Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, you'll be aware of how storm Francis wreaked havoc in north-west Wales. Flooding and landslides saw the A55 and properties submerged in Abergwyngregyn, around 40 individuals rescued from chalets in Bethesda, people from five houses rescued and businesses ruined in Beddgelert, and, of course, the historic grade I listed Gwydir Castle and gardens battered just after...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Of course, all this falls on top of what my constituents experienced earlier with storm Ciara. It's well documented here that I put forward a report on the flooding concerns following storm Ciara, and it took until 18 August for you and your department to actually address those concerns raised. Now, you dismissed accountability at the time by stating that the local lead flood...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Now, everybody knows that trees play a major part in the mitigation of major flooding incidents. Now, since 17 August 2020, Natural Resources Wales have themselves received applications for licences to fell almost 50,000 trees from Gwynedd to Monmouthshire, and, to my horror, NRW only consider the environmental impact where deforestation will lead to use of the land for a different...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. Since 2011-12, the Welsh Government has been providing financial assistance for household improvements via Nest. Now, this scheme has been in decline since 2015-16, with fewer households seeing improvements through the scheme each year. The numbers are down from 6,000 in 2015-16 to 3,800 in 2018-19. While the Welsh Government is winding down assistance with property...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 5. What legal representation has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government in relation to the announcement by the European Union that it would make it illegal for animal products to be sold from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and the EU? OQ55547
Janet Finch-Saunders: 6. What discussions has the Counsel General had with law officers in the UK Government about improving the accessibility of legal support to residents subjected to rural crime? OQ55548
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm sorry, I must disagree with you on that. The prospect of British animals and products not being added to EU sanitary and phytosanitary lists for non-EU countries is causing some alarm. For example, 37,400 tonnes of sheep meat was exported to France, and 40,600 tonnes of beef to Ireland last year. Now, according to Nick von Westenholz of the National Farmers Union, listing should be a...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Eighty-six per cent of those surveyed in north Wales, 92 per cent in Dyfed-Powys, and 97 per cent in Gwent think that crime is significant in their rural community. A study carried out by the Countryside Alliance found that nearly a quarter of crimes were not reported to the police, and 56 per cent of respondents who did report a crime were dissatisfied with the response. As the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 4. Will the Commission make a statement on the use of the budget allocated for furniture and fittings? OQ55575
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. As you rightly pointed out, the budget for accommodation and facilities includes an allocation of £60,000 for expenditure on just furniture and fittings over the past four years. That's a total of £240,000 over four years, and we are all aware of major refurbishments to this place, over this term, that have cost millions. Now, this, into our local economy, the difference, if...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I would like to start with a big thank you to all higher and further education staff and, of course, pupils for their efforts during this catastrophic pandemic, in particular in north Wales. Despite all these difficulties, I have been rather interested to see scientists at Bangor University work with Dŵr Cymru and United Utilities to monitor the background levels of coronavirus in waste...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 7. What plans does the Welsh Government have to tackle bovine TB in Wales? OQ55612
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, First Minister. Now, in the 12 months to June 2020, 10,823 cattle were slaughtered due to bovine TB. Now, yes, I agree that is a 12 per cent decrease on the previous 12 months, however I was shocked to hear in the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee the Minister describe this as 'the latest statistics are good.' Well, they are not good if you speak to the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. The importance of this Agriculture Bill cannot be overstated. It includes measures to enable the continuity of existing agricultural support and to ensure the effective functioning of the sector. There are many positives, such as the red meat levy, and in particular Schedule 5, which not only enables Welsh Ministers to continue direct payments in Wales...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. Thank you for your statement, Minister. You're quite right to point out the difficulties for, particularly, retired people, and you'll be aware that, of course, Aberconwy, in terms of demographic, has one of the older populations. Now, I can tell you that a lot of my constituents in that sort of bracket really suffered during the last lockdown, and we had the lighter nights,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. Now, I stand to raise some concerns about the national development framework. For a start, the regional approach itself is flawed, especially when looking at north and mid Wales. Whilst the gross value added per head in Anglesey is £15,000 and in Gwynedd is £21,308, the main focus for the region is Flintshire and Wrexham, both with higher GVAs. Does the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s governance and management of capital projects? OQ55602
Janet Finch-Saunders: That remains to be seen, Minister, because in 2012 the Welsh Government approved a project to remove asbestos and refurbish Glan Clwyd Hospital. The project was completed in 2019, at a cost of £170 million—55 per cent more than the original budget. Now, in the Auditor General for Wales's report, the findings are scathing: the Welsh Government never formally approved the health board's...
Janet Finch-Saunders: As a nation with a proud seafaring tradition, the importance of this Fisheries Bill cannot be overstated. Our relationship with the sea has not only helped to shape our nation's history but also our culture. This LCM acknowledges that there needs to be a UK-wide approach to create the fisheries framework, which can only be done through a UK Bill. It enables the Welsh Government to act...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. I cannot emphasise enough how important the Fire Safety Bill is, and as such, I want on record my dismay that this LCM has only been allocated 15 minutes on today's agenda. Such an important issue as fire safety actually deserves more time and debate in this Parliament—a measure that would've certainly reflected the keen interest taken by the Equality, Local Government and...
