Samuel Kurtz: Can I thank the Minister for not only providing early sight of this statement, but for the regular updates that he and his team have provided to local Members on this matter? I'm sure that today's statement will be welcome clarification following the uncertain situation outlined in your last statement. As you have rightly outlined, the management of this situation is pivotal to its success....
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you for that answer, Minister. But, on the topic of spending priorities, I do wish to raise with you the preservation of Wales's historic buildings, of which west Wales has many. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Picton castle, a medieval building which was transformed into a stately home in the eighteenth century by the Philippses. The castle itself has a history that is...
Samuel Kurtz: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, I'll start with fisheries, if I may, as invites have now been sent to stakeholders to join the ministerial advisory group for Welsh fisheries, a new group that both myself and stakeholders hope will lead to better engagement between the Welsh Government and the sector here in Wales. Given that this is a new group looking to grow the industry, can you provide further...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you. And, Minister, I also want to raise your attention with regard to the several families fleeing the war in Ukraine who are seeking refuge here in Wales. As you will be aware, those family pets that wish to join their owners in Wales, must rightly fulfil certain criteria to do so: they must be vaccinated against rabies, be microchipped, undertake tapeworm treatment, and possess a...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful for that, Minister, and I will follow that up in writing with yourself. Finally, I wish to draw your attention to the recent 'Celebrating Rural Wales' event, held at the Royal Welsh showground earlier this month, an event that your Government's press release stated provided an opportunity 'to learn lessons from the many successes of the RDP'— an RDP previously criticised by the...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm pleased that we have another opportunity to raise the issue of keeping a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week accident and emergency department at Withybush hospital in Haverfordwest. I'm grateful to the Chair and the Petitions Committee for bringing this forward. May I begin my contribution by paying tribute to the efforts of local Pembrokeshire people, who have co-ordinated and organised this...
Samuel Kurtz: Minister, these aren’t just my constituents or Paul’s constituents, these are your constituents too. They do not back the proposals to remove A&E services. Please offer some certainty to the constituents of mine, Paul, Joyce, Jayne, Cefin, and yours, that lives will not be put at risk should A&E services move further away from where they're currently situated, because nothing I’ve heard...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you. I'm grateful for your taking the intervention. You've mentioned type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but one that makes up about 9 per cent of all diagnoses is type 3c diabetes, which is something that my father suffers from, and that goes far too often undiagnosed for those who suffer from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. What more do you think we can be doing to make sure that people...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful to the Member for Alyn and Deeside for giving me a minute of his time. In making Wales a leading footballing nation, I'd like to pay tribute to the coaches, who often give up their time free of charge. And one of those coaches who got me involved with football back in the day, when I was a youngster, was Matthew 'Minty' Lamb, a former FAW community coach of the year. I was...
Samuel Kurtz: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the new sustainable farming scheme proposals? TQ654
Samuel Kurtz: Minister, thank you for your response. I'm pleased to see how far this statement has progressed since the initial 'Brexit and our land' consultation of 2018, where replacement funding was first discussed. Firstly, I am left disappointed that, given the press release calling this a landmark announcement—and indeed it is, as this is the replacement to the basic payment scheme and the first...
Samuel Kurtz: Yes, of course. I've got many questions on this, Dirprwy Lywydd, so—
Samuel Kurtz: Well, thank you very much. But, in terms of this, there are many different types of farms in Wales—how can a 10 per cent blanket coverage be relevant to those farms on the coast of Wales, where trees can't grow as well as on those inland? I appreciate what the Deputy Presiding Officer has said, so I will wrap it up there, but I am keen to hear more on the sustainable farming scheme, going...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you, James. That's one of the really concerning parts of this—that a lot of these properties that will be hamstrung by this have never been residential properties. They are developed outbuildings on farms, for example, which have never housed people full time, but provide such an important part of the local economy.
Samuel Kurtz: What action has the Welsh Government taken to decarbonise industry in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire?
Samuel Kurtz: I thank the Minister for introducing this today and giving us sight of the statement beforehand. May I start by welcoming the general direction of today's announcement? As a pupil who benefited from bilingual education, it's good to see that Welsh-medium education for primary school pupils is a priority, because it's important to catch children early if we're to develop the language. I'd be...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute. Bovine TB has been a dark cloud over Wales's agricultural industry for too long, costing some farmers their businesses, their livelihoods and severely impacting on their mental health. Frankly, I don't care who gets the plaudits for eradicating TB from Welsh herds, because it is such a vicious disease, causing immense hardship, I just want to...
Samuel Kurtz: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. On this, the final Plenary day of term before the summer recess, I am delighted to open this debate on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives on a subject very close to my heart. Our debate today pays tribute to the hard work that goes into the organising, running and operating of our agricultural shows, our major cultural events, such as the National Eisteddfod, and other...
Samuel Kurtz: Our eisteddfodau are crucial in strengthening and safeguarding our language and culture. As a young boy, the summer weeks were full of travelling across west Wales taking part in local eisteddfodau, reciting poems on the stage, and on occasion, I'd win a cup or two. When the 2020 Eisteddfod was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first time that the Eisteddfod hadn't...
Samuel Kurtz: These events are the silver thread running through the story and narrative of our history and culture. Their importance and contribution cannot be overestimated. Therefore, Members, as the sun beats down on us and we go and plan our summer recess visits, I not only urge you to back our motion before you today, but I also urge you all to visit our agricultural shows, our eisteddfodau and all...
