Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, let me explain to the leader of the opposition why trains aren't running in Wales: it's because his Government has created a dispute with Network Rail, and Network Rail have removed some of the staff, who could have been available to make trains run in Wales, in order to keep trains running in England. I wonder if he supports that measure, which was a decision of his Government, to...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, there are no strikes in Wales. There is no dispute between Transport for Wales and the trade union. Where I am responsible for these things, workers are not on strike, because of the way in which the Welsh Government acts on a social partnership basis to bring people round the table together to make sure that conversations take place and solutions are reached. How very different from...
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, the decision to go ahead with housing on the old Brains site is, of course, a welcome one, because it means that housing is happening on a brownfield site and in the inner city part of Cardiff, where we know demand for housing is significant. But I do agree with what Jenny Rathbone has said: that it is for local authorities to make the maximum use they can of the arrangements...
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, I thank the Member for the interest he too takes in the Cardiff West constituency. I give him the assurance that I will report his views to the elected Member and that they'll be taken with the seriousness that they merit, including all the work that goes on to ensure that there are the amenities there that need to be provided for a population of the sort that has chosen to go...
Mark Drakeford: It's in the development plan's manual. Infrastructure plans must be prepared that clearly set out what infrastructure is required, the broad cost and timing, as well as funding sources. Llywydd, Cardiff Council did submit a set of master plans, alongside its LDP, back in 2016. But the provision of an infrastructure plan, as part of its replacement LDP, will now be a statutory requirement, and...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, thank you to Rhys ab Owen for that supplementary question. I must be careful in keeping that separation between what I do as the Member for Cardiff West and my ministerial responsibilities here in Wales. Just to be clear, neither myself nor the Counsel General will participate in any decision on the possibility of redesigning the rail line from Cardiff West to the Pontypridd...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, Cardiff Council is responsible for these issues. The authority must operate within the framework noted in 'Planning Policy Wales', as has been previously reported to this Senedd.
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, can I thank Sam Kurtz? I so much agree with the points he made at the end of that question. It's been a theme for me, ever since I was the health Minister, that the future of primary care in Wales has to be a team of professionals, often operating under the supervision of the GP, the person with the highest level of qualifications in that team, but where all those members, the...
Mark Drakeford: I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. Amongst the actions taken by the Welsh Government is reform of the dental contract to enhance access to NHS care. Despite claims to the contrary, over 90 per cent of NHS-funded dentistry in the Member's constituency will now be provided by practices that have chosen to adopt the new contract.
Mark Drakeford: We have long recognised that, alongside other factors, social and economic circumstances continue to shape life choices in Wales. That is why we commenced the socioeconomic duty in 2021 and have taken steps to support its implementation.
Mark Drakeford: This Government remains committed to increasing the supply of homes in Wales. Our programme for government commits to delivering 20,000 new low-carbon homes for social rent. Support for market housing is also an important part of our housing toolkit, ensuring people have homes that are right for them.
Mark Drakeford: Our Transforming Towns regeneration programme continues to deliver our priorities for town centres, which include repurposing empty buildings, improving the diversity of services, creating more community green space and facilitating active travel routes. The programme has provided £4.8 million support across the Garw, Ogmore, Llynfi and Gilfach valleys.
Mark Drakeford: We continue to offer support to local authorities to produce local development plans in addition to providing formal responses at LDP consultation stages. My officials have recently met with planning officers in Bridgend to discuss progress on their LDP.
Mark Drakeford: I thank Paul Davies for those additional questions. I had an opportunity to read his contribution after the statement made by Vaughan Gething back in May, and I do agree that it is important for us to have a planning system here in Wales that is supportive of the sector, but also respects the environmental obligations that we have, and that's difficult. I've had more than one meeting; I had a...
Mark Drakeford: Thank you very much to Paul Davies, Llywydd. We support the sector through direct funding for research in nascent technologies and infrastructure investment. We work with the industry to provide a consenting regime that is supportive of the sector, while also meeting our environmental obligations. We co-operate with partners to secure the skills needed for the jobs of the future.
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, I thank Huw Irranca-Davies. Those were really important and pertinent points for us here in Wales. I was able to speak at a rally in Llandudno at the Wales TUC conference in May, which was designed entirely to highlight the march that will take place on Saturday of this week. The purposes of the march, as Huw Irranca-Davies has said, are both to highlight the challenges that are...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, our assessments show the crisis is having a significant effect on people across Wales, including Ogmore. Up to 45 per cent of households in Wales could already be in fuel poverty following the price increase in April. Ofgem reported that householders can expect typical dual fuel bills to rise to £2,800 in October of this year.
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, I'm very pleased to provide an update on the £225 million that, as a result of the co-operation agreement, we will be investing in providing universal free school meals to primary-age students. The first of those schools will come on stream in September of this year, and then a lot of work is going on with other schools to make sure that the barriers to their participation—and...
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, in addition to free breakfasts, extra help through the pupil development grant access scheme and now free school dinners, parents in Islwyn will be supported through the National Music Service, helping with the costs of instruments and tuition. Those parents will know how much this is due to the sustained campaigning of their Senedd Member.
Mark Drakeford: I thank the Member for that question, and it is by itself an opportunity to do exactly what he said, and I thank him for making those additional points. It is indeed International Men's Health Week. It started yesterday and will run until Sunday of this week, and it's there, as Gareth Davies said, to heighten awareness of preventable health problems for men of all ages. And there is no doubt...
