Hefin David: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for the restoration of Ruperra Castle near Draethen? OAQ54699
Hefin David: It was testing my Welsh there. If you're going to answer in Welsh now, I'm going to put my headphones on. I understood you were visiting this week, but it's next week you're visiting Ruperra castle. In their submission to the public consultation on the draft national development framework, the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust, who I met last week, supported the establishment of a green belt...
Hefin David: You mentioned the Rhymney line. I've raised these concerns myself directly with Transport for Wales, and the contact I've had with Transport for Wales has said that we expect DfT to provide us with what we need in plenty of time. That is what they've said to me.
Hefin David: I've had the assurance from Transport for Wales.
Hefin David: They expect them by the end of November.
Hefin David: There's no doubt that people are frustrated by the state of the rail network and, in many cases, as frustrated as they were under Arriva. But there's also no doubting the fact that the Government is going to deliver a radically reformed transport service in the next three years. I don’t think there's any dispute about that, and that's clearly what the Minister intends and what will be...
Hefin David: I will.
Hefin David: Yes, and there's an issue with rolling stock across the United Kingdom, and I think it would be foolhardy to remove Pacers when people want a seat on the train. It would be foolhardy to remove Pacers when there is nothing to replace them with. As a committee member, I've been to the Canton depot three times and I've seen the heroic work that is going on there to keep the rolling stock...
Hefin David: And the UK Government gave the Welsh Government absolutely no support and it actively prevented them from bringing new diesel stock onto the lines. That was prevented. I'm sure the Minister can elaborate further on that, as I'm absolutely sure he didn't mislead our committee. I also want to pay tribute to Transport for Wales, who've been very open. When I was elected in 2016, I met with Ian...
Hefin David: Will you take an intervention?
Hefin David: There was an implication that I heard in the Chamber earlier from another Member that said that the new stock will actually have less capacity—
Hefin David: —on the Rhymney line than elsewhere. Can you just give us a reassurance that that isn't going to happen?
Hefin David: Can I just say that you're misrepresenting me, because I didn't say that?
Hefin David: I did not. I certainly did not.
Hefin David: I'm trying to be constructive in this debate and build an argument for why we're going to see transformation. I didn't use the word 'overpromising'. What I said was that the initial expectations for the service were raised high, so that people expected an immediate transformation. That clearly was never the plan. So, there was never an overpromise, but expectations for the service were higher...
Hefin David: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019 results report? OAQ54809
Hefin David: There was some positive news for Lansbury Park in the Caerphilly constituency. It is no longer ranked as the most deprived area in Wales, although, as the First Minister recognises, there are still difficulties and it remains in the top 10. I think the improvement has been down to a mixture of investment from the Welsh Government, the European Union and Caerphilly County Borough Council,...
Hefin David: The Minister will be aware that I met with Gelligaer practice to discuss the closure of Gilfach surgery, and one of the issues they raised was that it wasn't just a shortage of GPs in the area that was causing them to struggle with the Government's approach to the primary care model, but also a shortage of other professionals in mental health, paramedics, and the rest. Therefore this...
Hefin David: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of rolling stock on the Rhymney to Cardiff rail line? OAQ54785
Hefin David: Following discussions with constituents about the use of the line and following the debate we had two weeks ago, I met with Transport for Wales officials last week to talk about some of the overcrowding issues and some of the problems with services. And we also talked about derogation from the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and as a result of that, because Parliament isn't currently...
