Sam Rowlands: Again, thank you, Minister. It would be interesting to hear, perhaps in a further response, of any particular areas you think councils may do less on. I absolutely agree it's up to those local democratic members to make that decision, but I'm sure an indication as to where some of those expectations might be would be useful. Of course, fundamental to delivering those services is the fair...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Minister, and also thank you for acknowledging the pressure that local authorities are likely to be in in the next financial year with the indicative settlements that they are likely to receive. As we know, local government settlements do provide around 70 per cent of a local authority's spend in their area, which, of course, delivers those vital services that councils and...
Sam Rowlands: Diolch, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Minister. As you'll be well aware, I'm sure, from your ongoing discussions with council leaders, one of the most important things for a successful council is the ability to plan ahead financially. Of course, last year's announcement that we're on a three-year indicative settlement is certainly welcomed by myself and councils as a whole. So, in light of this,...
Sam Rowlands: 2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support farmers in North Wales? OQ58261
Sam Rowlands: What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve local government performance in delivering services?
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, First Minister. I certainly welcome the action being taken to address some of these issues, but nevertheless, I am inundated, actually, with constituents contacting me regarding their difficulties in accessing NHS dentists in north Wales. A number of constituents have been in touch from Wrexham who've been told they're going to have to wait up to two years before they can see a...
Sam Rowlands: 5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve access to NHS dentists in North Wales? OQ58262
Sam Rowlands: Certainly, Rhianon.
Sam Rowlands: Thank you very much.
Sam Rowlands: You're exactly right; as I said, funding is an important element of this, and local authorities have a role to play in that. I think what we're talking about here, though, today, is actually assets, the ownership of things, not just going through local authorities, but at an even more local level, with community groups, anybody who sees something that they think makes a big difference to...
Sam Rowlands: It states in point 4 of today's motion that 'local authorities often play' an important role 'in ensuring community ownership of assets,' whilst working with community groups. Now, Luke Fletcher's point was well made in terms of that some of the existing powers perhaps aren't as transparent or easy for community groups to engage with as they should be. But also, as outlined in point 2, it's...
Sam Rowlands: I thank Mabon ap Gwynfor for submitting today's motion, also Buffy Williams and Luke Fletcher for co-submitting. In addition to this, of course, I was pleased to be able to record my support for today's motion, and, as I'm sure Members will be well aware, I never miss an opportunity to talk about our local communities, in particular empowering them, as is so, so important, as already outlined...
Sam Rowlands: But, as we do know, Minister, much of the provision and delivery of Welsh language education is largely down to our local authorities working with schools, working with regional consortia, such as GwE in north Wales. So, in light of this, what assessment have you made of the collaboration between local authorities in north Wales working with GwE, working with schools, so that they can work as...
Sam Rowlands: Can I thank also the Member for Alyn and Deeside for submitting this question, as well, because I too have a keen interest in Welsh language education in Alyn and Deeside? And as stated by the Member, it is important that we enable Welsh language education and encourage more people to speak and learn Welsh.
Sam Rowlands: And since becoming a Senedd Member, I’ve had the pleasure of joining the Senedd’s Welsh language tuition scheme, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
Sam Rowlands: I thank the Member for Clwyd South for submitting this important and very timely question, because just last week I welcomed pupils from St Mary's Brymbo primary school to the Senedd here, and they took quite an interest in a lively, perhaps difficult Q&A at times, especially when I was asked about age restrictions on blades. But one of the specific questions, actually, was about the...
Sam Rowlands: Can I also thank Rhianon Passmore for submitting today's important short debate and for allowing me to contribute briefly this evening? As I have stated a number of times in the Chamber, music is extremely important to our culture here in Wales, and it's important to all walks of life, to all sorts of different people, and at different points in their life as well. In addition to this, I've...
Sam Rowlands: Can I also thank Plaid Cymru for submitting what will hopefully be a very productive debate, which I'm happy to say on these sides of the benches, as has already been mentioned, we will be supporting? Of course, I also find this an extremely timely debate with the hydrogen sector, as a whole, advancing rapidly all around the world, and my own region, North Wales, has already been highlighted...
Sam Rowlands: This week marks Men's Health Week 2022, a week that aims to raise awareness around the health issues that affect men disproportionately, whilst focusing on encouraging men to become aware of problems they may have or could develop, whilst encouraging them to gain the courage to do something about it. Some of these statistics regarding men's health are quite alarming. As we sadly know, three...
Sam Rowlands: Before I move on to the experience of patients, I want to put on record my thanks to the great staff at Betsi, and also put on record that my brother and sister are both nurses in the NHS as well. When I speak to staff—whether it be doctors, nurses, midwives, support staff, admin staff—the story is always the same: they are trying their level best, day in and day out, but they're just not...
