Mabon ap Gwynfor: In my contribution, I'm going to respond to the speech given by Huw. Huw, of course, mentioned the need for change, and I agree entirely with what he said, but what Huw said came from an urban perspective. The world is very different in rural areas. As everyone knows, the Llanbedr bypass was the first to hear of its fate. The news came as a huge shock to local people, and those people were...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 'there will always be journeys by car, as the only practical way to get around....particularly in deep rural areas, the car is always going to be the main mode of transport.'
Mabon ap Gwynfor: That is entirely true of Llanbedr. So, I once again urge the Government to work with Gwynedd Council in order to develop a proposal to make a slower bypass in Llanbedr and to invest comprehensively in our public transport in rural Wales.
Mabon ap Gwynfor: May I ask for a statement from the Minister for health, please, with regard to tenancy assurance for partnerships of GPs? This follows the announcement that a Porthmadog landlord has put forward a planning application to turn the building into flats, which means that the surgery will have to possibly close, because there's nowhere else for it to be located in the town at the moment. It...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Eleven days ago, I received a message from the voluntary board of Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure announcing with sadness that they would have to close the swimming pool at the end of this month. The announcement comes as a result of an appalling increase in their costs. The cost of the centre has increased from £4,000 per month to £12,000 per month, and this £12,000 includes the UK Government...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I thank the Minister for today’s statement. It's an important statement that we on these benches welcome, and it will mean that we see a major step being taken forward to tackle this very serious problem. It's good to see the fruit of the agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Government on this work making a positive contribution to people's everyday lives. For far too long we have seen a...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to facilitate the microchipping of cats and dogs?
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you very much, Llywydd. Welsh wool is a sustainable product, it's multipurpose, and it's environmentally beneficial. There's increasing demand for eco-friendly produce, and Welsh wool is perfect for this end. As the Minister knows, Welsh farmers have an unswerving commitment to secure sustainable farming, and, of course, Welsh wool could play an important role as the sector tries to...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you very much to the Minister for that response. I want to move on now, if I may, to forestry. Around 15 per cent of Wales is covered with forestry of different sorts—around 316,000 hectares here. The trees are different, with various different species and different kinds of cover, individual trees, small woodlands or large forests. But the one thing that is common is that managed...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you to everyone who participated in this discussion. Well, if public transport is the Cinderella of public services, then the bus service is her forgotten little sister. Thank you very much, Delyth, for opening this debate so eloquently, painting a picture for us at the outset. We've heard that many of these companies that provide these services are...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Yes, go for it.
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Well, I'm very pleased to hear of that good example. In fairness to the Deputy Minister, I think he did mention the need to look at good practices elsewhere, and to try and adopt those. And those are some of the medium-term solutions that have been put forward, and I will come on to that. But this crisis is happening here and now. And, as I was going to mention, I've talked about some...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I thank the Minister for this statement today and the plan that's been submitted. I'm particularly pleased to see the collaborative element that's part of the statement, which is so important if we're going to tackle this challenge of eradicating TB. But I stand before you today to discuss the refreshed TB eradication programme with a heavy heart, because I'm painfully aware of dear friends...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you very much to the Minister for that statement. We have no reason to oppose, and we think it is a wise move in the current climate, so thank you very much.
Mabon ap Gwynfor: I will try to respond to some of Janet's questions in my response now. This supplementary legislative consent motion, like every other LCM, undermines the principles of devolution and fails to adequately address issues surrounding social housing here in Wales. I, therefore, oppose this LCM, and would urge my fellow Members to do so too. This Bill is an infringement on the powers of the Welsh...
Mabon ap Gwynfor: 4. Will the Commission provide an update regarding the procurement policy for materials on the Senedd's estate? OQ59367
Mabon ap Gwynfor: Thank you very much for that response, Llywydd. Last week, I asked a question to the Minister for agriculture on using the Government’s procurement power to use Welsh wool, for example, in carpets on public transport. Likewise, what consideration has the Commission given to ensuring that Welsh wool is used on the Senedd estate, and that the procurement policy notes the need for Welsh wool,...
