Jane Hutt: Llywydd, I have three changes to report to this week’s business. I’ve extended this afternoon’s statement on teacher recruitment, and later this afternoon the First Minister will make an oral statement on an update on Brexit negotiations. Additionally, the Business Committee has agreed to reduce tomorrow’s questions to the Assembly Commission to 15 minutes. Business for the next three...
Jane Hutt: Well, those are important questions, which I’m sure that the committee will have considered in looking at this proposed LCM. It is important to recognise that these proposals would introduce a five-year non-domestic rates relief scheme for new full-fibre infrastructure from April of this year, and it can be back-dated, of course, to 1 April 2017 for eligible infrastructure. I’ve made the...
Jane Hutt: I welcome this opportunity to explain the background to the legislative consent motion. I’m grateful to the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills committee for considering the LCM and for the report it’s produced. The committee considers there’s no impediment to the Assembly agreeing the LCM.
Jane Hutt: The UK Government introduced the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Relief from Non-Domestic Rates) Bill on 4 July following an announcement in the Chancellor’s autumn statement 2016. The Bill contains provisions to introduce a five-year non-domestic rates relief scheme for new full-fibre infrastructure, and this is to incentivise the roll-out of new full-fibre broadband infrastructure and...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Joyce Watson. And can I just say, in terms of responding to your first question, that animal welfare is a priority for the Welsh Government, and the Wales animal health and welfare framework group, obviously, indicates that commitment? We have noted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announcement in terms of the increased maximum sentence for animal cruelty in...
Jane Hutt: I thank Angela Burns for both those questions. Perhaps in response to the first one I could take the opportunity to clarify that Betsi Cadwaladr is not set to overspend by £50 million this year, but the board have identified a significant risk that they may not achieve their planned £26 million deficit. But they are properly using their bond governance to address this. The health board has...
Jane Hutt: Mike Hedges raises important points about transport connectivity. I’ve just mentioned the national transport finance plan. In fact, any measure for improving our transport infrastructure across the whole of Wales—. Clearly, Swansea city region are in that national transport finance plan. And, of course, the fact that already funding has been made available via the local transport fund to...
Jane Hutt: Well, I think we would all join you, Simon Thomas, in congratulating this wonderful example of a young person taking this campaign forward—Elly’s flag appeal for ward 10 at Withybush hospital. It is obviously making progress in terms of the business case, and I think the Cabinet Secretary for health, who’s here, has heard your request for an update, and I’m sure that will be forthcoming.
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Andrew R.T. Davies. Of course, in terms of the extending the eastern bay link road, I think we should welcome the connection now we have got with the eastern bay link. It’s having a huge impact, as we knew it would, in terms of that investment. Of course, all transport plans are subject to the national transport plan, and, of course, also to the availability of funding—the...
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Llywydd. I’ve no changes to make to this week’s business, and business for the next three weeks is shown in the business statement and announcement found among meeting papers and available to Members electronically.
Jane Hutt: Well, I think this is why it’s so important that the response to this debate today and the response to the consultation is fully taken up, and I think it’s also important to remember that—. I want to comment on the car parking scheme—of course, that was your amendment 6—but also the fact that, as you said, funding has been allocated to support pilot initiatives to test the...
Jane Hutt: So, finally, in the longer term, we’ll be exploring whether more fundamental changes to the non-domestic rates system could benefit local services and the Welsh economy. I’m sure Adam Price will have welcomed the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government’s update on his plans yesterday, where we’re looking in more detail at alternative approaches to non-domestic property...
Jane Hutt: Well, I do welcome the opportunity to respond to this debate and it is an important time for policy development with regard to non-domestic rates. I do recognise the experience that we’ve got here in this Chamber as well as the policy views that have been expressed today. Non-domestic rates contribute more than £1 billion a year to fund vital local services in Wales and all the rates...
Jane Hutt: Formally.
Jane Hutt: I would like to thank the Member for drawing attention to the good work of Gôl. I think the matter of the code of conduct is for him as well for others in this Chamber.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Simon Thomas. On your first point: a very important point in terms of the fact that we have over the past few weeks—in fact, I think, since the beginning of this autumn session; this has been an issue raised with me, I think, in that early week. Those were topical questions that we did respond to in the light of our role, relationship and powers in relation to the developing...
Jane Hutt: I can certainly assure the Member that I will seek advice on this situation, and I will then be able to update the Assembly on the issues and what relevant action could be taken.
Jane Hutt: Well, you have drawn attention to what is principally an operational matter, but it is important that you have drawn attention to it today, Darren Millar, in terms of NRW.
Jane Hutt: I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for drawing attention to these all-important initiatives, and they are local initiatives in many respects, learning from each other. You mentioned Wings Cymru, which again is having an influence on neighbouring communities and authorities. This is something that we, not just as a Welsh Government, but working with our partners in the third sector, as well as local...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Llyr. On your first important point about latest figures on the use of hospital beds in north Wales, this is a matter that I will draw to the attention of the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport. Just looking at the figures for delayed transfers of care, which, of course, can have an impact in terms of the use of those beds, we are in a good place generally in...
