Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention? And I apologise if it's premature and that you're going to explain, but what has changed since the White Paper that we produced jointly, where clearly it was the current European Union customs union that we sought to pursue?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for taking an intervention. I think we're getting off the point here. [Laughter.] I'm not sure I agree with Dai about the bilingual signs in Casualty either, and I'm delighted that we have a strong broadcasting sector in terms of its economic potential, but what about the potential for strengthening the way that we talk about ourselves as a nation and generate through...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I certainly do, and you make the point correctly, of course, that redactions do get around the issue that was raised by the First Minister initially. I'll conclude. I do hope the Assembly will support this motion today. I'll make an important point—if today's motion is supported, Government should act on the Assembly's will. I remind you of a recent comment from a Welsh Government source,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Certainly.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Yes, I agree, and that reflects the comments I made earlier about needing to know how questions were asked, what questions were asked and how conclusions were reached. Key questions still remain unanswered about the circumstances surrounding the reshuffle. I've seen texts this week, which I understand will be made available to the QC-led inquiry into events leading up to Carl Sargeant's...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch, Llywydd. The brevity of the Government's response will be noted and people will come to a judgment, I'm sure, about whether that afforded this Assembly the proper courtesy. I conclude this debate by speaking in favour of today's motion, a motion tabled to seek maximum transparency around the questions of if or how specific information was shared prior to the recent ministerial...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. My question today comes directly from the clerk of Bodedern council. I ask it because it's pertinent for so many of our rural communities, and I'm grateful to the clerk for contacting me. I will read: Significant problems with broadband connectivity exist in a number of areas of the community, which is having a very negative impact on many individuals, families and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 6. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on broadband connectivity for rural communities on Anglesey? OAQ51810
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the statement today. I am trying to assess how much recognition that there is in truth of the concern that has been raised in the wake of the publication of this White Paper. There is a description by you, as Cabinet Secretary, of the broad-ranging nature of the responses, and we have to remind ourselves how short the consultation period was over last summer,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much for that response. I was very pleased to attend an event at Rhosneigr last Friday evening where a new campaign was launched to turn Anglesey into a plastic-free island. What that does is appeal to people—individuals, businesses and councils—to cease the use of plastics in many areas. There is a motion about to go before Anglesey County Council so that the whole council...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: It's written down.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce the use of plastic in Wales?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: But what I don't understand is if you were happy as a Government to set out with us what our position was when this document was published, why is that still not the case now? I want to work together on this. I'm really proud that through the work that's been done by Steffan Lewis more than anybody on our side—it's good to see Steffan with us today—we have been able to bring Government...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm afraid to say that's a regression from the position taken by this Government some months ago. The joint White Paper 'Securing Wales' Future' concludes that Wales and the UK should remain in the EU customs union, and I quote: 'we'— that's you and us— 'are unconvinced that the possible benefits of withdrawing from the EU Customs Union outweigh the costs.' In fact, every single reference...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. A few moments ago, leader of the house, you said that the First Minister had been very clear on the customs union issue. I beg to differ, so I'll keep my first question very simple: does your Government favour staying in the EU customs union or a customs union?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. What is the Welsh Government doing to reduce the use of plastic in Wales? OAQ51811
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We’ve recently heard a great deal of talk, and questions asked of the Government in this Chamber, about mental health care for young people. Waiting lists and waiting times are one important measure of the performance. To remind you, between 2013 and 2015 there was a huge increase in waiting times, particularly for those waiting over 16 weeks or four months. We were in a situation where...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the amendment tabled in my name, which endeavours to add to and strengthen the original motion. We can’t overemphasise the need to have effective mental health provision for young people, and we can’t overemphasise the need to deal with the health problems of young people at an early stage, because we do know that, in the most extreme...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Very rarely in my life, I think, have I truly felt alone. I'm very lucky in that respect, and I do hope that most people in this place would have similar experiences, although having many people around you doesn't necessarily mean that you can't also feel lonely and isolated. That is something that we learnt during our inquiry,...
