Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful to you, Minister, for your statement this afternoon. I was indeed particularly pleased to hear the reference to the number of current initiatives, including the one in Carmarthenshire County Council and this newly developed nutrient calculator and the restoration of critical habitats. As you note, a thriving water environment is essential for supporting healthy communities,...
Samuel Kurtz: I’m grateful to the Government for allocating time to debate this important report, and I’d like to echo the Minister’s words and pay tribute to Aled Roberts. Aled was an excellent person, not only a talented politician, but a compassionate public servant who was willing to stand up for our Welsh-speaking communities. He understood what our language has to offer modern Wales as we look...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful to Cefin Campbell for tabling this question, specifically in relation to the significance of strong inter-governmental relations between the UK, Welsh, and, of course, local governments. Minister, on the topic of inter-governmental discussions, I'm sure you and your colleagues will be aware of the transformational bid for the Celtic freeport. If selected, freeport status in...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful to all those who contributed towards the formation of this committee's report. As we've heard already this afternoon, this is an issue of huge pertinence to families and households right across Wales. But as this report rightly notes, the escalation in the cost of living is being felt even more acutely in Wales's rural communities, such as those in my own constituency of...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful for the Member giving me time in his debate, because it is vitally important that, as someone who grew up riding horses—not as proficiently as a certain Member of Parliament who's taking a vacation in a certain jungle at the moment—I was one of those who was out mucking out horses et cetera, and I understand the industry; it's absolutely alive and well in the rural parts of...
Samuel Kurtz: Trefnydd, can I ask for your annual update on the Welsh Government's TB eradication programme, please? This was last held on 16 November last year and, as you'll be aware, bovine TB has been a continuous negative thread throughout Welsh agriculture over the last decade or so, causing immense pain and heartache to the farmers of Wales. With the winter fair—the Royal Welsh winter fair—next...
Samuel Kurtz: I thank Adam Price for tabling this question, because it's pertinent to my constituents too in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, who, over the last few weekends, have been hit by misery and delay as they've travelled to and from Cardiff for Wales's autumn international rugby games. 'Exhausted', 'out of ideas' and 'directionless' were the words uttered to me by a constituent—not a...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful to be able to follow the Member's line of questioning with regard to EMA. Eighteen thousand, six hundred and fifty students accessed EMA support in the year 2020-21. As someone who was eligible for EMA as well, I know there are complexities in understanding how students are able to access this and which students are eligible, and, indeed, in talking to the Senedd research...
Samuel Kurtz: I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to today's debate, and I thank Plaid Cymru for tabling it. Like other speakers, I wish to start my contribution by paying tribute to all those front-line workers within our NHS. They have led us in the fight against coronavirus, from treating people in hospitals to administering vaccines as part of the UK's world-leading vaccination effort. I...
Samuel Kurtz: Trefnydd, can I ask that the Minister for Climate Change makes a statement on the impact of the UK emissions trading scheme, ETS, on Wales's energy sector? Last week, I met with the Haven energy forum, a collection of industry representatives who have expressed their collective concern about the operation and future implementation of the ETS. Businesses include Valero oil refinery and RWE...
Samuel Kurtz: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, three weeks ago, you and I debated the value of a Wales-wide bird flu housing Order. In your response to my appeal for the pre-emptive policy, you stated that the evidence that all CVOs in the UK had to hand did not warrant such a response here in Wales. Fast-forward to last week, and, following pressure from both the industry, myself, and with new evidence, you...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you, Minister. I appreciate the response, and given your meeting on Monday, it would be welcome to hear from you whether declaring an exceptional market condition is something that is discussed at that meeting on Monday. Because, anecdotally, at the Hybu Cig Cymru breakfast on Monday at the winter fair, there weren't any eggs at the breakfast, showing just how much difficulty the...
Samuel Kurtz: Thank you, Minister. It is a bit concerning that, if you don't have that baseline information available, how do we know that these projects that the sustainable farming scheme is going to introduce are actually benefiting carbon sequestration, because we don't have the baseline figure to work from? So, while there are carbon calculators out there that every farm can do, you and I both know...
Samuel Kurtz: Diolch. I'm grateful to you for giving away. I've challenged the climate change Minister on this exact point, because on the Quay in my constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, businesses such as Quayside Orthodontics and Towy Works have suffered flooding. So, do you agree with me that businesses should be treated equally to residential areas when it comes to flood protection?
Samuel Kurtz: 8. Will the First Minister outline how the Welsh Government is promoting sport in Wales? OQ58845
Samuel Kurtz: First Minister, yesterday a collective sigh of relief was felt across the men's professional game of rugby here in Wales, not due to Warren Gatland's return as Welsh head coach, but because a six-year framework for professional rugby in Wales was verbally agreed. On Sunday, the Welsh Rugby Players Association released a statement expressing concern as player well-being was being severely...
Samuel Kurtz: I thank Heledd Fychan for tabling this question. I’m sure, Minister, that you share my concerns that the figures announced yesterday are deeply disappointing—you said that on Twitter, and also in responding to Heledd. My concerns about accountability for the target are confirmed once again by these figures. As I’ve said before, ‘Cymraeg 2050’ is a target that none of the current...
Samuel Kurtz: What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the NHS workforce this winter?
Samuel Kurtz: Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with Floventis Energy, one of the many floating offshore wind companies choosing to invest in the Celtic sea. Floventis have developed the capacity to generate 200 MW of floating offshore wind energy, 35 km off the coast of Pembrokeshire—yet another key player helping us to achieve our net-zero ambitions. The opportunities in the Celtic sea,...
Samuel Kurtz: Firstly, can I congratulate the Member for Monmouth on introducing such a vital piece of legislation? As the Member has rightly highlighted in his opening statement, the Food (Wales) Bill does not just provide a foundational framework to establish a more sustainable food system in Wales, but as we've heard this afternoon it strengthens our food security, improves Wales's socioeconomic...
