able to take part in today's extremely important debate on the motion on the invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukrainian refugees. I'd like to remind Members of my register of interests in relation to trusteeship of charities. Firstly, I want to echo comments made from across the political Chamber today. They show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, along with all those...
Sam Rowlands: I certainly will do. What assurances can you give to my residents in north Wales that they'll get a fair share of public transport investment, which clearly isn't happening at the moment?
Sam Rowlands: I thank the Deputy Minister for the statement today, but I must say I'm disappointed that, at the point of the statement being read out, we didn't have a copy of the roads review available to us. So, in terms of being able to make a sensible contribution today in response to your statement, that's made it very difficult for many Members in this Chamber. This is a 327-page document now, and...
Sam Rowlands: As you've pointed out, Minister, those councils in Wales successfully applying for those 11 projects with £200 million worth of funding, I'm sure, is welcome for many communities and is going to be transformative for people up and down Wales. More broadly, of course, Wales received three times the amount of funding per head than the south-east of England—the highest area per head of...
Sam Rowlands: I think with every proposal, there are difficult things to deal with, but the opportunities here aren't being acknowledged by the benches on the other side of the Chamber either—the opportunities for jobs being created are not being acknowledged, the new jobs, new business and new innovation are not being acknowledged at the same level or enthusiastically grasped a hold of. The risk, I...
Sam Rowlands: Yes, certainly.
Sam Rowlands: Is that an intervention, Deputy Presiding Officer? [Laughter.]
