Llyr Gruffydd: The past year has, of course, been difficult for everyone in their different ways but, for many stroke survivors in Wales, it's meant putting their recoveries on hold, and people who are desperate to regain mobility, independence and fitness have, as Huw referred to now, seen cancelled therapy sessions—around half of those surveyed by the Stroke Association experiencing that. As he...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you for that response, because I was going to pursue the future of the port of Holyhead. It's clearly a cause of concern given the changes we've seen over the last few weeks, with business on the Dublin to Holyhead route having halved from what we would usually see at this time. Stena Estrid has also been shifted to the Dublin to Cherbourg route, although it's back now for the short...
Llyr Gruffydd: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of Brexit on the economy of North Wales? OQ56190
Llyr Gruffydd: What assistance is the Welsh Government providing to support residents in North Wales that have been affected by flooding following storm Christoph?
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, there are grave concerns as to whether mental health services in Betsi Cadwaladr should have been taken out of special measures because of the ongoing weaknesses within the service. In a recent report to the health board, the interim nursing director listed a number of weaknesses within the service. The report concluded that at the moment it couldn't give a full assurance to the board...
Llyr Gruffydd: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of mental health services in North Wales? OQ56153
Llyr Gruffydd: Since I tabled this question, the future generations commissioner has also commented on this issue and she's described online learning as being patchy and inconsistent, and there are grave inconsistencies between not only different education authorities but individual schools within those authorities, and I'm not just talking here about access to equipment and connectivity; there is also...
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, we know, of course, that the Audit Wales report highlighted a problem with the way the Welsh Government has been allocating RDP funding. We heard earlier how you're now going to have to pay £3 million back to the European Union because of maladministration of that funding. Can I ask you, therefore, in your third supplementary budget, that you pay that from the central Government funds?...
Llyr Gruffydd: 6. What additional funding does the Minister intend to allocate to the environment and rural affairs budget in the current financial year? OQ56111
Llyr Gruffydd: 3. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure consistency in relation to remote learning in schools across Wales? OQ56116
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much. I approach this debate from two perspectives—first of all, as a parent who is very aware of the importance of a healthy diet, a nutritious diet for my children, as for all children, but also from the point of view of how this policy could be used to reform procurement practices and to develop those supply chains and opportunities for the food sector and the wider...
Llyr Gruffydd: And still there's no clarity on how your proposals will actually be implemented. You mentioned it: four years since the referendum, three years, I suppose, since this dialogue with the sector started in earnest. This is the third consultation that you will be engaging with the sector and wider society around, but, again, it's a lot of high-level aspirations, which we've already seen in...
Llyr Gruffydd: So, if there's no hurry, Minister, why are you bringing forward a White Paper before the group that you're establishing to look at making these assessments have actually concluded their work? You've contradicted yourself in that answer. And what work has already been done, which I know you reference in the report, of course, will be dated if not irrelevant come 1 January, because, at the end...
Llyr Gruffydd: 'Further analytical work is being carried out to establish the economic impact of our proposals at the farm business, sector and regional levels. The results of this work will be important for assessing the potential impact of the scheme on rural communities.'
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, that tells me that you don't know what the impact of the proposals will be on those very family farms that you will rely on to deliver those public goods and the outcomes that we all want to see. So, how can you publish such a significant White Paper, which is so far reaching, when you clearly haven't done your homework?
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Llywydd. We all know that the Government published its White Paper on agriculture this morning, and I look forward to reading that over the next few days. But, at first sight, I have to say that there isn't much difference or change from some of the consultation documents that we've previously seen. There are elements that we agree with—I think it is time for us to move...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to contribute to this debate today as Chair of the Finance Committee. We've made nine recommendations. Given the time available, I will perhaps focus on some of our main concerns in this debate this afternoon. The committee heard from the Minister that the Bill provides the legislative underpinning for the development of a wholesale reform of the...
Llyr Gruffydd: The Finance Committee has concerns around the reservation of state aid and subsidy control without the agreement of devolved nations. The Lords, again, removed the clause that reserves state aid, but it was subsequently reinstated by the Commons. The UK Government said the clause is needed because it's necessary to reserve to the UK Parliament the right to legislate for a system to regulate...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you, Llywydd. I am pleased to speak in this debate today on behalf of the committee, and given the significance of this legislation, we explored, as a committee, the financial considerations associated with the Bill with the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, and the committee reached a majority conclusion that the constitutional and financial implications stemming from the passing of...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am pleased to speak in this debate today, and given the significance of this legislation, we as a committee explored the financial considerations of the Bill with the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd. The committee reached a majority conclusion that the constitutional and financial implications of the internal market Bill passing in its...
