Janet Finch-Saunders: In 2015, despite the fact that 79 per cent of local authorities in Wales resisted amendments to TAN 1, your Government pursued a policy that fundamentally skews the way in which housing land supply and availability is calculated from past build rates to a residual method. This is having a profound effect across Wales. In Aberconwy, for instance, what was an 8.5-year supply has now diminished...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Concerns are raised with me very frequently about the extent to which brazen and discriminatory puppy breeding is still ongoing in Wales. The regulations provide a means for responsible breeders to be registered, and for prosecutions to be undertaken against those who do not comply and risk the welfare of the animals in their care. In the recent prosecution of a lady from the Vale...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'd like to thank Llyr Gruffydd for raising this again in the Senedd, because I was actually one of the first constituencies that saw hundreds of my constituents, particularly the more elderly in our population, targeted in this way by these private enforcers. I'm not against outsourcing to the private sector where local authorities can actually make savings and the service delivery is of...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you again. Just to reiterate, really, you've been extremely helpful and co-operative to concerns I've raised with you, and I think it's fair to say I've raised plenty. But just taking you back quickly to the meeting that you came to where we had over 100 people very concerned in the room, and one of the big things that came through was the issues with BT themselves,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm really pleased to be able to just contribute a few minutes on this, having spent my previous life working through, on the Conwy County Borough Council planning department, with them and their LDP. It was a nightmare. We had to take so many evidence sessions, we had to prove the Welsh Government wrong when they sent two Government officials up, and told us the numbers of houses we had to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 4. Will the Leader of the House make a statement on the Talented Women for a Successful Wales report? OAQ52181
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. You may be aware that the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee is undertaking an inquiry into pregnancy and maternity and returning women back to work in Wales. It is fair to say—if any committee members are here—that we're having some very startling findings, really, about the lack of support for women and getting back in the workplace. The 'Talented Women...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'd like to thank the Assembly Member and anybody else, actually, who is working on moving forward with this dignity and respect. I know it's mentioned as a debate—I don't think there's any debate, any argument, about this whatsoever. In speaking to you today, I do so on behalf of the Welsh Conservative group, of which I am the chair. We fully support this motion—in fact, we welcome it....
Janet Finch-Saunders: Do you mind me taking an intervention? It's just a little one.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Just a small intervention. Thank you for taking it. You keep saying 'women'. I would like to think that—and I'm sure it does—any male employee, member of staff or—. This has to be across the gender divide, because we have to be completely open. I just wanted to put that on record.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Of course, First Minister, access to the internet and, indeed, good broadband speeds are now considered as one of the main utilities that a family or a household should have. However, the latest communications market report for Wales found that just over eight households out of 10 actually can access the internet—83 per cent. So, that leaves 17 per cent of people who cannot access the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move amendments 1 and 2 in the name of Paul Davies, and in doing so would like to thank Sarah Rochira for her work as the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales over the past six years. Her innovation and drive to take forward a more positive agenda for older people has been notable. Now, looking at the annual report, the commissioner notes a number of cross-cutting...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm really pleased that this actually has found its way to a debate here in the Siambr of the National Assembly for Wales, because, as has been pointed out, 7,171 signatures came in on this petition. Now, I know it's been said that we are not environmental scientists or marine environmental scientists. I'm an Assembly Member, but I'm there to represent...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Now, the marine licence for the disposal of sediment dredged as part of the construction of a water cooling system for the new Hinkley Point C power station was issued by NRW to NNB GenCo, a subsidiary of EDF. The petition called for the suspension of the licence under either section 72 or section 102 of the marine Act, arguing that the environmental and human health risks have not been...
Janet Finch-Saunders: —in this application, and if they want to restore the trust of the Petitions Committee and some of our Assembly Members, I think it is incumbent of them to do further testing.
Janet Finch-Saunders: The 'Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People' White Paper acknowledged directly that there is a need, First Minister, for a more fundamental review of the funding of local government. The current Green Paper also notes that local authorities have highlighted a number of additions in relation to funding. Reacting to the Green Paper, the WLGA states that it 'will continue to press the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. I'm just going to narrow it down now to orthopaedics, because I think it's fair to say that on record in this Chamber I've raised time and time again with you my concerns about how long people are having to wait purely for orthopaedic treatments. Only today, whilst I have been sat in this Chamber, I have received a letter from a constituent's daughter about her 85-year-old mother...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on efforts to improve road safety in north Wales? OAQ52271
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on efforts to support local sustainable economies in north Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Between April and May of this year, in just two weeks, seven individuals have lost their lives on the roads in north Wales. Last week, sadly, there was another fatality. Now, despite the recent launch of the annual Operation Darwen summer motor cycle safety scheme in north Wales, at least five motor bikes have been involved in these tragic incidents, each one absolutely devastating...
