Lesley Griffiths: I was going to say, when you said you were aware of the challenges to the lamb sector, I'm very aware of the challenges to the beef sector also. My officials have been doing, obviously, some scenario planning and it's not just about your sectors, it's about your position in Wales and where you are as to the effect a 'no deal' Brexit could have on you. One of the reasons I brought some funding...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Welsh Government is committed to accelerating woodland creation in Wales, and I am aware that more needs to be done to encourage this. I have agreed to another round of Glastir woodland creation funding. I'll be making an oral statement on Welsh Government support for forestry in Wales in March.
Lesley Griffiths: As I say, I know that we need to do far more in relation to tree planting, and I have been having discussions both with the Confederation of Forest Industries and with Natural Resources Wales. You'll be aware of the actions on our climate change adaptation—they're described in our climate change strategy in Wales. And woodland creation, including urban greening, which you referred to, has...
Lesley Griffiths: I think we do need to get some momentum behind our tree planting. There are clearly several barriers, which I think we have to overcome, and it's interesting, it depends who you're talking to as to whether we're planting the right trees in the wrong places or the wrong trees in the right places, and going through the wood for the trees—pardon the pun—I think it seems to be very complex,...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board is currently implementing changes to vascular services that were publicly consulted on and agreed in January 2013 as part of its service change programme. There have been no changes made to this decision. We anticipate the service will be operational from 8 April 2019.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Siân Gwenllian. A paper did go to the board on 1 March 2018, which stated that, 'Patients with diseases of the lower limbs related to the circulation will be managed at both Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and the limb salvage unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd with provision for elective and emergency admissions and in-patient treatments at both sites.' I think it's that sentence that has given rise to the...
Lesley Griffiths: So, as I said in my answer to Siân Gwenllian, 80 per cent of patient care will continue in the other two sites—Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Ysbyty Gwynedd. It will only be the complex cases that go to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. So, where the new centre has been built, that's attracted consultants and doctors, whom I don't think would have ben attracted to north Wales unless we had that specialist...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We are disappointed with the UK Government’s recent investment decisions in Welsh infrastructure projects. The Swansea bay tidal lagoon, electrification of the Swansea main line, and a failure to secure the Wylfa Newydd project are three recent examples of the UK Government’s failure to invest in non-devolved infrastructure in Wales.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I think you're quite right—the loss of these very significant infrastructure projects to Wales is going to be a huge blow for many young people, because I think the three projects I mentioned would offer significant career opportunities to young people. However, we are committed to supporting our young people across Wales to enter employment, education, and training...
Lesley Griffiths: I think it's very important that we get the money that's intended for those growth deals. I know up in north Wales there are certainly concerns about that. But both the Cardiff capital project and Swansea have the support of both Governments.
Lesley Griffiths: The Member makes a very pertinent point. Despite Network Rail's Wales route having 11 per cent of the route length, 11 per cent of the stations and 20 per cent of the level crossings across England and Wales, only an average of around 2 per cent of money spent on network enhancements across England and Wales since 2011 has been spent here. We should have been allocated well over £1 billion...
Lesley Griffiths: The reason I am deputising for the First Minister today is he's in London representing Wales at an event there. In relation to A&E waiting times, I am aware obviously of the number of cases in my own constituency. The problem is we have seen an unprecedented number of people attending accident and emergency, and I think we need to look at why that is. And I think there is more work to be done...
Lesley Griffiths: So, to go back to the First Minister, I think everybody would want the First Minister to represent Wales in the way that he is doing. [Interruption.] Last month was the busiest January on record for emergency department admissions. Emergency admissions in January 2019 were 9 per cent higher—[Interruption.]
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Emergency admissions in January 2019 were 9 per cent higher than in January 2015 in major emergency departments. There was also an increase of 16 per cent in attendances at major emergency departments when compared with January 2015. I have to say I unfortunately had to attend A&E in the Heath hospital about a month ago, and talking to the staff there I was very...
Lesley Griffiths: I go back to some figures that I have in front of me. In January 2019, 14 of 24 emergency care facilities reported an improvement on January 2018, or the same level of performance. That includes seven of our 13 major emergency departments. Four of the seven health boards reported better performance in January 2019 compared with January 2018. I think we have to accept that the majority of...
Lesley Griffiths: Sorry, could you repeat that?
Lesley Griffiths: I'm sorry; I don't have those details to hand.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I too have attended Brynawel residential centre; I think it was with Huw Irranca-Davies's predecessor, Janice Gregory. I'm very well aware of the excellent work that is done there. I don't think the Minister for Health and Social Services dismissed the matter in the way that you addressed and certainly the funding—. You will be aware that we've increased our funding significantly...
Lesley Griffiths: I think it's very important that we do address postcode lotteries, and you mentioned that half the people who need support and help are treated in England. You'll be aware that there are specialist centres that we don't have in Wales and vice versa. I know, representing a border constituency, certainly it's a two-way traffic between England and Wales in many of these areas. You ask about...
Lesley Griffiths: No. I don't think the common agricultural policy does that. It certainly hasn't made our farmers more robust, more productive; it doesn't reward the active farmer either. You'll be aware that we had a lengthy consultation last summer. I've committed to bringing forward a White Paper before the summer agricultural shows, but I've been very clear that the basic payment scheme will go. It will...
