Janet Finch-Saunders: Cabinet Secretary, you didn't give these to me, technically. I obtained these as a result of an FOI. Now, you stated yesterday—[Interruption.] You stated yesterday that you had been talking to council leaders the length and breadth of Wales, yet the Welsh Local Government Association have said that your Green Paper has caused 'disquiet and confusion'. Further, the leader of the Vale of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Well, thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Could you perhaps tell me of one local authority leader that has backed these plans so far? Now, the WLGA have spoken of the recent Welsh Government's assurance that no reorganisation would occur for 10 years. Yesterday, your Green Paper proposals destroyed that stability, and, with it, the confidence, the morale and any ability to plan for the future for...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'd like to thank the Member for bringing this forward again today and, certainly, as a member of the committee, I will be supporting it, and we will be supporting it, passing Stage 1 in this Chamber. Calls to increase powers to the ombudsman have been made since 2013, and we feel that it is imperative that there is transformation within the ombudsman's role. No-one receiving any of our...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes. Without this passing, the committee will be unable to commence Stage 2 scrutiny, and the Bill could remain in some sort of limbo. Anyway, I look forward to taking my part in the scrutiny of this legislation going forward. Thank you.
Janet Finch-Saunders: 9. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to help farmers and livestock owners affected by the current fodder shortage in Wales? OAQ52005
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, First Minister. Of course, straw last year was £42 a tonne bale. Now, it's as much as £70. Hay is £90 a tonne, clamp silage has gone up £15 a tonne to £40, and round bale silage has increased by over 230 per cent. Now, on top of this is the price of transportation, adding an extra £10 per bale. The situation, as you quite rightly point out, has led NFU Cymru and Forage...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Leader of the House provide an update on the successor project to Superfast Cymru?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Cabinet Secretary, around £100 million of grants were dehypothecated in this year's budget for local authorities and local government, and, of course, we see that as a positive move forward. Obviously, the costs of administration are very high. However, a number of local authorities have raised serious concerns that the £13 million that was previously allocated for the minority ethnic,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. Again, I'd just like to endorse and pay tribute to Angela for her contribution there that covered so many aspects of sepsis. Daily, we're reading now about how brutal this disease is, and how people are still very much unaware. I would just like to touch on people who are 'hospital at home', who are in an environment where they are reliant on carers coming in, and how quickly...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the First Minister make a statement on intensive poultry farming units in Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion in the name of Paul Davies AM. The recent announcement of the Green Paper by the Cabinet Secretary on 20 March, without any prior discussions with us as AMs, is the third attempt by this Welsh Labour Government to reform the structure of local government in Wales. One would have thought, as a result of two previous failed attempts to bring forward...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes, go on.
Janet Finch-Saunders: It was brilliantly epitomised by the leader of Cardiff council, Huw Thomas, when he said: 'We would have concerns about any process of reorganisation or of renationalisation which distracted us from our delivery agenda.' Time and time again, we have seen bullish and defiant responses from you, Cabinet Secretary, in scrutiny here and during a meeting with the WLGA, in stating that opposition...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Member take an intervention, please?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Am I correct, though, that it came to the Welsh Government for their opinion and they actually didn't reject the suggestion?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Cabinet Secretary, alarmingly, social service departments in local authorities in Wales overspent by £383 million against their budgets in 2016-17, with Cardiff Council alone exceeding their budget by a staggering £190 million. Now, many are predicted to massively overspend again over the next 12 months. Costs in social services are predicted to increase by another £344 million in the next...
Janet Finch-Saunders: You have the money. You have the budget. You have the budget.
Janet Finch-Saunders: It's a really good question that's been asked here today. Because of the seven local authorities that have already introduced this—the actual cost across Wales would be £2 million. Sixty local authorities in England have implemented this, and in October it was announced for all care leavers in Scotland. So, First Minister, what commitment will you make to provide funding to local...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'd like to begin by thanking the Cabinet Secretary for taking many of the concerns forward by commissioning this work in the first place and then, again, through your statement here today. Because I've got to be honest, I was totally, myself, oblivious to this issue until it started presenting to me in my own constituency office. Some of the numbers that I've had, and the harrowing...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implementation of the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014? OAQ52135
